“I vow on my honour your instructions will only be used for the purpose intended.” Wickham smirked when the fool handed the paper to him. ‘What sort of imbecilic man writes down what this Collins just did and signs his name to it? Dealing with his stink is worth the money I will have.’
Collins waved the officer away. He felt very pleased with himself. He had set in motion the death of the devil-marked woman and his cousin’s dreams of supplanting him with a male child.
He would be the Collins to reclaim the birthright and his family’s honour. No one would get the better of William Clem Collins.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Wickham saluted Captain Carter with what he believed passed for a proper and correct salute.
“Yes, Lieutenant Wickham, you asked to see me?” Carter looked up.
“Do you still require more officers to assist with the encampment in Meryton?” Wickham enquired.
Carter was very surprised Wickham was here. It seemedhe was now willing to do something he had shied away from since accepting his commission, and that was volunteering for a task which would require actual work. “I happen to have a spot for one more lieutenant,” he replied. He had more than enough men who were to leave for Meryton in two days, but if Wickham was finally willing to help, he would not discourage him.
“Then, I am your man,” Wickham returned.
“We leave from outside of these offices at first light the day after the morrow; be there,” Carter commanded in dismissal.
After another subpar salute, Wickham left the office and began to whistle as he walked away. Now to put another part of his plan into action. To that end, he sought out Denny and Saunderson. As expected, he found them in their quarters, as they shared a room.
“Wickham, we told you we would not provide you with more…” Denny stopped speaking when he saw what was in Wickham’s hand. Banknotes!
“I am not here to ask for anything, but to pay you what I owe.” Wickham counted off what he owed to the two flabbergasted men. “Some of the money I am owed reached me today, and Iwillreceive the rest in Meryton. We eat at the Crown and Garter for dinner, and I will be paying.”
“I apologise for doubting you, Wickham,” Denny stated contritely while Saunderson nodded his head in agreement.
“All I ask, and it is for you to decide,” Wickham manipulated, “is that you do not mention my windfall to other officers. When the bulk of my funds, which will be in the thousands, arrive, I will pay all I owe to them as well.”
“Of course, Wickham, it will be as you ask,” Saunderson promised, and this time it was Denny nodding his agreement.
From there, Wickham made for his own quarters to begin to prepare to depart this town. Thanks to his inability to gain credit, he had very little to take with him. At least, he had around eighteen pounds remaining after paying the two lieutenants. He would establish credit in this Meryton as soon as he arrived, so he could gain some new clothes and other items he needed. That way, when he left the area soon after doing the deed and taking possession of the more than two thousand pounds the simpleton of a parson was to receive, he would have more than his uniform to wear.
To make sure he would be flush before he departed, he would demand a little more from the odiferous man.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
General Atherton, the commanding general of the Royal Dragoons, had been sorry to see one of his best colonels resign from the army. However, Fitzwilliam had served honourably for nigh on ten years, and for the reason he gave—finding the woman he wanted to marry—it was understandable.
Fitzwilliam, no longer a serving officer, was very pleased that he received close to six thousand pounds for the sale of his commission. He took the money and added it to the funds Gardiner was managing for him. It was amusing that when Mary accepted him and he married her; Gardiner would be his uncle. The amount he added to his account would increase their combined future income by about five hundred pounds per annum.
The day he had departed for London, Fitzwilliam had sent an express to his parents, brother, sister-in-law, and Anne. When he arrived back at Darcy House, he was unsurprised that no reply had arrived yet. As he took the stairs to the first floor, he imagined that he heard voices coming from the main drawing room. His shock was great when he opened the door to reveal all those to whom he had sent the express, and MrsJenkinson as well, waiting for him.
“Surprise,” Lady Matlock sang as she advanced on her younger son, her arms open ready to hug him. “Even if this Mary Bennet of yours is as poor as a church mouse, we already love her because you are leaving the army!” She folded her younger son into a warm hug, just like she used to do when he was much younger.
“When will you resign, Rich?” Hilldale enquired as he clapped his younger brother on the back.
“It is done, Andy. I am just Mr Fitzwilliam now. I had no problem selling my commission either, and the money is already with my future uncle, Gardiner,” Fitzwilliam reported.
His mother clapped with the pleasure of knowing that her dream for her second son had become a reality.
“Annie, you are looking very well,” Fitzwilliam observed after he greeted the rest in the room. “It seems that Lady Catherine’s eviction from your estate only adds to your bloom.”
“You have the right of it, Richard. Not having to act like I am a sick invalid is very freeing. When will we meet this paragon who has tempted you away from the army?” Anne asked. “If you two will not have enough to live comfortably, I have a rather big house which would be better with more family living in it.”
“I did not know it until after I requested the courtship, but Mary and all of her sisters, are heiresses. Theyeachhave about the same amount of dowry as Anna. Also, her father has recently inherited a second, neighbouring, estate.” Fitzwilliam paused. “Are you aware that Mary’s father recently married the former Miss Louisa Bingley? If they have a son, then that former parson from Hunsford will be removed from the line of succession.”
“We did know he married, but not to whom,” Matlock stated. “We received a notice from the Bishop telling of why His Grace defrocked Mr Collins. It did not mention the wife’s name. So, that is why he was so determined that his cousin not marry.”
