“Yes, mistress, at once.”
Georgiana shut the door and locked it again. Then she turned back, her voice trembling.
“Lizzy, I have never in my life passed such a horrible day. I do not know how I shall endure the waiting.”
Elizabeth said, “Then let us go to your desk, so that you may write to your brother.”
The young girl sprang to her feet. “Yes, that is what I shall do.”
The two young women passed the next half hour in conversation upon the events of the day, Georgiana pausing from time to time to add to the letter she had written to her brother, until at last there came another tap at the door.
Georgiana went and stood near it. “Who is it?”
“It is Ruby, mistress.”
Georgiana unlocked the door. “Yes, Ruby?”
“Miss Georgiana, I have a fire lit in the drawing room. Shall we prepare a tea tray for Mr. Kendall?”
“Yes, Ruby. Thank you.”
The two young women followed the servant and waited in the drawing room. Georgiana asked the butler and housekeeper to join them. When Kendall arrived, she introduced Elizabeth to the solicitor, and then she explained what had occurred.
When she finished the explanation, she turned to Mrs. Nichols. “Did Mrs. Younge return her set of keys to you when my brother released her from service?”
“No, Miss Georgiana. She did not.”
The girl’s expression tightened. She turned to the butler.
“Have you been able to ascertain how Mr. Wickham entered the house?”
The butler reddened. “One of the kitchen maids has… formed a romantic attachment to Mr. Wickham. Though Mrs. Nichols locked the kitchen entrance and warned the staff not to grant him entry, Betsy did admit him nonetheless.”
Mrs. Nichols spoke sharply then.
“I have dismissed her, Miss Darcy. Her loyalty lay with Mr. Wickham, not with the family, the house, or the staff. I let her go at once, and without a character.”
“It relieves me to learn that all the doors were locked, as I specifically requested.” Georgiana’s voice faltered. “But I am dismayed that the disobedience of one person might have cost me my life and my future.”
Georgiana closed her eyes, and Elizabeth saw her tremble. She took the young girl’s hand in her own.
“Mr. Kendall, my brother told me that he has purchased Mr. Wickham’s debts over these past years, and intends that he should either serve time in debtors’ prison or be transported to Australia. Do you know whether my brother has already obtained the magistrate’s order for either course?”
“Yes, Miss Darcy. We have the authority to hold him in debtors’ prison until such time as passage to Australia may be secured.”
Georgiana’s expression hardened.
“Then, Mr. Kendall, please make arrangements for Mr. Wickham to be conveyed to debtors’ prison as soon as possible. I do not wish him to remain in my home overnight. Is it possible, so late in the day?”
“Yes, I shall only require a carriage and men to restrain him while I transport him to the Marshalsea. As soon as the physician has finished attending to Mr. Wickham, I will have him removed to gaol.”
The housekeeper spoke then. “Miss Georgiana, we have prepared tea. Shall we bring it now?”
“Yes, please.”
She turned to the solicitor. “Mr. Kendall, I believe you have time to take tea with us, if you would like it.”
“Yes, please. For I doubt I shall have time for dinner until late tonight.”
