Darcy's Passions (27 page)

“Let us go and play our parts as good hosts to our guests.” Darcy stood with refreshed confidence. Georgiana stood by him and then kissed his cheek gently. “For luck,” she said.They exited the study to find the Bingleys and initiate their plan.

That evening over dinner, Darcy informed Charles Bingley and his sisters of his regrets at having to return to London on pressing business. He led them to believe the estate business also cancelled his plans to entertain the Gardiners and Elizabeth Bennet. This gave the Bingley sisters some perverted pleasure. “It grieves me, but it must be so,” he added. “Georgiana will serve in my stead.We both thought you might enjoy an overnight trip to Nottingham or to Cromford. Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley both desire to visit those areas to the north. I shall be only a week or so. What say you, Charles?”

“I would be honored to escort your sister in your absence, Darcy.” Darcy detested his own deceit, but it would be best if Bingley knew nothing of this crisis, which could ultimately affect both their futures.

Darcy, consumed by what he must do to save Elizabeth, left early for London. Riding in the comfort of his favorite carriage, he began to reflect on how far he would go to “persuade” George Wickham to marry Lydia Bennet or to “persuade” the foolish flick of a girl to abandon her folly and return to Longbourn.What if he found no success in either endeavor? He loved Pemberley, not just for its beauty but because it held the traditions of his family. He loved the society to which he was accustomed.The wealth and his reputation created a sense of worth, a part of his being. He felt willing to sacrifice some of both for Elizabeth's love; but, now, he might also be faced with the Bennet sisters' loss of respectability or even worse having George Wickham as a brother.Which would be harder to overcome? Could he seriously still consider Elizabeth to be a viable mate in either case? The resolution of the current crisis would not necessarily solve Darcy's dilemma.

 

On Monday morning Darcy set off to a seedy part of the city. He hired a public cab, not wanting to attract too much attention; he planned to find Mrs. Younge, Georgiana's former governess. Mr. Wickham, as Darcy warned Elizabeth at the Netherfield Ball, had a reputation for being able to make friends, but keeping friends was a different issue. Mr.Wickham “used” people, ill-abused them, leaving most in his wake. In Darcy's estimation, Mrs. Younge was of the same lot; if Mr.Wickham was in London, Mrs.Younge would know where he could be found. He knew where Mrs.Younge lived; he had an address in his London ledger—an address to which the last
of her wages were delivered when Darcy dismissed her for her part in Wickham's seduction of Georgiana. From what he ascertained, Mrs.Younge let rooms from her home on Edward Street.

Calling on the house, a dirty-faced snit of a child evidently working as a servant admitted Darcy to the sitting room.When she entered to find him there, Mrs.Younge hid her surprise well. “Mr. Darcy . . . what brings you to this part of town? Did you decide to try slumming for the day?”Anger laced her sarcasm.

“Mrs.Younge,” he kept his voice calm and steady,“I have come to your home on business.”

She looked him up and down, measuring the merit of his words. Her training as a governess allowed the woman to maintain an image of a refined lady even in the midst of the squalor in which she now found herself. She motioned Darcy to a nearby chair and crossed to one to his right. “I thought any business we might have was settled some time ago. Do not tell me you are once more in need of my services.”

Darcy accepted the double meaning of her words with a slight nod of his head and then said,“I appreciate your offer, Mrs.Younge, but that was not the business I had in mind.”

“Then what may I ask are you doing here, Mr. Darcy?”

“I come seeking news of Mr.Wickham,” Darcy's reply showed no change in his composure, but hers relayed the information he sought.

“Mr.Wickham? Mr. George Wickham? Why would I know of Mr.Wickham's whereabouts?” she protested.

“Mr.Wickham is in London. He has with him the daughter of a friend; that friend, knowing of my connection to Mr. Wickham, asked me to assist in finding the daughter.” The words sounded stilted and a bit ambiguous even to him. Darcy did not like the deceit; but, at least, this was not a total fabrication: he and Elizabeth were certainly
friends
.

“It appears you have been misinformed, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Younge stood to take her leave.“I have not seen or heard from Mr. Wickham since that unfortunate time at Ramsgate.”

Darcy stood slowly and slipped on his gloves. “I see,” he began as he walked leisurely around the room. “This is an interesting place, Mrs.Younge. I will have to remember this address; it will be an important fact when I tell the constable about . . . let us see . . . which tale do you think the constable will most believe? After all, I am Fitzwilliam Darcy,
a man of impeccable reputation
. I would not want to relate a tale which would be unbelievable.” He could not help but smirk as he walked back toward Mrs. Younge. To her credit, she showed no signs of cracking.“I am sure your tenants will
love
having the constable call here on a regular basis with a litany of complaints. I am also sure I can secure other gentlemen of
impeccable reputations
to lodge similar
complaints
to mine. The constable could be here so often you may want to let him one of your rooms. Farewell, Mrs.Younge.” Darcy tipped his hat as he started toward the door.

As predicted, Mrs.Younge's voice halted his exit.“Mr. Darcy.”

“Yes, Mrs.Younge,” he turned, having a hand on the doorknob.

“If I could remember where Mr.Wickham might be, would it stop the visits from the constable?”

“It would, indeed, Mrs.Younge.”

“Call tomorrow, and I will see what I can do for you.”

Darcy said no more but turned to go back to his waiting cab.A sense of satisfaction rested on his face.

 

Darcy came again to Edward Street. Mrs.Younge's information was not easy to come by, but for a promise of no visits from the constable and thirty shillings as a bonus, the woman provided Darcy with an address for George Wickham. He took the public carriage again today, and he gave the driver the address. “Are you sure, Sir, you want to go to this place?”The driver looked confused.“I beg your pardon, Sir, but a man of your obvious standing would not regularly be found there.” Darcy just nodded to the driver as a sign of his determination to go. Inside the carriage, Darcy's contempt for the situation he must enter nearly made him tell the driver to turn
around, but the memory of the misery found on Elizabeth's face forced him to push onward. He discovered George Wickham let a room above a tavern on a bustling, inner city street frequented by a diverse clientele. Having already asked the proprietor for a private table, a bottle of brandy, and two glasses, he paid the man extra to tell Mr.Wickham that Mr. Darcy waited on him in the tavern.

In a matter of minutes, George Wickham strolled into the public room. “Well, Darcy, what a happy occasion this must be to bring us together again.”

“Have a seat, Mr.Wickham.” His reply had the intonation of a command rather than a request.

Wickham slid casually into the seat. “May I?” he indicated the brandy. Darcy did not break his stare, nor did he verbally respond, but Wickham poured himself two fingers of brandy from the decanter, tossed it off, and quickly poured another before he turned back to his former friend. “I seriously doubt this to be a pleasure call, but I am confused as to why of all people you are here, Darcy.”

“I have come for the girl, Mr.Wickham.”

“What girl? Can you not get your own girl, Darcy? With all your money, do you need my help in finding a girl?” Wickham snickered at his attempt at humor.

“I have come to see Lydia Bennet.” Darcy's voice led Wickham to realize he meant business.

“Oh, her!You are welcome to her; she has lost her usefulness, if you know what I mean,”Wickham sneered.

Darcy flexed and released his fists several times under the table, but he never flinched although Wickham's words disgusted him. “Then I am to assume you have no intention of marrying Miss Lydia.” He measured each word carefully.

“Why would I want to marry such a silly girl as is Lydia?” Darcy's contempt grew by the second, but he kept his anger in check. Wickham had no intention of doing the honest thing by Lydia Bennet; that much was guaranteed.

“May I see the girl?”

“Of course,” Wickham replied, “once you tell me how you became involved in this matter.Why is the great Fitzwilliam Darcy here in this place asking about an insignificant girl like Lydia Bennet? Do you fancy her for yourself? No, she is not the type for you, but I cannot figure your connection.”

Darcy hoped the story he had
practiced
would be believable although it possessed holes in it. If Wickham knew Darcy's real motivation,Wickham would use it against him.“During my stay in Hertfordshire, I became intimate with Mr. Bennet; we share common interests—love of the land and, of course, books. His cousin upon whom Longbourn is entailed is my aunt's cleric, a man whom she respects. My connection to you was known by your own words to anyone in Hertfordshire who would listen. All of these factors led Mr. Bennet to swallow his pride and to ask for help in this matter. He has no sons to aid him, and he is not familiar with London. I am the logical person. Mr. Bennet simply wants a resolution to this matter.”

“I am not sure I totally believe you, Darcy,” Wickham began, “but I will send the girl to talk to you.”

Darcy commanded, “We will need to speak again after I have time with Miss Lydia.”

Wickham said nothing, but one could easily tell he enjoyed the drama of Darcy's request. He left the table, and Lydia Bennet shortly replaced him. She flounced to the table like a spoiled child being sent to stand in a corner. “Mr. Darcy,” she did not even make him the courtesy of a bow, “my dear Wickham says you wish to speak to me, Sir.”

“Please have a seat, Miss Lydia.” He tried to use the voice he used to use with Georgiana when she did not want to practice her music or to complete her studies. Lydia sat down, but she tried to let him know by her actions she did not do so willingly. “Miss Lydia, I have been asked to bring you back to the safety of your family,” he began softly.

“Why, Lordy, would anyone in my family ask you to do any such thing?You snubbed Lizzy; no one there likes you.” Her words stung Darcy's pride, but he relied on the restraint of his emotions before; he did so now.

“Your family and friends are concerned for you, Miss Lydia. A person would turn to the Devil for help in order to bring a loved one home. I am far from being the Devil even in your sister's estimation. My connection to Mr.Wickham made me a logical choice for this task.”

Luckily, Lydia Bennet's shallowness kept her from seeing through this deceit, but her shallowness also made her immovable. No matter what Darcy offered as a logical reason for her leaving, Lydia Bennet's determination remained with Wickham. She wanted nothing to do with “boring old Longbourn” or with “sisters who never wanted to do anything that was fun.” She believed Wickham planned to marry her as soon as his “luck” changed, and they got a little cash flow. She wanted nothing to do with any of her “so-called” friends. Lydia Bennet could not be persuaded to leave; that meant Darcy would have to
break
Wickham's resolve.

When Wickham returned to the table, he helped himself to another drink before he addressed Darcy's demand. “So, the girl prefers me to you, it seems,” he started.“I guess I win this battle.”

“The girl expects you to marry her,” Darcy's voice had not changed since he began this ordeal. “I realize you must be in dire straits or else you would not be here, Mr. Wickham.”

“I do not know where she got the idea we would marry,” he protested.“I promise I never made such overtures.”

“Your promises are well known, Mr. Wickham.” Darcy wanted to deal with him physically, but he continued what he started. “I am not the betting man who you are known to be, but I would think it to be a sure bet you left Brighton because your debts were coming due. Miss Lydia probably had some ready cash—at least, enough to get you this far.Am I getting close?”

“As far as Lydia is concerned, it was her choice to come along. I offered her no encouragement,” Wickham swore. “I will admit to being short of cash, however.”

“As I suspected,” Darcy stated. “Mr. Bennet is not a rich man, Mr.Wickham, but I am sure he would bestow something suitable on Lydia upon her marriage.”