“I am distressed,” Elizabeth admitted, narrowing her eyes at him. His audacity in demanding Georgiana’s fortune while he was already married to another woman was nothing less than despicable. “I cannot speak to Mr Darcy on your behalf regarding the dowry, Mr Wickham. Indeed, I cannot say I will ever be convinced to speak on your behalf on any matter.”
Mr Wickham frowned. “Why ever not?”
Too disgusted to use caution, she showed him the letter, then snatched it away before he could take it. “It seems that Georgiana is not the only Mrs Wickham in existence.”
Though Elizabeth turned and hurried away, already feeling that she had been rash, it was too late. Wickham stayed right on her heels. When they reached the library doors, he pulled her inside, then snatched the letter from her hands. “Where did you get this?” he hissed. Before her eyes, he tossed the letter into the hearth, where it smouldered for only a moment before bursting into flames.
“Does it matter?” Elizabeth asked him coldly. “Nothing could matter compared to the fact that you were already married at the time of the ‘elopement’ to Scotland. Your marriage to Georgiana is invalid. How could you think to do it?”
Wickham shook his head sorrowfully. “I confess I have been foolish. But my first wife was not what she ought to be — I was too over-run by my feelings for Georgiana —”
“No,” Elizabeth told him, disgusted. “I cannot believe that, Mr Wickham. If you loved Georgiana at all, you could not have done something that would so badly endanger her.”
His face twisted in anger before smoothing out again to resume the charming mask that Mr Wickham was so adept at presenting to the world. He stepped closer to her, taking hold of her arm at the elbow. “Name your price. I shall pay whatever is necessary for your silence. When I have Georgiana’s dowry, I will have the money to do it.”
Even after all she had learned, this audacity still had the power to disgust Elizabeth anew. She jerked her arm free, taking a step back from him. “I cannot be bought,” she spat. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
His eyes narrowed, and he lifted his chin. “I would not be so flippant if I were you. Darcy has not liked the few innocent little attentions I have paid you thus far. He is a jealous fellow, did you know it? He would be most displeased if he thought you had offered me anything. A kiss, say…or something more.”
Elizabeth shook her head in contempt. “He will not believe you.”
“Do not be so sure,” he said, his voice caressingly smooth. “We are, after all, quite alone.” He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I could contrive a compromising situation very easily if the need arose.” His eyes swept down her face, then moved lower over her person, making her skin crawl.
“Unhand me, sir,” she said through clenched teeth. His threats sent shivers up her spine. Elizabeth swallowed hard and tried to remain calm. She had to keep her wits about her if she was going to get herself out of this mess. Why, oh why had she been so foolish as to confront him? If she had simply smiled and put Wickham off, she could have handed the letter directly to Will. “No one would believe you, least of all Mr Darcy. He trusts me, and I trust him.” She lifted her chin defiantly, refusing to be cowed.
“Very well,” he said, moving a few paces away from her. She let out a breath of relief. If she could inch her way over to the window, she might be able to make her escape via the terrace. Elizabeth started to move ever so slowly toward her only means of escape.
Perhaps she was too slow, or perhaps Mr Wickham saw her intention. He turned then, grabbing her arm. “It seems there is only one option left available to me,” he said. His tone was low and menacing. She tried to pull her arm free this time, but his grip was too tight. She winced in pain, his fingers digging into the tender flesh of her arm. “I will have to make sure you do not talk.”
At such a threat, Elizabeth knew she must yell for help — too late. Wickham forestalled her, covering her mouth before she could scream. She let out a muffled gasp, pain lacing through her jaw and cheeks as his hand pressed even tighter still. “Come quietly. I should not like this to be any more unpleasant than it already is,” he said, his lips brushing against her ear. She turned her head away in disgust.
Elizabeth struggled as he dragged her away, toward the terrace door, but to no avail. Wickham was too strong for her.There would be no hope of escape unless someone happened upon them in time.
“Come along, Elizabeth. I am sorry that I have to hurt you, but I cannot allow you to tell anyone about my prior marriage.” He dragged her out into the bitter January day, the biting wind sending gooseflesh crawling over her extremities in an instant.
“I am sorry it has come to this, but you will simply have to disappear until I can remove Georgiana from Pemberley.”
Chapter 27
Intent on his letters, Darcy did not realise he was no longer alone in the room until Georgiana spoke up.
“I hope I am not interrupting,” she said, coming to look out the window near his desk.
“No, far from it,” Darcy said, turning to face her. “I have written enough for today. And I should rather talk with you in any case.”
As he had hoped, that called forth a smile on Georgiana’s face. “I hope you and Elizabeth will come to London soon. It has done my heart a wealth of good being together again.”
“Yes, it has done my heart good as well.” Darcy sat up straight and stretched his sore back muscles. He had been sitting in one position for far too long. He set his quill in the inkwell and rose from his seat. “Shall we go for a turn about the room?”
“Let us go for a turn about the house, hmm? I want to take a last look about before Mr Wickham and I return to London. I shall miss Pemberley ever so much.”
“Come for a long visit when spring comes,” Darcy suggested. “I know how you have always looked forward to the spring flowers coming into bloom. And if Wickham is ever away for long periods of time on business, you must know that you are always welcome to stay here with Elizabeth and me.”
“I appreciate that more than I can say. Thank you, brother.” Georgiana linked her arm with his as they left the parlour and entered the long, echoing corridor. “How quiet it is! It is strange to think that these halls may be filled with the laughter of children before a year is out.”
Darcy was taken aback by the remark, although he supposed he should not have been. After all, she was a married woman now. He cleared his throat, searching for a fitting reply. “Well, that remains to be seen, I suppose. One cannot arrange these things entirely.” That children were not yet a possibility would remain unsaid.
“You are fortunate in your marriage,” Georgiana went on. “I like Elizabeth very much indeed.”
