I travelled to London, and tomorrow I have the unpleasant task of making sure Wickham attends his own wedding.
September
Today Lydia was married, and her reputation saved.
The morning started badly. I called on Wickham in his lodgings at half past ten as arranged and found him only half-dressed.
‘What is this?’ I asked. ‘You have to be at the church in half an hour.’
He poured himself a drink and threw it off.
‘It will only take us ten minutes to get to the church.
There is plenty of time.’
‘If you are beyond the hour you will not be able to marry today,’ I said.
‘Do you know, Darcy, if you had given me the living I wanted when I applied for it, all this unpleasantness could have been avoided.’
I made no reply.
‘It would have suited me better to marry other people rather than being married myself. I am beginning to think I do not want to be married at all,’ he said.
‘Then you must face your debtors.’
‘Ah. I would like that even less.’
He put his glass down and picked up his coat. He shrugged himself into it and tied his cravat, then we went out to the waiting carriage.
‘This is like our boyhoods,’ he said to me, as we climbed in. ‘The two of us together. I always thought you would stand up with me at my wedding. Lately I began to doubt it, but here we are you see, friends again.’
‘You are no friend of mine,’ I said.
He smiled tauntingly. ‘Unless I miss my guess we will soon be closer than friends. We will be brothers. ’ He lolled back on the squabs. ‘How happy it would have made our fathers, to know we will be so close to each other. We were almost brothers last year…’ He paused, and I required all my self-control not to respond. ‘But alas, fate had other ideas. Or, at least, you did. How is Georgiana?’
‘Better for being away from you.’
‘A pity. I did not think she would forget me so soon.
I rather thought she was in love with me. I am looking forward to seeing her again, when Lydia and I visit Pemberley.’
‘That is something you will never do,’ I said with finality.
The journey to St Clement’s was a short one. The church had been chosen because it was in the same parish as Wickham’s lodgings, and the rector was willing to perform the ceremony. He knew nothing of what had taken place in order to bring the marriage about, only that a young couple wished to wed. He greeted us with smiles as we entered the church and we waited for Lydia to arrive.
‘Perhaps she has changed her mind,’ said Wickham.
‘You could not hold that against me. You would still have to pay my debts.’
‘She will be here. Her aunt and uncle will see to it.’
At that moment Lydia entered the church. She glanced towards the altar then broke out in effusive spirits when she saw that Wickham had already arrived.
Her aunt and uncle bade her remember where she was, and walked with her to the front of the church.
‘I will be glad when this is all over,’ said Mr Gardiner to me in an undertone.
‘I agree,’ said his wife. ‘I tried to make her understand the worry she has caused her parents, the disgrace she has brought on her family and the gratitude she owes to those who have rescued her from ruin, but to no avail.
She paid no attention to me and instead talked constantly of Wickham, with every now and then a complaint that we never set foot outside the house.’
The ceremony began, and the marriage which had taken so long to bring about was quickly accomplished.
‘I hope you will thank Mr Darcy for all he has done,’ said Mrs Gardiner when it was over.
‘Mrs Wickham. How well it sounds!’ said Lydia, ignoring her aunt and gazing at the ring on her finger.
A number of curious people had entered the church, and Lydia showed them all her ring, telling them that they must congratulate her and be the first to call her by her new name.
‘How envious my sisters will be,’ she said, as we left the church. ‘Not one of them is married, though they are all older than me. I should be ashamed to be more than twenty and still not married. Jane is fast becoming an old maid. She will have to give up her place to me at the table, for I am a married woman now. What fun it will be! “Jane,” I will say, “I take your place now, and you must go lower, because I am a married woman. ”’
Mr and Mrs Gardiner exchanged glances.
‘They will all be so jealous of me and my handsome husband. I was so worried this morning, when we were coming to the church. I had a horror of him wearing black, but my happiness was complete when I saw he had chosen his blue coat.’
I felt a surge of satisfaction as I realized that Lydia will be just as silly as her mother, and I took enjoyment in the knowledge that Wickham will, after all, be punished for his iniquities, because he will have to live with her for the rest of his life.
I dined with the Gardiners this evening. We were all relieved that everything had passed off well. The last few weeks have been a strain, but everything turned out for the best.
They are a most pleasing couple. Mr Gardiner is intelligent, and Mrs Gardiner has a great deal of common sense. They are cultured and well-bred, and I spent a very pleasant evening in their company – so pleasant that I forgot I was in Gracechurch Street. I have spent many a worse evening at a better address.
To think I once dismissed them without even knowing them, and rejected Elizabeth because her relations did not fit my notion of what they should be! Had I turned such a critical eye on my own relatives I might have realized that she was not alone in having undesirable connections. Lady Catherine, for all her elegance, disgraced herself by suggesting that Elizabeth – her guest! – should practise the piano in the housekeeper’s room, something I am persuaded Mrs Gardiner would never do. And Bingley’s relations are hardly any better. Caroline Bingley might be a woman of breeding and fashion, but she is also a woman who is eaten up by jealousy and spite.
I returned to Pemberley to find that Caroline and Louisa were full of plans to visit Scarborough.
‘Do come with us, Mr Darcy,’ said Caroline. ‘Scarborough is so invigorating at this time of year.’
‘I have too much to do on my estate,’ I said.
‘But it would be so good for Georgiana. I do believe she has not seen the sea since last summer, when she stayed in Ramsgate. She must be pining for it. ’ She turned to Georgiana. ‘Would you not like to see it again?’
Georgiana blushed, and said she had no desire to do so. Caroline turned to me.
‘You would return to Pemberley refreshed, and manage twice as much work as if you had never gone,’ she said.
‘My intentions are fixed. But you must go,’ I said as she opened her mouth to change her mind. ‘The sea air will do you good.’
‘Sea air,’ said Mr Hurst, then retreated into his stupor.
Caroline, Louisa and Mr Hurst departed for Scarborough. They tried to persuade Bingley to go with them, but he said he had no wish to be blown about and would remain at Pemberley. Caroline encouraged the idea. She still believes he will marry Georgiana, and wants him to see her more often, though it is obvious to an impartial eye that he never will.
‘I think I will go to Netherfield again,’ said Bingley nonchalantly as we rode out this morning.
‘A good idea. If you mean to keep the house, you should use it from time to time.’