Page 190 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“I do, Colonel, and considerably more than I expected. I admit, I had believed Wickham to be an honorable man.”

Forster set down his pen and invited him to sit.

Harper placed several folded sheets on the desk between them. “I began with the tradesmen, as you instructed. Wickham owes money to the tailor, the bootmaker, two inns, a wine merchant, and several shopkeepers. There are smaller accounts as well. The debts I could confirm amount to seven hundred and twelve pounds.”

“Good heavens. Does that include his gaming debts?”

“No. I heard enough about those to be certain they exist, but the gentlemen involved were less willing to give me particulars. There may also be other trade debts. Some of the men were reluctant to speak.”

Forster ran his eye down the figures. “How has he managed to persuade so many men to extend him credit in so short a time?”

“The uniform helps, as do his manners. More than one man told me that Lieutenant Wickham appeared certain of receiving money from his family.”

“He has no fortune that I know of, which leaves his creditors with little prospect of being paid.”

Harper drew another paper from his pocket. “The debts are not the worst of it, Colonel. You also instructed me to inquire discreetly about his conduct toward young women. There has been a great deal of talk, and although talk is not evidence, I heard the same sort of stories from people who had no reason to consult one another. I thought it wise to continue asking questions.”

Forster's expression hardened. “What did you learn?”

“Wickham has paid particular attention to a number of young women since the regiment came to Meryton. In most cases it appears to have gone no further than flirtation, although he seems to have encouraged more than one girl to believe his intentions were serious. I also learned of two cases that caused me greater concern.”

Harper glanced at the paper before continuing. “The first concerns the seventeen-year-old daughter of a tradesman. She met Wickham several times without her father's knowledge until her family discovered the meetings and put an end to the acquaintance. Another family was more reluctant to speak with me. Their daughter had also been persuaded to meet Wickham privately on several occasions, and when her parents discovered what was happening, they sent her to relatives.”

“Did the acquaintance go further?”

“I could not establish that. Her father made it very clear that he would not allow his daughter's name to become regimental gossip, and I saw no reason to press him.”

“Nor should you have. The secrecy of the meetings is troubling enough in light of what Mr. Bennet told me.”

“There have been other complaints as well. Wickham has been involved in drunken evenings, unpaid wagers, and several quarrels. One innkeeper told me that Wickham and two other officers damaged a table and a number of glasses during a night of drinking. The other officers paid their portions of the damage, but Wickham did not.”

Forster considered the papers before him. “I find it difficult to understand how so much misconduct has occurred without any of it reaching me.”

“I wondered the same thing until I began speaking with the people involved. No single incident appeared important enough to bring before the commanding officer. A tradesman expected eventually to be paid, an innkeeper replaced what was broken, and a father removed his daughter from an undesirable acquaintance. Each believed he was dealing with his own difficulty. When the complaints are put together, however, they present a very different picture.”

Harper pushed the papers toward him. “I have included the names of the creditors, the amounts they claim, and the names of those willing to confirm their complaints. I left the young women's names out of the written report because I thought it better to protect them.”

Forster picked up the list of debts again. “Thank you, Harper. You have given me what I need. I know how to proceed.”

* * *

Mr. Bennet and Darcy returned to Colonel Forster's office the following afternoon.

Forster did not keep them long in suspense. “I asked Major Harper to conduct the inquiry we discussed. He spent four days speaking with tradesmen and others in Meryton, and I am afraid Mr. Darcy's assessment of Wickham was correct.”

He placed several sheets of paper on the desk.

“Harper confirmed seven hundred and twelve pounds in unpaid accounts. That sum does not include gaming debts, which appear to be considerable, or other accounts he could not verify.”

Mr. Bennet picked up the first sheet and studied it. “How does a lieutenant persuade half of Meryton to support him?”

“By convincing each man that he will eventually be paid. Several believed Wickham had expectations from his family.”

Darcy said, “He has no family.”

Mr. Bennet passed the papers to him as Forster continued. “The debts are not my greatest concern. Harper found evidence that Wickham has been meeting young women without their families' knowledge. One girl is seventeen. Another was sent away to relatives after her parents discovered the meetings. There are rumors concerning others, but I will not repeat accusations that Harper could not substantiate.”

“Then Lydia was not the first,” Mr. Bennet said.