“And not tried to help him? Tsk, tsk, Mrs Annesley, but you are too much the lady for that. Even the appearance of aid is better than nothing at all. Gives the old boy hope, do you know. And now, what have you got around here to eat? I am famished.”
“You are not staying, Mr Wickham! Oh, no, I absolutely insist. You must go. What if it were discovered that you were here?”
He laughed. “It would harm neither of us any further, I would warrant. And do not think of running to the authorities, because you would instantly look as culpable as I. Miss Darcy’s loyal companion, taking bribes and knowingly abandoning her post? For shame, Mrs Annesley.”
She turned away from him, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. “That I should have come to this!” she lamented, her hand clutching the phial until her fingers ached. “I used to be respectable!”
He shrugged and tossed his hat on the sofa, then began to unbutton his coat. “Yes, yes, then some foolish man had to go and ruin your life. I have heard it all before, Mrs Annesley. Be so good as to fetch some tea, will you?”
She rounded on him, eyes blazing. “Tea! I would drop arsenic in your tea, had I any sense. A man who would betray the family who brought him up, the daughter of your patron—I am ashamed to know you, sir! You are a dissolute wretch, and you have led me down a path from which I can never recover!”
He seated himself and began to pull at his own boots, with little success. “Never? Oh, people such as we always land on our feet. Be a good lass, and lend me a hand with this boot.”
Her mouth dropped open in astonishment, but whether at his casual request or his declaration that she was like himself, she could not be certain. Everything about the man was offensive. “Mr Wickham! I am nothing like you are! Do you even care what happens to that poor girl? No, you never did, Mr Wickham! She was only ever a means to a comfortable life for you!”
“Georgiana Darcy? Oh, of course I cared for her. A fine girl like that? What man would not be interested in her person? I never wished Darcy any harm, for that matter. But you may set your mind at ease, Mrs Annesley, for from what I can discern, Miss Bennet has done an admirable job of shielding Miss Darcy in your absence. So admirable, in fact, that some while ago I was instructed to discover a way to lure her away from Pemberley as well. Sadly, someone else was rash and employed a very clumsy kidnapping attempt before I could do anything. After that, I doubt a hurricane could have drawn her off.”
Mrs Annesley bit her lips and shivered in relief. “Miss Bennet has been a faithful friend?”
“Unfortunately, but I would have expected nothing less of the wench. Blast Fitzwilliam for dragging her up here to Derbyshire! Last thing I would have expected.Hewas easily enough distracted. A word or two to his investigator’s informants, drawing eyes away from London and toward Portugal… took the bloke forever to come round to the point, but he put it all together at last. Such a pity that he left the she-wolf to guard the den! And now that Darcy has returned, I—”
Mrs Annesley whirled about, her face ashen. “Mr Darcy returned?”
“Oh,” he stretched in his seat, giving up on his boots. “Did not I mention that? It turns out that he was not disposed of as promised, and is, in fact, alive and well. Rather inconvenient. No, do not think of running to him, Mrs Annesley, for I have seen him, and he is half mad. Why, he even lost his temper with a lady, and one he used to admire, if I am not mistaken. He would eat you as soon as look at you. ‘Tis a pity, I suppose, for our erstwhile benefactor, for now Miss Darcy isnotthe sole heir to Pemberley as she was supposed to be. There is still the matter of that Portuguese fellow, though, so I think things may yet become rather interesting. I shall bide my time here, and see what comes of it.”
“You shall do no such thing, you heartless blackguard! To think I would give shelter to one who could bring harm upon Mr Darcy, who was kind to me, or Miss Darcy, the sweetest girl in the world! I cannot believe I did not know of your involvement from the first!”
“I wasnotinvolved at first,” he protested. “I was merely a tool, just as you were. We are stuck with one another, Mrs Annesley.”
“Absolutely not! And you will absent yourself from this house at once, Mr Wickham. My brother is dying, and the disease has got to his head! I’ll not have you here to trouble him.”
He raised his brows and smiled in that charming way of his. “Mrs Annesley! I do not intend to make myself a burden. Surely you will need a clever head about, to establish yourself respectably once more when the time comes. Think of me as your knight, madam. You may as well confess that you have no means of recovery without my assistance. Now, about that tea?”
Pemberley
“Colonel!Youarenotgoing?” Elizabeth rushed down the front steps of the house, still draping her shawl over her shoulders.
Richard turned reluctantly. “I bloody well am, Miss Bennet.” He heaved a sigh, braced a hand upon the door of his coach, and looked back up at her. “Forgive my language, Miss Bennet. Hardly the thing before a lady.”
“Has he not relented? Oh, I was afraid of this!”
“Relented? My dear woman, are we speaking of the same man? This is the fellow who won the fencing championship at Cambridge after tying with the same opponent twice, and then going a full nine-minute round to finish him off! Darcy does not relent, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth offered a sad smile. “He is rather… obstinate. Even my aunt described him as such, and that after only a short acquaintance.”
“Mrs Gardiner knows what she is about. Perhaps I will pay a call on her, when I have returned to London.”
“Colonel, is there no other way? Mr Darcy is like to say many things he may regret. I cannot believe he truly wishes for you to go. There are so many things I must tell you; about Mrs Annesley, and the account books, and—”
“No, Miss Bennet. I wish to leave, and with all due respect, I am not inclined to discuss it.” He waited for the footman to place the stool and offered a short bow before mounting the step. “I think it unwise for Mrs Wickham to attempt travel, and so I shall conveniently neglect to take her. I hope this will cause you no hardship, Miss Bennet.”
She frowned at the ground. “Mr Darcy may be displeased that she is to remain for now, but then I am no longer certain that he desires my presence, either.”
The colonel allowed the footman to close the door, and leaned out the window. “Darcy can go hang himself, Miss Bennet. I love the man like a brother, but his insults have touched a little too near. At present, the only thing that could cause me to delay is for you to express your own desire to quit Pemberley. I should be honoured to escort you, Miss Bennet, and Mrs Wickham if such is your wish.”
“And what of Georgiana?”
He looked away. “Darcy will see to her, naturally.” He drew a long breath. “I know what you are about, Miss Bennet, and I dare not attempt to cross swords with you in debate. My mind is set. Perhaps in a month’s time I may write, and see how things stand.”
