“Aunt Cat! Have you not noticed how no one in the family pays her nonsensical ramblings any heed? Do not tell me you also believe her codswallop about being betrothed to Anne. You need to talk to your parents, William. I suggest you tell them what happened today when they return home this evening—before they hear about it from anyone else. It may save you a much-deserved thrashing,” Richard told his younger cousin who was thoroughly chagrined.
“Have I really become an insufferable and arrogant snob, Rich?” William asked, wincing when his cousin nodded vigorously.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Lizzy, my Princess, you know you did naught wrong, do you not? You had permission to play, and may I say you played beautifully today,” Fanny soothed her still upset daughter.
“But why did that awful boy shout at me?” Elizabeth asked as her tears again flowed down her wet cheeks.
“He made an assumption and did not stop to verify the facts before he acted,” Fanny explained. “Now do you girls understand why your father and I tell you never to make assumptions? As Lizzy was hurt today, it can hurt people if we assume our opinions are facts and act on them.”
“You had permission from both the housekeeper and Mama to play, so you did no wrong, my girl,” Bennet assured his second daughter. “Come, let us forget this unpleasantness, and after a rest we will join the Lamberts at the parsonage and meet your soon-to-be aunt.
The prospect of the visit succeeded in diverting the girls’ attention. Two hours later, the Bennets made their way to the parsonage across the green in the centre of the town, past an enormous chestnut tree in the middle of said green.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Robert and Lady Anne Darcy arrived home from Snowhaven, they did not miss the troubled look on Mrs. Reynolds face nor the agitation of their son. Their nephew was the only one who seemed his normal, affable self. The parents went to the master suite to change, then summoned the three to the master’s study.
“What is it? What has happened?” Robert Darcy asked as he sat on a sofa in the study with his beloved wife next to him.
“There were visitors today, sir,” Mrs. Reynolds started.
“Not an uncommon occurrence for people to come view the house, Mrs. Reynolds,” Lady Anne stated questioningly.
“They were what looked to me, sir and madame, a very well to do family, parents and three delightful daughters.” The Darcy parents did not miss how their son blanched as the housekeeper said the last. “On the tour, as is normal, we ended in the music room. I saw the three girls, who I now know are seven, five, and three, looking longingly at your pianoforte, my Lady. I thought to indulge them and half-jokingly asked if one of them would like to play a tune, not truly thinking either able.”
“Richard and I left our chambers and we heard playing; it was a Hayden sonata, Mother. We thought it was you playing,” William related.
“Wait! A seven-year-old girl was playing a Hayden piece and made you think it was me at the instrument?” asked the astounded Lady Anne.
“It was the girl of five years, Mistress,” Mrs. Reynold corrected, “and she played from memory.” Lady Anne was gobsmacked; a musical prodigy, possibly more than one, had been in her home, and she had missed it.
“William, tell us what you did!” Mr. Darcy demanded, getting a sinking feeling the arrogance he had started to note in William—no matter how much his son tried to hide it from his parents—had been exercised. He had meant to talk to his son about it; if what he suspected had come to pass, now it seemed imperative.
William Darcy hung his head again as he related his actions and the reaction of the little girl and the girl’s father fully, with no prevarication. “Oh William, how could you?” Lady Anne asked sadly.
“Did you say they will be at Holder Heights next week, William?” Robert Darcy asked. William nodded. “After you have accepted the punishment I intend to mete out to you, you will accompany us and make a full and sincere apology. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir,” William looked anywhere except at his angry father.
“William, I love you as much as any mother could love her son, but how on earth is it that you have come to act like my sister Catherine? How could you show such disrespect and disdain for visitors to our home? You called them riffraff? William, we taught you better,” Lady Anne stated sadly.
Richard shot his cousin an ‘I told you so’ look. “Richard, you could not restrain your younger cousin before he placed his boot in his mouth so effectively?” Robert Darcy asked.
“Unfortunately not, Uncle Robert. William went off half-cocked before Mrs. Reynolds or I could utter a word. The gentleman took him to task for the rude words most effectively. Other than by you, I have never seen William taken aback in that way before. To me it looked like the visitor had to restrain himself not to turn William over his knee there and then. The gentleman certainly put William in his place,” Richard replied.
“Good! It was no less than you deserved, William. I will not whip you, but you will learn humility. You will join young George Wickham mucking out the stalls in the stables each day until I tell you differently,” Mr. Darcy stated decisively.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
George Wickham was the son of the honourable and loyal steward of the estate. Mr. Darcy had been amenable to stand as the young man’s godfather until some vicious behaviour was reported to him by various servants. The boy was a year younger than the heir to Pemberley, but had been acting as if he was, in fact, the heir.
He had been barred from the manor house, and his father was made to understand the master’s reasoning for withdrawing all support for his son. Young George had learnt bad behaviour from his late mother who was a spendthrift, gambler, and had been unfaithful to her husband on many occasions. Lucas Wickham discovered the latter only after her death, thus calling into question George’s parentage.
Regardless of his suspicions, the steward did not treat George any differently, but he agreed that unless the boy was corrected at the age of ten, he would surely follow his mother’s ruinous course.
Unfortunately, George Wickham was determined he would make his fortune without working for it, as he had believed what his mother had told him about it being his due. He hated the degradation of working in the stables, but knew he needed to bide his time. He was sure he would be able to charm Mr. Darcy into becoming his godfather again, and bestowing largess on him as was his right and due.
