Bingley stared at the rising moon over his horse’s ears, considering. “What of Miss Elizabeth—and Jane? Is their family safe from scandal at present?”
“Do you mean have the younger sisters been brought into order? We can only hope. Mr Gardiner seems less inclined to tolerate foolishness.”
“And… Miss Elizabeth? How is she handling this unpleasantness with Georgiana?”
Bingley could hear his friend sigh at last, and he caught a glimpse of white teeth flashing in the moonlight. “Beautifully, Charles. She is perfection.”
Chapter 24
“Gentlemen,Iamsorryto report that my man has lost track of George Wickham.” Colonel Forster re-entered the room where his guests waited. He clasped his hands dejectedly behind his back.
Darcy shot to his feet. “Lost track of him? How is that possible, Colonel?”
“It seems the Lieutenant was calling at the home of one of the better-respected residents in the town. My man was obliged to await him without, but the Lieutenant never reappeared. I suspect, Mr Darcy, that he ingratiated himself to some of the servants of that household and was able to leave through the back entrance. By the time it was realized that something was amiss, he was nowhere to be found.”
“So,” Darcy’s tone dropped dangerously, “in addition to slandering a respectable young womananda decorated war hero with noble connections, he is also guilty of desertion in a time of war. Have I got it all, Colonel, or have I missed something?” Darcy stared icily—of course, there was more. This was Wickham!
Forster’s face reddened, and he cast the gentlemen a pained expression. “I have been making inquiries. He owes money to several shops in Meryton. He has also been implicated in the disgrace of two of the local tradesmen’s daughters. He has debts of honour as well.”
Darcy paced, his jaw and mind working ostensibly in conjunction. Bingley watched the play of muscles in Darcy’s cheek with some amusement. His old friend was boiling in rage, but few would ever have known it.I bet Elizabeth would notice.The thought came seemingly from nowhere. Yet, he was quite sure of its accuracy. Her sharp wits and keen discernment were surely marks in her favour in the eyes of the highly private man before him. Yes, regardless of her station, she was exactly what his old friend needed.
“Colonel, have you any notion where he might have gone?” Darcy ventured at last, recalling Bingley’s mind to the trouble at hand.
“Not as yet,” Forster sighed. “Desertion is a very serious charge, not one we take lightly even in the local militia. I have my eyes and ears out for him, but my resources are tapped. What of Fitzwilliam? The man is part bloodhound, Darcy. He has means which I do not.”
“I intend to get him here again, to clear his and my sister’s reputations if nothing else. I have no idea how I shall go about that bit, however.”
The colonel shook his head unhelpfully. “I wish I knew, Mr Darcy. I will send you word immediately should anything be found out regarding Wickham.”
Darcy and Bingley took their leave and emerged into the crackling winter air. They set out for Netherfield again at an easy jog, not wishing to overheat their horses. Bingley gazed idly up at the stars and waited for his friend to speak. He was waiting for a long time.
“I wish to pay a call to Longbourn first thing in the morning,” Darcy spoke at last.
“Why so early? I imagine Mr Gardiner will not smile upon such audaciousness from a suitor who so recently caused such a stir.”
“I am betrothed to a daughter of the house—at least conditionally,” he reasoned. “It is only natural that my welcome should not be confined to the traditional visiting hours. Much as I desire to speak with Elizabeth, though, that is not my primary motivation.”
“Shall I ask, or would I do better to wait and watch?”
“Georgiana. We have to set things right.” Darcy grunted a little as his horse fumbled in an unseen rut along the road.
“Yes, she ought to apologize. Do not go too hard on her, Darcy—she was quite overwrought. Of course, she was in the wrong, but I suppose it was understandable for her to be so. Just… I beg you would not frighten her more than she already is, Darce.”
“You ought to know me better than that, Charles. I shall traumatize her no further, but she must apologize to Elizabeth. Such an attack on my wife, I will not tolerate, even from her!”
“Getting a little ahead of things, are you not?”
Darcy shook his head wearily. “Forgive me. It seems I am a little overwrought myself.” He sighed and continued. “I hope to amend Mr Gardiner’s first impression. I fear it was not one of which to boast—and that wasbeforeGeorgiana’s little scene.”
Bingley fixed his friend’s shadow with a presumptuous stare. “You don’t say,” he drawled.
Darcy glared back. “Andthere is the matter of Georgiana’s reputation. It occurs to me that it should be dealt with at the source.”
“We cannot find him. How do you hope to do that?”
“Not Wickham.” Darcy smiled to himself. How had he not thought of this earlier? “Lydia Bennet. Two can play at this game.”
“Mydear,whatdoyou make of all this?” Mr Gardiner drew his wife down to sit upon the still-made bed in the guest room after the family’s somewhat melancholy dinner. Madeline draped her head over his shoulder in weary relief. What a trying day it had been!
