“He is, Sir.”
“In that case, have him brought to me,” Forster ordered.
“If I may,” Richard looked to the other colonel who nodded. “Do not mention me or anyone else seeking him, he has a penchant for escape when he thinks it is time to pay the piper.”
Carter saluted and was soon on his way to comply with the orders. Not too many minutes later, voices were heard approaching the office door. One of them was easily identified as Wickham’s.
Richard stood behind the door, so when it was opened, he was hidden from view.
Wickham gave the Colonel what passed for a salute. At the same time, Richard pushed the door closed.
“Lieutenant,” Forster bellowed, “when you told how Mr. Darcy cheated you, you omitted how he paid you three thousand pounds in return for you signing away any claim to the living.”
He was not sure why the Colonel had asked for him, but this was the last thing Wickham expected. He froze in fear as he heard the last voice he ever wanted to hear again.
“Has the cat got your tongue, Wicky? Nice welt on your face my ward gifted you,” Richard drawled as he leaned against the wall next to the door.
Time stood still for Wickham! He had never before felt so completely terrified. He slowly turned, hoping against hope it was not Fitzwilliam standing behind him, but no such luck. There was Darcy’s cousin with a malevolent gleam in his eye. In panic, Wickham looked around the office, there was only one window and Fitzwilliam was much closer to it than he was.
“W-w-why a-a-are y-y-y-you h-here?” Wickham stammered out as his body began to shiver from fear.
“To escort you to King’s Bench debtor’s prison. Did you think my cousin did not keep your vowels each time he made your creditors whole?” Richard was no longer leaning on the wall. He was between the door and the window, hand on the hilt of his sabre in case he needed it.
“I-I w-will t-t-tell…” Wickham’s mouth shut when he saw Fitzwilliam begin to unsheathe his sabre.
“One more word and you will never see tomorrow, never mind your new home,” Richard growled.
Wickham had no doubt this was no idle threat. He looked to Colonel Forster to see if he could expect support from that quarter. There was none. Richard knocked on the door and two large former soldiers stepped in and took Wickham into custody.
“Your days of running out on your debts and leaving seduced girls behind to face the consequences of your lies on their own are over. You will spend the rest of your days in gaol…unless you give me reason to end your wasted life on our way to King’s Bench,” Richard barked at the defeated man. He nodded and the two men took Wickham away.
Irons were clapped onto Wickham’s wrists and ankles, and before he was loaded into the donkey drawn cart, Colonel Forster had Lieutenant Denny cut the epaulets denoting Wickham’s rank from his scarlet coat.
As the cart pulled out of the encampment with the escort, his former brother officers—who by now had heard the truth about the miscreant—were standing watching him with disdain pouring from each of them. They all knew the markers he had signed for his debts of honour were as worthless as he was.
His humiliation was complete.
Chapter 28
“Come in, Jane,” Bennet welcomed. “Your fiancé sent me the settlement, and I am inclined to sign it, but before I do, I wanted you to see it. Your Uncle Philips has reviewed it with me and agrees it is a very favourable contract.”
“Thank you for allowing me to do so, Papa and Uncle Frank,” Jane responded as she took a seat next to her uncle in front of her father’s desk. “However, I have no experience reviewing legal documents.”
“The most important piece for youisto know what is being settled on you and how that will affect your quarterly allowance,” Philips told his niece. “Allow me to open it to the relevant page.” Jane nodded.
Her head was swimming. Her betrothed’s income was above the reputed amount per annum which had been ascribed to Mr. Darcy. Then she saw the amount he was settling on her, five and thirty thousand pounds!
“This is far too much,” Jane protested.
“Did I not tell you this would be Jane’s reaction?” Bennet looked at his brother. He turned back towards his eldest daughter. “He would not offer that amount if it was a hardship for him. By doing so he is ensuring your future, and that of any children you may have in case he is called home to God too early.”
Jane said nothing but read on. “What would I ever do with five hundred pounds pin money per quarter?”
“You will be able to support charities and I am sure with a house in London and your being there for the season each year, you will find it is not excessive,” Bennet explained.
She shook her head. “In that case Papa, I suppose I must accept things as they are,” Jane agreed.
With that, Bennet dipped his quill into his inkwell, shook off the excess ink and then signed all four copies of the settlement. One would be placed into his safe in his study, one given to Philips to file, and the other two would be returned to the pouch they had come in and provided to Bingley’s groom to carry them back to London.
