“I am well acquainted with the… the… officer in question. He grew up with me, his father being my father’s steward. Unfortunately, he is not a man of honourable character. He discovered Elizabeth and I were married, and I believe he only wishes to marry Lydia with the nefarious intent to benefit from my wealth. I believe they have come to London.”
“When did all this happen?”
“They departed Meryton sometime today. It was only discovered this afternoon.”
“And what can be done about it?”
“I know some of his acquaintances who reside in Town. There is one in particular with whom he will likely make contact. I am sure you agree that it is of the utmost urgency to recover her tonight. I do not trust the man.”
Mr. Gardiner took in a deep, solemn breath. “We must make every attempt to remove her tonight!”
“May I depend upon you to take her into your home?”
“Mr. Darcy, you may be assured we will and not only that, I shall accompany you. Let us leave directly. I only hope that my presence might do a little more to bring her to her senses.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gardiner. However, I do not have a carriage. As you may have guessed from my attire, I rode all the way from Hertfordshire.”
“We shall take mine. Allow me to inform my wife, and we shall be off without delay!”
After quietly informing Mrs. Gardiner what happened, Mr. Gardiner joined Darcy for the ride to Mrs. Younge’s boardinghouse. Along the way, he relayed the particulars of Wickham’s acquaintance with Lydia to her uncle.
Darcy also acquainted Mr. Gardiner with Wickham’s corrupt habits, including how he informed his aunt of their marriage in return for, Darcy believed, some sort of payment. However, he chose not to breach Georgiana’s confidence and, therefore, did not tell him of Wickham’s attempt to elope with her. “Knowing Wickham as I do,” Darcy concluded, “if he was able to separate my aunt from some of her money in exchange for the marriage certificate, chances are he will be intent to find himself a high-stakes card game and hope to win even more!”
Darcy went on to tell Mr. Gardiner of his aunt’s subsequent threats to Elizabeth that she was going to annul the marriage and then, of Mr. Bennet’s reaction to being informed of their marriage.
“You have had quite a trying day, have you not, Mr. Darcy?”
“That would be one way to describe it.”
“And your aunt, what do you suppose she intends to do?”
“I do believe she will attempt to discredit our marriage or perhaps even Elizabeth. I know my aunt too well. She does not make idle threats.” Darcy shook his head. “She may not be able to use her wealth and power to annul our marriage, but she will make a definitive display of her disapproval.”
Mr. Gardiner smiled reassuringly. “Surely your aunt is not as vindictive as you think. My niece is a fine young woman. I am certain you will help her to see reason, Mr. Darcy.”
“Elizabeth is a wonderful woman, but you do not know my aunt. I may be required to resort to some threats of my own to ensure she behaves in a way that respects my wife as well as my decisions.”
The men rode the remainder of the way in silence to Mrs. Younge’s boardinghouse, where Mr. Gardiner exited the carriage first, turning to Darcy. “Is this Mrs. Younge acquainted with you, Mr. Darcy?”
“I doubt she will ever forget my face in view of my behaviour toward her the last time I was in her company.”
“Hmmm.” Mr. Gardiner stood at the door to the carriage, effectually blocking it so Darcy could not get out himself. “I do not believe she will willingly give you the information you seek about this Wickham, given your history. Perhaps I should go in and inquire of his whereabouts.”
Darcy looked at Mr. Gardiner with much respect. “I had planned to offer her a rather large monetary enticement to ensure her cooperation.”
Mr. Gardiner put up his hand and waved it through the air. “No need to bribe her, Mr. Darcy. Why reward her when her character is just as despicable as Wickham’s?”
“I doubt that she will give us the information without it!”
“Just leave it to me,” Mr. Gardiner assured Darcy. “If you will allow me to see to the lady, alone, sir, I hope to return promptly with his whereabouts.”
Darcy watched in astonishment as Mr. Gardiner tilted his hat askew, loosened his neckcloth, and began to stagger toward Mrs. Younge’s front door. Darcy let out a soft chuckle as he realized Mr. Gardiner was going to portray himself as a man quite inebriated.
Mr. Gardiner approached the front door of the boardinghouse and knocked. The door opened and a young woman peered out.
“May I help you, sir?” she asked nervously.
He removed his hat and gave an exaggerated bow. “I certainly hope… so.” He slurred his speech in long, drawn out syllables. “I am lookin’ for a Mrs. Younge.”
“Just a minute, sir.”
The girl stepped away from the door and Mr. Gardiner placed a foot strategically against the jamb.
Another woman approached him. “I am Mrs. Younge. Do you wish for a room?”
“No, not tonight. I unner… unner… stand…my good ol’ friend… George Wickham… came into… Town… to… today.” He swayed a little to reinforce his character.
“I am sorry, sir, I do not know a Mr. Wickham.”
“Ohhh.” He said, looking down at his hands. “Are you… are you… Mrs. Younge?”
“Yes, but…”
“Good!” Mr. Gardiner clapped his hands loudly and leaned toward her. “He told me to come see you… he told me to let him know if I could get him in some decent card games with some high… some high stakes… I found just the game he is looking for! Yep! Should make Wickham quite happy, knowing his cir… circum… stance.” Placing his hands against the doorframe as if to steady himself, he looked up at her and winked. “Some… easy, well-to-do-targets… in this one.”
Mrs. Younge narrowed her eyes at the man before her. His dress was only moderately fashionable, he was obviously intoxicated, but certainly not a man of the finer circles of society. “And you said the stakes are high in this game?”
As Mr. Gardiner watched this woman’s face, he saw her suspicion and scepticism fade away, replaced by a look of outright greed.
“Most assuredly. My good friend Wickham will be most… will be most pleased… to know we have some aff… aff… affluent players who are little concerned about parting with their… parting with their money. You know how su… superior Wickham’s card playing is… and with the bundle I un… understand he has, he will stand up nicely with these men. If you know wha… what I mean, madam.”
Mrs. Younge smiled. She knew Wickham had come into a respectably large sum and wished to increase it to get him by until everything was arranged for his and Lydia’s marriage. At that point, he had reassured her, he would have no difficulty securing a nice amount of spending money from his future brother-in-law, Fitzwilliam Darcy! She sneered to herself as she thought of the man who had previously ruined their similar plans with Georgiana.
“Very well,” said Mrs. Younge. “But he is not in this boardinghouse. It was full. He is staying across the road in one of the cottages in the back. It is number seven, just off to the right. You cannot miss it.”
“I thank you very much!” smiled Mr. Gardiner and tipped his hat. He turned to leave, and just as he was about to walk out the door he looked back at her. “And Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy thanks you, as well!” He straightened up and spoke as clearly and as soberly as a judge, leaving Mrs. Younge flabbergasted.
The two men hurriedly crossed the road and easily found cottage number seven. They gave each other a determined glance as if to say, “Let us go to it!”
Darcy’s hands were already clenched in a fist when he hurried up the steps and pounded on the door.
An irritated voice called out, “Who is it?”
Darcy recoiled at the familiar sound of Wickham’s voice. Mr. Gardiner put up a hand to Darcy to indicate he would take care of this.