Unfortunately for Lizzy, Will’s visit to France would not be her only worry. The Garrisons were shortly to learn that Lucy had left Brighton with Waggoner. Lucy’s stunt could very well have destroyed any chance Lizzy had of receiving a second offer of marriage from Will Lacey. Although I knew the outcome, I really sympathized with Lizzy because she was about to experience great uncertainty, something I was becoming increasingly familiar with.
16 December — Oh what sad news we have had! An express rider came Monday evening from Col. Fenton telling Papa that Lucy had run away with Mr. Waggoner. His men found them in London two days later at a lodging house under an assumed name. Col. Fenton went to London for the purpose of bringing Waggoner back to Brighton for disciplinary action and to restore Lucy to her family, but Lucy would not leave Waggoner! She does not see the harm in what she has done. Lucy is at present with Uncle Sims, and our father left this morning with Charles, who said he was confident his brother James, who is in London while George Bingham is in France, could be of some help. But for so many people to know of our troubles! All we can do now is to wait for news from London.
23 December — At Uncle’s insistence, Papa has returned home, as arrangements have been made for Waggoner and Lucy to marry on Wed. in Uncle Sims’s church. Papa believes Charles has laid out a good deal of money on his behalf to settle Waggoner’s affairs. Since we do not have ready money, Papa has been forced to accept his son-in-law’s generosity. Col. Fenton wrote to Papa to say a commission had been purchased for Waggoner in the regular army by a friend, and he is to report to a regiment in the North. Papa will not receive them here, and Mama, realizing Lucy’s behaviour could harm the family if the details of her hurried marriage became known, agrees with him. Mama will meet them at the inn at Watford when they travel north. Celia and I will go with her, but Mary refuses.
2 January — We met Lucy and Waggoner at the inn yesterday. Mama has aged ten years since this affair began and said little to Lucy and barely acknowledged Waggoner. I, too, had little to say, but Lucy more than made up for it. I was barely listening when she mentioned that Mr. Lacey had paid for Waggoner’s commission. When I asked her why Mr. Lacey should involve himself in her situation, she said he was giving Waggoner his due because he had been denied a living promised to him by Old Mr. Lacey. I made no comment on this slander. I must write to Aunt Sims to find out the reason for Mr. Lacey’s involvement in this sordid affair. But there is no one to ask why he did not inform me of his return to England. If Mr. Lacey ever intended to make another offer of marriage, the idea died this week in London.
Elizabeth’s aunt’s response was on lovely, pale pink, linen stationery, and in her tiny handwriting, Mrs. Sims wrote:
9 January 1793
Dear Elizabeth,
I must rely on your discretion regarding the matter of Lucy and Waggoner because Mr. Lacey did not wish for his role in this affair to become known, especially to your father. Your uncle has given me his permission to acquaint you with the particulars of the events in London. We are convinced it is because of you that Mr. Lacey became involved.
Col. Fenton delivered Lucy to our doorstep himself. He said Lucy was adamant that she would not leave Waggoner, and the colonel decided it was best to turn the matter over to her family. The poor man could not apologize enough for the unfortunate chain of events. He told us it has caused a rift between him and his wife. Apparently, Mrs. Fenton knew Lucy was expecting a proposal of marriage from Waggoner. The colonel would not have allowed it and would have sent your sister home immediately.
Your uncle was successful in convincing your father to return home where he could be of comfort to his family. He was to be pitied: one minute angry and the next in a state of despair. Under such circumstances, he would not have been helpful with negotiations with Mr. Waggoner, who was quite confident of an advantageous resolution. When your uncle arrived at the solicitor’s office, Mr. Lacey and Mr. George Bingham were present. Mr. Bingham was attended by a large man, who sat behind him and said not a word. Waggoner presented his demands to Mr. Bingham, who set the paper aside without looking at it.
George Bingham stated that Waggoner’s debts would be discharged in Brighton and Bennets End, a commission would be purchased, including uniforms, and Lucy would receive wedding clothes and an annuity from her father. With that, Mr. Bingham stood up and said that Waggoner would receive no additional money, and there would be no further demands made by him now or at any time in the future. He leaned over the table to get as close as possible to Waggoner and said, ‘Bad things happen to bad people, Mr. Waggoner. I strongly urge you to reform and take care of your young wife.’ Your uncle said when he stood up, the large man also stood up, and after this very threatening statement, they left. Waggoner said no more. The papers were signed and arrangements made for the wedding.
You asked why Mr. Lacey involved himself in our troubles. One of the reasons given was he felt obligated to do so because, if he had made known Waggoner’s true character, this could not have happened. But more importantly, I believe he is in love with you. When he dined with us after all the legal issues were settled, he said not a word about what had happened that day out spoke only of our visit to Derbyshire and his visit to Helmsley Hall. I am sure Mr. Lacey will return to Hertfordshire after there has been time for wounds to heal with one purpose in mind, and that is to see you.
Love,
Aunt Ruth
That was the last of the letters and diary entries, but Beth had also enclosed a note wrapping up the story.
Now for an explanation of how Lady Sylvia came to believe her nephew might make an offer of marriage to Lizzy, which Jane Austen told so dramatically in the novel. Shortly after the problems associated with Lucy’s elopement were resolved, Anne traveled with Will Lacey to Helmsley Hall for a visit with Lizzy, Jane, and Charles. Upon her return to Desmet Park, Anne was very complimentary of the hospitality shown to her by the newly married Charles and Jane Bingham. That was when Anne told her mother she might shortly hear news of another marriage — that of her nephew and Elizabeth Garrison.
Lady Sylvia was on the road in a heartbeat. After verbally abusing Lizzy at Bennets End, as Jane Austen wrote about in P&P, she went directly to Helmsley Hall and lashed into her nephew. For once in her life, Lady Sylvia did not get her way. Will rode to Bennets End to apologize for his aunt’s behaviour. Instead of breaking up the romance, Will asked Lizzy to marry him right then and there. Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth received a beautiful ruby ring as a symbol of their betrothal. They were married in St. Michael’s Church in Crofton on May 20, 1793, and they had their wedding breakfast at Montclair in the company of their friends and family.
I look forward to discussing all of this with you when you are next in Crofton.
Fondly,