“As Lizzy and Jane are already promised, and Lydia is now unmarriageable, I shall content myself with having secured the futures of two out of five and leave Mary and Kitty to shift for themselves.”
“Do not sport with Darcy,” Gardiner said with an exasperated sigh. “You know he is right. Who will connect themselves with such a family? I have four children to think of as well.”
“Very well. I shall throw off my unworthy child forever. Would that end all our sorrow and disgrace, and will you leave me in peace?”
“This squabbling does nothing to resolve the issue,” Darcy interjected. “Our best solution for restoring Lydia’s respectability is to see her married to Mr Wickham. I regret that we must prevail on the most unworthy man in Great Britain to be her husband, but I see no other option. Until then, Lydia ought to be removed from the neighbourhood.”
“Where do you suggest I send my daughter? I do not think Mr Collins will accept her.”
Darcy was pleased to finally speak of actions instead of senseless arguing. “In two days, Elizabeth and the Gardiners are travelling to Derbyshire, and Lydia should join them. She will be away from your neighbours’ prying eyes for a month while I attempt to locate Mr Wickham. I hope that Lydia can keep her condition to herself while she travels, and the rumours will not spread beyond this neighbourhood.”
“I agree she ought to be removed, and we shall take her with us, but what will we do if you cannot find Mr Wickham when our tour ends? And let us not forget that we are not dealing with a gentleman. Should you find him, how will you prevail upon him?” Gardiner was clearly disheartened.
“Mr Wickham is a gamester whose dissolute ways have left his finances in a wretched state. I will offer to settle his debts and provide him with the means by which he can support Lydia. Perhaps a commission might be purchased for him.”
“How fortunate Lizzy has captured your attention, Mr Darcy. I ought to congratulate her on a very important conquest,” Mr Bennet muttered sarcastically. Darcy’s resolve to treat Elizabeth’s father in a gentleman-like manner was quickly unravelling.
Gardiner must have sensed his growing fury and stepped in. “You are generous, Darcy, and your commitment to your new family is to be commended. However, we must still address the real possibility of Mr Wickham not being discovered. What will be done with Lydia if you do not find him before the child arrives?”
Darcy suspected this sad likelihood. “It would be ruinous for everyone if she stayed with any of us. I own an estate from my mother’s family in Ireland that I let, but I keep use of the lodge for hunting parties. After we find Lydia a suitable companion, she may stay there for the duration of her confinement.”
“What is to be done with my daughter after that?” Mr Bennet spat contemptuously.
“I leave that for you to determine. I do not know if I could cast off my child, no matter how far she had fallen. But your whole family will be spurned if she returns, and her child with her. Instead, Lydia ought to be maintained away from the rest of her family. An unwed mother is liable to turn to prostitution or infanticide, and Elizabeth’s sister deserves better than that.”
“You are more generous than Lydia deserves.”
He hoped Lydia would never hear her father say such a thing about her. “Let us not forget that Mr Wickham is equally culpable, and if he does not marry her, he ought to at least be pressed to provide for his child. It would be detrimental to all our families if Lydia returns here with a natural child. It does not follow, however, that we should allow her and her child to suffer.”
“Mr Darcy, my youngest daughter is little more than an ungovernable child. I shall not be further inconvenienced.”
“If you will not maintain her, then I will, and gladly!”
Mr Bennet threw his spectacles on the table and stood. “So I must pay for her myself or be in debt to you for her maintenance? I see what you are attempting to do. You wish for me to agree with your scheme to maintain her abroad to keep me in your debt. Who do you think you are to come in here and manipulate me?”
“Would you prefer to abandon Lydia at a lying-in hospital in town where she would likely die? Or have her live off the charity of some public institution that would teach her needlework so she could find employment in service?” Darcy suggested with equal ferocity. “Where she could be abused by a master who would think he can take liberties with his servants? You would prefer to have your grandchild left at a foundling hospital to an anonymous and uncertain future?”
Mr Bennet gave no answer, but his eyes glowed with irritation.
“If you have a solution that would minimise your family’s disgrace and offer Lydia a secure future, I would be pleased to hear you out,” Darcy said in a clipped voice. Mr Bennet heaved a sigh but said nothing, and so, after a pause to collect his composure, Darcy continued. “Rumours and vile stories will now follow her wherever she goes. She will be an outcast if she remains here, as will her sisters, and she will suffer far worse if we do not provide for her and her child. Lydia ought to stay in Ireland, and I will support her.”
Mr Bennet looked away. “You and my brother may resolve the matter however you please, for I have nothing to contribute to Lydia’s well-being.”
There was a knock on the door, and Elizabeth entered. She was outwardly calm, but Darcy could see that her normally lively spirits were oppressed to the utmost. Elizabeth looked at her father, whose uncharacteristic agitation was apparent, and asked him what the matter was.
“Your young man has formed a plan in the expected event that Mr Wickham cannot be bribed into marrying Lydia. Mr Darcy intends to hide Lydia away on his Ireland estate to await the arrival of the little love-child. Lydia will never come home because her presence will be ruinous to us all. He has generously offered to pay for it all himself.” Mr Bennet returned to his chair, putting on his spectacles.
Elizabeth thought for a moment and then gave Darcy a pleading look. “Her greatest fear is to be sent away from those who love her.”
“If Lydia stays, she would be forced to live in shame and obscurity, and you and all your sisters will share in her disgrace.”
“Can you not suppose that Lydia’s disposition will be altered after all of this? That she might share our values and meet all our expectations?”
Gardiner attempted to placate her while Mr Bennet ignored them all. “I think what Darcy is suggesting is that it is too late for Lydia, no matter how penitent she might be. Maintaining her and the child in Ireland might be the best option.”
“How will she be convinced to agree?”
Darcy took her hand, not caring who saw his affectionate gesture. “The sad truth is that, if I cannot find Mr Wickham soon, Lydia has few options. We need to consider her and her child’s future and your family’s reputation.”
