“No. But it is time he paid for what he has done. He has caused a lot of damage. Apart from hurting Georgiana, he almost destroyed any chance of happiness between us. All of this cannot go unpunished.”
He put out his hand, pulled her up from the bench, and kissed her on the cheek.
“I have an idea. We will go to your uncle’s house,” he said.
He locked the gate and, arm in arm, they crossed the road to Georgiana’s house, where Darcy called for his carriage. “I just need to stop at home to pen a note for my cousin Richard to join me there. Will you wait for me for a few minutes in the carriage?”
“I have waited for you this long,” she said, mischievously. “I can wait a few minutes more.”
When they arrived at Darcy House, he kissed her hand and hurried into the house. There he wrote to Colonel Fitzwilliam, informing him of the engagement, and requesting the colonel to meet him at Mr. Gardiner’s address.
Colonel Fitzwilliam appeared at Mr. Gardiner’s house just a few minutes after Darcy and Elizabeth arrived there.
After the introductions were performed, he turned immediately to Miss Bennet.
“I hear congratulations are in order, Miss Bennet,” he said. “Though I cannot say I am completely surprised. My cousin has been a bear in a cave since you departed.”
Later, when Elizabeth was distracted, he took Darcy aside. “Not to discourage you, Darcy, but are you completely certain? Miss Bennet is a delightful young lady, but you must be aware there will be the devil to pay, are you not? Neither my father nor Aunt Catherine will approve, and where they lead, the rest of the family will follow.”
“I hope that will not be your case as well.”
“I am too accustomed to giving commands to obey anyone else’s. The only way Lord Matlock can bring me to heel would be to cut off my allowance. Hopefully, it will not come to that. But you must be prepared for some unpleasantness.”
“It will do them no good to try and prevent the inevitable. My only worry is that they may feel free to express their opinions to Miss Bennet. I would not have her be insulted. She may leave me again.”
The colonel clapped him on the shoulder. “Judging from the happiness on her face, I doubt anything will make her leave you.” He gave a wry smile. “I see you are determined. I envy you for the freedom to choose as you please. You should not let anyone – or anything – come between you. My advice is not to stay in London. They cannot insult you or Miss Bennet if you are not here. I would further advise you to avoid introducing her to them, and to go somewhere else until you are safely married.”
Darcy’s eyes brightened. “I do recall Bingley saying something about a property he has leased. I do not remember where it was located, but I know it was called Netherfield. But first, I have a matter I need to attend to.”
Full of a sense of resolve, Darcy stood up and called for everyone’s attention.
“You may wonder why I asked to meet with you all here. Before Elizabeth and I marry,” he said, “I would like to solve a problem that has been plaguing me for some time now. You can probably guess what – or rather, who— I mean. I am referring to Wickham, who has been the bane of my existence since childhood, and he continues to go out of his way to cause me and my sister problems.” He paused as people expressed their agreement. “I would like us to rid ourselves of Wickham once and for all, and I hope you will help me.”
He proceeded to outline the idea he had to trap him in Mr. Gardiner’s warehouse.
“I am at your disposal, Mr. Darcy. He fooled me, wormed himself into my home, and used me and my family to plot his revenge. I will be more than happy to make him pay the price.”
Elizabeth swallowed nervously as she waited with her maid outside the side entrance to her uncle’s warehouse. A sudden creaking sound startled her, but it was only the sign for her uncle’s large establishment swaying in the breeze: Edward Gardiner & Co., Tea Dealer. She tried to quell her nervousness. She had to play her role to perfection. She did not want Mr. Wickham to realize something was amiss and manage to get away. There would be no second opportunity.
A hack cab drew up to the warehouse and Elizabeth watched as Mr. Wickham stepped down. There was a swagger in hisstep as he moved towards her with careless arrogance. Self-congratulation was written all over his face.
How had she found him agreeable, even for a moment? She must have been blind.
“Miss Bennet,” he said, taking her hand and bowing deeply. “I was delighted to receive your note. I knew you would see things my way, once you had thought about it. You and I have a great deal in common, you know, as I am sure you will discover in the coming days.”
He stepped closer to her. It was a struggle not to step away, to hide her revulsion. As if she would ever want to spend more time with a toad like him!
“I have arranged for tea to be brought to us,” she said. “We can talk as we take refreshments. Betty will be with me. You need not worry about any impropriety.”
Wickham smiled. There was a predatory light in his eyes. Any guilt she felt disappeared in that instant. He deserved his fate.
“If you will give me your arm, sir,” she said.
“I would be delighted, Miss Bennet.”
Inside the storage space of the warehouse, in a side ‘room’ formed by stacked wooden chests containing expensive types of tea, Colonel Fitzwilliam was pacing up and down, his footsteps wearing a hole in Darcy’s patience. A line of burlap bags filled with common tea were piled up high above the floor, and behind it, two Navy Impressment officers were sitting on a bench, waiting for the right moment to come out.
“I wish you would stop, Cousin,” murmured Darcy, from his place on another bench hidden behind the wooden chests.
