Alias Thomas Bennet (31 page)

She glowered as she threatened him. “If there is any chance that you will bed or marry any woman but me, I will tell all that I know, and you will land in prison.”

Wickham closed his eyes and let out a frustrated breath. He was ready to thrash her but recomposed himself and looked at her with doe eyes.

“Have I not stood by you all along and kept our dalliance a secret? You would not want me to ruin your reputation by disclosing our affair.”

“We would marry in that case.”

“We will marry, my Maria,” he said, lying with the ease of one who had a lifetime of practise. “And we will have enough money to keep you in new gowns for the rest of your life. You should know by now that I need you and love you. You are my good luck charm.”

But he was unable to convince her. Maria regarded him with scorn and then turned and stormed out the door, slamming it behind her. Wickham was incensed. He was tempted to go after her and show her that he was in charge, to beat her as she deserved. He heard her huff as she stamped along the path towards Lucas Lodge. When he no longer heard her footsteps, Wickham roared with anger and slammed his hand down on the table.

How dare she threaten me with exposure! She knows just how fragile my freedom is, and she knows how much of a risk I’ve taken in coming to Hertfordshire. Damn woman! Why does she have to be so exasperating? I could have practically any woman I choose. If I want to have Elizabeth Bennet, I will. I will kidnap her for her fortune, have my fill of her, and then send her back to Darcy ruined. I will live off blasted Elizabeth Bennet’s money. But now Maria is too suspicious, and I have to do the kidnapping on my own.

Another possibility occurred to him.

Perhaps Bertha Younge is still in love with me? She is as good in bed as any I have had.
She owes me for her mistakes in Ramsgate, and she is always willing to do my bidding in exchange for my attentions. I will have to pay her a visit and call in a favour for help with a kidnapping. The less Maria knows about this, the better.

Wickham raised himself up to his full height and paused to recover from his anger. He ambled over to a chair and sat. A crooked smile made its way across his face as he started to make new plans.

***

Matlock House, London

Darcy waited patiently as his aunt, the Countess of Matlock, read the letter he had delivered upon his arrival in London.

Longbourn, Saturday April 18

Dear Madam

You must forgive my impertinence in addressing you without a proper introduction; however, I trust that in my delivering this missive by the hands of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, you will accept its importance.

My name is Mr. Thomas Bennet, of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. I have been the appointed guardian of Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth Lydon since the death of Lord Shelton en route to Bermuda aboard the English vessel Valhalla in 1792 . . .

Darcy stood with a purposefully detached expression and watched hers move through a variety of emotions as she read through the history of Jane and Elizabeth’s lives after becoming part of the Bennet family, up to the present day where they had just been informed of their identity and fortunes. When she finished, she looked up at him with eyes brimming with tears.

“Fitzwilliam, you know this man, this Thomas Bennet?” she asked, shaking with anger.

Darcy nodded. He had anticipated his aunt’s reaction and was trying to appear dispassionate because he felt his calm demeanour would help soothe his aunt in her emotional state.

“What in the world was Shelton thinking, leaving the girls with this man?” she cried. “He knew they had family here in England who would care for them. He could have had this . . . this . . .
Bennet
”—she spat out the word—“man escort them back to us!”

“Does his letter not describe his situation? The conditions attached to Lord Shelton’s will?”

“That does not excuse him! They were here these 18 years, and he never made an effort to have them as much as visit us! It is unconscionable!”

“I do not think that Lord Shelton foresaw Bennet’s return to England when he made his will,” Darcy said impassively. “In his intention to protect Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth from fortune hunters, he required their true identities kept secret.”

Lady Matlock huffed. She reread a section of the letter, and her eyes again misted in pleasant recollection. Her expression became tender as she reminisced.

“Little Jenny and Baby Beth,” said Lady Matlock softly. She searched Darcy’s face. “You are betrothed to Lady Elizabeth?”

Darcy broke his formality and favoured his aunt with a broad smile as he confirmed it. At her urging, he described the circumstances under which he had met the Bennets, how he became good friends with Mr. Bennet and had eventually found out their connection to him and his family upon the conditions of Lord Shelton’s will becoming implemented. As he told the story, his aunt’s anger was softened.

When he stated that the London papers would soon carry the announcement of the marriages of Mr. Charles Bingley to Lady Jane Lydon and of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy to Lady Elizabeth Lydon, she said, “It will set a buzz within the
ton
such as has not been heard for many years.”

Darcy visibly flinched, unable to hide his loathing at the prospect of such attention as was inevitable under the circumstances. She felt for her shy nephew’s reluctance to be noticed in society; this event would open him to even more scrutiny than he had become accustomed to as a single man of good fortune. She returned the discussion to the letter from Thomas Bennet, asking Darcy many questions about the man and his family, which Darcy answered to the best of his knowledge. Feeling justified in ensuring that the Shelton ladies had a proper upbringing, Lady Matlock was very thorough in her inquisition. Darcy’s assurances left her somewhat mollified; his words inspired confidence that the young ladies were genteel in nature, well bred, and wanting nothing in their comfort or education.

“He has asked me to assist Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth,” she said. She paused to peruse the letter again, and read the passage aloud, “‘and their sister, Miss Mary Bennet, in their introduction into the first circles of London society. I suggest that you might collaborate with Mrs. Madeleine Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet’s sister-in-law, to work on the purchase of their trousseaux.’”

Darcy made no response.

“Well, there is no need to dawdle, Fitzwilliam. You will take me to your carriage and escort me immediately to this Gardiner family so that I can reacquaint myself with my goddaughter and her sister.”

***

When Lady Matlock met the eldest three Bennet girls, she clearly saw Jane’s and Elizabeth’s resemblance to her sister and their birth mother, Lady Shelton. The meeting was tearful and happy for Lady Matlock. She was enthusiastic about getting to know her long-lost nieces. She went on to offer to obtain invitations for balls, soirees and musicales hosted by the most illustrious leaders of the London set and to introduce them to influential individuals in order for the girls to take their proper place in the hierarchy of society and, by extension, for their sister Mary to become known.

Lady Matlock predicted the excessive deference to which Jane and Elizabeth, as the new darlings of the
ton
, would be subject. Many people who had brushed them off in the past would now be approaching with false sincerity in hopes of cultivating a relationship to their advantage in society. At her advice, Mr. Gardiner had the knocker removed from the front door until Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth became comfortable with the protocols of women of their rank. Soon after their engagements were announced and the London community had dispatched its spies to discover where the Lydon ladies were residing, the inevitable plethora of calling cards were left at the Gardiner home in Gracechurch Street.

***

Longbourn, Hertfordshire

Bennet received a letter from his cousin, Mr. Collins, which read as follows:

Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, April 22 – 1812

My dear cousin Bennet;

As duty falls to me, mingling with my very good opinion of my authority as a clergyman and rights as a rector, I congratulate your two eldest daughters on their betrothals. I must also pay my compliments in deference to their superior positions due to their newfound fortunes as Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth Lydon. I hope they will condescend to my humble request to congratulate them in person when next I call at Longbourn. My coming thither will provide me with the greatest satisfaction, as I hold all the dear ladies of your family in terms of the highest admiration, and I have always thought them to be agreeable young ladies to Mrs. Collins and myself. Be assured that, when I am able to relate this most joyous intelligence to my benefactress, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Miss de Bourgh on their expected return to Rosings, my happiness will be complete.

I do not think it of light importance that I should have attentive and conciliatory manners towards everybody, especially towards those to whom I owe my preferment. I cannot acquit myself of that duty; nor could I think well of the man who should omit an occasion of testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the family.

The respect which I feel for my ladies’ high rank, and in my veneration for their position in society, I relish my position in honouring your kind daughters’ favour with the most solemnity of gratitude and humbly hope that I can ingratiate myself to them with my own humility. For a want of having me improve myself, I am most thankful that the discovery is made in time for me to pay my respects to them, and I trust Lady Jane and Lady Elizabeth will excuse my not having done it before. My total ignorance of the connection must plead my apology. I would appreciate being paid the compliment of their grand condescension, and I am confident that they will deign to recognize their friends in Hertfordshire and Kent.

Your servant,
William Collins

He sighed as he handed the letter to his wife to examine.

“Oh, Thomas, you must be so disappointed.”

“I am ashamed my pride allowed me to assume that I had convinced him to change his sycophantic ways when he visited last autumn.”

“Elizabeth’s accounts of Charlotte’s success were in the same vein.”

“The tone of the letter indicates that he is as obsequious as before I intervened.”

“If this is Mr. Collins’s view of Jane’s and Lizzy’s new notoriety, imagine what it bodes for them once others find out about it,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Our girls will be inundated by the attention of not only people like Collins, but also by those with less noble reasons for courting their favour.”

Bennet nodded and then reviewed a section of the letter.

“What will Lady Catherine say?”

***

It was one of the most exciting evenings in Elizabeth’s life. She, Mary, Jane and the Gardiners were on their way for an evening at the opera. She had attended smaller theatre productions with her aunt and uncle when she was in Town for the Season before, but she had not the opportunity to attend the opera until they were all invited, along with Mr. Bingley, to attend in Mr. Darcy’s box. She peered out the window of the Gardiners’ carriage as they waited in the queue in front of Covent Garden. When Uncle Gardiner finally handed the four ladies out, Elizabeth took in the multitude of stylish ladies and foppish gentlemen gliding along, preening and posturing in all their finery, hoping to be noticed by the best of the
haute monde
.

As they entered the theatre, Elizabeth continued to be in awe of all she saw. She was enthralled by the architecture and art, beautiful embossed wallpapers, decorative stucco, gilded plasterwork, carved woodwork, fine carpets, ornate sconces and huge chandeliers. This opulence was new to her experience; she never expected half as much splendour.

“Oh, Aunt, I have never seen so many beautifully dressed women in my life!” Elizabeth observed. “My little ball gown is so plain compared to theirs. I am very glad you convinced me to wear your arm-bands and wrap so I would look at least half as elegant.”

“Nothing is wanting in your appearance, dearest Lizzy,” Mrs. Gardiner assured her niece. With the extra lace and ribbon we added, your dress is perfect for the occasion. Many of the other ladies are decidedly overdressed. Look at that one over there; her lace is literally pulling down her décolletage, and it is such an unbecoming colour!”

“That is Miss Bingley! Oh my, we must greet her,” said Jane, who made to move in that direction. The gentle touch of her aunt’s hand reminded her that she should not be so hasty, since her new social stature demanded a different deportment than was her wont.

“It would be most polite for you to wait until the interval, dear, and then
she
must approach you. Then you may acknowledge her.”

Elizabeth was relieved but knew the feeling would not last for long, as it would be inevitable that Miss Bingley would want to perform, not with her usual haughty manners, but with an uncommon amount of insincerity.