“One and the same,” he agreed.
“I am so sorry,” she said. “Sorry I ever spoke with him, brought him again to your notice. What a repulsive excuse for a man he is!”
“I am not sorry,” he said. “I know he is here now. I will not have him anywhere near your family—which is my family, or will be on Wednesday. I will speak to his commanding officer, and ensure the scoundrel is made…unwelcome.”
“Thank you!” she said, and pressed his arm tightly, causing a jolt of feeling he treasured. “Thank you so much. I do not know how he expects to remain in this community, regardless, after the way he treated me. My family is not unpopular, and our opinions will matter to everyone.”
“Ah, but he misjudged. You told him that you wished to do something against your father’s will; therefore, he presumed, you would be unable to inform on him without condemning yourself. Besides, what does it matter if one pretty girl hates him? Although my guess is, he expected to furnish apologies with dishonest reasonsyou would believe, and charm his way out of your disfavour.”
Slowly, she nodded. “I purposely acted silly and romantic so that he would believe my ruse of reuniting my maid with her beau.”
“He has a long history of deceitful, even dangerous behaviour towards romantic, silly girls. God be thanked you did lie to him, and did it so well that he believed you. You have fooled an expert trickster.” He grinned. “Should I be worried?”
For the first time in what seemed ever so long, he watched as she found her smile. “I promise to always be as truthful as I was to you today. You might wish, at times, for more peaceful pretence.”
“Never,” he assured. “You need never disguise your feelings, not from me.” As they topped the rise, Longbourn came into view. “We are here already? That must be the shortest mile I have ever walked.”
Again, she gifted him with a smile. “I believe you were invited for dinner. It is a bit early, but will you come in?”
“I will…if you will grant me the time to go back to Meryton for my horse. The poor beast probably feels abandoned.”
She covered her mouth with one hand. “Oh! I am so sorry! I did not think how you arrived in town!”
“Do not apologise,” he said. “You are worth every step.”
Again, she blushed, and he wanted to kiss her more than words could say. In spite of these near overwhelming feelings, he restrained himself. She had been generous, but he knew he had much to do, still, to earn her regard. Also, he must stop in at Netherfield to speak to his man. Nevertheless, he hardly noticed the walk back to town, and wondered if he had floated most of the way.
11
TRUE CONFESSIONS OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE KIND
There was one thing in particular Darcy meant to accomplish before his wedding: the removal from the area of the cockroach on the floor of humanity that was George Wickham. To that end, he had sent poor Havers back to London once again on Monday afternoon for certain documents kept at Darcy’s Mayfair home. Upon his return Tuesday morning, Darcy called upon Colonel Forster, Wickham’s commanding officer.
“I was surprised to see a new officer yesterday,” Darcy began, after greetings were exchanged and they were seated in Forster’s comfortable quarters. “A man by the name of George Wickham.”
The colonel was all smiles; yes, they were fortunate such a gentleman of great friendliness and civility had joined their corps. He was sure to be a ‘pleasing addition’.
“As to that,” Darcy replied, “I am not certain. I am inpossession of several facts that cause me to wonder if Meryton is not far too small a town to handle such a profligate. Ordinarily, I would leave the army to deal with its personnel, but in this case, since I have so many friends here, I find I cannot simply stand by and say nothing.”
Forster gawped. “Truly? Why, I find it hard to believe! He seems a perfect gentleman!”
From an inner coat pocket, Darcy withdrew a folded stack of papers, and passed them over to the colonel. Frowning, Forster read the first, then the second, then thumbed through the stack. “Why, there must be a thousand pounds here in notes!” he cried.
“Closer to two, actually. These are the notes of hand Wickham left with various merchants and individuals in Lambton, the town nearest my country estate. He does not give them, ever, with any intention to pay, and I can prove him a cheat and a fraudster. I own these, and shall not hesitate to call them in directly and return with the magistrate unless he is gone by morning. I care not in the slightest how it happens, as long his departure is immediate.”
Darcy judged Forster as a man who did not like trouble; he had already boasted of a long and spotless career—this certainly was not his first command.
“I know how to force the resignation from an officer whose conduct is unbecoming, especially when his creditors have come calling. And such a creditor!” Forster shook his head in an obvious bemused incredulity,handing back the notes. “I will see to it, sir. He shall not again trouble either you or the residents of this neighbourhood.”
“That is all I ask. Thank you.”
Darcy returned to Netherfield, and sitting in Bingley’s pathetic library with a book he was far too restless to read, wondered if it was too early to present himself at Longbourn.
The day before, seeing Elizabeth’s obvious, if quiet acceptance of his presence and her fate, Mr Bennet had restrained his own hostility. Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia were very silly and spent their time either giggling or bickering, with their mother joining in as often as not, but her table was a fine one. Miss Mary had played nicely for the company after dinner, and he had to acknowledge that it had been very pleasant indeed when he and Elizabeth had been left mostly to themselves afterwards. Miss Bennet had ostensibly acted as their chaperon, but she contrived to be as unobtrusive as was possible, her attention solely upon her letter writing, and only joining in the conversation when Elizabeth urged her. He had been invited by Mrs Bennet to return for dinner again tonight, and to bring Bingley with him—an invitation which his friend had happily accepted. A sudden vision came to his mind, of many future evenings with Elizabeth, MissBennet, and Bingley, the four of them in just such agreeable exchanges as he had enjoyed the night before.
Admittedly, he had not been fond of the idea of Bingley paired with Miss Bennet. It was impossible to discern whether she held any genuine affection for his friend, or would be just as accepting of any decent, eligible male. Nevertheless, she was mannerly and likeable and he had his own romance to repair—Bingley could hardly do worse in that realm.I, obviously, am the last man in the world to offer advice on marriage,he could humbly admit.
He had just about decided to seek out Bingley to see if he wished to leave for Longbourn, when the library door opened to admit Miss Whitby, Miss Bingley’s woman. He stood, assuming she was there to search for a book for herself or her mistress, so was surprised when she stopped before him, addressing him with a curtsey and a request for a moment of his time.
