“As far as fortune and connections go, do we need more of either? Even I know the amount which is bandied about by the likes of Miss Bingley is barely a third of your income. Also, would that not be rather hypocritical to eschew connections to trade when your best friend is the son of a tradesman and a healthy part of your income comes from trade.”
“You do have the right of it, Giana. Until recently I was blinded by improper pride, but I have had a change of heart.” Darcy paused. “As much as you revere me, you would have been extremely disappointed with my behaviour in Meryton, and not only for remaining silent about Wickham.”
“Of what do you speak?” Georgiana enquired.
Darcy told his sister the unvarnished truth about the insult and the way he had behaved from that point on.
“William, at least you apologised. You should not have said the words in the first place, but you did make amends. I could tell from your letters Miss Elizabeth is exactly the kind of woman I would love as a sister. All I can do is offer prayers of thanks she is not like Miss Bingley, or worse, Miss Bingley herself. As far as what you intended to tell Mr. Bingley, you changed your mind before you risked your friendship.”
“I will see my friend at two this afternoon. I hope he will be as understanding as you think he will be.” Darcy paused. “As you have no reservations, I will have to find a way to be in Miss Elizabeth’s company again. Bingley may return to Hertfordshire, and then I…”
“We!” His sister interjected. “Before you mention that seducer, with Richard and his men there today, George Wickham will not be there to bother me or anyone else.”
“Wewill accompany him if Bingley is sanguine with that.” Darcy smiled widely. Now he needed to speak to his aunt and uncle and hope they were not vociferous in their objections.
The Earl and Countess were more upset by their nephew’s behaviour and his intended cooperation with the shrewish harpy than any objections they may have had to a possible connection to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
All they told Darcy was they would reserve judgment until—if—they met her. The Countess secretly smiled. Tiffany had shared her suspicion based on William’s letters to his sister. It was about time the boy settled down. If he did, it would only leave Richard to be matched with someone.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Colonel Fitzwilliam and his men arrived in Meryton before ten in the morning. After some enquiries, Richard made his way to Colonel Forster’s office. His adjutant was a little overawed by a visit from a Colonel in the regulars, but Captain Carter managed to perform his duty and soon Richard was shown into Colonel Forster’s office.
Forster stood and extended his hand. The reputation of the man entering his office preceded him. He indicated a chair in front of his desk.
“How may I be of service to a hero ofTalavera?” Forster enquired.
“You have a Lieutenant George Wickham in your regiment, do you not?” Richard began directly without any niceties.
“I do,” Forster replied with his eyebrows pushed together in question. “What of it?”
“Have you heard him telling tales about how he was ill-used by Mr. Darcy, who is related to me, tales which I assume only began to circulate once my cousin quit the area?” Richard questioned.
“Yes, only recently, why?” Forster asked circumspectly. He had remarked to one of his officers it did not do to believe something unless one had heard both sides.
“Because they are all lies and to say that your lieutenant does not have a good character is an understatement. I am here, in fact, to arrest him,” Richard revealed.
“I assume you have proof to back up calling one of my officers a liar? On what grounds is he to be arrested?” Forster demanded.
Richard opened the pouch he was holding. “This is his signature on a document accepting payment for the living out of which my cousin supposedly cheated him.” Richard handed the document to the Colonel opposite him.
When he read the amount, Forster’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Three thousand pounds, and not many years past, and the man now cries poverty.”
“Actually, it was four thousand. My uncle bequeathed him one thousand pounds which Wickham received at the same time,” Richard clarified. “As to why he has none left, it is simple. He is a gamester, to which your men should be able to attest. He hates to pay his debts of honour as little as he likes to pay the debts he accrues with tradesmen. That is why I am arresting him—well now we have a writ from the magistrate, the bailiff with me will actually do the deed. I hold here copies of markers for well over three thousand pounds of debts he never paid in various towns. Had my cousin not cleaned up after him, are you aware of what would have occurred to the economies of the towns after he cheated those merchants out of their hard-earned money?”
“That is why there is no credit allowed to my officers or men. I am the only one allowed to receive credit in this town,” Forster mused.
“I would wager that is because of a Bennet daughter.” Forster looked at Richard questioningly. He related how Wickham had not been believed when he told the false tale of woe built around a single kernel of truth. “What I mean is Wickham was refused the living, three years after receiving payment and resigning all claim to it. He has never taken orders so my cousin was sure it was a plot—which he roundly refused—to demand more funds from Darcy. You should know he is a seducer and defiler of very young girls as well.”
“I am recently engaged and my fiancée is a good friend of the two eldest Bennet sisters, she told me the second one, Miss Elizabeth is extremely intelligent,” Forster related.
“Firstly, my hearty congratulations,” Richard responded, “and yes, I believe it was Miss Elizabeth Bennet who detected the fallacies in Wickham’s tale of woe.”
“CARTER!” Forster bellowed.
“Colonel,” the adjutant returned as he stood to attention in front of his commanding officer.
“Is Lieutenant Wickham on duty?” Forster enquired.
