Amanda Grange - Wickham’s Diary

in her company and he says barely two words to her beyond what is necessary. There are some boys who could be encouraged into such a match but I do not believe that Fitzwilliam is one of them. There is a strength about his character, something that will not be encouraged or bullied or coerced. He knows his own mind and he can be firm to the point of stubbornness when he believes himself to be right. He will marry to please himself, you will see, like his mother and his aunt. They both made love matches and I believe that Fitzwilliam will do the same.'

'I did not know they made love matches,' I said, startled, for both ladies married very well.

'Oh, yes, it was something of a scandal at the time. Lady Anne was destined for much higher things. She was the daughter of an earl, you know, and her father wanted her to marry a title, but she met Mr Darcy at a ball and from then on she would countenance no one else. Her father tried to persuade her by appealing to her vanity, telling her she could marry an earl, but she said she already had her own title and did not need another one. Mr Darcy was very handsome, of course, and he had an air about him—Fitzwilliam has it, too—something challenging, something that is very appealing to women. Her father railed at her, telling her that she was descended from William the Conqueror; for, you know', Fitzwilliam means the son of William and it implies royal blood.'

'How so?' I asked.

'Kings have a habit of adding Fitz to their own name when they christen any children they might have with their mistresses, instead of with their wives. But Lady Anne only retorted that the name of Darcy would not shame anyone, and she called her son Fitzwilliam Darcy to prove it.

'Lady Catherine was just as headstrong.

'They were the rage of the Season, those two girls, Lady Anne and Lady Catherine. Lady Anne was the pretty one but Lady Catherine had something in her air and manner which set her apart. Sir Lewis de Bourgh fell under her spell as soon as he saw her, though it is less certain what she saw in him. An easy-going temperament, perhaps, a man who would allow her to mould him. But whatever the case, there was a great deal of love on both sides.'

'I cannot imagine Lady Catherine being in love,' I said thoughtfully.

'She has grown colder since Sir Lewis died. And Anne has grown colder, too. She used to be much happier, poor child. I think she would make you a very good wife. She would be easy to mould, like her father, and she would be grateful for your attentions. She is a plain little thing, and a handsome boy like you who is respectful and friendly and who can make her laugh is sure to have a chance of winning her affections. Play with her, George, dance with her—little girls always like someone to dance with them, and she is too old to be climbing trees with you now—talk to her, draw her out, be a friend to her, flatter her, look at her as though she is the most important person alive. You are so young that Lady Catherine will not be on her guard, as she will be when Anne is of a marriageable age, and such kindnesses now might well pay dividends in the future, for Anne is sure to remember them.'

'Very well, I will dance with her, I promise you, and be kind to her and amuse her.'

The more I thought of the idea, the more I liked it.

George Wickham. rector of Pemberley, would be somebody, certainly. But not nearly as great a somebody as George Wickham, master of Rosings Park.

The de Bourghs have arrived. The day being wet, Fitzwilliam and I were playing at billiards and so I was at the house when the carriage rolled up the drive. The de Bourghs went to their rooms to rest after their journey, but they soon joined the Darcys in the drawing-room and one of the servants came to request the presence of Fitzwilliam. I followed him quietly, effacing myself so that no one should notice me, and I watched him as he greeted his father's guests. He was polite to Anne, but nothing more. He asked after her journey and said that he hoped it had not tired her, but then he retreated into his customary hauteur and said no more, unless Lady Catherine directed a question at him.

I went quietly over to Anne, without drawing attention to myself. I asked her about her journey and made a few remarks on the weather, then I pulled the screen forward to protect her from draughts—and to hide myself from other eyes: if they had noticed me they might have expected me to leave. I made myself agreeable to her, and she soon began to smile and then to laugh. She is really not so plain when she laughs. I found her easy company, expecting nothing, but taking a shy pleasure in my company and in my compliments. Poor girl! I think she has little enough attention from anyone else, unless it is to fuss over her health. I think I could do her good if I were her husband. I would amuse her and entertain her and make her happy, and in return I would have the position I deserve. I think I should like being married to Anne.

Mama was right; Lady Catherine does not consider me a threat and she smiles on my attentions to her daughter, seeing them as Miss Anne de Bourgh's due. I overheard her remarking to Mr Darcy that I had excellent manners and saying that I would make a good courtier.

I wonder... George Wickham, courtier. George Wickham. knight.

If I was a knight I would be Sir George Wickham... Sir George Wickham of Rosings.

Yes. I like that very well.

Another wet day. After we had finished our lessons, Fitzwilliam and I were called into the drawing-room to entertain Anne. Fitzwilliam made a few cursory remarks and then fell silent, being in a restless mood. I could tell that he was longing to be out of doors, for he does not like to be confined, and wet days are a hardship for him. His restlessness made him more brusque than usual and, when Anne ventured to say that it looked as though it would rain all day, he was curt with her. She was downcast, but I soon lifted her spirits by saying that we must have some exercise and that, even though it was raining, we could dance. Her mother overheard me and said that it was a good idea, for Anne was an accomplished dancer. She then instructed Anne's companion to play the piano. I made Anne a courtly bow and asked her for the honour. She blushed, but she took my hand readily enough and I led her out into the middle of the room. I took care not to dance too well, for I know that Lady Catherine likes rank to be preserved and I did not want to outshine her daughter. But I danced well enough to show Anne to advantage, covering for her small mistakes. Anne herself enjoyed dancing with me. Her face was flushed, and she looked sorry when the dance was over.

Lady Catherine then said that Fitzwilliam should dance with Anne. Poor Anne! Her face fell, and she watched him walking towards her with trepidation.

Fitzwilliam was scarcely any more pleased, for he is not used to falling in with the wishes of others, but he could not refuse. He took her hand reluctantly and danced well, but I believe that Anne enjoyed dancing with me more.

Lady Catherine was so well pleased with the afternoon that she suggested the Darcys hold a party 'for the young people' and that after a light meal there should be dancing.

'It is time for Anne and Fitzwilliam to learn how to go on in public,' she said. Then, addressing Fitzwilliam, she said, 'You bear a great name, Fitzwilliam, and you must not disgrace it.'

The party was agreed upon, and when I returned home I told Mama all about it.

She clapped her hands in glee and said, 'Excellent, George! This is just the kind of opportunity you need. You will have a chance to meet all the neighbouring heiresses and to impress them with your charm and good manners. Any friendships started now may well be continued, if circumstances are favourable, when you are of marriageable age. You will be able to bring yourself to their notice if you should meet them out in the world, for you will be acquainted. You can give them news of the Darcys and, the conversation being thus begun, you will know how to continue it. This party could be the start of great things for you. Now, we must look through your clothes and decide what you are going to wear.'

I arrived at Pemberley in good time for the party and I had the good fortune to pick up a handkerchief that a girl had dropped, later to discover that she was a Miss Layson and that she would have ten thousand pounds when she came of age.

I spoke to her again when I met her in the drawing-room. and she was friendly towards me. I bowed and moved on. and I was just congratulating myself on making such a useful acquaintance when I heard her friend sniggering behind my back. I could not hear what she said, but the words, 'only invited because they were a boy short' reached my ears. Mama had warned me that I would hear this kind of thing and that I must not mind it and so I took no notice, but set out to please each and every one of the girls present.

I did not neglect Anne, either, and I danced three times with her. She knew the first dance well enough but in the other two she was forever going wrong. Unlike the other boys I did not shout at her, I set her right kindly. At the end of the dance I told her that she danced well, for superior dancing consisted not only of performing the right steps but of dancing with elegance and grace. She smiled up at me shyly and I thought of the day when she and I would be opening the dancing at Rosings together as Mr and Mrs Wickham. This thought brought a smile to my face. But as I led her back to her mama I heard a snigger of 'steward's son' coming form the girl who had laughed at me earlier. I was for a moment perturbed, but Anne squeezed my hand and said, 'Ignore her, George. Melissa Harbridge has always been mean, and anyway she has no right to say such things, because her grandfather was only a blacksmith.'

I thought then that Melissa had done me a service, for she had won Anne's sympathy for me. I continued to make myself agreeable to everyone at the party and I went home well pleased.

Mama was eager to hear all about it. At the end of my recital, she said, 'Well done, George. We will have you at Rosings, just you see!'

The de Bourghs left this morning. I managed to see Anne before she departed, for I knew she would be taking a walk through the rose garden. I pretended that I had met her there by accident and. as I walked along beside her, I told her how much I had enjoyed her visit and that I hoped to see her again before very long. She said that her mama had no plans to visit Pemberley again for the time being, and that the Darcys would visit Rosings next.

I asked her about Rosings, saying, 'Is it as big as Pemberley?' to which she replied, 'Oh, yes, it is just as big and just as fine. The gardens are better, for Papa liked flowers and so they are always very colourful. The Rosings park is also, I think, more beautiful.'

'Shall you like to inherit it, or will it be a burden to you?' I said.

'I shall like it, I think. It means I will never have to leave, not even when I marry and I do not think it will be difficult to care for because I will have a husband to help me look after it.'

'Then let us hope he knows how to care for an estate,' I said, thinking that the fact of my father's stewardship might be of some advantage to me after all.

'I think he will,' she replied.

And I wondered, Is she thinking of me?

She smiled at me and I smiled in return.

Perhaps she was making no more than a general remark, but even so, as I stood at the corner of the drive this afternoon and waved to her as she passed by in her carriage, I felt I had made the most of my opportunity, and when she waved back I went inside feeling well pleased.

Papa took me round the estate with him this morning and I paid attention to everything he said. I took a new interest in it. I might need to know how to run an estate, not as a steward, but as a landowner. Even if I do not marry Anne, I will surely marry an heiress, and one day I will have my own estate to care for.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• …
• 11