“La, he could not speak the truth if you held him over the fire! You are wasting your time, Colonel.”
Darcy, standing just behind his cousin, met Elizabeth’s eyes with another look of apology. He had not desired to place this burden on the girl, and still would not have done so if Elizabeth had strenuously objected, but she had not.
“Mrs Wickham, we are not asking you to take up residence with him,” Darcy added. “All we ask is for you to reveal your presence to him, and allow him to know the… the great blessing in store. Many a man comes to think differently upon his actions when he considers his own legacy.”
“You think that because he got me with child, he will suddenly show himself honourable? Mr Darcy, you truly have gone mad.”
“Lydia!” chided Elizabeth.
“No,” interrupted Darcy, “Mrs Wickham is quite correct. It was wrong of me to ask so much. As you say, Mrs Wickham, there is likely little honour to be found in your husband. The colonel will take him to London, as planned, and he need never know of your presence at Pemberley.”
Three stunned faces gaped at him, and Darcy did not wonder why. It had been his idea, against the advice of both Richard and Elizabeth, to approach Lydia Wickham, and now he was pulling back as quickly as he had come to it. It had been a foolish notion in the first place, and one he had previously settled with himself as potentially damaging to the lady involved. Why, then, had he suddenly felt so convicted of its wisdom after Jefferson’s suicide?
He shook his head. “Forgive me, Mrs Wickham. I shall not ask more of you.”
The girl straightened, her expression taking on the look of the satisfactorily vindicated. “Oh, you can tell him that I was here, after you take him away. Be certain he knows how much I despise him! He never could stand for a woman to think ill of him. Tell him I know what a wretched liar he is, and that I shall have a new lover as soon as he is hanged. I think I shall look for someone of a better rank than a mere lieutenant this time.”
Elizabeth was shielding her eyes with her hand and shaking her head. Darcy was struck speechless, but Richard was laughing. “I can think of nothing that would torment him more, Mrs Wickham. You may rest assured, I will be certain to inform him of all he has lost.”
She smiled and batted her lashes. “I knew I could count on you,Colonel.”
Richardpouredtwoglassesof brandy, then fairly collapsed into a seat, exhausted. The remainder of the day had been spent in futile interviews with the staff and an unproductive ride to Rush Hill Abbey. Duncan had not been at home, but they learned that Woods had been permitted to go on about his way and that the magistrate considered the investigation complete.
“Well,” Richard sighed, “that is that. I suppose there is little else we can learn here. Darcy, have you thought of what to do about my father and our aunt? In another day or two, all of London will be talking about your return. It seems to me we must make some preparations for whatever the repercussions may be. Someone out there may not be happy to hear that you are back at home.”
“I expect those most closely concerned are already aware, but you are correct that a general knowledge may complicate matters for us. I cannot point a finger of accusation without certainty, but the moment word reaches London, everyone will think of something suspicious. It will be impossible then to know which testimony is useful and which is mere fancy.”
“I was thinking that perhaps I would hire Broderick again to learn what we can. I cannot very well prowl about the streets myself. There is also the matter of Reginald’s wife, so I ought to pay my respects at the house, and everyone will have all manner of questions for me about you. To top it all, I will have business with Whitehall, now that Wickham has been found. Are you certain there is nothing more to be got from him? I might take him to my own commanding officer first, rather than directly to Whitehall. If he thinks there might be hope of a charge of ‘Absent Without Leave’ rather than ‘Desertion’, he may yet be willing to speak.”
“That is possible. In that case, I ought to accompany you.”
“You and Georgiana would do much better to remain here, at least until we have taken a better measure of things. I say, what do you intend to do about his wife?”
Darcy suppressed a sour face. “My sister, and Elizabeth, naturally, are fond of her. I cannot turn her out, particularly in her condition, but I do not think I can tolerate the woman in my house. Perhaps I can find a quiet cottage for her on the estate and establish her with a modest income. She may need it, if Mr Wickham is sentenced by the army for desertion. I suppose that after some time we might even find another husband for her,” Darcy leaned back somewhat and lifted a significant brow at his cousin.
“Oh, no!” Richard shook a finger. “I shall not serve in harness, simply to oblige you by taking Mrs Wickham off your hands!”
“It was my feeble attempt at a jest, Richard.”
“A valiant effort, but you need more practice. Try again after five years or so of living with Miss Bennet.”
Darcy fell silent, but there was a warmth in his eyes as he gazed into his glass.
“Is everything settled between the two of you, then?” Richard asked, casually sipping his brandy.
“I intend to marry her as soon as I have her father’s blessing. I wrote to him, but I do not like entrusting such a conversation to a letter. Perhaps I ought to accompany you to London, and I could stop at Longbourn. After I have spoken with Mr Bennet, I could obtain a license….”
“Darcy! As far as London is concerned, you are still a dead man! You cannot simply sail back into port, hoist your flag, and stake your territory! There will be legalities, and you may even tarnish your intended in the eyes of Society by wedding her before observing all the proper forms. She is not of the connections any would have expected for you, and the timing will look blasted suspicious. And if I were Miss Bennet’s father, I would have some very pointed questions for you!”
“I shall answer them, but I cannot lose her again. I do not even wish to wait long enough for a proper engagement, though I begin to fear it might be necessary. I dare not remain here with her unmarried. I would never forgive myself if I compromised her.”
Richard set down his glass. “So, don’t.”
Darcy drew a long, burning swallow. “It is not that easy. For years I have perfected the art of gentlemanly conduct, and I never permitted myself so much as an unintended glance at a lady.”
“Hah! I know that for a falsehood, because you stared at Miss Bennet often enough at Rosings.”
“She has been my weakness from the moment I first set eyes upon her,” Darcy acknowledged in a low voice. “She is everything I lack, and even more so now. How am I to resist her? No! I know my strength will fail me, and I will disgrace her.”
