Georgiana shook her head vehemently. “It is too dangerous, Elizabeth. Wickham is not to be trusted under any circumstances.”
“Which is precisely why we must extract whatever information we can while the opportunity presents itself,” Elizabeth replied. “Mary, would you take William to the nursery? I would prefer he remain well away from this interview.”
Mary took William’s little hand. “Shall we play on your rocking horse?”
“And I shall position myself where I can observe without being seen,” Georgiana added. “Close enough to summon help if needed.”
Elizabeth nodded gratefully. “Lady Eleanor, shall we?”
“If you believe it may advance our cause, I am prepared to follow your lead,” Lady Eleanor replied. “Though I reserve the right to terminate the interview if circumstances become uncomfortable.”
Elizabeth composed herself and followed Lady Eleanor to the drawing room, adopting a posture of exceeding sadness and despair. Tea was served, and when Wickham was finally admitted to the drawing room, Elizabeth had to blink twice at the change. Time had not been kind to him; though still handsome, his features had taken on a sharper edge, his once-immaculate attire showing signs of careful economy. His smile, however, remained the same—practiced charm masking calculation.
“Lady Eleanor,” he said with a bow. “I am deeply honored by your willingness to receive me. And Miss Elizabeth!” His expression brightened. “How delighted I am to see you looking so well after your… trials.”
Elizabeth rose and offered him her hand with what she hoped appeared to be grateful warmth. “Mr. Wickham! I confess I am astonished to see you.”
“Indeed, I have feared our paths might never cross again,” Wickham replied. “Though I have often thought of you since, wondering how you fared after the unfortunate events that led to your departure from Longbourn.”
“Your concern is most touching,” Elizabeth said, settling herself in her chair with the air of someone grateful for any display of kindness. “As you can see, I have been most fortunatein finding refuge with Mr. Darcy’s family. Lady Eleanor’s charity has been the salvation of both myself and my son.”
Wickham’s eyes sharpened at the mention of William, though his expression remained sympathetic. “Yes, I had heard of your… circumstances. Such a difficult situation for any young woman to navigate alone.”
“Indeed it has been so,” Lady Eleanor interjected smoothly. “When I last interviewed you, you had suggested an investigation on behalf of Miss Bennet. Although you claim to have no distinct knowledge of the events that transpired, I am most eager to hear of your progress.”
Wickham took a seat opposite of Lady Eleanor, his smile widening as if he were a cat eyeing a particularly plump mouse. “Ah, yes, my lady. You can imagine my consternation when you brought me news of Miss Bennet’s predicament. How her circumstances had changed so drastically from our brief acquaintance at Meryton. Since I retired from the militia, I have redeployed my significant investigative skills to aid in delicate affairs. When I heard of Miss Bennet’s missing marriage papers, I immediately applied myself to the parish in question.”
“Were you able to obtain the documents we discussed?” Lady Eleanor redirected his flowery speech.
Wickham straightened with the air of a man about to deliver momentous news. “I believe I may have discovered evidence that could legitimize Miss Elizabeth’s position entirely. Documents that would establish her marriage as legal and her son as the rightful heir to significant property.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help her heart leaping but she studiously maintained an expression of hopeful uncertainty. “Marriage documents? But Mr. Wickham, how could such things exist? Surely if there were evidence of a legitimate ceremony, it would have been discovered long ago.”
“Ah, but that is precisely the point,” Wickham said with growing enthusiasm. “These documents were deliberatelyconcealed by someone who had every reason to prevent their discovery.”
“Concealed by whom?” Lady Eleanor inquired with sharp attention.
Wickham leaned forward conspiratorially. “Mr. Collins. The very man who was suspected of compromising Miss Elizabeth’s virtue.”
Elizabeth gasped so hard she choked. Perhaps she overdid the surprise, but it took her a few moments to regain her composure. “Surely, my father’s esteemed cousin would not violate his office to conceal official parish documents.”
“Whatever could be his reason?” Lady Eleanor sounded sufficiently skeptical. “A local curate desperate for coin. Certainly, he would be aware of the ramifications to his position.”
“Ladies, I see you underestimate the vagaries of the heart.” Wickham placed his hand nobly over his chest. “Mr. Collins was driven to extreme jealousy. Picture his rage when Miss Elizabeth refused the offer of his hand, only to marry another gentleman, Mr. Darcy himself, as it happens, in secrecy. Collins became an avenging fury. If he could not marry the woman he esteemed as an angel, no one else should benefit from her connection.”
“How dreadful,” Elizabeth murmured, while mentally cataloguing every detail of Wickham’s fabrication for future use. “But how did you come to discover this terrible conspiracy?”
“Through considerable investigation and no small personal risk,” Wickham replied proudly. “I had heard rumors of a secret ceremony at the Red Lion Inn in Barnet, performed by a traveling clergyman. When I approached the parish records, I discovered that pages had been torn from the registry—clearly removed to prevent discovery of the marriage.”
“And you managed to recover these missing pages?” Lady Eleanor asked with carefully controlled excitement. “How extraordinary.”
“Indeed, I did.” Wickham’s smooth smile widened, no doubt calculating his profit. “Collins had hiddenthem among his personal papers, believing they would never be discovered after his removal from Hunsford. It required considerable… persuasion… to convince him to relinquish them, but I was ultimately successful.”
“Your persuasive techniques must be quite enlightening,” Lady Eleanor said. “And what prompted Mr. Collins to share these documents with you, after allegedly concealing them for nearly two years?”
“He came to me, distressed by the rumors that caused his removal from Lady Catherine’s parsonage.” Mr. Wickham turned a concerned brow at Elizabeth. “Forgive me for being indelicate, but we are both aggrieved to be named by sharp and malicious tongues. I have often been so slandered, but Mr. Collins was especially troubled when the scandal fell on him. He confessed his role in the misunderstanding, never once realizing that his theft of the parish records would one day cause aspersions on his own character. Of course, I promised to be discreet in returning these valuable documents to you, perhaps with a note that Reverend Michaels had misplaced them in your trunk?”
Elizabeth covered her mouth with a feigned conspiratorial air. “I daresay I had been so troubled by Darcy’s disappearance that I quite forgot about that battered trunk. You are indeed a gallant gentleman, Mr. Wickham. I hardly know how to express my thanks. To think that you would go to such lengths for someone who has no claim upon your assistance…”
