By Anna Liu
Part VI: The Letter
Read Part V: A Vampire’s Proposal here.
The morning Elizabeth was to return to Longbourn, she received two letters. The first was from Lydia. Elizabeth could hear her sister’s delight shrieking through the paper.
Sister,
I will already be gone when you return home. The werewolf pack is relocating to Brighton, and I was ever so sad about bidding farewell, but Father has consented for me to go to Brighton! I shall accompany the Forsters. Kitty is dreadfully jealous, and how can I fault her for that? I shall spend every waking moment with the werewolves. I will be sure to write and tell you of all my adventures.
Lydia Bennet
Elizabeth questioned her father’s decision. Lydia was far too flighty to be trusted off on her own. She doubted Mrs. Forster’s supervision would be enough to keep Lydia out of trouble.
The second letter produced a multitude of emotions in Elizabeth. It was written in the same careful hand that had urged Elizabeth to come to Netherfield. It was from Mr. Darcy.
Miss Elizabeth,
If I may, I will address the two transgressions you have raised against me. I do not seek your favor; I only wish to enlighten you.
Mr. Wickham and I were quite close growing up. His father was my father’s steward. Where we grew up, werewolves and vampires did not socialize. My father demonstrated a great deal of trust in letting the Wickhams into our lives. For years, they never gave us any cause to doubt it. Even after Mr. Wickham’s father passed away, Mr. Wickham remained a part of our family. He was a comfort to me when my father first became ill.
A few years ago, I caught wind of a plot to uncover a treasonous vampire on my travels. The details escape me at this present moment, but I remember thinking it absurd that any vampire would dare to voice treason. I remember discussing it with Mr. Wickham. I discussed everything with him. There was a substantial reward for the capture of this treasonous vampire.
One thing led to another, and it became quite clear to me that Mr. Wickham intended to frame my father as the treasonous vampire so that he could collect the reward. I confronted him, half out of my mind with rage. He claimed that it was a mercy, since my father was so ill he couldn’t rise out of bed. He told me that since I stood to inherit my father’s wealth, I should be grateful to him. I was so angry I could barely speak. He was willing to dishonor my father and stain his legacy for money. I forbade him from ever coming to Pemberley again.
After my father passed away, Mr. Wickham wormed his way into my younger sister’s heart. I was gone so often I did not see what I should have. He was after Georgiana’s inheritance, but his charms and lies persuaded my sister otherwise. He had convinced her to elope until he learned that not a penny of that inheritance would ever become his. He vanished into the night, and my sister was heartbroken. She was barely fifteen.
Now, the matter of Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley. Bingley and I have been friends for years. He loved your sister — loves her still, in fact. Their separation lies entirely on my shoulders. I was convinced that we could only cause you pain, Miss Elizabeth. I could see how even looking at us was difficult for you. You only saw us as monsters.
I suppose it was for selfish reasons. I’d rather you never look at me again than look at me with disgust. Nevertheless, I don’t think Bingley could have borne that kind of life with much more grace. He is too kind — something his sister takes advantage of. I didn’t want your mother to do that as well. I was trying to protect my friend.
I did not realize until our conversation how deep Miss Bennet’s devotions truly are. I am sorry for my involvement in that, Miss Elizabeth. I never intended any harm. My only wish has been to see you happy.
Mr. Darcy
Elizabeth stared at that letter for a long, long while.
Blood and Prejudice: Part VI was originally published in The Herald on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.