Page 93 of Roses from Pemberley
It was then that Lydia began to talk of their upcoming visit to Longbourn. “Oh, I shall be happy to see my friends and family again! And, though Jane and Lizzy are engaged, they still will have to defer to me because I am a married woman now! Will that not be amusing, Wicky?”
“Yes, indeed, my dear.”
“And how shall we get to Longbourn?” she asked suddenly. “Will you allow us the use of your carriage, Uncle?”
“I am afraid that will not be possible, Lydia. For my carriage is needed in London. But I have taken the liberty of getting you tickets for the afternoon coach.”
Lydia’s face fell. “The stage coach?”
“I daresay it will be quite comfortable,” said Gardiner.
“If I may, Mr. Gardiner,” said Darcy. “I am heading to Hertfordshire this very day and would be happy to take Mr. and Mrs. Wickham in my carriage. If you think you can obtain a refund on the tickets…”
“I shall have no problems withthat,but…you take too much upon yourself!”
“Yes,” said Wickham who, for once, was not being completely disagreeable, “we shall be fine travelling by coach.”
But Darcy could only take note of Lydia’s unhappy countenance and reiterated his offer to take them. She would have a difficult life as Wickham’s wife and he thought he could at least do this one last thing for her.
Thus, a few hours later, he found himself riding beside his own carriage as it headed for Hertfordshire with Lydia and Wickham inside. Unfortunately, towards the last hour of their journey, it began to rain, and thus he was forced to tether his horse to the back and ride within the compartment.
Only another hour,he told himself,and this shall be over.
Lydia chatted gaily throughout the trip and spoke of the many dresses and accessories she had purchased over the last weeks while Darcy, in turn, maintained a solemn expression and continued to look out the window.
“So will you have us at Pemberley?” he heard Wickham say once more. “We are brothers now, after all, or will soon be. Will that not be a marvellous reunion? You cannot fail to invite the relations of your soon to be wife, can you?”
Darcy kept his face calmly towards the window and only said, “We shall see.”
He wondered if hecouldhave Wickham at Pemberley again. Perhaps he could send Georgiana to Matlock for a few weeks if that were to happen. It would not be the end of the world. And Pemberley was large, so he supposed he would not have to spend more than an hour or two each day in Wickham’s company…
Darcy closed his eyes and hoped they would soon be at Longbourn. But he knew he would do anything for Elizabeth.
CHAPTER 41 A Visit from the Wickhams
Elizabeth stared at the clock on the mantlepiece. She had received a quick note from Darcy by express rider earlier that they would be arriving sometime in the late afternoon. And it was already ten minutes past five. It was raining, though, so that could account for the delay. She hoped that nothing untoward occurred on the trip, and that Wickham would not impose too much on Darcy. But she did wonder whatever had possessed him to bring Lydia and Wickham to Longbourn. She had understood from her aunt that Uncle Gardiner had purchased them tickets on the coach, so transporting them in his own carriage was unnecessary. Truly, it was too much.
Her mother was still upstairs and had asked to be called when they arrived. But her other three sisters were already in the drawing room, awaiting the guests. Bingley stayed at Netherfield to keep Diana and Georgiana company.
She had asked Georgiana if she was up to a quick meeting with Wickham, and the girl had in turn looked to Elizabeth for an answer.
“You may do whatever is comfortable for you, Georgie,” she had said, as she and Georgie sat together in one of Netherfield’s sitting rooms the day after Darcy left. “And we will abide by whatever you decide.”
“But what would you do, Elizabeth?” she’d asked.
Elizabeth already knew the answer and so she responded, “I would face him.”
“You would?”
“Yes.” She patted the girl’s hand. “The thing is, Georgie, that if you do not face him, he may become more…intimidating in your mind. When, in fact, he is just a man. A weak, pathetic man, truth be told, and one who has absolutely no power over you.”
“But what if he tells people about…Ramsgate?” (Georgiana had confessed to Elizabeth about her indiscretion weeks ago.)
“He will not,” said Elizabeth, “for he is now part of the family. And, as such, he has no reason to harm the family’s reputation. And you shall not be alone for your brother, Diana, and I, as well as Kitty and Mary will be there.”
Georgiana took some time to think it over and Elizabeth waited as the minutes went by.
“So you shall be there?” she asked.
