[JA fanfic] Claims to Reputation, updated
Letter 10: George Wickham to Elizabeth Wickham
2 February 1834
Betsey,
Have no fear of heedless behaviour on my part. Even had I such an inclination, I am not in the habit of rating my impulses above my reason. The final decision will have to be Anne’s; not only am I not such a man as to prefer my women unwilling, but I cannot afford, we cannot afford, any culpability to rest with me. However fond of her I am, I will not allow it to overcome my interests. Acting on passion has never done any of our family good. One need only look at Mother to see that.
The first week of Mr Darcy’s absence went well enough. I made Anne laugh; we looked over poetry together - she has a fondness for romantic poetry, but she made me promise not to tell her mother. There is, I think, something of caution and suspicion still there, but it seems that she is content to enjoy my company for the present. At first, she was often gone - visiting with her aunt, it transpires, who lives about fifteen miles away. However, she quickly found my company tolerable enough to remain here. I rather owe little Elizabeth for that. I sat down to entertain her, meaning nothing by it except to entertain myself; I did not even think Anne present at the time.
‘Anne!’ Bess cried, and I glanced up. There she was, just returned from Aincourt, standing in the doorway. I have no idea how long she was there; that my greatest progress with her occurred completely by accident on my part seems particularly ironic. I had nothing prepared to say and must have looked very stupid as I stood there gaping at her - she was nothing like the impeccable Miss Darcy I have generally seen.
‘I - I beg your pardon,’ said I. ‘We, Elizabeth and I, were merely . . . er . . . playing a game.’
I had never seen her expression so soft, and tried to think of some way to take advantage of it; but Bess took matters quite into her own hands. ‘I missed you, Anne. Why are you hardly ever here? And I’m sure cousin George missed you too. Did you not, George?’
Anne looked guilty as I said with all the eloquence at my disposal, ‘I . . . er . . .’
‘You must not go away again, even to Aunt G’s,’ my young accomplice declared, ‘You are needed here. What would Papa think?’ She stood there, hands on her hips, looking for all the world a fair-haired version of her mother, and neither Anne nor I could help laughing.
Of course it was awkward after that and she fled - there was some excuse about having travelled - but it was most assuredly progress. Bless that girl!
However, that was only the first week. On Monday a new addition to our charming family party arrived. Mrs Darcy was pleased though startled to see him, while the girls were nothing less than delighted.
You will, of course, recall Paul Fitzwilliam, one of Mr Darcy’s plethora of godchildren. We detested one another growing up, and the sentiment continues unabated, if relieved by somewhat improved manners on both sides. He is now heir to the earldom, still proud as Lucifer, still Mr Darcy’s favourite. I daresay my esteemed uncle is still suspicious of my intentions and has sent his minion ahead to protect his interests! A cunning plot, but I am not fooled.
Forgive my dull spirits. I am very happy for you, dear. You must send me the happy news express whenever it occurs.
G.W.
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Letter 11: Lord Milton to Lady Amelia Dashwood
4 February 1834
Amelia,
I can certainly see why Uncle Darcy wanted me here. Wickham is very sly, very clever, but there is no doubt in my mind as to his motives. He appears to be trying to get into all their good graces, but his preference for Anne’s company is obvious enough. The whole lot of that family are loathsome creatures. Somehow he insinuates his way into nearly every aspect of her life, he never lets her alone. I quite detest him; though I would never dream of anything so ill-bred as a quarrel before the servants, I have made it perfectly clear that I am neither fooled nor confused.
I have been talking to Aunt Darcy, who of course sees more than anybody guesses. She is such a sensible person. Some clever women are not, you know, but she is always practical. She likes him, of course; she can’t help it. He is her nephew, and in fact as far as I can tell his fondness for her is genuine. Well, I daresay he is genuine, as far as it goes - he likes Bella, of course, but also Georgiana and Bess, and I imagine children in general, and there is no doubting his passion for Anne. That does not make him any less of a vicious, unprincipled cad.
I am not entirely certain how to manage it. Thus far, I have simply joined them. It is worth it simply to see the expression on their faces - he always trying to be charming and agreeable, and of course quite livid, and Anne so relieved. She does not dislike him exactly, but she is so bewildered she hardly knows up from down, poor girl, and she misses her father. The difficulty is that it is just as difficult for me to get her alone as Wickham. At least the Season will soon be upon us and we may go to town. George will probably finagle an invitation there, but he will not be welcome many places, Mrs Darcy’s nephew or not, and there will be more opportunities for conversation then.
If you could see the way he looks at Anne, it would anger you just as much as it does me. They say that blood will tell, and it is certainly true in this case - there is something unquestionably vulgar in him. He is, to put it simply, not quite a gentleman. Odd as the steward grandfather, I understand, was quite a respectable sort - but then there is Mrs Wickham. Forgive me, I know she is Mrs Darcy’s sister and you have always been so fond of her, but you must admit that her people were very much below par as to good society and its ways, of course excepting the Gardiners - charming people. Wickham certainly has nothing in common with them.
Adieu, dear sister. Give my regards to Dashwood and my nieces, and if you must to your mother-in-law.
Paul
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Letter 12: Diana, Lady Mornington to Anne Darcy
7 February 1834
My dear cousin,
Forgive this little scrap of a note, but I understand from my brother that you have certain company at Pemberley that is not altogether agreeable to you. You have never required it but I expect you would have no hesitation in writing any of us, should you ever desire advice, or simply a confidant. We will be in town for the Season, I dearly hope to see you then. You have not been seen as you ought, and you are lovely, elegant, and accomplished, everything a well bred girl ought to be and then some. We are all so very fond of you, if your father does not mean to come we would gladly have you with us.
Yours affectionately,
Diana Mornington
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Letter 13: Lady Amelia Dashwood to Anne Darcy
9 February 1834
Dear Anne,
I have just had a long gossipy letter from Paul; I hardly know what to make of it. I understand that that rakish nephew of your mother’s is at Pemberley? I think too well of your sense to imagine you swayed by such attractions. He is the very thing the family would most hate, but that is not a reason to encourage him. Even men of his sort deserve consideration, and I would not wish to be indelicate, but he may have feelings for you that run deeper than passions of the flesh. If so, you must be gentle in your discouragement, but firm; leave no question where you stand.
This may be entirely precipitous, of course. Over distance, these things can be sadly misrepresented, and Paul so detests Wickham. Would it be too difficult to speak to him privately, and allay some of his concerns? He is horrified that you might fall victim to a fortune-hunter, cousin or not. And though he can be a stuffy fool, beneath it all he has only the best of intentions. You understand, I am certain, that nobody in the family would approve a match of this sort. They have great ambitions for you! I would be pleased enough to see you comfortably settled with a respectable man; then, you could be happy, and that is all I wish for any of you. Look at your parents; have you ever met a couple better suited? Yet there was nobody in the family pleased about it. I was only a child at the time but I remember well enough. She was by no means well-born, but good enough - just - for his position, and we girls thought it the most romantic thing we’d ever heard. And they did better under each other’s influence in four years than anyone else could manage in twenty, I am certain of it. But you must remember that your mother, despite everything, was a gentleman’s daughter; Wickham does not have that claim. His father is a drunkard, his grandfather was a steward. He is in no respect good enough for you. You deserve better, Anne. I would rather see you with one of the Gardiners. Their father may have been in trade, but he is rich now, and they are all respectable and well-bred.
I have convinced Henry to go to town this Season. I would love nothing more than to see you admired as you ought to be; you must come and stay, if your parents mean to bury themselves in the country this year.
Your loving cousin,
Amelia Dashwood
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Letter 14: Elizabeth Darcy to Lydia Wickham
10 February 1834
Lydia,
Enclosed are fifty pounds to cover your debts. George begs to be remembered to both of his parents.
E.D.