Jane could not describe the relief she felt that Lizzy had not taken exception to her admonitions in the letter. Feelingmuch lighter, Jane took the missive to the drawing room. “Read this, Aunt Maddie; it will answer your questions regarding how Lizzy reacted to my epistle.” Jane handed the missive to her aunt.
Maddie read in silence but was smiling widely by the end of perusing the letter. “This can only portend well for Lizzy that she is willing to admit to her faults and intends to make changes,” she said happily.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The epistle to Jane was one of three Elizabeth posted.
Mary King’s uncle and guardian received a letter from someone whose writing he did not recognise. He did not think there could be ill in reading what was contained within, so he broke the seal and looked at the name at the bottom of the page. Why would Elizabeth Bennet write to him? There was only one way to answer that question.
30 March 1812
The Parsonage
Hunsford
Kent
Mr King:
Please, Sir, pardon the liberty I take in writing to you. If I did not believe that your ward, Mary, was at risk of being taken in by a silver-tongued devil, I would not have done so.
It has come to my notice that the man who is courting your niece is a gamester, a libertine, seducer, and a profligate. Those are his good traits! Yes, I know; I counted him as a friend. He was never my friend. He told me a story, severely defaming Mr Darcy, a story which he told far and wide after said gentleman had left the area.
I now know that none of it is true. Due to dishonourable behaviour while at Oxford, the late Mr Darcy withdrew his backing as his godfather. Then, when Mr Wickham was sent down from Oxford, Mr Darcy’s patronage was withdrawn as well. Contrary to his tale of woe, he was not bequeathed a single penny by the late Mr Darcy. If you require proof, apply to the Earl of Matlock, who is an executor of the late Mr Darcy’s estate.
Think, Sir. Before it was made known that your niece had inherited a significant fortune, did Mr Wickham ever so much as greet her?
I urge you to protect your niece and take her far away from Mr Wickham and his dishonourable, mercenary ways.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Bennet
Mr Brently King did not disbelieve Miss Elizabeth for the smallest measure of time. Just before he was to summon his niece, Mary entered his study.
“Uncle Brently, may I go out and spend time with Mr Wickham? We will remain in public,” Mary requested.
“No, Mary, you will not see that man again. Now go pack your things. We are for Liverpool. We will depart as soon as may be.” Seeing the devastated look on his niece’s countenance, King decided he must explain at least some of his reasoning. “Mary, you know how dear you are to me, do you not?”
Mary gave a watery nod.
“I will not say how or from whom I learnt what I did, but it has come to my notice that among other even worse things not fit for your ears, Mr Wickham is interested in nothing but your fortune. Before the bequest became known, how manytimes did Mr Wickham pay attention to you?” King questioned.
As much as she did not want to admit it, Mary knew the truth. “Never,” she responded quietly. “I tried to ignore that because I felt important and pretty when Mr Wickham paid attention to me instead of to lively and pretty Lydia Bennet. I did not know he was so very bad. I will have my maid pack.” After kissing her uncle’s cheek, Mary left the study.
With Mary gone, King rang for his butler. He informed the retainer they would be departing and only return once the militia had moved on to Brighton. He also instructed that Mr Wickham was not to be admitted and he was to be told to never return.
Said man sauntered up to Mr King’s house, as confident as he ever was. Mary King was, as Miss Lydia said, an ugly, freckled creature, but he needed her ten thousand pounds desperately. He swaggered to the front door and used the knocker. He gave one of his best charming smiles when the butler opened the door. “I am here to see…”
“Mr Wickham, my master instructed me to tell you that your courtship is over and you are no longer welcome in this house,” the butler drawled.
“If I may just speak to Mr King,” Wickham begged.
“My master has no desire to see you. Good day, Sir.” With that, the butler closed and locked the door before Lieutenant Wickham could respond.
Wickham was in a daze. What just happened? He had charmed the Kings and spun his yarn about Darcy to gain their sympathy; they had believed his story completely. Was this because of damned Darcy? No, it could not be. Darcy had been gone for months, and he had no way of knowing about his courtship of Miss King. As he walked back to his rooms, his mood became far darker. Wickham knew not how he would gain the funds he needed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
