“We did not know if Richard’s mission would be successful,” Mr. Darcy reminded her. “Who knows how Wickham would have reacted?”
“Would have reacted? Well, how did he react? I am very confused.”
Mr. Darcy said, gently, “Mr. Wickham cannot harm you ever again, Georgiana.”
“I do not understand.”
“I do not wish to upset you, Georgiana, but Mr. Wickham is dead.”
“Dead? George?”
“Yes; he was caught trying to desert the Army on his Colonel’s horse.”
Georgiana digested this news in silence while her brother and sister watched her anxiously. Several expressions crossed her face, and then she finally said, “I suppose I should not say so, but I am glad that I shall never have to worry about him again. And stealing his Colonel’s horse? What can he have been thinking?” But then a look of horror crossed her face. “Oh, but your poor sister, Lizzy! I am sorry for being so thoughtless!”
Elizabeth replied, equably. “I am actually quite happy to hear the news. The man was not a fit husband, particularly as he was about to desert not just the Army, but also my sister. She is better off without him. And you may now tell Lord Fane that there is no danger of any distasteful secrets being revealed.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Little George turned the corner in the middle of the night on the fourth day. It was the Colonel’s turn to watch the child, and when he thought he felt that the child was cooling down, he momentarily thought perhaps little George was dead! In a fright, he woke Mrs. Wickham, who ran to the little boy’s bed and gathered her baby up in her arms. He opened his eyes and looked at her, and her cries of joy threatened to awaken the entire inn.
The apothecary came that afternoon, congratulated himself on his accurate diagnosis and successful treatment, and left with his final payment jingling in his pocket.
The Colonel agreed to wait one more day to make certain that George did not suffer a relapse, and then they would be on their way.
***
Heading south at last, the Colonel did not complain about the frequent stops to feed the children. He was grateful the little boy was well, and he had become rather fond of little Margaret, as he had spent time trying to keep the little girl amused during the dreary hours of her brother’s illness. Her favourite game was called “Horsie” and it involved Richard going onto all fours while she climbed onto his back. He hoped no one back home ever learnt of it.
***
They spent their final night on the road in Worcester. The Colonel would have liked to push on to Longbourn, but Johnny put his foot down. The horses were tired.
The next morning, the Colonel was up and ready at dawn. It was another two hours before the carriage was on its way again, but he was almost giddy with delight. Once he deposited the Wickhams at Longbourn, it was just a few hours to London. Truly, he had thought this journey would never end!
When the carriage pulled up at the front door of Longbourn, the door opened and a housekeeper peered out. She came down the steps as the Colonel leapt off his horse; her eyes opened in shock when she saw Mrs. Wickham climbing out, aided by the Colonel’s hand. “Why – Miss Lydia!”
The Colonel’s eyebrows rose. “Were you not expecting her?”
“No, not at all!”
“Mrs. Wickham, did you not write home as I directed – or, rather, suggested?”
“Of course I did,” she replied, rather crossly. “But doubtless I should have addressed it to my mother, not to my father.”
The Colonel could not stop his eye roll; Mr. Bennet’s habits relative to reading his post were well-known.
“Well, come in, come in,” the housekeeper insisted.
The Colonel held back. “Now that she has been safely delivered, I must be off to London.”
The housekeeper tsked at him. “It is Colonel Fitzwilliam, is it not? I recall you from the double wedding. Please, Colonel, at least have a drink before you leave us. The family owes you that much and more for bringing Mrs. Wickham to us.”
The Colonel felt forced to agree. He looked up at Johnny and said, “Help me get these trunks off the coach, and then your job is complete.”
“You owe me extra for the days we was stuck at Howden,” Johnny complained.
The Colonel thought this only fair, and handed the man his last two guineas. Johnny gave him a mock salute and was soon on his way.
