Another pang of guilt hit him. He had left the area without so much as a warning to anyone of the danger the serpent in their midst—George Wickham—represented. His feelings were only heightened when he admitted there was much he could have done without any risk of exposure for Giana. The one big regret he had was he had not completed the conversation with Miss Elizabeth regarding Wickham. He berated himself he did not visit Mr. Bennet during his ride that morning to impart enough information which would have protected the residents from Wickham’s proclivities. He felt like a cad for saying nothing while using his protection of Giana as an excuse.
He was finally ready to admit to himself that the tired old excuse of not moving against Wickham because it would dishonour his late father who had stood godfather for the miscreant, was just that, an excuse. Could it be his hankering for better days when he and George had been young boys growing up at Pemberley had staid his hand?
Since Darcy had acknowledged that fact, he remembered when Richard had asked what his late Uncle Robert would have done had he been alive when the wastrel moved against Giana. There was no other way of seeing it. His father would have torn Wickham limb from limb. What was he holding over three thousand pounds of Wickham’s debt markers for if he never intended to use them?
Unlike his error in not warning Giana about Wickham years ago, he would discuss the conundrum regarding his moving against Wickham with his sister. He and Richard would make the ultimate decision, but he would welcome his sister’s thoughts on the subject and make sure she was aware Wickham may tell his tale regarding her if his freedom was threatened.
Darcy reckoned there was another hour to go before they reached London. Continuing to feign sleep was far more preferable to conversing with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. For once in his life Darcy envied Hurst. He was asleep and had no need to feign it. His partner on the rear facing bench was snoring, and none too quietly.
“Mr. Darcy, are you sure you will not join us and come inside?” Miss Bingley invited after the coach had come to a halt at Curzon Street.
“As I stated before, I will join you on Monday and then we will speak to your brother. Tomorrow is Sunday and he will not be going anywhere on the sabbath,” Darcy refused again, for the fifth or sixth time.
No sooner had the numerous trunks been unlashed, Darcy re-entered his equipage and ordered his coachman to drive on to Darcy House.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Does William say why he is returning to London before he had planned?” Tiffany enquired.
Giana had informed the Fitzwilliams about William arriving back at Darcy House that afternoon.
“No,” Georgiana responded after perusing the express one more time. “He just says he is arriving.”
“It could be Miss Bingley has finally grated on his last nerve and he needed to have some sanity,” Lady Matlock quipped.
“That woman could try the patience of a saint,” Richard opined. He had been at Matlock House since yestermorning having been granted a month’s leave from the Royal Dragoons.
Richard had recruited some former soldiers and an officer or two who would assist the Colonel in running Wickham to ground. When he saw William, he would inform him of his plans, but he neither needed nor would he request his cousin’s permission. The Earl, who saw Giana like a daughter, had agreed to fund the venture.
Her being welcomed at any of our houses will never be gratified,” Lady Matlock insisted.
“Mama, have you heard from Cilla and Andy? Did they arrive at Hilldale safely?” Tiffany asked to distract her mother from the subject of the social climbing virago which invariably soured her mother’s mood.
“Yes, Dearest,” Lady Matlock responded, “This very morning. I intend to join Edith Carrington when she departs London in some weeks so we can be with Cilla when she enters her lying in.”
It was a very effective tactic by the youngest Fitzwilliam. The Countess loved speaking about her soon-to-arrive second grandchild so she was completely diverted.
“It is just as well I had not written to William about theincidentin the park,” Georgiana mused. “This way we will be able to speak face to face.”
“It is a conversation in which I need to have a part,” Richard insisted.
Tiffany gave her brother a playful salute. “Yes, Colonel Sir,” she said playfully.
The teasing of Richard caused Giana to giggle. If only William would find someone to marry and give her a sister. She was hopeful the Miss Elizabeth that William mentioned at least once per letter, and more than that much of the time, was indicative of him finally having found a woman to love.
“I see William’s coach arriving at Darcy House,” Richard noted as he looked across the green in the middle of the square.
“Allow him some time to wash and change before you accost your cousin,” Lady Matlock suggested.
“Yes Mother,” Richard replied. He was within a year of being thirty and his mother could still make him feel like a young errant schoolboy. He would give Darcy an hour and then if his cousin did not call, he and Giana would call at the Darcys’ house.
Chapter 25
“Wickham, what on earth happened to you?” Denny asked amusedly when he noted the clear marks of a handprint on his fellow officer’s left cheek.
He knew he could not use the excuse he had tripped and hit something as Wickham had seen how easily the mark on his face could be seen for what it was—a dainty handprint. He was still smarting at the humiliation Miss Darcy had meted out to him—a second Darcy against whom he now needed to avenge himself. His best lies were always those sprinkled with a sliver of truth, so Wickham decided to keep to that formula.
“When I was in London, I saw Miss Darcy in Hyde Park. I greeted her and for no reason, she quite unexpectedly slapped me,” Wickham related. “Evidently her brother has been spreading lies about me, to his own young sister no less, which resulted in her action.”
