No!Wickham might have been cavalier when it came to breaking the laws of the land, but Darcy was not.
Pressing his fingers against his lips to stifle the harsh words threatening to spew from his tongue, Darcy sat behind his desk, awaiting Cole’s arrival. He exhaled slowly, trying to calm his racing pulse.
Lost in his own thoughts, he gave no attention to the luxury of his leather chair, the sturdiness of his grand walnut desk, or the tea tray his housekeeper provided. His mind churned with how he could proceed, for society loved to crucify innocents tainted with a blush of scandal. Georgiana left herself and her family vulnerable to gossip that would grow in malice as it spread. Even if Wickham had been upstanding, which he was not, her joy in being a new bride would be temporary at best.
At last, Cole arrived with a man Darcy did not know and sat before him. Cole was slight of form, with a few wisps of hair combed over to give the impression he was not yet bald.
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Darcy. James Moore, the notary, was unavailable. However, Mr. Cinna, a court-appointed civil notary, will step in to identify the parties, witness their signatures, get acknowledgment andunderstanding of the agreement, and affix his official seal.” He cleared his throat. “I have already, ah-em, explained the situation as you reported in your note.”
“Yes,” Darcy examined the newcomer from head to toe. Mr. Cinna appeared every inch a barrister from one of the higher courts. “I have requested Wickham’s presence. As soon as he arrives, we shall see this finished.”
Mr. Cole asked, “This is the same Mr. Wickham, I take it, the son of Pemberley’s former steward, who received a thousand pounds upon the death of your respected father and another three thousand in lieu of the living at Kympton?”
“The same.”
Mr. Cole shook his head slowly, his eyes briefly closing. “A shame.”
“I concur.”
“Sir, your father set aside your sister’s portion the day she reached her sixth year. Her dowry has remained in the four percents for almost ten years, accruing a considerable amount of interest. Mr. Darcy planned to provide the initial dowry to your sister’s husband, with this interest being deposited in Pemberley’s account. Will you do the same?”
“I will.”
“Very good, sir. Once Mr. Wickham is present, Mr. Cinna and I will witness both of your signatures. I will immediately go to your bank to transfer thirty thousand pounds from Miss Darcy’s dowry account to Mr. Wickham. I suppose he will want to accompany me. Once he has the money in hand, I will then deposit the interest safely into Pemberley’s account. After that, the dowry account will be closed.” He shifted in his chair.
“I hope this is the last transaction with the man, but I somehow doubt it,” said Darcy.
“Of course, the bride is your sister. Life has a way of getting in our way, does it not, Mr. Darcy?”
“That it does. This must be the end of my business with Wickham. Make it so, Cole, if I am to keep what remains of my good name.”
Once the two men departed, Darcy considered the consequences of his sister’s actions. Nothing good would come it, he had no doubt.
2
Wickham remained at Darcy House with his bride until Mr. Cole returned with his funds two hours later. Darcy expected him to leave a weeping Georgiana behind once he had the money, and the reprobate was free to devote himself to every form of dissolute behavior known to humanity.
Standing at the window looking over the garden, Darcy failed to see the beauty he had observed only hours before. Ignoring the cool lemonade Mrs. Price provided, he sipped the brandy warming in his hand. His mind traversed a year or two into the future. It was a dismal sight: Wickham, his pockets empty, forcing his wife to labor to provide crumbs for their growing family as he slept off his drunkenness from the night spent gambling their last coins. In Darcy’s imagination, Georgiana appeared worn and weary.
Rubbing his chest, he wiped his eyes on his sleeve. Losing his parents crushed him. But this horrible choiceGeorgiana made ripped his heart into shreds. No good would come from this action. Even without being shunned by society, her newly wedded giddiness would never last. Once the reality of being married to Wickham set in, the weight of her disappointments would overpower her. George Wickham was not a gentleman. He had no concept of honor or duty.
How could she not have known the sort of man she attached herself to?
His shoulders drooped as his knees weakened. She did not know because he never told her what Wickham was like.The fault is mine.How could he blame Georgiana, who was ignorant of the world?
Rage flowed through his veins. The failure was entirely his.
Light glinted off the crystal decanter from the setting sun. In the darkening room, he stood in complete silence, sipping brandy, one glass after another.
A maid lit the sconces surrounding the grand stone fireplace. He barely acknowledged her efforts. Later, another servant set a tray of his favorites on the corner of his desk. He smelled strong coffee, ham, and an apple tart. Nothing tempted him other than the amber elixir numbing his soul.
Long after the house quieted, Cole and his notary reappeared with the last contracts to sign, allocating the interest from the dowry account to Pemberley. The words on the paper blurred. His head throbbed. Darcy rushed through the task, wanting them gone.
As soon as the door closed, he wept.
In vain, he sought oblivion at the bottom of a bottle ofhis finest imported brandy. When that failed to dull the pain of failure and heartbreak, he broke open a bottle of malted whisky. Finally, he felt nothing at all.
The bloated evidenceof overindulgence looked back at him in the mirror after Parker shaved him. Even after a cold bath, his stomach churned. Fearing he still might cast up his accounts, he had his valet tie his cravat loosely.
