First Impressions: A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice (Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice) (13 page)

Immaculate in his new uniform – boots shining, buttons gleaming – the newly made Lieutenant Wickham was a pleasing vision to Caroline’s refined eye, as she was to his. At the moment of his entry, even Miss Bingley could find some merit in Kitty and Lydia Bennet’s intense admiration for a red coat. He bowed in a most gentlemanly manner and introduced himself, excusing his intrusion while emphasizing the urgency of his need to see Mr. Darcy. Miss Bingley invited him to sit down before replying, “I am afraid my brother and our guest may not return for several hours. Perhaps I may convey a message on your behalf?”

She watched the handsome face fall before he stood and walked to the window, staring out of it in the same brooding manner she had so often observed in Darcy. “Who is this militia man?” she wondered. “Why would such a gentleman not seek a commission in the regulars? And what is his relationship to Mr. Darcy?”

He moved from the window and returned to his prior seat, bestowing a sad smile on his hostess, “I am afraid, Miss Bingley, that the delicacies of my business with Mr. Darcy cannot be easily expressed in a mere message. But surely, as you presently reside in the same home, you must know Mr. Darcy rather intimately – dare I impose upon you with my troubles?”

“
Yes indeed sir. Dare away!” she thought, always eager to learn more about Mr. Darcy, through whatever means. Her audible response, however, was more subtle, “I am always happy to oblige my friends, Mr. Wickham. You pose no imposition.”

“
Thank you, Miss Bingley. You are graciousness itself.” He paused before continuing, taking a moment to gage the effect of his words. “I gather by my admittance here today that you know something of the particular manner of my intimacy with the Darcy family?” he said with an appearance of perfect honesty, though he knew it was most unlikely that Darcy would ever speak of him. He was also armed with a great deal of information regarding the inhabitants of Netherfield, which he had been scrupulously garnering since he encountered Darcy in Meryton.

“
I am sorry, sir, but I have never heard your name before this very hour.”

“
Surely I never thought you would ask me in had you not previously heard my name! Mr. Darcy never speaks of me?”

“
At least not to me, sir.” The indignation in her tone was not lost on Wickham, who rose again and began to pace the room as if deep in thought. Caroline’s mind raced to conclusions as she impatiently waited for him to proceed. An intimate relationship with the Darcy’s! Whatever could it be?

When he felt he had adequately built up her suspense, he turned to her with his most endearingly pathetic look, “Please excuse my unforgivable distraction, but I am most saddened. I should depart at once, having already taken up too much of your time. My sorry story would only cause you to lose whatever good opinion of me you may have already formed.”

It was too much for her to bear. “Please Mr. Wickham! Obviously you have something of great import on your mind. Again I offer you my services in communicating with Mr. Darcy. We have known each other for many years, for he is a great friend to my brother. I assure you I will be totally discreet.” His face momentarily brightened before falling again, noting with satisfaction Miss Bingley’s corresponding expressions.

“
Forgive me, Miss Bingley,” he said tenderly. “In your kindness you have offered your ear to my tale of woe and it is simply too tempting to tell all. You cannot know how badly I want to oblige you, but how can I? And yet, my avenues of hope are so small, I have so few options, how can I refuse?” He paused ponderously. “Very well then. Perhaps you are the very person to offer advice on how to proceed.”

“
I will do my best,” she readily assured him.

He smiled at her enthusiasm. “You see my father was the steward to all the Pemberley estates, underneath the late Mr. Darcy, the best man I ever knew.” Caroline’s face, despite her ardent effort, betrayed her dismay.

“
You wonder how a man educated as myself can be the son of a servant?” She bowed her head and blushed in reply. “I was raised at Pemberley, side by side with Fitz – I mean, Mr. Darcy. His father was a generous man and provided for me amply. As my godfather,” Godfather! “he oversaw my education, preparing me for a future in the church. Have you ever been to Pemberley Miss Bingley?”

“
Yes, indeed I have. It is a magnificent estate,” she replied collectedly, though Wickham could perceive the tinge of longing.

“
Then perhaps you are familiar with the small village of Kympton nearby?”

“
Yes I am. I believed we dined with the rector during our visit. A Mr. Westover, if I recall.”

Again turmoil swept over Wickham’s malleable face. He paced once or twice more before saying, with great feeling, “That is the very living that the elder Mr. Darcy intended for me!”

Caroline was shocked, “How can this be? Surely Mr. Darcy would not disregard his father’s will?”

“
There was an informality in the terms of the bequest and Darcy chose to doubt it – to treat it as a conditional recommendation. Certain it is, that the living became vacant two years ago and that it was given to another man, presumably the one you dined with.”

“
Dear me how dreadful! I should not think it of Mr. Darcy.” Suspiciously, “What could have caused such a massive falling out between two childhood companions?”

“
I am afraid, Miss Bingley, that it is a very delicate matter. What indeed could cause the best friend of my youth to cast me off so decidedly, without explanation, without remorse? I have a theory as to what lies at the bottom of this misunderstanding, but I am afraid it involves a lady’s honor, so I dare not mention it lightly. This is why I so wished to speak to Darcy. You will reassure me, kind Miss Bingley, of your absolute secrecy?”

“
It is undoubted, Mr. Wickham. Please continue.”

He managed an on command blush, “It seems that Mr. Darcy was most displeased when Miss Darcy – with whom I have always had a very affectionate, brotherly relationship – in the first throes of her womanhood fancied herself enamored with me.” By now he was visibly red, nearly the same shade as his coat: the perfect addition to his performance. Perhaps it’s not giving him too much credit to believe the effect was aided by an honest tinge of shame for the intense perversion of this revisionist history, as the best actors do rely on real emotions to perfect their art.

For Caroline Bingley, the many questions this new acquaintance provoked suddenly seemed to have one astonishingly obvious answer. Rapidly her mind jumped to its conclusion: George Wickham was transparently the illegitimate son of the late Mr. Darcy! It made too much sense not to be true! She reasoned thusly: first, there had never been a hint of a scandal about the family and everyone must have a skeleton in the closet somewhere; second, why else would Darcy go to such lengths to separate Georgiana from a long time intimate on the threat of a school girl crush; third, she believed she perceived an uncanny familial resemblance between the men. Mr. Wickham was certainly proving a highly interesting diversion.

Their conversation was interrupted when Mrs. Hurst entered the room, having just been informed that there was a visitor. Introductions were made and the intruder found herself pleasantly surprised by her sister’s amiability and cordiality, as her sulkiness had been incessant over the past several days. Upon sharing a communicative look, of the sort Louisa missed, Caroline invited Mr. Wickham to join the sisters for tea. They shared a pleasant afternoon, inviting their new acquaintance to stay for dinner. Even Mr. Hurst was jolly, having found the new Lieutenant to be a formidable partner in cards.

When Darcy and Bingley returned that evening, they were understandably both flabbergasted and dismayed to learn who had been benefiting from Netherfield’s hospitality in their absence. Darcy had announced to Bingley his intention to travel to Rosings during their ride home and came upon the party in the drawing room while still discussing his travel arrangements. It was Mrs. Hurst who innocently “let the cat out of the bag”, so to speak, by exclaiming that Mr. Darcy would surely not wish to depart now that his old companion had just come amongst them, the estranged nature of that relationship being something to which she was not privy. Mr. Darcy’s countenance darkened as he inquired precisely to whom she was referring. Upon having his suspicions confirmed he stormed from the room, leaving Bingley to explain his odd behavior to its remaining, rather astonished, inhabitants.

“
Louisa,” he began, “am I to understand that Mr. Wickham has been here for the majority of the day, quite comfortably insinuating himself into your good graces?” But it was his other sister who responded to the question, “Yes Charles, that is the correct name of the unfortunate man with whom we became acquainted this afternoon. He has sadly lost the esteem of his former companion and I must say I am shocked to see how readily Mr. Darcy rejects his late father’s favorite!”

“
Caroline, I know not what Mr. Wickham has said to convince you that such is the case, but I warn you now that I have it directly from Darcy that the man is not to be trusted! I must ask you to cease all contact with him.”

“
Charles!”

“
I am sorry Caroline, but I will be firm in this. He is not welcome in my house; Darcy will not tolerate his presence and nor shall I. He is a known fortune hunter and you should be wary of any attention he has paid you.”

“
Mighty shame, that,” Mr. Hurst piped in. “Rarely have I had such a whist partner. Wickham and I showed the ladies how the game is played, I assure you.”

“
Be that as it may,” Charles responded wearily, “we mustn’t have anything to do with the man. His society is thoroughly unsuitable.”

“
I am surprised to hear you speak so Charles, considering the recent choice you have made. Surely you are in no position to pass judgment on what qualifies as suitable society.”

“
Caroline!” gasped Louisa but her sister was already out the door and closing it behind her. Her anger grew as she climbed the stairs. How dare Mr. Darcy treat such a transparently good natured man so horribly! Who was he to dictate what company she should or should not keep? He was the one determined to dote like a fool on a country nobody! Against his own brother (for that she was convinced was precisely who George Wickham was), to act in such a fashion was truly abominable. Clearly Mr. Darcy was not the gentleman she had always assumed him to be. Miss Bingley did not pause to consider how she would behave towards an illegitimate offspring nor how satisfying it was to be able to look down upon Mr. Darcy’s morality. Her mind was entirely occupied by two subjects: the memory of Wickham’s handsome amiability and the degree of vexation it would cause Mr. Darcy were she to thwart her brother’s will by pursuing the acquaintance.

Chapter 16

Darcy paced his room disconsolately, debating whether or not circumstances required he postpone the trip so recently planed. This direct encroachment of Wickham upon his notice concerned him greatly; the man was undoubtedly up to something. Darcy was torn between his sense of duty towards his aunt and his determination to prevent Wickham from inflicting further harm upon those for whom he cared. Also, having already bid Elizabeth goodbye, he rightly feared, he would never be able to drag himself away should he not leave now. Even more – his plans had the added incentive of a brief sojourn in London, where he would break the journey, allowing time for a consultation with Georgiana. Recent events had incontestably proven marriage a family event; to proceed without consideration of those who it would most affect was negligent, if not cruel. Time away from Elizabeth and Georgiana’s opinion would help him determine his future course.

A servant knocked on the door bearing a request from Bingley to join him in the study. Darcy welcomed the opportunity to discuss the matter and proceeded downstairs immediately. His friend had just poured two glasses of cognac and was sipping his contemplatively. “Please join me Darcy,” he said, beckoning to the second glass. Darcy lifted it to his host in silent tribute and enjoyed a soothing inhalation of the drink’s bouquet before indulging.

“
I have told Caroline that this acquaintance is unacceptable. She is very angry but I believe I made my point.”

“
I apologize for abandoning you back there Bingley, but confound the man! What was he doing here? How dare he present himself so?”

“
It seems he has filled my sister’s head with tales of unjust treatment at your hands, Darcy. Such gall is astounding. What could possibly be his motivation?”

“
Perhaps just to provoke me, but we should not underestimate how far Wickham will go to achieve that end. I think I should postpone this journey to Rosings until we can determine what he is about.”

“
No Darcy. There is no need for you to so inconvenience yourself. You have told me what the man is and I will protect my family from his machinations. Its high time I was firmer with Caroline. Letting her continue as she is does none of us any service.” Bingley was determined and Darcy felt a good deal of pride in his friend. The time was overdue for him to exert his authority as head of his family.