Page 35 of Miss Gardiner
“Not often and only at our club where we are both members. He abandoned Netherfield and that will cost him for two more years,” Darcy explained.
“I dread the day I meet with the man or his sister in London.”
Mr Darcy’s face reflected his surprize at the young woman’s words and he said plainly, “I did not imagine that you feared the Bingleys.”
“It is not fear but anger and resentment, sir. The man’s careless behaviour ruined my beloved sister’s life and reputation,” Elizabeth explained. “And worse still, my sister truly loved that man…she loves him still.”
Darcy moved to sit beside Elizabeth at the pianoforte and said, “Charles Bingley is a foolish man to have walked away from such a love, Miss Elizabeth.”
Aunt Madeline cleared her throat, and the young couple rose from the pianoforte to return to the sofa beside their chaperone.
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Earlier in the year, Elizabeth’s occasional exchange of letters with ‘Charlotte Lucas’ ended after Mr Collins sent a letter filled with denunciation and condemnation to Uncle Edward. In his letter, Mr Collins explained that he had already ended all communication with Thomas Bennet for allowing his eldest daughter to prove that women were weak creatures.
‘If Mr and Mrs Bennet had been diligent chaperones; if they had provided appropriate tutelage for your nieces, their eldest daughter would not have fallen in the pits of lust and sin,’wrote Mr Collins, demanding an end to the friendly relationship between his new wife, Mrs Charlotte Collins, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
In a final letter to Elizabeth, Charlotte wrote that her father, Sir William Lucas, was very uncomfortable with the break between the Bennets and Collins; he had been friends with Thomas Bennet for almost thirty years. However, her mother, Lady Lucas, apparently relished her new role in the community by supplanting Mrs Francis Bennet as the leader of the gentry in Meryton. Charlotte asked for Elizabeth’s forgiveness, but Lady Lucas had written that Elizabeth carried her fallen sister off to London after spitting on SirWilliam and herself.
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With great surprize, Elizabeth received a second letter from Charlotte in April. The letter reported events in Hertfordshire and Hunsford that severely damaged the authority of Mr Collins, Lady Lucas, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
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Dearest Eliza, I put pen to paper to communicate news to you of import and tragedy that no one else dares to share. Mr Collins collapsed for a day upon receipt of this news and even Lady Catherine de Bourgh has fallen silent. I never thought to see such a day! In a letter from my father, I have learned that my younger sister, Maria, left my father’s house to live without benefit of marriage with Lt. George Wickham, an officer in the Royal Militia that is based there in Meryton. Maria was held up as virtuous and well-behaved until her fall. Even more terrible, George Wickham named Lady Catherine as his patron who bought the militia commission for the man. My father threatens to sue the woman for enabling the man to prey on his daughter. We know all this because when questioned by Colonel Foster, the commanding officer of the militia, Wickham provided letters from Lady Catherine giving him money and directing him to go to Hertfordshire and cause mischief because her wayward nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy, was there.
Colonel Foster arrested Lt. Wickham and returned Maria to my parent’s house. The irony of the situation with their previous denunciation of your sister’s fall caused my mother to collapse and die. Maria has been sent to live with my mother’s sister in Portsmouth and my father mourns my mother’s passing. I am unable to journey to Meryton to grieve with my father and Mr Collins fears my father’s presence either in Hunsford or Lucas Lodge. To relive my stress and unhappiness, Mr Collins agrees that we may correspond–if you will read my letters and respond.
I remain your hopeful friend, Charlotte Collins
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When shared, the letter and its news so affected Jane, that she took to her bed and refused to rise for a day. When Aunt Madeline and Elizabeth pressed her, Jane confessed confusion at the details of the letter.
“It was my sister Lydia who chased Mr Wickham about Meryton. The night of the ball at Netherfield, Lydia continually slipped from the ballroom with Wickham and was gone for many minutes each time. Our father acted unaware, and our mother brushed away Mary and Kitty’s concerns.”
Jane blushed when she added, “I could not chastise Lydia for I was doing the same or more with Charles whenever we could slip from the room.”
“But Maria Lucas…” Aunt Madeline began saying, confused by the narrative of events.
“Our father may have locked our sisters in the house since Jane, and I left in December. Lydia’s absence from Meryton meant that Wickham turned his attentions to another young woman and the victim this time was Maria Lucas,” Elizabeth said. “But there is no one I can write to for confirmation.”
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On Monday following the arrival of the letter from Mrs Collins, Elizabeth shared the letter with Mr Darcy when he called. Mrs Gardiner watched the man’s face turn thunderously dark when he read the letter.
“I must speak with Mr Gardiner,” Darcy announced, tightening his hold on the paper. “My aunt’s interference…I have a cousin who is a colonel in the regulars; he can take custody of Wickham and get to the bottom of the matter.”
“Mr Gardiner is at the warehouses this afternoon,” Mrs Gardiner said.
“Miss Bennet, forgive me for not staying longer,” Mr Darcy said. “My visits with you are the highlight of my week but I must take steps.”
“I look forward to your visits as well, Mr Darcy. But the letter from Mrs Collins left me full of questions. If you can find any answers, I shall anticipate your forthcoming visits.”
“May I keep the letter for now? I shall return it if at all possible.”
Mr Darcy left for the warehouses and later Mr Gardiner sent a message that he would be late returning home that evening.
