Page 200 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Peter watched the carriage pull away, then looked at his brother.

“Our work is done here. Mr. Darcy will want to know Wickham has been taken into custody. Let us go.”

* * *

Darcy was shown into Mr. Bennet's library at Longbourn later that afternoon.

Thomas Bennet closed the book he had been reading. “You have news, Darcy?”

“I received word from Colonel Forster that the officers took George Wickham into custody at eleven this morning. We came very near losing him, sir. He had already arranged passage to St Albans for four this afternoon and intended to continue from there to London.”

“Then I am grateful your men were watching him.”

“Yes, sir. The debt proceedings should prevent him from approaching Lydia for the present, but I do not consider the matter finished. My investigators are still examining his past. If they uncover evidence of a serious crime, I intend to place it before the proper authorities and see that it is prosecuted.”

Mr. Bennet regarded him across the desk. “You do not intend to give Wickham another opportunity to begin elsewhere.”

“No, sir.”

A knock sounded at the library door.

Mr. Bennet's expression changed immediately.

“I would lay a wager, Mr. Darcy, that Lizzy is standing on the other side of that door.”

Darcy laughed. “I shall not take the wager, sir. I am equally certain of it.”

“Enter.”

The door opened, and Elizabeth entered.

She looked first at her father and then at Mr. Darcy. “You have news of Wickham, sir?”

Both gentlemen laughed.

Color rose in Elizabeth's cheeks, but she waited for an answer.

Darcy rose. “The officers took him into custody at eleven this morning, Miss Elizabeth. He is now being conveyed toward London.”

“Then Lydia is safe from him.”

“For the present, yes. I intend to make certain he cannot trouble her again.”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth curtsied to him, glanced at her father, and left.

Mr. Bennet looked at Darcy.

“I believe we might both have won that wager.”

Darcy smiled. “Yes, sir.”

Chapter 52: The Castle

Three days later, Bingley found Darcy in the breakfast room reading a letter from his solicitor.

“More news of Wickham?”