“He’s resentful because I terminated our friendship once it became evident he was taking advantage of me,” George added. “He had grown accustomed to expecting support from first Father and then me and his disdain for Fitzwilliam has always been apparent. If he believes he can inflict harm upon us in any manner, I think he will attempt it. Richard certainly views him as a potential threat, and his proximity to Elizabeth’s family has raised our concerns.”
“Livesay, you heard Miss Bennet claim that she would marry better than her sister, and she threatened to destroy our marriage. If she has been speaking with Wickham, the two may have hatched some plot together,” Fitzwilliam added.
Livesay nodded. “I had almost forgotten that day,” he replied thoughtfully. “What do you think he is likely to do?”
“I am not certain,” Fitzwilliam replied gravely. “At the ball, we wondered what his intention was—it could have been theft, kidnapping, or something far worse. We do not know his intention, which concerns me.”
Again, Livesay nodded. “Well, then, we will do all we can to prevent him from acting.” The men accompanying them agreed and offered suggestions for protecting the family over the next few days.
The three gentlemen entered the drawing room after quickly washing and changing clothes from their ride. It was apparentto Elizabeth what the topic of conversation had been when she saw the look on her husband’s face. He immediately came to sit beside her and kissed her tenderly, ignoring the others in the room. “I love you, dearest,” he whispered.
She bestowed a warm smile upon him and gently touched his cheek. Her cheeks flushed with a blush as she heard a discreet cough, prompting her to turn and greet the others who had entered the room alongside her husband.
“How was your ride, gentlemen?” she inquired to lighten the mood.
Her volley fell flat. “There are many places where an individual could hide,” Fitzwilliam said darkly. “Do I need to remind you of your promise not to leave the house alone?”
“No, Fitzwilliam, you do not,” Elizabeth replied, attempting not to be annoyed with the reminder. He had mentioned it a dozen times since they arrived yesterday.
“I apologise, dearest,” he whispered, seeing the look that crossed her face. She merely shook her head and smiled at him.
Once again, Elizabeth was fed up with dealing with difficult topics. “There are simply too many difficult topics to discuss, so perhaps we should focus on a far pleasanter one,” Elizabeth suggested. “Mr. Livesay, what can you tell us of your wedding trip?”
This elicited a mild chuckle from everyone present, and the ensuing conversation remained light-hearted, centred around the impending journeys of all those gathered. The newlywed Livesays planned to embark on a leisurely tour northward, savouring the scenery as they made their way toward their home in Lancashire. Their route paralleled the Darcy family’s, thoughthe Darcys intended to travel at a swifter pace. The entire family would journey to Oakridge, where they would remain for a day or two before George, Lady Anne, and Georgiana would leave for Pemberley.
Later that afternoon, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam sat in their sitting room together. “Charlotte suggested Kitty and Lydia come to live with us, but I confess, I would prefer not to ask. I think Papa would allow them to go, if for no reason other than making it easier for him, but we both have so much to learn about running the estate. We have spent little time there since we wed, and there is much to do,” Elizabeth said. She then continued to share her thoughts about the impossibility of them living with the Gardiners and even the idea Charlotte had shared about them going to school. “I would like to do what I can to help my sisters, Fitzwilliam; though part of me is angry I even need to consider it. My parents should be responsible for educating them and ensuring they are prepared to enter society, but I doubt they are capable.”
“What if Mother invited them to Pemberley for a visit? Georgiana’s governess could teach your sisters and mine, and they would all benefit from each other’s society. Georgie has always been far too isolated; Mother would be willing. We would need to discuss the idea with her and your father,” Fitzwilliam suggested.
With that decided, the two snuggled together as they talked about Wickham and Jane. “We should wait until Richard arrives to tell us what he has learned about Wickham. Do we even know if he is in Meryton?”
Darcy sighed against Elizabeth’s hair. “We do not,” he replied. “My mind is conjuring up all these scenarios, which involve you being seriously injured, and I confess, I am terrified. I donot want to lose you, Elizabeth.” He pulled her tightly into his embrace and proceeded to show her how much.
Richard arrivedat Netherfield two days later. “I have news of Wickham,” he said nearly as soon as he entered the house and was settled into the billiards room with the other gentlemen.
“What?” Fitzwilliam demanded.
“He is no longer in London—my man believes he departed for Hertfordshire shortly before I did. I am unsure of his exact intention, but he visited several apothecaries in London, mostly around Seven Dials,” Richard informed the group. “He purchased belladonna. Most apothecaries will only sell it in small amounts to avoid accidental poisoning, but he likely has enough for a lethal dose by purchasing it from several different places.
“So he intends to poison someone?” George asked, incredulous. “How would he get it inside the house?”
Richard grimaced. “That I do not know, but we will need to speak to my aunt—and probably Elizabeth as well—about who to speak to in the staff about the threat.”
Fitzwilliam nodded his agreement. “I have noticed Elizabeth knows many members of the staff from her time living here. Many belong to families she has known all her life, and in many cases, she or her grandmother assisted them in some way.”
They agreed to find Lady Anne and Elizabeth and share this information. However, Richard pulled Fitzwilliam aside. “One of my men did get close enough to overhear that the target is likely Elizabeth. Your old friend does not like that you found someone to make you happy, and your wife’s sister is awfully jealous of you. Wickham seems to feel it would serve you right to lose your wife, and the shrew does not seem to realise if something were to happen to Elizabeth, you could not marry her. Wickham was heard laughing about it.”
“Do you think Jane intends to be the one to poison my wife? In some act of bitter vengeance for marrying better than her? Livesay and Miss Lucas heard her ranting about how she would take back what rightfully belonged to her,” Fitzwilliam asked.
“Is she mad?” Richard asked. “I am not jesting—if she truly believes that, she may be out of her mind.”
“Well, what can we do about her?” Fitzwilliam asked.
“I am uncertain,” his cousin replied. “Perhaps she will be well enough if we deal with Wickham. Although it may be for the best if you and your wife do not return to the area.”
“That is easy enough to arrange,” he replied. “We would not have returned if not for her friend’s wedding.”
George stuck his head back into the hall. “Are you two coming?” he asked. The two shared a glance and then entered the drawing room, where everyone waited. After Richard told the ladies what he knew, they discussed precautions. Once that conversation was ended, Richard was shown a bedchamber, and Fitzwilliam requested Elizabeth accompany him on a walk in the gardens.
