by J Dawn King
“Clever,” Darcy whispered to himself. “What have you found?”
“The majority of our trails appear to lead to Mayfair. Currently, we are searching the homes of those who have already returned to their country estates for the winter, leaving a property vulnerable to an uninvited guest. There are many such in your neighbourhood. Our men are diligent. If he is in your neighbourhood, he will be found.”
“Is this all?” Wickham himself had claimed he was watching Darcy, so this news was not unexpected.
“No, this is not all. Despite there not having passed much time, we have developed specifics. Repeatedly we have heard that George Wickham poorly tolerates wrinkled and soiled clothing. A true gentleman would have a valet to care for this task. Your enemy is on his own. He is above taking on the burden himself, so he has been sending out clothing items, changing vendors as he promises to have his man of business provide payment and then he walks off with the items unpaid, knowing there would be no one coming later to settle the account. This means he has gone through the few laundresses in the area close to Mayfair. He now has to widen his search. We have men stationed as customers at each one of these places. We also have men in the lower-class gentlemen’s clubs where he does not have to be a member to enjoy a meal. There he could bathe and have his clothing brushed and pressed for a small fee. If we do not find him there, we will then search the brothels and inns farther out who provide those services.”
“He likes sweets,” Darcy offered.
“And we already have men surveying the shops offering such,” the magistrate replied. “A wiser man would hold onto the little money he has. Someone like George Wickham indulges first and then struggles to find funds by whatever means possible to take care of his desires the next time.” The magistrate shook his head. “They are all the same. Selfish chaps!” Standing, he walked around the desk as Darcy and the others stood as well. “This is good news, gentlemen. As time passes he will, like all the others, run out of the ready and become desperate. Your making his deeds public will hamper his ability to leave whichever hole he has crawled into. When the available food runs out, which should be soon knowing the habits of the wealthy who protect their stores while they are from home, our man will get foolish and act accordingly. Then, he is ours.”
Darcy was pleased with the information. The idea of having George Wickham forever away from him and his loved ones pleased him even more.
CHAPTER 29
The note he received from the magistrate the next morning was a crushing disappointment. George Wickham had slipped through the hands of two of the Bow Street runners while trying to enter a club to break his fast. They gave chase, but lost him when he ran behind a cart filled with coal, tipping its contents in front of the pursuers, stopping their chase long enough to lose sight of him. The magistrate feared the closeness of being apprehended would make Wickham desperate and, therefore, recommended Darcy take whatever measures were necessary to keep his family safe.
He crushed the note in his hands and hurled it into the fire. Keep his family safe. He would do anything to keep them from harm. But for now, he had a sister ready to burst into tears.
“My stomach, Will. I fear I will lose my breakfast.” Georgiana was attempting to be brave and failing spectacularly. “How will I manage? What if I get the introductions backwards? What if I give precedence to the wrong person and offend everyone?”
“Georgie,” Darcy strove to be reassuring. “Pray, think of whom we have invited. You love your Fitzwilliam relatives and will find Richard’s intended to be a lovely young woman who is similar to Elizabeth in comportment. Bingley has long been a favourite, and Elizabeth describes her sister, who is his betrothed, as the kindest woman on earth. She is a gentle lady, Poppet, and will seek your best interest as that is her nature. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are already beloved by you, are they not?”
“Yes.” Her voice sounded small as he saw her hunch her shoulders, shrinking into herself.
“Sister, you have nothing and no one to fear.” He made his voice firm. “Where is the young lady who trained to confront Wickham? Where is my imitation Lady Catherine?”
She giggled. “I am here.”
He rejoiced when her shoulders pressed back and her chin lifted. His little sister would be a beautiful woman one day. Her eyes twinkled and her teeth were even and strong when she smiled.
He scoffed. Elizabeth would laugh at him for making such a remark, even if to himself. “How dare you ponder your sister’s features in the same manner you do horseflesh at Tattersalls!” Darcy could hear her as if she was in the room. He would need to guard his tongue—and his thoughts.
“I have asked Elizabeth to arrive early. She will help you get to know Miss Bennet before the rest gather since she is the only guest you have yet to meet.”
“Thank you, Brother. I will feel much better with Lizzy and Mrs. Gardiner here,” Georgiana admitted.
“Are you well?” He had not forgotten the loss of the baby and the ensuing emotional and physical changes, but he also had not considered the added pressure of hosting a gathering. Now, it was too late to postpone the tea. He resolved to be an attentive brother to her, a difficult assignment with Elizabeth in the same room.
“I will be. Do not worry. You are correct, William. I am among friends who will help me along.” His sister fluttered her hand, and he knew the subject would change. “When do you and Elizabeth marry?”
Darcy exhaled. “I wish I knew, Poppet. There has not been time to make sure the settlement for Elizabeth is done. I did retrieve the special licence from the Archbishop yesterday morning early. But with Mr. Bennet being in town, I should confer with him to learn his schedule. I do not know whether or not Elizabeth wants to be married from Longbourn chapel or at our parish in town. He started to run his hands through his hair, but stopped himself before so doing. He did not want his hair standing on end when Elizabeth arrived. “Since asking her uncle’s permission, we have had little time to speak on any subject other than the hunt for Wickham.”
Barely had the sentence left his mouth when his butler announced the arrival of Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle. When they arrived in the room, after Georgiana welcomed them to Darcy House, Darcy asked about Bingley and Miss Bennet.
“Jane sent her apologies, William.” Elizabeth quickly informed him after both she and Mrs. Gardiner greeted Georgiana with a hug. Darcy wanted one too. “Mother was helping her dress for the occasion, so my sister was not ready when we needed to leave. Mr. Bingley promised to have them here shortly.”
“Georgie, my sister is very anxious for an introduction. We have assured her of your kind nature being most like hers, and she is looking to have a friend in you.” Elizabeth sat next to Darcy’s sister.
“Does she know about…?” Brow furrowed, Georgiana clasped Elizabeth’s hand.
“She does not, nor will she ever. This information is not ours to share.” Elizabeth glanced towards her aunt, who nodded agreement. “You can relax and be at peace today. We shall have a lovely time, I am sure.”
Fitzwilliam Darcy wondered how she did it—how she became more and more appealing to him each time she was in his presence. Are all good marriages the same? He must have had a dazed look on his face because he barely caught the glance Mr. Gardiner gave his wife. They were, without words, enjoying his growing affection for their niece. He did not mind at all.
“Mr. Gardiner, now that we are to become family, might you call me Darcy as my close friends do?” When the man acquiesced, the talk became light. Joviality filled the room, and Darcy could not be more pleased when his sister relaxed to the point where smiles came easily to her.
When the Fitzwilliams joined the group, minus the Viscount who had already removed to the Matlock country estate, the noise grew in intensity. The women unobtrusively aided Georgiana in her duties as they patiently awaited Bingley and his betrothed.
Darcy’s eyes could not keep from his beloved. The soft green of her gown deepened the rich emeral
d of her eyes. The cream lace bordering the bodice, which he had no business admiring, made the glow of her skin appear almost translucent. And her hair…her hair was glorious, its rich tones shining in the candlelight, and the minimal sun drifting in through the hazy winter London fog wrapping the outside of the house in a blanket of quiet.
All of this was interrupted when his butler announced his next guests. Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet had not come alone. With their entry came the high-pitched screeching announcing the unexpected arrival of Mrs. Bennet.
Darcy was stunned when Mr. Bennet, his wife, and his three youngest daughters followed behind Bingley and Jane. The intolerable situation was made even more so when Miss Caroline Bingley stepped into the drawing room.
He was appalled and so angry his hands shook when he fisted them. How dare they come uninvited into his home! How dare they ruin Georgiana’s first attempts at taking charge of a household! How dare they take away the peace of his home!
Mrs. Gardiner immediately moved to Georgiana’s side as Elizabeth moved to his. He overheard Mrs. Gardiner’s reminder to his sister, “Lady Catherine,” just before Elizabeth spoke.
“Mama! Why are you come? You have no invitation.” Her chin raised and her voice firm, Elizabeth was acting as the soon-to-be mistress of Darcy House. “None of you…”
“Stuff and nonsense, Lizzy,” Mrs. Bennet interrupted. “I told Jane it was merely an oversight on Miss Darcy’s part. Of course the Darcys would welcome the family of Mr. Bingley’s intended. Now…,” she waved her daughter away from Darcy as if a fly was trying to settle on his shoulder. “Shoo. Go, Lizzy, and allow your sister the place of honour.”
Caroline Bingley chuckled and then sneered. Before Darcy could respond, his sister flew from her chair. She stopped within a foot of Bingley’s sister. Georgiana’s voice was clear and could be easily heard around the hushed room.
“Miss Bingley, you, too, were not invited nor are you welcome at Darcy House or Pemberley in the future. Your rudeness can no longer be overlooked. Therefore, I must ask you to leave. If this means your source of transport necessitates Mr. Bingley and his guests departing as well, so be it. Leave now!”
Darcy wanted to clap and hug his sister at the same time. Never could he have imagined her so bold. His mother would have burst with pride to see her daughter stand in her position with authority. When he spied her fingers quivering, he moved to her side.
“You heard the lady of the house,” Darcy insisted. He worried Caroline Bingley would be struck with a fit of apoplexy, her complexion went from a shocking red to snow white within seconds as she surely realised the extent of her fall. “Pray, leave us now.”
Turning their backs to her, they casually walked back to where Elizabeth stood. Bingley remained in confused stillness as Darcy’s butler assisted a grumbling Miss Bingley from the house.
“What a joke. Mr. Darcy kicked the shrew from the very home where she had hoped to reign as Mistress. Well done, Mr. Darcy. Miss Darcy. Well done!” Lydia Bennet clapped loudly as she became the centre of attention. “You have a wonderful sister, sir, and I am glad of it. Lizzy will have good company when you marry, and I will have another sister I can admire. You, sir, are blessed, I am surprised to say. She looks like Jane and Lizzy all rolled into one.”
“Oh, my Lydia. How smart you are,” Mrs. Bennet proclaimed, the pitch of her voice louder and higher. “Attach yourself to the little miss, and she can introduce you to a rich man you can marry, perhaps one with a title unlike Jane and Lizzy.”
“Oh Lord,” he heard Elizabeth whisper beside him as her face became almost as red as Miss Bingley’s had been.
He took her hand in his as she had done to him on several occasions when he had been in need of her support. “Do not worry, my dear. All will be well.”
“Miss Lydia,” he spoke over the top of Mrs. Bennet’s ramblings. Mr. Bennet had moved against a far wall during the disturbance and was snickering. At that moment, Darcy despised the man almost as much as he did Wickham. How could a father find entertainment in the vulgarity of his wife? “While I thank you for your sentiments, they are poorly timed. You see, this is my sister’s first time hosting a party, and there are now five more in attendance than she had planned. If it were you acting as hostess, what would you do about this situation?”
His question appeared to render Lydia Bennet speechless, something he had never thought would happen in his lifetime, or hers. He waited as she surveyed the room.
“Mr. Darcy, sir,” she began. “I see your cousin, the colonel, is already attached to a young woman and assume the man and woman standing close are his parents, which would make them an earl and a countess. Am I correct so far?” At Darcy’s nod, she continued, “This is a private tea, then?” Again, he nodded. “I see. And we were not extended an invitation?” Darcy shook his head. “Then we must leave and will return once invited.” He nodded.
The young girl turned to her eldest sister. “Jane, you should not have given in to Mama by tacitly agreeing with her. As you can now see, there had not been an oversight. Our appearance, and that of Miss Bingley, has been an abuse to Miss Darcy’s hospitality. We should not have come.”
“But, Lydia…,” Mrs. Bennet sputtered. “Of course, we are welcome. Lizzy is my child…”
“No, Mama,” Lydia insisted. “We need to depart.” She looked to Mr. Darcy. “And I believe Mr. Bingley and Jane need to go with us to see both his family and ours follow what is proper. This is London, Mama. We are no longer in Hertfordshire.”
Lydia turned her back on her mother the same way Darcy had done to Miss Bingley. Approaching Georgiana, she offered, “Pray forgive the interruption, Miss Darcy. You have a lovely home. Perhaps another day we might enjoy each other’s company.” With that said, the youngest of Elizabeth’s sisters curtsied politely and turned to leave.
“Mama. Papa. Come,” she insisted.
As they sauntered out of the drawing room to the entrance hall, the front door slammed back with such force, the walls of the whole house shook. Lady Catherine had arrived.
CHAPTER 30
As Elizabeth whispered an apology to Georgiana, they heard Lydia Bennet from the entrance hall, comment in a manner proving she may have discerned the proper behaviour in one area, but completely lacked tact in all others.
“La, what a hideous colour for someone your age.” The youngest Bennet’s voice carried easily into the drawing room.
“Young lady! Do you know who I am? Do you know to whom you are speaking?” Lady Catherine began, her tone imperious, only to be interrupted.
“Good heavens!” Miss Lydia responded, ignoring his aunt’s questions. “The French have shipped their mantuamakers to England, so we no longer take pride in what we wear.” Lydia turned to her father. “It is the French we are fighting, is it not?”
By then, Lady Catherine had arrived in the drawing room like a dervish bent on destruction. One by one, the Bennets quickly followed. He heard Georgiana giggle and thought Lady Matlock had sniggered as well. The scene was spectacular in its ridiculousness.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh was livid while Miss Lydia was indifferent to the effects of her insult. Mrs. Bennet seemed not to know whether to agree with her youngest or curtsey to the woman in front of her. Miss Mary and Miss Kitty stood on either side of Lydia while Mr. Bennet returned to his position, leaning against the wall smirking at the tableau. Miss Jane Bennet and Bingley were frozen in place, the disruption unsettling them both so they did absolutely nothing.
Darcy was angry. This day had been hard enough with the word of Wickham’s escape. Added to his sister having to toss Miss Bingley from the house and the pressure for her to host intruders like the Bennets and now his most cantankerous relative, he had had enough.
Before fur could fly, Lord Matlock spoke to his sister as Elizabeth walked to hers. “Cathy, why have you come to London? Why are you not at Rosings?”
Lady Catherine glared at her brother. “You can be at no loss, Hugh, to
understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come.” She now glared at Darcy. “Your paltry letter contained a report of a most alarming nature, a report so scandalously false I instantly resolved on setting off for this place that I might make my sentiments known to you. I am not to be trifled with, Darcy. I will have my say.”
Mrs. Bennet let out a cackle. Lydia snorted, then spoke, “You are Lady Catherine de Bourgh? From Rosings Park in Kent? The patroness with a sickly daughter, windows too numerous to count, and a chimney piece suitable to impress my father’s absurd cousin?” She turned towards her second eldest sister. “Oh, pray Lizzy, do allow us to remain, for I imagine there shall be entertainment in abundance as long as she is here.” Her index finger pointed at Darcy’s recalcitrant aunt.
“Lydia Bennet, enough!” Elizabeth grabbed her sister by the ear in the same move she had used all those weeks ago on the balcony at Bingley’s ball. “You will behave yourself.” She bypassed her mother and glared at her father, her eyes pleading with him to act.
