Wickham's Diary

5th June 1788

Pemberley is full of people this month, for the Darcys have visitors. In general I like it when they have people to stay, for it gives me a chance to practise my charm, but this week's visitors are not to my taste. They are some distant cousins of the Darcys and there is not one daughter amongst the children, but instead there are only sons.

Mama was as disappointed as I was when she found out. for as she said to me, ‘You are sixteen now. George, you are of an age to start learning how to make yourself agreeable to girls. You see so few of them, what with being away at school most of the time and then having so little opportunity to meet any through your papa or me. that you must seize every chance you get. And this would have been a good chance. But never mind, make yourself agreeable to the boys, for there is no saying where a friendship with one or another of them might lead.'

I took her advice and I tried to make myself useful. I listened to their tales of hunting exploits and I looked impressed at their stories of romantic conquests, so that I believe the older boys liked me. But the younger boys were more troublesome, particularly as Darcy's parents wanted him to amuse them and of course I had to help him. He brought one of them along when we went fishing this morning. It annoyed me for a moment that he did not ask me if James might join us but then I shrugged, for I cannot expect him to ask me about everything I suppose.

We went down to the river and cast our lines. James did not know how to fish and tangled his line in the bushes and then made a nuisance of himself by fidgeting and saying he was bored. Fitzwilliam told him that he might go back to the house but he shuddered and said that, if he did, his tutor was sure to find him some work to do. He applied himself a little but soon something distracted him, for Georgiana ran down to the river, clutching her doll. She tripped over and dropped it and James, glad of an opportunity to leave off fishing, ran over to her and picked it up. But instead of returning it to her, he held it over her head and laughed as she jumped up and tried to take it.

I could see that Darcy was annoyed.

He said, 'Give it back to her,' but James continued to dance around, waving it over her head.

Georgiana began to cry.

'I said give it back to her,' said Darcy, putting down his fishing rod and going over to James in order to take the doll.

'Make me,' said James, in an infuriating voice.

'I won't tell you again,' said Darcy warningly.

'Good, for I won't listen if you do!' laughed James.

At which Darcy wasted no more words but knocked him down, took the doll, gave it back to Georgiana and then dried her tears. She threw her arms round his neck and gave him a kiss and then ran off to her nurse, who appeared at that moment. The nurse was out of breath, for she had run all the way from the house after Georgiana, but this did not spare her Fitzwilliam's ill humour. He scolded her for letting Georgiana out of her sight, saying that if he had not been by the river then his sister could have fallen in. The nurse looked abashed and hid her novel behind her back so that he should not see the reason for her negligence. She apologised and then she took Georgiana by the hand and retreated with her charge in tow.

We settled down to our fishing again. James had picked himself up and was much better behaved to Darcy. He had a bruise coming up on his cheek, but he said no more of being bored and tried to do as he was told, ending the morning by catching two very fine fish.

'So Fitzwilliam is giving orders already, is he?' asked Mama, when I told her of the incident. 'He has the natural Darcy authority. Study him. George. That authority will be useful to you in the future.'

'Mama, you know I have no authority!' I said with a laugh. 'I cannot give orders for the world! Anyway, why should I need to? As you are so fond of telling me, I have charm!'

'Impudent boy!' she said, ruffling my hair affectionately. But then she became more serious. 'Charm is a great asset in life, but there are certain people who will not respond to it at all. Amongst them are tailors, bootmakers, and tradespeople, people you will need to converse with in the future. They will grant long credit to a man who behaves as though he owns the world, but they will not give anything to a charming rogue, for they know that charm never paid a bill. You must study people carefully, George, so that you can decide which manner will best suit the people you are dealing with. Sometimes charm and sometimes authority. Try it now. Stand up very straight and look down your nose at me. Just think of Fitzwilliam. He has the true Darcy spirit. There is not a tradesman in the land who would refuse him credit, though he is only sixteen years old.’

I tried to assume Darcy's posture and expression, and Mama laughed and said that I did it very well, at which I collapsed into laughter beside her.

'I wish I were Fitzwilliam,' I said, when we had recovered. 'Then other people would have to study how to please me, instead of me studying how to please them.'

'My dear George, you would hate it if you were Fitzwilliam. He will grow up to inherit a lot of responsibility as well as his money, something you would not like at all. You are better as you are.'

I thought there was something in what she said. Even so, I would happily change places with Fitzwilliam. Then I could pay someone to take care of my responsibilities and I could spend my time enjoying myself.

8th June 1788

The morning was hot and Fitzwilliam and I escaped from the schoolroom and ran down to the river, where we dived in and swam to our heart's content.

'I love Pemberley,' he said, as he swam lazily on his back, looking at the sky, which was a clear and cloudless blue. 'I could not be happier, knowing that one day it will all be mine. Do you love it, too?'

'Of course I do,' I said, thinking, One day, when I marry an heiress, I shall have an estate just like it.

'Do you think you will be the steward here, after your father?' he asked.

His words shattered my daydream. He saw me, not as a landowner and an equal, but as a steward, someone who would spend the rest of my life serving him. I felt myself grow red with anger and mortification, but, remembering Mama's advice, I thought of a way I could Turn the situation to my advantage.

'To do so I would need a good education,' I said. 'Papa went to university, you know, courtesy of a kind uncle, but I have no such relative to sponsor me.'

'As to that, I believe Papa means to send you to Cambridge with me. He thinks a great deal of your papa, you know, and he wants to help you because of it.'

'I had never imagined... that is very kind of him... I will try to be worthy of him,' I said, expressing myself surprised and suitably grateful.

Fitzwilliam smiled and said, 'I am glad we will be there together. It will be good to have someone there I know. All my cousins are the wrong age to be there with me, either just too old or just too young.'

I tried to think of Fitzwilliam at Cambridge and I wondered what he would do there, how he would comport himself. He would be unconsciously arrogant, no doubt, behaving as though he owned the place.

Such behaviour would not do for me. I would have to follow Mama's advice. I would make friends, meet their sisters, and marry an heiress.

When I returned home, Mama was very pleased to hear that Mr Darcy meant to send me to Cambridge, and she laughed when I said I meant to take her advice.

'A wise decision. You do not have the temperament to apply yourself to the books, Georgie, and you certainly do not have the temperament to be poor. You have winning manners and good looks and they will be a great help to you. But, whilst you should spend most of your time trying to hear of any suitable heiresses, you should not neglect any other opportunities that might come your way. You might have to wait a few years for the right heiress to come along. In the meantime, there are some valuable livings hereabouts. If you continue to win Mr Darcy's approval, then he might give you one of them when you grow up.'

'A living? What, as a churchman? Mama! You are joking? I have no desire to go into the church.'

'Why not? It will give you a gentleman's residence and a good income, for which you need do very little work. You need only look the gentleman, which you can do very easily, and hire a curate to write your sermons for you. You will have an entree into all the best society and you will meet many sheltered young ladies who do not go out a great deal in the normal way. Moreover, they will already be disposed to like you, for you will appear to great advantage in the pulpit, and do not forget that you will not have any competition in church, as you would at a ball. A clergyman is the king in his own church. He reigns supreme.'

I thought about what she said, and I remembered that I had noticed the girls casting lingering looks at the Rev Mr Mathias last Sunday, despite his plain looks.

'I think, perhaps, it might be a good idea,' I said. 'I could wear a black suit and have one simple pin—a diamond—in my cravat.'

I thought of myself standing in the pulpit, with everyone admiring me in my new black suit, and all the girls swooning over me, and I thought it would do very well, at least until I found my heiress.

'Then set your sights on the church. George, and on the rich living of Pemberley. The parsonage is a fine house, far better than this one. and it is capable of further improvement. It is well situated, and it would not shame a far wealthier man than you. And why not set your sights on Georgiana Darcy, too?'

'Georgie? She is little more than a baby!' I said, laughing at the thought of it.

'But she will not always be so. Little children have a habit of growing up, you know, and there is not such a great difference in age between you. When she is ready for marriage you will not yet be thirty. And she has a handsome dowry, thirty thousand pounds.'

'That is so,' I said thoughtfully.

'A man can go far with thirty thousand pounds. He can take a house in town for the Season, and better yet, as the husband of Georgiana Darcy, he will be admitted into the highest society, for do not forget that her uncle is an earl. And the beauty of it is that no one will blame you for mixing so much in the world, as they might do if you did not have such an exalted wife, for you can say that you are doing it for her sake and not your own.'

'And we can go to Brighton in the summer, and Bath in the autumn,' I said, seeing a happy future stretching out in front of me.

'You can indeed. You can travel as much as you desire.'

'Though it is a long time to wait,' I said, feeling suddenly dissatisfied. 'I do not think it will suit me to live on a narrow income until I am thirty. I would rather have my heiress sooner.'

She smiled at me.

'You have your mother's impatience, alas! Very well, what about Anne de Bourgh? She is coming here next week. She is another wealthy heiress; indeed, she will be richer than Georgiana, for she will inherit Rosings Park. Should you like to live there, George?'

I was much struck by the idea.

'I have never been, but it sounds very grand,' I said, adding, 'far better than a parsonage.'

'You are right, it is a great house, a very great house, with an extensive park and delightful gardens. It is in a delightful part of the country, too, being in Kent, and so very convenient for London. I went there once when I was a girl. Oh, not to stay, but just to look around when the family was away. I was touring the area with Mama and Papa, and Mama had a wish to see it. If an opportunity arises for you to visit it, you should not neglect it. I think you would like Rosings very well.'

'And no doubt you would like it very well, too!'

'I cannot deny that I would welcome a suite of rooms there,' she said with a dimple. 'You must not forget your mama when you are well settled.'

'I will never forget you. I will give you an allowance and you may shop to your heart's content.' My mood sobered. 'But it is out of the question,' I said, abandoning the rosy picture reluctantly. 'Anne is intended for Fitzwilliam. I heard Lady Anne and Lady Catherine talking about it the last time the de Bourghs were here. They want their children to marry, indeed they have been planning it since Fitzwilliam and Anne were in their cradles.'

'They might intend Anne for Fitzwilliam, and they might have no difficulty in getting her to agree to the match, but I think they will find it hard to get Fitzwilliam to fall in with their plans. He has no inclination for Anne. I have watched them together, and although he is always polite to her, he never chooses to spend any time

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.

15th June 1788

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.

18th June 1788

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.

24th June 1788

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.'

30th June 1788

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!'

7th July 1788

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.

10th July 1788

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.

16th July 1788

Lady Anne's brother and his family have arrived. Mama was very excited when they arrived, for Lady Anne's brother is an earl and his coat of arms was emblazoned on the side of the coach. His footmen wore livery and so did the coachman. The whole procession made a splendid sight.

'Henry is about your age.' she said to me as she turned away from the window. 'I want you to make friends with him if you can. George. He is interested in soldiering and he intends to go into the army. If you pretend an interest in the army, too. then perhaps he will invite you to stay when the Darcys go to visit him and his family.'

I pulled a face at this, for I have no interest in the army, and I knew it would be difficult to find something to say to a boy who was determined to become a soldier, but I promised to try.

I went down to the river, knowing that Fitzwilliam intended to take his cousin there, and I was soon one of the party. There were some other boys there, too, and I made the most of the opportunity. I worked my way round next to Henry and introduced the subject of the army, but as it soon became apparent that I knew nothing about the life of a soldier, I thought it would be better not to pretend any longer, so instead I was honest and said that the life would not suit me. Not willing to waste an opportunity, however, I said that I would prefer to go into the church. He did not seem to be interested, and he did not say anything about his family's livings, as I had hoped he might, but there must be some, and when the time comes, perhaps my words might bear fruit.

20th July 1788

I was practising my dancing steps with Mama this afternoon when Papa came in and said that Mr Darcy wanted to see me. Mama said that I must put on my best coat and change my cravat, and once that was done I set out for the great house.

I was shown in at once and Mr Darcy smiled at me and said that I should sit down. Then he said, 'I understand that you have some thought of going into the church when you are a man.'

'Yes, sir,' I said.

'Do you believe you could deliver good sermons?' he said.

'Yes, sir, I do.'

He nodded and said, 'So do I. You have always had a clear speaking voice, George. It is pleasant to listen to and it carries well. Your masters tell me you have some oratory skills and that you have the ability to sway your listeners. You know, of course, that there is more to being a clergyman than giving sermons?'

'Yes, sir. A clergyman is responsible for his parish and his parishioners. He must set them a good example and help them with their daily life as well as officiating at the usual ceremonies. I think I could do that, sir.'

He looked at me intently and then he said, 'I believe you could. I have watched you a great deal lately, George, and what I have seen has pleased me, for I have seen

that you care about people. I noticed you trying to please Anne when she was here, and that was good of you. because, as you know, she has been in low spirits since she lost her father. Then, too, you have always been kind to Georgiana. It is not every boy who would take the trouble to speak to a little girl and show an interest in her early attempts at needlework and other accomplishments, as I have seen you do. And I noticed you on the lawn a few weeks ago, helping her to learn to dance.

'It is early days yet, you are still very young, but if you are of the same mind in a few years time, I will give you the means to train for the church. Once ordained, I will make one of the family livings available to you. The one at Church Cross will probably suit you, and if you do well there, I have other livings in my gift which will be yours in due course.'

I expressed myself surprised and grateful at his interest in my future. He smiled and said that he had always been pleased with my father's stewardship and that he liked to reward those who served him well.

And there it was again, that word serve.

I hid my feelings, thanked him again for his words, and left his study. I went straight home, where I told my parents what had happened.

Papa was very pleased and so was Mama. In truth, I might do a great deal worse, but then again I might do a great deal better.

Both Anne and Georgiana like and trust me.

Who knows what the future might bring?