“I forgot to write to them to tell them about Jane’s passing. It chagrins me because as you know, the times Gwen, Tim, and the children met Jane and Lizzy, the two had become favourites of our niece and nephews in Derbyshire, and Gwen and Tim liked them very well,” Madeline stated. “I will write to my brother and inform him of the terrible news regarding Jane and ask if Lizzy and Mary may come reside with him.”
“I am sure there will be no opposition from our sister and brother,” Gardiner opined. “Also, given everything which has occurred, it is no wonder you did not think to write to our brother and sister before now.”
Madeline went downstairs to her husband’s office and wrote the letter to her family in Derbyshire.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Master, ‘e is askin’ fir yer,” a footman told Bingley.
“How is it he is awake?” Bingley asked. When news of Wickham’s actions and injuries reached Colonel Forster, the latter discharged the former dishonourably. The Colonel had related if it were not for the serious lacerations on the face and the loss of sight in one eye, Wickham would have received forty lashes before being cashiered out of the regiment.
“Cause ‘e refuse ta take more laudanum if ‘e aint spoken ta yer,” the man responded.
Bingley nodded and stood. He collected Darcy from the library on the way to the sickroom. The room was very warm. Wickham was propped up on some pillows with much of his face swathed in bandages. There was a hole on the right side for his one working eye, permitting him to see.
“The only person you are harming is yourself when you refuse to take the drug. It is not us who are in pain,” Bingley stated derisively.
As he had not seen his brother-in-law enter the room, Wickham turned his head towards the sound so he could see where the man was with his good eye. Regardless of the pain he felt, anger burned when he saw Darcy standing next to Bingley. “Come to gloat have you, Darcy? You always wanted to see me brought low, how happy this must make you.”
“For all of your cunning, you never were very intelligent, Wicky,” Darcy responded.
“Do not call me that,” Wickham hissed.
“Or what, Wicky? What will you do? As far as I can see you would be rather inept,” Darcy taunted the man. He would normally not kick a dog when he was down, but after all of those hurt by this bastard, not the least of whom was Giana, the last vestiges of sympathy Darcy would have felt for him were gone. “Like all of your other ills which you try blaming on others, this one is all of your own making. Of all of the lies youhave told, the one you told your wife is the biggest of them all. What did you expect she would do when it was revealed she was married to the indolent son of a steward, and not the heir to all she desires?”
Just then there was a noise outside of the sickroom. The door was pushed open, and in full regimentals, sabre hanging on his left side, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam sauntered into the room.
As he was approaching from behind Bingley and Darcy, Wickham saw the man he feared above all others, as he strode towards his cousin. He began to quake with fear. “Surely you will not have Fitzwilliam kill me now that I am so seriously injured,” Wickham squeaked. All anger at seeing Darcy was long gone.
Darcy turned towards his cousin, and out of sight of the miscreant, he winked. “You know, Wicky, that is not a half bad idea. After the way he hurt Giana, did you not say you wanted to end Wicky’s life, Richard? He has just threatened my life for using the appellation ‘Wicky,’ which we prefer. I am sure you can make him disappear in a way his carcass will never be found.”
“I knew if I came to see you I would have some enjoyment. What do you prefer, Wicky? Sabre or pistol?” the Colonel drawled.
Wickham looked like he was close to expiring from fear. Bingley approached and said, “Mr Jones told me what you said to him. Although I have no warm feelings for my younger sister, even she does not deserve to be tied to one like you. You were not trying to blackmail me for your silence, were you? If you were, I would not have paid you a penny, and I would request Fitzwilliam here to take you somewhere, from which you will never return.”
“N-n-no I-I-I s-s-swear, I w-was n-not d-d-doing that,” Wickham stammered. He had visions of what Fitzwilliamwould do to him, and none of them were close to pleasant.
“In that case, the next time you are lucid, I am sure you will not object to signing a statement before the magistrate swearing you know not who attacked you,” Bingley said nonchalantly.
“Anything, as long as you do not leave me with Fitzwilliam,” Wickham rasped.
“That is Colonel Fitzwilliam to you, Wicky,” the Colonel barked. “You do not object if we call you Wicky, do you?” Wickham shook his head emphatically, ignoring the pain the movement cost him.
Bingley called the footman back into the sickroom. “He is ready for his laudanum now,” he instructed. The footman nodded and the three men exited the chamber.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Once the other men told him the tale of how Wickham tricked his wife into marrying him, Richard Fitzwilliam whistled. “You know there is still a chance an infection will take him. It may be more humane for him as he will look rather hideous if he survives.”
“Once you have that document protecting your sister, what will you do with her?” Hurst enquired.
“She must be committed somewhere for the mentally insane,” Bingley replied. “Now that Bedlam no longer allows the patients to be viewed like animals in the menagerie, it is the only place her dowry would allow. It may sound harsh, but I refuse to spend any more money on her.”
Darcy and Bingley saw the questioning look on the Colonel’s countenance. They realised he was not aware of what had led to the former Miss Bingley being cut out of her brother’s life. Between them they told him all.
“Bingley you have my sympathies for losing the woman you love in that way. It is little wonder you will do no more than what you enumerated for your sister. In fact, you arewilling to do more than I would have in the same situation.” He turned to his cousin. “And you William, you finally find a woman you fall in love with, and she will be in mourning for a year. What a coincidence she is Gardiner’s niece. At least you have the excuse you need to call on him from time to time. Next time you go, you must bring me along so I can meet this paragon.” The Colonel paused as he thought of something. “You know, Mother serves on more than one charitable board with Mrs Gardiner.” He faced Hurst. “At least Mrs Hurst understood her inaction was an action.”
“What if anything is to be done with Wickham?” Darcy enquired. “When I sent you the note he was in the militia, you had authority over him, but that is no longer true.” Darcy told his cousin of Colonel Forster’s decision.
