Page 27 of Saving Jane
“It was a beautiful day and Edward was not...” Elizabeth refused to say more when she saw that Mr Darcy was only grinning wider with each statement.
“Allow me to bring my wife into the parlour,” Mr Gardiner told his guest. “Elizabeth, escort Mr Darcy into the parlour.”
“Yes, Uncle,” Elizabeth replied. As Uncle Gardiner carried Emily up the stairs, she guided the dark-haired man into the now familiar parlour.
“Would you care for some tea Mr Darcy? Or some port?”
“A small glass of port would be much appreciated,Miss Bennet.”
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When Mr and Mrs Gardiner joined them in the parlour, only a few minutes had passed, and the parlour door had remained open with the footman outside at the door.
“Mrs Gardiner, Elizabeth; I asked Mr Darcy to come to the house and share the contents of this letter with all three of us at the same time. When he explained today’s events and their possible relationship to past events, I wanted you both to hear all and give me your impressions.”
“What events, Mr Gardiner?” asked Mrs Gardiner quickly taking Elizabeth in hand and turning her around as though to inspect her niece for wear and tear.
“Now, my dear,” Mr Gardiner said, taking his wife’s hand. “Let us hear what the man has to tell us.”
“Very well,” replied Mrs Gardiner. Elizabeth remained silent and Darcy’s mouth was a thin line as he began speaking.
“This morning upon arrival at Darcy House, a woman dressed in widow’s garb and veil, approached Miss Bennet on the street and gave her a letter to deliver to me along with a cryptic message that someone named ‘George’ was to be hung if I did not assist him.”
Mr and Mrs Gardiner looked to Elizabeth who nodded in agreement with Mr Darcy’s words. Then Mr Darcy continued, “I spoke at length with my footman and coachman, Miss Bennet, my housekeeper and butler. I believe that the woman dressed as a widow was Mrs Young, my sister’s former companion. She approached Miss Bennet and gave her a letter that is an attempt to solicit my aide for George Wickham who has been arrested for poisoning his wife.”
“Poisoning his wife?” asked Elizabeth, shocked to hear such a charge made against any man.
“According to the letter written by Mr Wickham’s own hand, he married a widow–Dora Harris–who died a mere thirty days after the wedding. And a few days ago, according to the letter, he married Mrs Young though I doubt there will be proof from any clergyman in London.”
“Is this the same George Wickham from Derbyshire?” Mrs Gardiner asked.
Mr Darcy nodded his head once. “Two months previous, I had heard of the death of a ‘Mrs Wickham’ and the subsequent demand for an inquest by the woman’s cousin–a man who lived in Bath. I made a few inquiries and prepared to go to Bath to meet with the cousin but before I leave London, the man vanished. It seems that Mr Wickhamreappeared in London and eloped with Mrs Young the day she deserted my sister in the park.”
“Why would he come to you for aid now?” Mr Gardiner asked.
“According to the letter, he has been unjustly arrested and expects my assistance for the sake of my father’s memory.”
“And will you aid him?” asked Mrs Gardiner.
Darcy shook his head and said, “I shall go to visit Wickham in Newgate Prison with a reputable witness to all things that are said between us, but I will not assist him. My fervent hope is that the court hangs him the same day he is sentenced.”
“I appreciate you sharing this information with us Mr Darcy–for my wife’s sake if for no other reason–but why have you told us?”
“Because the woman knew Miss Bennet by name,” he explained. “I believe one of the maids from my household is meeting and telling Mrs Young of the activities within my household. I fear Mrs Young was in league with Mr Wickham when I brought her into my household, and I have avoided some scheme that the man wanted to inflect upon me and my family.”
“Does Mr Wickham harbour resentments against you?” Mrs Gardiner asked.
Darcy sighed. “As I explained before, my father thought very highly of Mr Wickham and intended a valuable family living to go to him. The rectory of Kympton is a Darcy endowment and the parish serves the village and surrounding farms. But I knew George was unsuitable to be the pastor of a church and certainly not one within my estate. After my father’s death five years ago, Wickham came to me for his inheritance–a thousand pounds from my father’s estate and we discussed the bequest of the living at Kympton. He expressed disinterest in taking orders–to my great relief–and suggested the sum of three thousand pounds in lieu of the living.”
“Three thousand pounds?” asked Mrs Gardiner. “None of the shopkeepers in Lambton profit more than three hundred a year!”
Darcy nodded. “I was willing to pay Wickham four thousand to save the living at Kympton for a more deserving man–someone who would shepherd and guide his flock–not prey upon the young women. With my agreement for the requested sum, Wickham signed away all rights to the living in legal documents witnessed by a clergyman from Lambton and was compensated with a cheque for four thousand pounds.”
Elizabeth was greatly affected that a disreputable man could be handed such a sumof money so easily.
“Mr Darcy, if you knew he was a wastrel, why would you give him a fortune from your estate?” she demanded to know. She realized that her uncle and aunt were disturbed that she would ask such a question in such a tone, but Mr Darcy was not offended. He rose from the seat near her uncle to come and sit beside her on the sofa.
“Miss Bennet, you have asked a very difficult question of me. May I explain?”
