Alias Thomas Bennet (12 page)

Darcy’s defences immediately came to full alert. He roused himself from the amusing thoughts of a moment before, straightened to his full height, and clenched his fists at his sides. “I do know him, sir, and he is a scoundrel. He was the son of my father’s steward, a very good man, and I have known him most of my life. We played together as children, and I was aware of Wickham’s nature, but his pleasant manner allowed him to gain my late father’s good opinion. My father funded Mr. Wickham’s education through school and at Cambridge. Away from my father’s eyes, he used his charms to gain friends who shared his wicked ways. He quickly developed habits of gambling, deceit, and debauchery, which caused me to abandon any presumed friendship from our youth.” Darcy was unable to hide his disgust towards Wickham.

“He tells a tall tale of misuse at your hands, and as much as my family has tried to question the verity of his claims, much of Meryton is charmed by him. Tell me, is there any part of truth in his allegation that you denied him the living your father had promised?”

“I had every intention of honouring my dear father’s wishes,” said Darcy, “without regard to my own reservations. Mr. Wickham received a legacy of £1,000 on my father’s death and was to gain a most valuable living when one became vacant. However, Mr. Wickham expressed his disinclination for the clergy, saying that he would not be agreeable to a life of making sermons. He requested and accepted an additional sum of £3,000 for the study of law in lieu of the living promised by my good father.

“Not three years later, the living at Kympton became available, and Wickham returned to claim it, citing my father’s preferment and intention that his godson be well situated. Of course, I was incredulous and denied his claim, not only because Wickham had already been adequately recompensed, but also because I had strong reservations about his suitability for the church due to my observations of his dissolute behaviour. Since then, he has continued to speak ill of me and my family.”

“Well, that is very interesting. No doubt it was gaming that took most of that £4,000 in so short a time,” Bennet said crossly. He observed the subject of their discussion leaving the ballroom.

“Yes, and he has been known to leave debts of honour.”

“I will now tell you how I happened to know of Mr. Wickham. My daughters reported being introduced to him in Meryton by Lt. Denny, an officer of the ——shire Militia. They resumed the acquaintance again at the home of their Aunt Philips in Meryton, where they were enjoying a social evening with the officers and other young people of the neighbourhood. My daughters thought he had a more than agreeable countenance; his manners were attentive and his words flattering, but the two who spoke with him the longest felt an unsettling air about him. From the very start of the acquaintance, both Lizzy and Lydia suspected Mr. Wickham of a tendency towards ungentlemanlike behaviour. I do not believe other girls would be so astute as to identify his sly attempts to impose himself upon them nor confident enough to call attention to impropriety before it reached a scandalous nature; therefore, I am quite proud of the sensibility of my daughters.

“Lydia, my youngest, is sometimes naïve and impetuous, and at first she was charmed by his manners. However, the more he spoke, the less inclined she was to like him because she realised that the familiar manner in which he acted threw doubt on all aspects of his character.

“My Lizzy heard Mr. Wickham with a more favourable ear as she was less of a mind to accept
your
good nature. She had long been determined to think ill of you, probably due to your remark at the assembly—do not scowl at me, sir; I assure you that once she hears the true account of events, you will have redeemed yourself, at least a little—and although she was not at all pleased with his overly familiar manner, she did own that his story held just enough truth to incite sympathy for him and disgust for you.

“When we discussed Mr. Wickham on the way home from the party, I suggested to my daughters that we should not lend credence to his stories without further verification from a respectable source. I reminded Lizzy that your connections with Mr. Bingley and friendship with her own father would recommend you as an honourable gentleman.”

“Bennet, what you describe as his overly familiar manner alarms me. I suggest you protect your daughters from being alone with him else they are in danger of being manipulated further. He has caused more than one girl to leave her family for a life of shame, and he does not restrict his intrigues to those lower than himself. I am aware of a circumstance in which a young heiress was very nearly ruined by Wickham’s design to elope with her in order to gain access to her substantial fortune. I apologise for not relating the details of this travesty, but I am sensible to the family’s worry about the girl’s reputation, and I do not have permission to recount the particulars to you. I have no doubt you would be outraged were you to hear the details of his scheme.”

“Well, in that regard, I can report that Lizzy and Lydia used their wits to thwart his intended liberties—Darcy, calm yourself; I see that you are cross, as was I—but both girls were wary of the nature of his interest and did not fall victim. His bold flirtations were an insult to a proper lady, but my daughters were confident in their sense of propriety and were not hesitant to rebuff and chastise him. Their sisters were sensible to their distress and devised a diversion without creating a scene. My daughters are none the worse for it. It was certainly fortuitous that this occurred in company rather than during a walk in the woods!

“Not to be outwitted by a scandalous rake, my daughters wished to defend other girls from his advances so took it upon themselves to tactfully warn our neighbours and friends to avoid him. The decision of whether or not to heed the warning falls to the families in the area; as I said, that gentleman has already made himself a favourite with his pleasing manners and engaging smiles.”

Darcy spoke angrily. “The blackguard uses his flattery and charm to win people’s trust while taking advantage of their kindness and goodness. But there is another crime I must relate in warning, Bennet. Wickham’s imprudence in money matters has caused him to accumulate debts with tradesmen, and he has absconded from other counties leaving them unpaid. I have had to discharge rather substantial amounts in Cambridge, Lambton, and Ramsgate. The tradesmen of Meryton also deserve a warning that his word is unsound.”

“You are far too generous with the scoundrel, Darcy.”

“I admit to giving him many opportunities to mend his ways and become the man my good father had anticipated, but I have been disappointed too often. I have lost hope and will no longer shelter him.”

“Your father raised you well; you have turned out to be an honourable man. Pray, would you care to join me in a visit to the tradesmen in Meryton and the men’s club? I should like to warn my friends not to extend any credit to Wickham. We should also advise Colonel Forster; he would not be happy to have such a disreputable officer in his division.”

“I would like to oblige you, Bennet; however, I am to London to attend to urgent business matters and will be engaged for some time.” Darcy kept a neutral countenance, hoping his tone displayed regret, even though he was relieved to avoid further responsibilities related to George Wickham. As much as he enjoyed the company of Elizabeth, Bennet’s recognition of his admiration was incentive enough to quit Hertfordshire before Wickham became aware of Darcy’s feelings towards her and caused further damage.

“It is just as well,” said Bennet, “that you are not involved in his exposure in Hertfordshire. With his resentment of you, he may devise additional retribution towards your family.”

“If you think you can gather the information without alerting him, it is a good idea. But if he finds out and leaves the area, you can be certain he will find a way to take revenge. He is clever and without scruples.”

“I thank you for the warning. When are you returning to the neighbourhood?”

“I cannot say. I will stop in London for a few days to deal with some business matters then head to Pemberley. I miss my home, and it is difficult to run such an estate from afar.”

“You are a busy young man! No wonder you do not have a wife; you never stay in one place long enough to recommend yourself, and should you meet someone suitable, you do not have the time nor the inclination for courting!” Bennet shook his head in mock sympathy.

“I first need to find someone who inspires the need for courting, Bennet. The
ton
is lacking in ladies to my preference.” Darcy appeared resigned, but his voice expressed a lightened mood.

“Yes, Elizabeth mentioned some long list of accomplishments you require,” Bennet teased his friend, “and I believe it amused her greatly that you had impossibly high expectations. She also admitted to being quite entertained with Miss Bingley’s attempts to show you that she met all the requirements to be mistress of Pemberley.”

“Miss Bingley is representative of the manner of ladies who recommend themselves to me. They are handsome and fashionable, have had all the correct masters, and attend all the most sought-after soirees, but their conversation is insipid, and they are devoid of qualities that are dear to me such as sense and kindness. Thus, it seems I am doomed to remain unattached!” He said this with such levity that both men laughed.

“When do you leave for Town?” Bennet asked. He saw that Sir William Lucas was moving to join them.

“I plan to leave the day after tomorrow.”

“You will be in London for the Season then?”

“My position in society demands that I spend the greater part of the Season in Town, but I prefer the society in Derbyshire over the pressures of conforming to the whims of the
ton
. Were it not for the theatre, recitals and opera, I would be tempted to avoid London altogether. When I am away from Pemberley, I deal with quite a lot of correspondence, and I worry that I am neglecting my responsibilities.”

“Do you not have other properties than Pemberley?” Mr. Bennet asked. Sir William listened with great interest.

“Yes, sir, I own a house in town, smaller properties in Yorkshire and Scotland, and I am responsible for another estate in Derbyshire until the heir comes of age. I have very capable stewards in each location, but I am at Pemberley for much of the year, especially at sowing time and harvest, and I visit each of the other estates at some time during the year. Many people are dependent on each estate’s prosperity, and my presence helps to assure them of the master’s commitment to the ongoing viability of the estate and stability for future generations.”

At that point, Sir William recalled a time when he was away from Lucas Lodge and his responsibilities piled up, even with his sons attending to many of them. This led to a story about his getting lost in London on the way to St. James’s Court. Henry Lucas and Mary Bennet joined them, and even though they had heard the story before, they enjoyed Sir William’s gift of telling a tale with animated expression. Soon there was a small group gathered and laughing at Sir William’s antics.

Chapter 8:
Thomas Bennet and Mr. Miles meet whilst on a long trip.

June 1792
Aboard the English vessel Valhalla
En route from Portsmouth, England to Hamilton, Bermuda.

It was the third day of our voyage, and I was leaning against the ship’s rail taking in the sea air in hopes of fighting a mild bout of nausea, relieved that thus far I had not lost the contents of my stomach due to the unfamiliar movement of the ship. A deep, booming voice called out, “Good day, Bennet, you sorry old soul! Not feeding the fish today? Are you finally getting your sea legs?”

I turned to see the ship’s captain approaching me with a huge grin on his face.

“Excuse me, Captain, were you addressing me?” I asked as the captain stopped alongside me at the rail. I briefly noted this diversion had distracted me from my nausea: a sure relief.

“Yes, Bennet, could you not hear me? Are you getting deaf in your old age?” The captain grinned and spoke in a teasing manner as he clapped a hand on my shoulder. His brown and coarse face crinkled as if it were accustomed to laughing.

“I beg your pardon, Captain, but my name is not Bennet. You may have me mistaken for another.”

“Not Bennet? You are mocking me, sir. I see you have not your walking stick with you, but . . . ” He squinted and leaned towards me, and his eyes ran over my face.

“My word, indeed you are not he!” he said incredulously. “How strange! You bear an uncanny resemblance to my friend as he looked when we were in Cambridge together. I had momentarily forgotten his unfortunate injuries of late, else I would think you are playing some kind of trick on me! Bennet now has a bad leg, and he is missing part of his right ear; otherwise you are very nearly his twin!

“Oh, I must beg your forgiveness; my manners have escaped me. We have not been introduced. I am Captain Wood, at your service.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Captain. I am called Miles, sir.”

The captain laughed. “Mr. Miles, good, good. I am so very sorry to give you so much bother, but you do look shockingly like my dear friend from university, Mr. Thomas Bennet, most recently of Gloucestershire, who is also travelling with us to the colonies. Are you not a distant relation?”