One Winter's Eve

by Leenie Brown

  “Thank you.”

  Richard’s brows drew together, and he lifted his head to look at his cousin. “For what? Allowing your sister to be injured?”

  “No, for staying with her when I know you would have rather chased Wickham down and ended his life.” Darcy held Richard’s gaze. “I will go see her, but then we must discuss what is to be done about Wickham.”

  Richard nodded. “I have been considering that for some time now.”

  “He needs to leave England,” Bingley said. “Purchase him a commission or passage to India or toss him down a steep cliff onto some jagged rocks — it matters not so long as he is removed from here.”

  Richard’s mouth dropped open. Bingley was not usually the bloodthirsty sort.

  “He will want money and ease,” Darcy said as he rose from his chair.

  “He does not favor the regulars, I mentioned that while we spoke today,” Richard added.

  “He wants Darcy’s life,” Bingley muttered. “It is what he has always wanted — an estate and a fortune to squander on all kinds of rapacious living.” He shook his head. “He has injured Georgiana twice now and threatens to continue. He cannot be allowed to do so.”

  “I know,” both Darcy and Richard replied.

  Bingley had begun to pace the room but now stood beside the billiard table next to Richard. “You should inform Colonel Forester of his actions. I have heard the man is not lenient with his correction. Then when there is a threat of dire consequence to be escaped, perhaps Wickham would be more receptive to alternative options.” He rolled one ball after another down the length of the table as he thought. “I do not know what to do beyond that.”

  “That is a very good beginning,” Richard said. “I had considered calling on Colonel Forester.”

  Darcy stood near the door. “We will go together after I have seen Georgiana.”

  Bingley and Richard watched Darcy leave the room. Then, when the door had clicked closed, Bingley turned to Richard.

  “Jane said that Miss Lydia has been whispering to Miss Kitty about sneaking out to see the blackguard. Neither knows that Jane has heard them. So, if we could rid the area of the man before rather than after he has ruined a foolish young girl, Jane and I would appreciate it.”

  “Ah,” said Richard, “that explains your comments about seeing him dead or gone.”

  Bingley smiled wryly. “It was a bit unlike me, was it not?”

  “Indeed,” Richard replied with a chuckle.

  “How Darcy can contain his ire is beyond me!” Bingley had moved down the table and was rolling the balls back to the end where they had been moments ago. “If Wickham had behaved as he did with either of my sisters, I do not think I could harness my anger as Darcy does. I struggled enough to not display my emotions to Jane when she confided in me about her sister — and Wickham has not done anything further than flirt with the girl.” He blew out a breath. “Or so we hope.”

  “Darcy is a special breed of gentleman,” Richard agreed. “I have wished to end Wickham’s existence since Ramsgate, but there are laws.”

  “Unfortunately,” Bingley muttered. “With what can we tempt him? What would cause him to wish to leave England?”

  “Money.”

  Bingley’s head tipped to the side. “Cards.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Is he a good player?” Bingley leaned against the table just down from Richard.

  “I could not say for certain, but from the debt he accrues, I doubt he is. Why?”

  Bingley shrugged. “We could tempt him with a large sum of money that he gets should he win a game, but if he loses, he takes passage to India.”

  Richard chuckled. “Bloodthirsty might not be your normal wont, but you fall into the role of sharp quite easily. I had figured you to be a more patient sort, able to put up with a good deal of foolishness before taking action.” Richard gave him a nod of respect. “It appears I am wrong.”

  Bingley smiled. “I do tend to weather foolishness better than some.” He blew out a breath. “That is likely why Caroline is as she is. Father spoiled her, and I did not have the fortitude to check her.”

  “Until she attempted to thwart your plans with Miss Bennet. Since then, she says you have been doing nothing but checking her.”

  “She has told you this?” Bingley turned so that he was leaning sideways on the table and could look at Richard.

  “She did.”

  Bingley’s brows furrowed. “She has been rather docile the past few days.” His head tipped. “Have I been too harsh?”

  Richard chuckled. “No. She overstepped her place. However, I do believe she has had a change of heart — at least, to a point.”

  “How so?”

  “She intends to call on the Bennets.” The way Bingley’s mouth dropped open slightly while his eyes grew wide made Richard chuckle once again. “Louisa is not pleased with the idea, but Caroline seems determined. I believe, there is a good heart within her.”

  Bingley nodded. “She has not always been as she is — or was?”

  “Hopefully, was.” Richard pushed off the table. It was likely dangerous to continue standing here discussing Caroline with her brother. If Richard were not careful, Bingley would ferret out of him his desire regarding Caroline. And that was not a discussion Richard wished to have just yet with Bingley. Maybe one day, but not now.

  “You know she used to be rather sweet when she was a child,” Bingley continued as he followed Richard to the door.

  “I can imagine she was, but the experiences of life change us all.”

  “Too true,” Bingley admitted as they exited the billiards room. “However, it would be much easier to find her a husband if she would revert to that sweet child.”

  Richard shook his head. “It is not a reverting which is needed,” he said softly.

  “It is not?” Bingley placed a hand on Richard’s arm, drawing him to a stop.

  Silently, Richard cursed himself for saying anything. “No. It is an accepting which is needed. The lady she has become possesses many good qualities. She just does not know it well enough yet.”

  Bingley’s brows furrowed and then a smile crept across his lips. “You took her riding today.”

  Richard nodded. “She mentioned she liked riding, so we went riding.”

  “And that is the only reason?”

  Richard shrugged.

  Bingley laughed. “Very well, I will not inquire further.”

  For that Richard was immeasurably happy as the very lady about whom they had been talking was approaching them.

  “Charles, Colonel,” she greeted. “How is Mr. Darcy?” She looked past her brother to Richard for an answer.

  “I am still standing and have no injuries,” he quipped. “He has gone to see Georgiana.”

  “The horse has been returned. She had not gone much beyond the meadow.”

  “I am glad.” Richard shifted uneasily from one foot to another. Having Bingley watching him as he was, was rather uncomfortable. “Have you finished it?” he asked, indicating the book she carried.

  “Oh, no, not yet. Actually, I was not reading just now, but was on my way to find a corner where I could not hear my sister so that I might.” She glanced at her brother but returned her eyes to Richard. “I was going to the library.”

  “An excellent place to find some solitude.”

  “Or near solitude,” she replied with a small smile.

  “Darcy and I are planning to visit Colonel Forrester to see what can be done about Wickham, so I will not be intruding on your solitude today,” Richard said, extending his arm to her so that he could lead her down the hall to the library and away from her grinning brother.

  “Will you be able to keep him from telling tales?” she whispered.

  Richard blew out a breath. “That is our goal, but I honestly do not know if it is possible.”

  They had stopped in front of the library door.

  “How is it that there is gossip about Mr. W
ickham being a fortune hunter?” Caroline asked.

  Richard opened the door in front of them. The hall was not the best place to discuss this particular topic. “How much do you know about Georgiana’s interactions with Wickham?”

  Caroline stepped into the room before answering. “I know that she nearly eloped with him and that he did not wish to marry her but to get her money. She told me this the day before Christmas when I suggested she could go to town without your accompanying her.”

  Richard shook his head lightly in disbelief. Georgiana certainly was determined to not let her ordeal remain a heavy weight on her life.

  “She shared her story with Mr. Bennet because she did not wish to see any of his daughters fall victim to Wickham’s pretty tales.” Richard motioned to the chairs near the hearth where Caroline had curled up to read the last time they were in this room together. “She knows Wickham is not above ingratiating himself with ladies for reasons that have nothing to do with marriage, so the fact that the Bennets are not heiresses is not enough to keep them safe from ruin. Forgive me, I do know that it is not proper to speak of such things.”

  Caroline slipped her feet out of her slippers and tucked them under her.

  “I should go,” Richard said. “Darcy will likely wish to be on our way soon.”

  “Was he angry with you?”

  Richard shook his head. “Not that I could tell.” He shrugged. “He thanked me for staying with Georgie instead of chasing down Wickham.”

  “Did you wish to chase him down?” Caroline asked in surprise.

  “With all that is in me, yes.” He still wished to find the man and do him harm.

  Caroline smiled at him. “I will say it once again. Miss Darcy is very fortunate to have you. You care for her very well. Every lady should be so fortunate as to be cared for as you care for her.” She ducked her head, and her cheeks grew becomingly rosy. “You are a good man.”

  “Thank you,” Richard said, lowering himself into the chair next to her. He should leave. He should go to his room and wait for Darcy. He should not remain here.

  “Are you not leaving?”

  Richard shook his head. “Darcy can find me here.” He leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out in front of him. “I promise to be quiet.”

  “And do what?”

  “Watch you read. You are very charmingly arranged as you are.”

  Caroline held her book out to him. “Or you could read to me. You are very good at it.”

  He took the book from her and opened it to where she had it marked. “Shall I begin here?” He pointed to the top of the left page.

  “No, the next page.”

  He cleared his throat and, after giving her a mock look of hauteur, began reading.

  LETTER XLIX

  VILLARS TO EVELINA. Berry Hill.

  DISPLEASURE? my Evelina!-you have but done your duty; you have but shown that humanity without which I should blush to own my child. It is mine, however, to see that your generosity be not repressed by your suffering from indulging it; I remit to you, therefore, not merely a token of my approbation, but an acknowledgment of my desire to participate in your charity. [1]

  * * *

  from Evelina by Fanny Burney ↵

  Chapter 9

  Richard entered Colonel Forester’s drawing room with Darcy at his heels. He was uncertain where this conversation was going to lead, but he was determined that it should end with Georgiana, as well as Lydia Bennet, being free from the danger that Wickham posed to them. He did not expect to see one of those ladies sitting in the Forester’s drawing room with her sister Kitty at her side.

  “Colonel,” Richard greeted. “Mrs. Forester, Miss Lydia, Miss Kitty.”

  “We are a popular house this evening, are we not?” Colonel Forester said with a chuckle. “My wife has invited a couple of her dearest friends for dinner.” He rose from his seat and motioned toward the door. “I assume you are here on some business and not in pursuit of gossip.”

  Richard smiled. “That would be correct.”

  “We will be in my office, my dear,” he said to his wife, a pretty young lady of not many more years than Georgiana if her looks were a good thing by which to make such an assumption.

  Richard hoped that, with Colonel Forester’s having so recently married and to such a young lady with friends who were in danger from Wickham, their conference would go well.

  “What can I do for you, Colonel?” Forester asked as he walked behind his desk and lifted a decanter of port in an offer to the gentlemen.

  Richard nodded his acceptance as he took a seat before Forester’s desk. “I have come to speak to you about one of your men.”

  Forester placed a glass before Darcy and turned to fill one for Richard. “Let me guess. Would it be Lieutenant Wickham?”

  “Indeed, it would be.”

  Forester placed a glass before Richard, then procured one for himself. Settling into his chair, he sighed. “What has he done?”

  Richard took a sip of his drink and pondered the rather annoyed tone with which the question was asked. “Has he been difficult?”

  “Not in his training or duties, but I would appreciate it if he would refrain from flirting with my wife — although, I must admit he has not singled her out. It is more just his way, I suppose.”

  The port in Richard’s glass swirled as he turned his glass in his hand. “He is more than a flirt,” Richard said. “And I would watch him around my wife if I had one with whom he was overly friendly.”

  Forester’s brows rose as his lips pursed and interest shone in his eyes. “Go on.”

  Richard glanced at Darcy. “No lady, married or unmarried, rich or poor, is safe from his proclivities. He is as free with his charm as he is with his money at a card table, and he manages both very ill. There are several children born on the wrong side of the blanket who bear a resemblance to him.”

  “Indeed?”

  Richard nodded. “Darcy and I have known him for years. He has been given money and wasted it on licentious living, and there is a maid in Darcy’s employ who is the mother to one of Wickham’s offspring — not that he cares to know or support the child or its mother.”

  “I had heard tell that Wickham was a former friend, and a close one of Mr. Darcy’s family — his father in particular,” said Forester.

  “That is not a lie,” Darcy replied. “However, my father never knew Wickham as I did. He kept his lifestyle well-hidden from my father. So well-hidden that my father left him a legacy and the living that was in his power to bequeath. The legacy was given, but the living was refused by Wickham in favour of a sum of money. He claimed he wished to study the law instead of taking orders, and, to be honest, I was glad for it.”

  “He wasted the money in short order and decided the law was not for him,” Richard continued. “Not long ago, he wished instead to be granted the living which had just fallen vacant. Darcy refused him his request.”

  “For which he abused me most severely,” Darcy added.

  Colonel Forester’s head bobbed up and down slowly. “So, the tales he has shared about you are not true — except in part?”

  “That would be correct,” Darcy replied.

  Colonel Forester took a sip of his port. “You have not come to share this tale with me though, have you?”

  Richard shook his head. “No. There was an incident today in which Wickham was involved.”

  “Continue,” Forester said as he returned to his glass for another swallow of port.

  “This past spring, my sister,” Darcy said, “fell victim to his charm — she was not ruined — but she was heartbroken when she discovered his intentions were less than honorable. She has thirty thousand pounds that he wished to claim for his own.”

  “She has shared her story with the father of the future Mrs. Darcy,” Richard added.

  Colonel Forester’s eyes lit with understanding. “Bennet had mentioned that Wickham was a fortune hunter,” he said. “It has caused some gri
ef for Wickham.”

  Richard placed his empty glass on the desk. “Wickham was less than pleased when he saw me earlier today as I was out riding with Miss Darcy and Miss Bingley. He threatened to tell one and all that he had indeed ruined Miss Darcy. I assured him that such a thing would not be met with pleasure.” Richard’s lips curled up into a menacing smile as he gave the colonel across from him a knowing look.

  Colonel Forester merely nodded and muttered his agreement that such an action would require a measured and severe response.

  “He wished for me to refute the tales of him being a fortune hunter, but I cannot. They are true. I did give my word that I would not add to any gossip in return for his remaining silent.” Richard leaned forward and allowed the anger he felt to be seen on his face. “I did not expect him to attack her in my presence, so I did not worry about him being too near Miss Darcy’ s horse. However, I was wrong. He hit her horse with his hat, causing it to start, and Miss Darcy to be thrown. Thankfully, her injuries are not grave.”

  Colonel Forester drained the remaining liquid from his glass and placed it firmly on the desk with a thump.

  “He was not alone. Captain’s Denny and Saunders were with him. They, however, spoke not a word beyond a greeting to me and had no interaction with Miss Darcy. I do not know if they will give him up or not as I do not know how their friendship lies.” Richard leaned back in his chair. “There is one last item that I think you should know because Miss Lydia is your wife’s friend. Her sister, Miss Bennet, has heard Miss Lydia talking about sneaking out to see Wickham.”

  Colonel Forester cursed and shook his head. “What is to be done with him? Such behaviour cannot be tolerated in my ranks.”

  “Personally, I would like to see him gone from England,” Richard replied.

  “I can imagine you would.” Colonel Forester went to the door of his office and called to a footman. “Have Lieutenant Wickham, Captain Saunders, and Captain Denny sent to see me with all due haste.”

  “Right away, sir,” the man replied and hurried off to do as he was bid.

  “Another glass of port while we wait and plan?” Colonel Forester offered.