Page 33 of Collins Takes Charge

“Sir William, seeing these officers puts me in mind of a regiment that had encamped just outside of Faversham, the town near my father’s estate,” William began.

“What is it that makes you think of them? I suppose it is because they are also militia,” Sir William guessed.

“Your perspicacity does you proud, Sir William,” William said and bowed to the man. “My tale is not a happy one. Faversham gave the regiment a welcome like Meryton has extended to this one. Unfortunately, the town was repaid with treachery.” Seeing the horrified look on the knight’s countenance, William continued. “Sadly, it was only discovered after they had left the area. Many debts were left unpaid at the shops in the town. If the gentry, like my father, had not covered what was owing, half of the shopkeepers in Faversham would have been ruined. However, that was not the worst of it.”

“What could be worse than merchants being beggared?” Sir William enquired with horror.

“Several impressionable young girls, and I say girls, were promised marriage if they anticipated their vows. Not a single one was married when the regiment made its departure. The truth only came to light some months later when those consequences were obvious.”

“Surely that will not occur here?” Sir William queried, panic in his voice.

“I hope not, but would it not be better to take precautions?” William did not miss the beseeching look the knight gave him. “Unless you and your fellow landowners wish to pay off dishonourable men’s debts, I would suggest you strongly advise the merchants against extending credit to men who are, after all, transitory in the town. What was discovered in Faversham was that the worst offenders with the most extensive debts had accounts with practically every shop in the town. At the same time, word should be spread about unscrupulous men who will offer marriage and use some pretty words to have a girl anticipate her vows. I know not if there are any such bad apples in this barrel, but is it not better to prevent the problem before it occurs, than hope it will not and have to live with the results if it does?”

William Collins had embellished the problem in Faversham, but he had a feeling that this Mr Wickham, who was trying to charm one and all, was such a man. If he was wrong, then there would be no harm done; but if he was correct, then many would be saved.

“In the morning, I will speak to the shopkeepers,” a greatly shaken Sir William responded. He had a young impressionable daughter; heaven forfend something like Mr Collins spoke of were to occur with Maria.

Just as he left Sir William, he saw Mr Wickham lead Cousin Elizabeth to a sofa which had been pushed back against the wall. William sat in a chair close to them, with his back to them, and well out of the lieutenant’s line of sight. All he could hope was that Cousin Elizabeth was as intelligent as he thought she was and would be able to see through what she was about to be told.

“How far is Netherfield Park from Meryton?” Wickham began.

The question pleased Elizabeth since she was not able to ask the handsome officer directly about Mr Darcy and what passed between them. She was happy he seemed willing to raise the subject, and she was more than happy to hear what he had to say. “It is but two miles to the west.”

“How long has Mr Darcy been in residence?”

“A few weeks,” Elizabeth responded. “He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand.”

“Yes,” replied Mr. Wickham, “his estate there is a noble one. It clears ten thousand pounds per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself, for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy.”

Elizabeth could not but look surprised, although she had suspected some connection.

‘Cousin Elizabeth, this is a man you briefly met the previous day and again this night. Please tell me you are more circumspect than to allow him to tell you some personal tale which would be wholly inappropriate,’ William thought.

“You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion after seeing, as you probably might have witnessed, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?”

‘Cold meeting! Ha! You were fearful, and Mr Darcy was angry. I see how you change facts to suit your purposes, whatever they are,’ Collins said to himself.

“As much as I ever wish to be,” cried Elizabeth very warmly. “I spent four days in the same house with him while caring for my sister who was ill. I think him very disagreeable.”

In order to see Mr Wickham’s face, William had turned enough to do so. He did not miss the look of triumph on the man’s countenance as soon as Cousin Elizabeth said the last.

“I have no right to give my opinion as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish—and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly—anywhere else. Here, you are in the circle of your own family.”

“Upon my word, I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, except at Netherfield Park. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Everybody is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by anyone.”

‘Can you not see he is manipulating you to speak against Mr Darcy? You are more discerning than this, are you not, Cousin Elizabeth?’ Collins thought silently.

Wickham delayed replying as if he were weighing her words. “I cannot pretend to be sorry that he or any man should not be estimated beyond their desserts, but with him I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen.”

‘You are describing yourself. I believe you like to present yourself as something you are not,’ William thought. ‘For some reason Cousin Elizabeth is blind when it comes to Mr Darcy.’

“I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man,” Elizabeth cried.

‘I will have to ask Cousin Mary from where this antipathy to Mr Darcy comes.’

Wickham shook his head. “I wonder whether he is likely to be in this country much longer.”

“I do not at all know, but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield Park. I hope your plans in favour of the Derbyshire Militia will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood.”