“It wasn’t so very long ago when I was invited to all pool parties at Pemberley.”
“Well, look what the cat drug in,” Richard commented under to his breath for only Will to hear.
“Hi George,” Georgianna waved. “Watch, I learned to dive.”
“Wow, look at you! If I had brought my trunks, I could show you how to do a backwards cannon ball.”
“Hello, George. What brings you to our neck of the woods?” Will asked.
“Our neck of the woods is it? Last I checked I still own a home not ten miles from here. I think these are my woods as well.”
“Of course, I only meant I thought you wouldn’t be able to get away from football camp at this time of year. How long are you planning on visiting?”
“Oh, I’m not playing anymore. And no, I’m not visiting; I’m here for good. I realized playing just brought back too many memories of our dads coming to my games. Football lost its appeal. I decided it was time to get serious about my future. When I asked myself what I really wanted, I knew it was time to come home and go into the law like your dad always encouraged me to.”
“Really? I must confess to being surprised. I never would have thought you’d give up playing ball.”
“Me either,” Richard added. Looking at George suspiciously he asked, “What happened, George? Got kicked out for drugs?”
“No, don’t be ridiculous,” George laughed. “I told you my reasons. So, I hear you moved right in and made yourself at home, Richard.”
“I was asked. I’m helping take care of Georgie, if you must know.”
“Yes, very good of you. You know, I’m seriously considering going to Vassar with you guys next semester. I wonder if I might be of service as well. It’s awfully lonely without Dad at the house. I would be more than happy to move here and pitch in. You know what they say; many hands make the load light. It’ll be like old times, the three amigos, as your sweet mother used to call us. How I miss her!”
Will looked at Richard’s face and could see his cousin’s vote was a resounding no.
“That’s awfully nice of you, George. I really appreciate the offer, but I think we’ll just keep things as they are. We’ve got a schedule down and it’s working out well. So, you’re thinking of going to Vassar. You know, if you’re serious about going into the law, there are other schools which are better suited to that profession. Have you considered all your options?”
“Yes, I have,” George answered curtly. “Will, can I have a word in private?”
“Certainly, let’s go into the pool house.”
George followed Will in, closing the door behind him. “Look, Will, I’m going to cut to the chase. I’ve been thinking about what your Dad used to promise us; that if we became lawyers he’d let us join Darcy and Associates. Of course, that’s a long way off but I’d like to get the process started.”
“I don’t remember Dad actually making that promise… but he did hope we’d be successful, potentially in the law.”
“Well, I remember him making me that promise. What I want to know is if you will abide by his wishes? Since as you admit, he wanted me to be successful, I hope you will help me in that endeavor. I feel strongly that considering the affection he always had for me, if he were still alive, he would have put me through college. I mean, how can I be successful otherwise, right? So since I cannot afford it otherwise, I’m hoping you will do the right thing and honor your father’s wishes.”
“Am I to understand you correctly that you don’t have any of your father’s insurance money left?”
“A little, but certainly not enough to see me through even one more year.”
“How did you go through the entire amount in so short a time, George?”
“Listen, I know there were rumors that I got a huge sum, but the truth is the insurance was only a hundred and fifty thousand, not a million.”
Will shook his head in disbelief. “George, you own your home, you were given a full scholarship and you had the money. I think you were in a very good position to take care of your needs. Mr. Davis encouraged you to make good choices and you would have a comfortable life. What happened?”
“It’s so easy for you to tell me how to manage my little money when you have an endless amount at your fingertips! And while we’re on the subject, you know full well that more was owed to me. I was supposed to have the proceeds from the restaurant, but I was cheated out of it on a technicality. Who cares which of our fathers died first when it was yours who asked mine to ride with him to the games together and yours who was driving when the accident happened? My father would have been alive to inherit if it hadn’t been for your father, and you know it!”
George stopped there, and began making an effort to calm his temper. He kept telling himself that you catch more flies with honey.
Will was speechless. Ben and his Dad were friends. The drunk driver of the car that hit them was to blame. They would have never blamed each other, and yet… he did recall overhearing his father on the phone: “I insist, Ben. I’ll pick you up and we’ll grab a bite after.” Did his father bear some responsibility as George was asserting?
In a much calmer tone George continued. “Look, all I’m asking is for you to pay my tuition to Vassar so that I can save money by living at home. I need someone to give me a break. Like Georgianna, I don’t remember my mother and I lost my father. But unlike her, I don’t even have the funds to take care of my basic necessities. I was there when the will was read, remember? I know her trust is for fifty million so your inheritance must be at least double that. What I’m asking is a drop in the bucket by comparison. Come on, Will, you know in your heart it’s what your father would want you to do!”
“Yes, he probably would. Alright, I’ll pay your tuition.”
“Thank you! You’ll see, I’ll be the best lawyer Darcy and Associates has ever seen! And we’re talking tuition for three years right?”
“I’m not promising you a job, George, just paying your tuition. And yes, I’ll pay up front for all three years.”
“Sure, sure. So, do you want to write me a check now?”
“No, I’ll pay the tuition directly to the school.”
“Right, right, good idea. There’s just one more thing; I haven’t figured out yet how I’m going to get there. I’m without wheels at the moment.”
“What happened to your Porsche? It was barely a year old.”
“Stupid insurance company is what happened! The Porsche got totaled a few months back and when I went to file the claim, they said the policy had lapsed. I told them they should have informed me and I would have taken care of it immediately. But you know how it is; insurance is just a big scam!”
Will was finally seeing George’s true colors. He always played the victim and everything that happened to him was everyone else’s fault.
He had seriously considered giving George the proceeds from the restaurant, but Mr. Davis had advised him against it. He had told Will that you could throw all the money in the world at some people and they would turn around and squander it all in short order. He suspected George was just that type. Time would tell and Will could always change his mind about the income if George proved to be a responsible sort. Mr. Davis hoped he was wrong about George.
“I’ll write you a check for twenty thousand dollars. You can get a sensible, reliable car with that. But George, this is it. I’m paying off my father’s debt to you and wash my hands of any further responsibility for your well-being.”
“Thanks again, Will. I knew you’d do the right thing.”
As they left the pool house George smiled brightly at Richard. “Guess I’ll be seeing you around.”
******
A few weeks later while having dinner at the Fitzwilliam’s, Jim said in passing, “Oh, I saw that friend of yours today, George Wickham. He told me he was going to be going to school with you boys in the fall. Not that I agree with him spending so much money at his age but that Porsche of his is a fine little car.
”
Will’s eyes narrowed in confusion and he and Richard exchanged puzzled looks. “He was driving a Porsche you say? The red one that he bought after his father died?
“No, this one was black. He must have gotten a bundle when his dad died, or he’s good at cards. He said he just came back from Vegas.”
Will was surprised that his and George’s paths never crossed in class, given the fact that they were both taking classes that would help them to later go to law school. By the second year he learned that George had changed his major to acting.
Chapter Nine
Nine Years later
Through his close association with the Darcy firm, from working in the office as a teenager to years of interning there -added to natural ability- Will had a mind that grasped the nuances of the law which was shared by only an elite few.
His aunt, Catherine de Bourgh, was easily one of the most well-known socialites in New York City. Attending social functions with his father, then later with his aunt, had put Will in a position of having many important connections before he ever became a lawyer. And Catherine was sure to make the most of every opportunity. Not only could William hold his own in any conversation, but he was as handsome as they came. She was prodigiously proud of her nephew.
Having graduated at the top of his class and passing the bar on his first try, William Darcy worked diligently at his family’s firm and after only one year had taken over the practice from the retiring Mr. Davis. Charles Bingley, who had become one of his closest friends during their years together interning at Darcy and Associates, and later attending the same undergraduate school, was then brought in as a new partner.
Bingley would always inspire Darcy by his keen mind and positive disposition and Darcy was simply brilliant. Their friendship flourished so much in school and here in another platform, it reinforced the bond between them as they both were committed to working hard together to make Darcy and Associates even more successful.
However, Charles was well aware of what the rest of their colleagues throughout the country were quickly to discover: William Darcy was the best of the best.
William’s first case in his new role at Darcy and Associates was referred to him by none other than his aunt Catherine. It had the makings of everything an eager young defense attorney could aspire for: a high profile client with all the evidence, albeit mostly circumstantial, pointing to his guilt. Darcy’s impressive defense had assured him notoriety as well as admiration. The firm was never in want of clients.
At 28, William Darcy was now an extremely successful lawyer. To his amusement, though perhaps not surprise, his secretary had recently informed him that he was on numerous Most Eligible Bachelors’ lists.
Turning into the long driveway, he smiled to himself as he saw Pemberley coming into view. Georgiana was there. She was a joy in his life.
“Will,” Georgiana called out as she practically bounced out of the kitchen, eyes alight with excitement. “You're home early!”
“Well, this is a surprise. It's been a long time since you greeted me from work so earnestly,” Darcy smiled as he removed his coat and hung it on the coat stand in the hallway. Last he recalled, little Georgiana had barely been a wisp of a girl when she ran to the door to greet him after work. He tried not to notice that the little girl was not quite so little anymore but it was unavoidable. She was growing into a lovely young woman, slender and delicate, with a natural, gentle grace, straight blonde hair framing a lovely face, and vibrant brown eyes. She also had a smile that lit the room when she chose to share it. She looked so much like their mother.
Had they lived in another place and time, he would’ve had to fret over dealing with young men coming to court his little sister. Heaven help him when she graduated next spring! He could scarcely believe that would be coming up before too long. It seemed like only yesterday when he'd escorted her to her first day of grade school.
“What are you staring at?” Georgiana asked, obviously feeling self-conscious. She fidgeted with the hem of her blouse, her eyes avoiding his scrutiny.
“Just trying to figure out when you grew up all of a sudden.” Darcy smiled as she wrinkled up her nose at the revelation.
“It's not all of a sudden! If you weren't so busy at the office, you'd have noticed ages ago,” Georgiana stated as she placed a slender hand on her hip and met his gaze.
Darcy gave her an apologetic smile as he conceded the point. “Maybe so.”
He’d always been very busy, pushing through his studies to take over their family business as quickly as he could. Even now with the help of his partner, Charles Bingley, the law firm demanded a great deal of his attention — not only the long, arduous, and often complex cases, although that was a large part of it, but also the requirement to attend many social functions to keep benefactors of the business content. One never knew when one might need a judge's signature at two in the morning. It was best to be on their good side long before such a situation arose.
“Your music teacher told me that you've mastered almost everything she has to teach you,” Will commented, taking a deep breath as he did so. The smell of tomato sauce was heavy in the air. He raised a thoughtful brow. Georgiana knew how to follow a few recipes, but she generally saved cooking for special occasions.
“She's exaggerating. They'd laugh me out of a theater,” Georgiana stated, dismissing the praise. She looked at him hopefully. “So you’re home for the rest of the night? I thought you had a big case or something?”
“Actually, I'm free through the weekend.” Will smiled as he loosened his tie. “The other side decided to take a plea deal before it went to court.”
“That's great!” Georgiana's face lit up with excitement at the news. “I was half afraid that you would be busy all weekend”
“Do you have a recital?”
He looked at her with remorse, worried that he might have forgotten something important. He frantically thought over the schedule for the week, picturing it in his mind to see if it included any note of something involving Georgiana. While he was busy maintaining their position in society, she had Richard, Aunt and uncle Fitzwilliam, when they weren’t off traveling somewhere, and Aunt Catherine to represent her at her showings. Oh yes, there was also Caroline Bingley, Charles’ sister who made a practice of attending every time Will could manage to.
He did his best to keep his schedule clear for her events and brought her as his plus one as often as she was able, but even he was not always able to remember every detail of their combined calendars. It was a constant concern to him but it was an unavoidable one. Georgianna didn’t seem to mind. She would often give him concerts at home where she felt most at ease that far exceeded the recitals.
“Oh no! Nothing like that!” Georgiana shook her head, sending pale blonde hair wafting around her delicate face as she smiled broadly. “I was going to keep it a surprise, but if you are free this weekend then I have to tell you! I have such exciting news! If I keep it to myself any longer I'll explode!”
“Explode? Well, that's no good, as we just had the carpets cleaned,” he teased with a wide grin, earning himself an eye roll from his little sister. “What is this news that’s so exciting as to be explosive?”
“I'll tell you over dinner,” Georgiana said, smiling from ear to ear as she hurried back to the kitchen to check on the meal she was preparing. “No peeking! I'm experimenting with a new recipe.”
Darcy reflexively turned to his desk, eying the drawer where he always hid away his antacids for just such emergencies. While his sister could cook, it was not like the old days where girls apprenticed with women in their families. Her cooking skills came from strangers on YouTube videos and random blogs, most of whom were questionable at best on good taste. One had inspired her to add bacon and syrup to a chocolate cupcake recipe. He could not say that he enjoyed forcing down that particular treat, although he appreciated her thoughtfulness.
When he was sure that she was preoccupied with her work in the kitc
hen, he slipped over to retrieve one of the chalky pills, popping it into his mouth and sucking on it in the hope it would be a preventive as well as a cure. He checked the giant desk planner for some hint of what the news might be. He had to admit that Georgiana seemed happier as of late. Both he and Richard had noticed it. She had never been a gloomy girl, but he had to admit that there was an extra spark there. Could that have something to do with this mystery announcement?
He tried to imagine what would inspire her in such a manner. An invitation to attend a university perhaps. She had the talent and grades for a scholarship and early admission, but she had resisted attempts made for her to skip a grade in the past. She hadn’t wanted to miss her junior and senior years to go straight into a university. It had been the right decision; they turned out to be the best times of her academic life. Perhaps it was a planned trip with her friends. No, that couldn’t be it. She had many acquaintances, but she was shy around most people and more so when it came to actually going out for social occasions. In addition, she would never make such plans without consulting with him first.
A boy?
Darcy tensed at the thought. Richard’s latest girlfriend had recently suggested as much and had been surprised that Georgianna hadn’t had a boyfriend yet. Oh, she’d gone to the dances and such but there had been no one steady. He knew the day was coming, but he was not yet prepared to talk curfews and warnings of being a gentleman to a generation that had no notion of the true definition of the word.
No, that was the worst of all the possible scenarios. However, if it were to be the case then he had no intention of letting her off the front step without a background check and a copy of the boy's driver's license. William Darcy knew himself too well to convince himself otherwise. Though I should congratulate myself, he thought. A year ago, I would have been tempted to have them fingerprinted and take a DNA swab for good measure...
Legally Darcy: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice Page 4
