Compromised! Read online

  Elizabeth’s appreciation for his care of her reputation knew no bounds. The rest of the dance dragged on. Finally, the music ceased and she took Wickham’s arm and walked to the doorway. She waited as they agreed until he had been gone a few minutes and then followed.

  Mary Bennet knew what happened. While she did not hear the exact words between Lt. Wickham and Elizabeth, she recognized when Wickham had her sister’s acceptance of whatever plan he proposed. Watching Wickham stroll down the hallway away from the gathering, she saw her sister poised to follow. Mary jumped to her feet and, moving quickly through the throng, followed Wickham.

  Elizabeth waited the five minutes Wickham had requested, then walked down the corridor. It was well lit from the sconces lining the walls. From many years of association with the Lucas family, she knew the library was the second door on the left. Outside the door stood Mr. Denny, Lt. Wickham’s closest companion.

  “Mr. Wickham,” Elizabeth whispered as she stepped inside. She heard movement, but could not see him. “Are you here?”

  “Pray wait by the door until I get this candle lit, Miss Elizabeth.”

  She heard approaching footsteps and wondered why Wickham was walking closer instead of trying to provide light. She could barely see directly in front of her. From outside the door she heard a ruckus.

  “Mr. Wickham, what is the meaning…” Elizabeth got no further.

  The door was flung open. Caroline Bingley and Mr. Denny were framed in the light. They saw a man and woman locked in a passionate embrace.

  “Compromise!” they both exclaimed loudly.

  Chapter Nine

  Darcy hurried into the garden on the west side of Longbourn on the lookout for Elizabeth. When he found her sitting on the bench under the oak tree growing out of the far corner of the footpath, he rushed to her.

  “Elizabeth!” He saw her lift her head at his voice and immediately started wiping the tears from her cheeks with her small hands. His heart broke at what she must have had to face since the events of the night before. His brief meeting with Mr. Bennet gave him only the barest details.

  Before he could reach her, she was off the bench and running into his arms. He held on tightly, his head raised to the heavens, begging for divine guidance. How could he comfort her? In one act from a wicked man, she had lost much.

  “Hold me, Fitzwilliam.” She whispered into his coat. He heard it as clearly as if she had screamed the command rather than quietly plead with him for succor.

  As he held her, he rocked her gently from side to side, the movement bringing calm to both of them. Eventually, he was able to lead her back to the bench where he sat beside her, his arms never leaving his Elizabeth.

  “Dear one, pray tell me what happened. Share with me your troubles to lessen this burden you are carrying.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and one in her hair, holding his lips to the chocolate mass and breathing in the fragrance that was uniquely hers.

  “Oh, Fitzwilliam, things are in a muddle.” Elizabeth took several deep breaths and pulled back to look in his eyes. She saw no condemnation in them. She was grateful.

  “Elizabeth, your father told me the basic events of last night. Please know that I understand and know the fault lies with the young man.” If it was Simon Alcorn, he would personally skewer him with his foil.

  “I am a foolish woman, sir.” Elizabeth bravely held his gaze.

  He admired her courage greatly. “Foolish or not, Elizabeth Bennet, I will have no other for my wife.”

  Oh, how she needed that reassurance. It gave her the courage to continue.

  “My sister, Mary, noticed that something was not right with the gentleman. She also noticed and mentioned to me her concern about a conversation he had with Miss Bingley just prior to asking me to dance.” Elizabeth swallowed. “In my arrogance, I chose to disregard her warning as Lt. Wickham expressed concern over your sister, Miss Darcy.”

  “What!” “Who?” Shock did not begin to describe the emotions shooting through Darcy. A lightning bolt would have had less effect.

  “The man who claimed to be a close family friend of the Darcys, Lt. George Wickham.” Elizabeth looked at him puzzled. She had written about him only that week. Surely, he received her letter?

  “Believe me, Elizabeth. George Wickham is no friend of my family.” He spat the name out like it was filthy and disgusting to the taste. Darcy was puzzled, but no more than Elizabeth. “I assumed you were speaking of Lord Alcorn’s son, Simon. He was everything you described in your letter.”

  Elizabeth was shaking her head back and forth. “No, I know of no Simon Alcorn. I spoke of Lt. Wickham.”

  “But, I told you of him that day in the glen. It was he who tried to talk Georgiana into eloping. Do you not remember?”

  To say she was horrified would have been an understatement.

  “No, you did not mention his name.” Elizabeth pulled him closer and wrapped her arms tighter around Darcy. “What a terrible mess we have made by not putting a name to that villain.”

  “Pray forgive me, Elizabeth.” Darcy’s brain was spinning with this information. His guilt at not protecting Elizabeth from this man threatened to overwhelm him. His natural reticence put her in danger.

  “No, Fitzwilliam. We both need to set aside blame, from the actions of the other and for ourselves. We were both worked on by a man who appears to have incredible skills in deception. We also need to remember that he had partners last night. Miss Caroline Bingley bears blame as well as Lt. Wickham and Mr. Denny.”

  “You are correct, my heart.” Sudden clarity came to Darcy. He squeezed Elizabeth again and then sat back from her, not able to manage the distraction of having her in his arms and making balanced decisions as to what needed done. “Please, continue with the events of last night.”

  “As I mentioned, Mary warned me against Lt. Wickham because of his conversation with Miss Bingley. What I did not know at the time was that Charlotte Lucas had overheard their conversation. She, too, realized I was in danger. Apparently, they were planning a compromise for the purpose of driving you away from me.”

  “Never!” He quickly reassured Elizabeth. He loved the small smile she returned to him.

  “When I walked into the library, it was dark. Lt. Wickham told me to stand still as he was trying to light a candle. I felt someone brush against me. I thought it was him.”

  Darcy clenched his jaw, gritting his teeth, and exercised restraint to keep from punching the air. It was not what Elizabeth needed and he did not want her to fear that he was violent. “Do continue.”

  “I did not know the door had closed behind me until it was thrust open. At the same time that Mr. Denny and Miss Bingley yelled ‘Compromise!’ light was let into the room. There in front of me was poor Charlotte being thoroughly kissed by Lt. Wickham. It was she who had brushed against me. My best friend ruined herself to protect me.”

  When Mr. Bennet had told Darcy of the events, his first concern was that it had been Elizabeth who had been caught in a compromising situation. His relief was palpable. However, he knew how close his betrothed was to Miss Lucas. This had to devastate her.

  “Immediately behind Mr. Denny and Miss Bingley came Sir William Lucas, Charlotte’s father. Apparently, Mary had brought him along. He herded all of the parties into the library and closed the door. The music from the dancing had drowned out the cries of ‘Compromise,’ which was a fortunate circumstance for all concerned.”

  Darcy nodded his head in agreement. The potential for damage to a reputation grew as the matter became known.

  “Once Lt. Wickham, Miss Bingley, and Mr. Denny realized their plans had been overthrown by Charlotte stepping in to save me, they angrily started accusing each other—admitting their wrongdoing. The only other persons in the room were Mary and myself.”

  “And this morning?” Darcy asked, speculating at the resolution of events.

  “Sir William learned how Lt. Wickham, who has been in Meryton for a short time, has already ac
cumulated debts more than what he could pay on his militia earnings. There are other rumors, which Charlotte’s father refused to share with the ladies. He will not make them marry.”

  “Poor Miss Lucas.” Darcy was sincerely saddened at the outcome. “If she is not married, it will ruin her reputation and those of her siblings. This is a high price to pay to be of assistance to a friend.”

  “Yes, my dearest friend will suffer because of my foolishness.” Tears started falling again, streaking down Elizabeth’s pale cheeks. “Had I listened to Mary, and not relied on my own intuition, I never would have gone to the library with him. I would not have trusted he had information about your sister that you were not already aware of. I am sorry, Fitzwilliam. Truly sorry.”

  The pain Darcy felt in his heart was real to the point he found himself unconsciously rubbing at his chest.

  “Have you spoken to Miss Lucas yet, my love?”

  “I have not. Sir William explained that she has not left her room and will accept no visitors. Not even me.”

  As Elizabeth spoke, her voice got softer until Darcy had to lean close to hear. “Elizabeth, do you know, has Miss Lucas a desire to marry?”

  “She has long told me that she would like her own household, though claimed to not be romantic. She is excellent with young children and thought to look for a position as a governess since she has had no offers for her hand.”

  “Her age, Elizabeth?”

  “She is seven and twenty.”

  “I believe I may have a situation that would serve a good purpose for her and protect the reputation of her young sister.” Elizabeth’s eyes immediately filled with hope. The look she gave him was as if he was a savior. It thrilled him and caused trepidation at the same time. He wanted to marry her today. He needed her as his wife. The settlement papers were done and had been signed earlier by Mr. Bennet. A special license had been purchased while he was in town. Darcy did not want to let Elizabeth go.

  “What have you in mind, my love?”

  Darcy sucked in his breath at her words. “Am I your love?” He quietly asked.

  Elizabeth blushed. “You are.”

  Those two words demanded a kiss of affection that quickly turned to one of desire.

  ***

  The meeting between Darcy, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Lucas seemed to go on forever. Jane was with their mother and two younger sisters in the drawing room, while Elizabeth and Mary were upstairs in the room Elizabeth shared with Jane.

  “Mary, I am horrified I did not give your words the serious attention they needed. Had I done so, this situation could have been avoided.” Elizabeth hugged her middle sister and felt Mary start at the affectionate display. Was it so rare that she received an embrace that she shied away? How sad!

  “Lizzy, you have always been so confident. I envy you.” Mary nervously twisted one of the curls that rested at the side of her face. “Nevertheless, I see where that quickness in being convinced of a matter can be dangerous. Mr. Darcy seems the type to ponder matters before making a decision. This will both be good for you and bad for you, I believe.”

  “When did you become so wise, sister?” Elizabeth hugged her again; this time Mary accepted it willingly.

  “You and Papa are not the only student of characters in the Bennet family, Lizzy.”

  She said it with such stoicism that Elizabeth could not help but laugh. Within seconds, Mary joined in. After a few minutes, they both felt the relief that merriment brings.

  “What is going to happen to Charlotte, Lizzy?” They both instantly sobered.

  “I do not know.”

  ***

  The three men in the study were quietly meditating on the opinions each other had expressed and the offer Mr. Darcy had made. Mr. Bennet, relieved that it was not his daughter involved in the compromise, realized that it had been only a week since the danger of Elizabeth’s reputation had been on the line. How quickly matters can change when a lady and a gentleman are involved!

  “I ask for an answer, Sir William.” Darcy felt there were no more words to be said by himself. He had offered Miss Lucas the position of companion to his own sister, Georgiana. The reputation of the Darcy family would quiet any naysayers or rumormongers for society knew that Fitzwilliam Darcy would never bring a woman into his home who had a less-than-stellar reputation. It would remove Charlotte to a distant location where she could decide whether she wanted her own home or whether she would remain with Georgiana. Darcy promised enough funds to purchase a small home and maintain it indefinitely. It was the least he could do for a valuable friend. Then, should she choose to marry, it would be her choice alone. She would not be forced into a situation she did not desire.

  “I shall speak to my daughter.” Sir William had wanted his children to remain close to Lucas Lodge. He loved all of his sons and daughters. Having his eldest so far away wrenched his heart. But, it would protect her and the others. “I spoke with Colonel Forster this morning. Lt. Wickham has been arrested for being unable to pay his debts with the merchants and his debts of honor. His future is debtor’s prison or deportation. I have no sympathy for the man. He will be escorted to Marshalsea before the day is done.”

  Darcy had thought he would feel a measure of regret at the outcome for his old friend and companion. However, justice was being served. It was a fitting end to a man who had been given every opportunity, but chose to demand more instead. Wickham would finally bear an account for his choices.

  “Then, let us speak with your daughter, Sir William.” Darcy was ready for this matter to be done with. Turning to Mr. Bennet, he asked. “May I have a moment of your time, sir? I would like to speak with you about my marriage to Elizabeth.”

  As Sir William was shown the door, he heard Mr. Bennet mutter, “I imagine you would.”

  Chapter Ten

  Elizabeth was falling head-over-heels in love with her betrothed. Minute by minute her esteem rose as she observed him taking in facts and opinions, weighing them, and consulting with others before making a final decision. She had not expected that of him. Her earlier anger with Darcy for being controlling seemed like unnecessarily wasted emotions.

  She could see he was torn. One part of him longed to stay and protect her from any repercussions of Wickham and Caroline’s actions. Another part of him demanded he proceed immediately to Pemberley to care for his sister. Elizabeth felt deep shame and embarrassment over her naïve conduct the night before. What could possibly have motivated her to follow a stranger into a darkened room? Daily, she was struggling with her own failings. How could this man, this wonderful man, possibly want her by his side?

  While the gentlemen were discussing the fate of Miss Charlotte Lucas, Bingley had arrived at Longbourn. His countenance was downtrodden and he looked tired beyond his years. When he stepped into the doorway of the front parlor, his eyes swept the room searching for Jane. As soon as he spotted her, his shoulders and hands dropped as if it had been an intense battle to keep them taut. Without greeting any of the room’s other inhabitants, he walked up to his angel, who had risen at her first sight of him.

  “Caroline is gone.”

  Elizabeth had just entered the room before his arrival and knew Bingley needed privacy with her sister.

  Though Mrs. Bennet recognized how fragile the reputation of a single female could be, her innate desire to have her daughters well wed warred within her so she could no longer see where societal lines of propriety had been drawn.

  “Mama,” Elizabeth sought to gain her mother’s attention, discerning she needed to distract her. “I am feeling distressed over the length of time Mr. Darcy and Papa are sequestered together. To relieve my mind, might I accompany Jane and Mr. Bingley outside to stroll the garden paths?”

  Mrs. Bennet looked at Elizabeth and wondered what it was about her that had interested Mr. Darcy. Then she turned to admire her eldest, marveling at her beauty. It had been a surprise to her when Mr. Darcy sought the attentions of Elizabeth, her least favored child. Jane had the loo
ks and calm composure to elevate her as mistress of a large estate. With Darcy’s income being more than twice that of Bingley’s, he was the better prospect for Jane. Even Lydia, though young, was a better match for Mr. Darcy than Lizzy. The ton would be enamored with Lydia’s liveliness and good looks. Mrs. Bennet could envision the highest circles seeking her youngest out, inviting her to all their festive occasions as one who brought joy and delight to all she came in contact with. Elizabeth? Even as a mother, she despaired of understanding her second daughter. But, in this, she agreed that Bingley and Jane needed thrown together or a proposal would never come.

  “Most certainly, Lizzy.” Mrs. Bennet rose and, in a shooing motion, encouraged the three to the entrance hall to gather their outer clothes.

  Elizabeth walked ahead of the couple, allowing them a moment of privacy. However, her curiosity upon hearing his statement about his sister was burning in her mind. What had been done? Had Bingley taken a stand? Finally, she could no longer be gainsaid. She stopped at the bench she had been seated upon earlier when Darcy had entered the garden.

  “Mr. Bingley, might I inquire as to your sister?”

  His face shone red as a cherry. It had been the most difficult night of his three and twenty years. Had their parents still been living, they would have been ashamed of him for the lack of oversight their only son had over his sister.

  “She is gone, Miss Elizabeth, and the Hursts have traveled with her.” Bingley wondered how much he should reveal of the events of the prior evening, then realized he owed Elizabeth a full explanation. It had been Caroline’s screaming that had put the young women in harm’s way. “Apparently, Miss Mary not only notified Sir William Lucas about Mr. Wickham’s plans against you, she also approached my brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst. If you recall, Hurst arrived at the library soon after Caroline and Mr. Denny made their assertion.”