“I last saw him when he was home for the Christmastide break, Andy,” Georgiana informed her cousin.
“And you did not miss Rich and me?” Andrew teased his young cousin.
“If Gigi did not miss you, we did,” Mary informed Andrew.
“You were missed as well, Andy and Rich,” Georgiana stated firmly, “I just missed William more!”
“You cut me to the quick, Gigi,” Richard said with fake hurt as he dramatically placed his hand over his heart, his antics earning him a punch on the arm from both Andrew and William.
After he greeted the rest of the Bennets, William turned to Elizabeth. “Hello Elizabeth,” William said as he gave her a half bow.
“William,” Elizabeth returned his bow with a half curtsy.
“It is my understanding that there are new masters who teach science and maths,” William saw no reason to delay his attempts at friendliness and engage Elizabeth in conversation, regardless of the audience they both knew were watching.
“Yes, Mr. May is very knowledgeable in the sciences, but especially astronomy,” Elizabeth replied pleasantly. “Mr. Deacon used to teach at Oxford and is very skilled in his field.”
William did not miss the knowing looks between their parents who knew that it would not be hard for them to converse about mutual interests. “From what I hear, you have a physician on staff now as well.” William stated.
“We do, Mr. Taylor. Mama told me it is because Uncle Freddy is here so often,” Elizabeth told William innocently.
William wondered why the doctor stayed at Netherfield when the Prince was not in the area, but decided not to ask, understanding it would not be one of the Bennet children who would know the reason—if there was one beyond what Elizabeth had told him.
“And the new singing master?” William asked. “Do you enjoy your lessons with him?”
“I, we all, do,” Elizabeth told William. The questions were so pointedly asked that her replies were more genuinely warm when given. “Mr. Mercury has one of the best voices I have heard.Signoreda Funti introduced him to Mama and Papa.” Elizbeth paused and added, “Sometimes, the masters and the doctor get together and play music. It is ever so good to hear them play, especially when theSignoreplays the pianoforte with the rest of them.”
As they followed the rest indoors, both William and Elizabeth accepted their parents had been correct; it would not be hard to become friends and enjoy conversation with one another when they were in each other’s company.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After his son George turned fifteen, Mr. Lucas Wickham told him that he was to be sent to a carpenter just outside of York to be apprenticed. George had begged and pleaded for his father not to send him away.
“George, how do you think you will support yourself if you do not learn a trade?” Mr. Wickham asked.
“Mr. Darcy will take care of me,” George replied, his tone surly.
“How many years has it been since Mr. Darcy has not allowed you into the park, never mind at the manor house?” Mr. Wickham asked and George turned away. “No matter how much I have tried to counteract the lies your mother told you, you have refused to heed my words, and it ruined your chances of a gentleman’s education which Mr. Darcy would have provided for you. Before you start blaming one and all for your lot in life, for once in your life be honest with yourself. Your choices alone have set you on the path you are on.”
“How can you say that about my mother, she was…” George began to say when his father cut him off.
“She was delusional, George. Not only that, but she was also a liar, a gambler, and a spendthrift. Do not become like her, always wanting what others have and not willing to work to gain that which you desire. If you become covetous like your mother was, it will lead to nothing but ruin for you,” Mr. Wickham told his son, who was getting angrier by the minute.
“You lie! My mother told me you would never allow her to have an allowance; that is why she had to gamble to make some money,” George spat back at his father.
Lucas Wickham stood and pulled a ledger from a pile on his desk. He handed it to his son without a word. It was titled ‘Helen Wickham – Allowance’ on the cover. George opened it and there he saw each and every month his mother’s allowance recorded with her signature next to each one.
“Why would she lie to me?” George asked quietly, his confusion sudden and overwhelming.
“I am afraid your mother did not tell the truth about much, Son,” Mr. Wickham replied gently. “If I had not had to cover so many debts she ran up in Lambton and Kympton, as well as her gambling debts, I would have had the money to send you to school and university without Mr. Darcy. Your mother’s profligate habits all but destroyed my savings. In the years since her death, I have tried to rebuild my savings, but I am still far from what I used to have. If I am lucky, I will have enough to leave you a small legacy one day.”
George Wickham felt as though his whole world was crashing down around his ears. If his mother lied about this, what else did she lie about. “How did mother die? You did not tell me at the time.”
“In childbirth,” Wickham senior shared. He hoped his son would not ask more as he did not want to disparage his late wife any more in his son’s eyes than had been done already.
“I would have had a brother or sister, and you another son or daughter?” George asked.
“You would have, I would not,” his father averred. Lucas Wickham could not lie to his son any more about the mother the boy had too long idealised.
