Women of Pemberley (21 page)

She was surprised but not necessarily upset.
Charlotte continued:

Dear Eliza, I am not aware if Mary and Jonathan have discussed their kind invitation to me with you, but, for my part, I would like very much to see you and know that you and Jane have no objection to it.

I want to reassure you that I shall be taking up residence as a guest, invited by Mary and Jonathan. I believe Mary has been rather lonely of late, especially since the death of her friend, Mrs Langley, the organist at the church. She had indicated to Jonathan that she would very much appreciate my company. I am sure I shall feel the same.

I shall, of course, pay my share of the expenses and the wages of my maid.

The letter concluded with her usual greetings and good wishes. Elizabeth hastened to reply, wishing both to reassure Charlotte that she had no objection at all to her accepting Mary's invitation to stay at Longbourn and to confirm the dates for her visit to Pemberley.
She was about to ring for some tea when her maid hurried in with a letter that had only just been delivered. Elizabeth could tell from the handwriting that it was from Cassandra. Opening it at once, she settled down to enjoy what she expected to be an account of their first few weeks in London. She had missed her daughter and welcomed all the news.
Indeed, she was quite diverted by Cassandra's description of a visit to a dressmaker, where she had been confronted for the first time with the very latest in ladies' fashions--the hideous and unwieldy cage crinoline.
Cassy was horrified by it; she wrote:

It must surely be the most inconvenient fashion ever--I am sure it would get in the way of everything. And how one would ever get into a carriage or a hansom cab, I cannot imagine!

But, just as Elizabeth was relaxing into her chair with a smile, the next page of Cassy's letter, which appeared to have been written a couple of days later, caused her to sit up in considerable agitation.

Cassandra's tone had changed altogether.
Dear Mama, I do not know quite how to tell you, but there is something very disturbing going on, which I am sure will concern you and Papa.

You will remember Sophie's sister-in-law, Frances--Daniel Lambert's youngest sister--who was one of the bridesmaids. Well, she has been in London staying with an aunt in Knightsbridge. I have met them briefly in the park and at the Robinsons', where we were invited to dinner last Saturday.

Mama, you will not be pleased to hear that on both occasions Fanny Lambert was escorted by none other than Henry Wickham, Aunt Lydia's son, and his father arrived in the course of the evening to join the party. They appear to be friends of the Robinsons.

At first, I thought I might have been mistaken, since I am not very familiar with Mr Wickham Senior; but I was introduced to him, so there could be no mistake. Indeed, he rather cheekily asked to be remembered to you and Papa!

"Did he indeed?" cried Elizabeth, angrier than she had been in years. Turning over the page, she read on.

I have mentioned this to Richard, who thinks it may be much ado about nothing, since Fanny Lambert is not yet sixteen. But I am not so sure, for she seems very naive and impressionable, and Henry Wickham is very handsome and has a smooth manner that could well take her in completely. I did manage to have a little chat with her and have invited her to take tea with me next week, when I shall attempt to discover more about this friendship with young Mr Wickham.

I do know that Papa and you are exceedingly wary of the entire Wickham clan, so I promise to keep you informed.

When Darcy returned that evening, Elizabeth did not wait long before she mentioned Cassy's letter. "I have had a letter from Cassy," she said, and he turned to her with a smile.

"Indeed, and is she enjoying London?" he asked, expecting her to hand him the letter or read it to him as she usually did.
When she did not, he seemed puzzled. "What is it, Lizzie? Is there some problem? Is it Richard or one of the children?" He sounded anxious, and she immediately tried to reassure him.
"Oh no, dearest, it's nothing like that. They are all perfectly well. But I'm afraid there is some unpleasant news. Fanny Lambert--Daniel's youngest sister--is in London and so, it seems, is Mr Henry Wickham. Cassy has seen them together twice and has gained the impression that he is courting her. On the last occasion, when they dined at the Robinsons', George Wickham himself was one of the party." She handed him the letter, which he scanned hurriedly.
Darcy was clearly appalled. "Lizzie, this is bad news indeed. Miss Lambert must be totally ignorant of his background. The Lamberts would be horrified if they knew the truth."
Elizabeth was at a loss. "What is to be done? She is little more than a child."
"That has never inhibited Wickham. He probably knows that her father is a wealthy man and, with her brother in Parliament, she is just the kind of young woman Wickham would seek to exploit. If Henry Wickham is anything like his father, and is determined to woo her, she is in grave danger indeed," he said, and Elizabeth could hear the suppressed anger in his voice.
Darcy had a very determined expression and even before he spoke, Elizabeth guessed what he intended. "There is only one thing to be done, Lizzie--what I did not do on the last occasion all those years ago, when so many people suffered as a result. This time, I shall do what I must. I shall speak first with Bingley and then see Sir Tristram Lambert.
"It is intolerable that Wickham and his son should be able to insinuate themselves into the society of those who have no knowledge of his true character and his past behaviour. Their ignorance makes them vulnerable.
"I shall lay the facts before Sir Tristram, and he can decide if he wishes to acquaint his daughter with all or part of the story. At least I shall have done my duty."
Elizabeth realised what it would cost him to do this thing--the mortification would be unbearable. She put her arms around him and told him that, if he preferred it, she could speak to her sister and let the Bingleys tell Sir Tristram. But he was quite determined. It was, he said, his responsibility, and he must carry it through.
"Bingley has no direct knowledge of Wickham and his misdeeds. I do, and I must speak up. There is no other way, Lizzie," he said.
Darcy made his plans with discretion and care, reporting later to Elizabeth that Bingley had agreed with him that the Lamberts had to be told. It was a matter of principle, and the fact that he would need to reveal information that was private and personal to his own family was something that had to be borne.
"I would not wish to have it on my conscience, Lizzie," he said with the kind of determination against which, Elizabeth knew, it was impossible to argue. On some issues he was implacable, but so strongly did she believe in his integrity and trust his judgement that she accepted his decision on this matter without question.
Elizabeth visited her aunt, Mrs Gardiner, to discuss the subject and found her in every way in agreement with Mr Darcy. "There is no question, Lizzie, your husband is absolutely right. The Lamberts have to be told--if only to allow them an opportunity to protect their daughter from what might be a most unfortunate association. Should the girl believe herself in love and, like our Lydia, do something foolish, it would be disastrous!" she warned.
"And Darcy would never forgive himself," added her niece grimly.
Elizabeth had already written to Cassandra urging her to keep as close a watch as possible on young Fanny Lambert:

It is imperative that you stay in touch with her and her aunt; be as friendly and amenable as you can, but do not let her discover that you have written to us. If she should confide in you, listen and advise caution, but do not say anything that may cause Mr Wickham to be suspicious of you. Dear Cassy, whatever you do, do not let Fanny elope with Henry Wickham!

Meanwhile, Papa will attend to matters here; he hopes to warn Sir Tristram of George Wickham's past misdeeds.

Elizabeth hoped desperately that nothing untoward would happen in the meantime. She knew Bingley would soon convey all of the matter to Jane, and she wondered what her sister's response would be. Would Jane, ever tender-hearted and scrupulously fair, consider that it was unfair and uncharitable to condemn young Henry Wickham on account of his father's sins and perhaps blight his reputation and prospects in the way that Darcy's revelations would? Could there be another way to deal with the situation? Try as she might, Elizabeth could not see one.

She was in a flutter of uncertainty when a letter was received from Jane revealing that her sister and Bingley were as one with Mr Darcy on the subject of the Wickhams and Fanny Lambert.

Anxious to avoid any embarrassment to the Lambert family resulting from an association with Henry Wickham and his father, Jane wrote:

In fact, Lizzie, Bingley was so concerned he offered to speak with Daniel Lambert himself, but Mr Darcy was quite determined that it was his responsibility.

I suppose it must be done, if only to avoid any awkwardness should the Lamberts, in ignorance, permit him to court Fanny. She is, Sophie tells me, very young and innocent, and it would be dreadful if young Henry Wickham turns out to be as duplicitous as his father.

Of course, as I did say to Bingley, we cannot know for certain that this is the case. Henry Wickham may be a perfectly decent gentleman-- although, with a father so lacking in principle and a mother as undisciplined as Lydia, it is very unlikely.

But Lizzie, we are all astonished at the remarkable forethought and sensibility Cassandra has shown in this matter. To have remembered young Wickham and observed Fanny's involvement with him is natural enough, but to go further and alert you and Mr Darcy shows a keen awareness of her responsibility to her family. I know we are very grateful to her, and I am sure the Lambert family will be too, once the truth is known.

Elizabeth smiled as she read Jane's words; her sister had certainly come a long way since the days when she had been reluctant to make any judgement at all, fearing she would be too harsh upon one of her fellow human beings! She agreed wholeheartedly about Cassy, whose fine understanding and sensitivity set her apart. Elizabeth was very proud of her daughter.

Darcy returned later that evening and, to Elizabeth's relief, he was smiling as he came up the stairs. Seeing her puzzled expression, he stopped at the top of the stairs. "Why, Lizzie, my dear, you look rather surprised to see me," he said, to which she confessed that she had not expected to see him looking quite so cheerful after what must have been a difficult day.

At which, Darcy took her arm and guided her towards their sitting room, where he revealed that, far from being "difficult," it had turned out to be an excellent day.

Elizabeth was even more confused than ever. "Dearest, whatever are you talking about? Were you not seeing Sir Tristram today to tell him about Wickham?"

"Indeed, I was, and that is exactly what I did. But, my dear Lizzie, I had no need even to mention the name of Wickham," he declared.
"Why ever not?" Elizabeth asked, quite nonplussed.
"Because, my dear, Cassy and Jonathan Bingley had got there before me." Seeing the look of astonishment upon her face, he proceeded to explain, "Indeed, I understand Cassy spoke last week to Daniel Lambert and Sophie, who in turn had warned Miss Fanny Lambert, while Jonathan and Daniel confronted young Wickham and warned him off. I believe he is just as feckless and wasteful as his father and spends a lot of time at the gaming tables in the clubs, and he is not very discreet about the company he keeps."
"How did you discover all this?" Elizabeth asked, still unable to understand how it had come about.
"I met Bingley in Derby this morning. Jonathan was at Ashford Park yesterday and Jane has a letter from Sophie."
"So you did not need to see Sir Tristram after all?"
Darcy had a mischievous smile when he replied, "No, but I did at the cricket to which Bingley insisted on taking me. We had a most satisfying day. Sir Tristram is very impressed with Richard and Cassy. He said to me, 'Mr Darcy, you must be very proud of that fine young couple.'"
"And of course, you agreed completely," said his wife.
"Of course," he replied, smiling as she rang to order tea.
As Elizabeth contemplated the quiet evening, watching the sky darken and a quarter moon emerge from the clouds, Darcy remembered that he had something for her. "Oh, I do apologise, my love. I had forgotten about this. Jonathan brought it. It's for you, from Cassy."
Elizabeth could hardly wait to take the wrappings off the little package he had handed her. When it was open, she gave a cry of delight. "Oh, look, is it not beautiful?" she cried as she showed him a small, carved elephant in shining ebony with little ivory tusks. Surprised and delighted, she admired the superb craftsmanship."It is perfect in every detail," she said, marvelling at its tiny proportions.
Darcy agreed and suggested that the enclosed letter might explain where it came from.
Elizabeth wasted no time at all opening Cassandra's note, obviously penned in haste, which she proceeded to read aloud:

Dearest Mama,

We found this dear little elephant at an exhibition of crafts from the colonies and thought you would like to have it. I am sure he would look very nice on your dressing table.

We are well settled at Portman Square now, and Richard works very hard at the hospital every day. He says there is a lot to learn. I think he wants the new hospital at Matlock to be the best in England, so keen is he to get it all right.

Meanwhile, the children and I have already been to Hyde Park, the Museum, and the Tower of London, where the boys insisted on calling out "Off with his head"--much to my embarrassment!!

Now, Mama, regarding this distressing matter of Fanny Lambert and Mr Henry Wickham--you will be happy to hear it is all settled.
As I wrote you in my last letter, she was to have tea with me and I had hoped to pass on a few discreet words of advice, but suddenly, with no warning at all, things became very serious.
Fanny arrived looking nervous, which I could not understand, for she had been very much at ease when we last met. In less than an hour, she became restless and exceedingly keen to depart. She claimed her aunt was expecting her home before six o'clock.
I offered to convey her there if she could wait until Richard returned, but she seemed to become very desperate indeed and declared that she had arranged to be conveyed from Portman Square to Knightsbridge in a hansom cab.
At this, even my unsuspicious mind was alerted.
When the cab arrived sharp on five I escorted her to the door, and lo and behold if it was not Mr Wickham--Henry, that is--in the cab! Mama, I was absolutely determined she was not to leave my house with him and was about to chaperone them myself when Richard arrived home. We sent the cab away and went indoors again, this time including Mr Wickham. Richard, who had read your letter, was determined that Fanny was not leaving with Henry Wickham in a hansom cab!
Later, we drove them over to Knightsbridge and there, as luck would have it, we found Sophie and Daniel Lambert just arrived and waiting for Fanny.
Well, that was the last time we saw Henry Wickham because, as soon as he had left, I made sure that Sophie knew enough to convince Daniel and Fanny that the Wickhams were personae non gratae.
Sophie tells me that Fanny claimed she had liked him at first because he is awfully handsome, but she was rather bored with him because he talked only of horses and gaming! He had asked her aunt's permission to escort Fanny to a ball next week, and a picnic to Henley was being planned! I do believe Jonathan was called in to help Daniel tell Mr W he was not welcome.
So, Mama, you need have no fears; we have probably saved Fanny from a fate worse than death!!!
It is to be hoped the poor girl has not been put off beaux altogether. If she has, no doubt she will get over it in time. She is certainly young and pretty enough, and, fortunately, unlike our Aunt Lydia, she is not stupid.
To change the subject to something far pleasanter, we are invited to Standish Park on Saturday to spend a few days with Emma and James. Emma has been exceedingly helpful, for I know so little of London and would have been lost without her help.
She and James are so happy; it is a joy to be with them. Charles is a most adorable infant, and Victoria and Stephanie are quite grown up and look just beautiful. Emma is very protective of them, and as for James, you cannot believe what an excellent father he is to the girls.
Dearest Mama and Papa, London is crowded and exciting, but it is also cold and wet, and some of the streets are far from clean. The children do not much like it, either, except when they can ride in a hansom cab, which we all love. I am assured that the weather is a good deal nicer in Kent.
There is a lot of talk around about a war, which everyone seems to think is inevitable. James, who has many friends in the Foreign Office, says that France is eager to go to war with Russia to recover some lost prestige. Can you think of a more stupid reason to go to war?
Richard believes there may be war because everyone is very suspicious of the Tsar and they are spoiling for a fight with Russia.
This I do not like at all and do hope and pray it will not happen, or at least not until we are all safely back at home in Derbyshire.
We do miss you all very much. I trust you and Papa are well--and now that the problem of Mr W is settled, you need have no anxieties at all.
Your loving daughter,
Cassy.