Chapter 7
The small, dark room smelt like cheap cigars and brandy. From outside it, voices and laughter — vulgar, loud, and probably drunk — seeped into the sordid chamber. All three men — Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Wickham — were facing each other, and Mrs Younge waited a short distance away.
“Darcy, I cannot understand why you summoned me here. And why do you care about my debts? Last July, you asked me to never come near you or Georgiana again. I have not broken that agreement. I have no debts to you, and the rest of my business is not your business, so to speak. We have nothing to discuss.”
“Your miserable affairs are mine too because I have been forced to pay out on your behalf. You have not approached Georgiana again, but you did spread all sorts of miserable lies in Meryton.”
“You cannot blame me because the people of Meryton did not like you, Darcy! Regardless of what I told them about you, by the time I arrived there, everybody hated you already,” Wickham said with a leer. “You cannot deny that people have always liked me more than you. Even your father.”
The insolent grin and the mention of his father pushed Darcy over the edge. His fist connected with Wickham’s face before he even realised what was happening. He heard the cry and the sound of Wickham hitting the floor, turning over a small table and chairs as he fell.
From the ground, Wickham gazed up at him in disbelief. “What the hell did you do that for? Have you lost your mind?”
“Quite the opposite, Wickham,” the colonel interjected. “Darcy finally understands there is only one way to treat you. He should have done that a long time ago.”
“But why? What have I done?” Wickham asked, trying to stand up and rubbing his chin.
“What have you done?” the colonel bellowed. “If I had known beforehand how you two plotted to deceive Georgiana, I would have shot you in the knees. Twice! Both of you. And then watched you cry and try to crawl away.”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, I assure you—” Mrs Younge mumbled in a whining voice.
“You assure me of what? With what money did you buy this building? With Darcy’s money, I am sure! He trusted you with Georgiana’s well-being, and you almost had her ruined. Do not dare to open your mouth to me ever again. You are lucky that Darcy is a man of honour. If it were up to me, you would have both been dead long ago.”
“Richard, do not waste your time with these low-life creatures. Wickham, here is my offer to you. You will leave England and never return. I have purchased you a ticket to New South Wales. I shall include a reasonable cabin during the journey and two thousand pounds for your expenses once you get there, so you can begin a new life. If you want to waste it on cards, that is your choice — you will end up starving or be killed. I shall take care of all the business regarding your resignation from the militia, and I shall pay your creditors.”
“Pay them? Why would you pay them if I am to leave the country?”
“Why would I pay your debts? Because you owe these people! You cheated all those honest men! You were my father’s godson, and I cannot allow your lack of honour to besmirch my father’s name by association. Do you know how many creditors you have? Do you know how many young girls you seduced and how many of them you left with child?”
“This is an exaggeration, Darcy. You cannot expect me to remember every shop girl that warmed my bed or every idiot I played cards with!”
“You are so disgusting, Wickham, that I feel nauseous just listening to you. I have had enough of this. My offer is open until tomorrow evening, when a few of my men will come to convey you to the ship. On the deck, someone else will be waiting for you and will hand you the money and the ticket and wait to ensure you have left.”
“This is absurd! You cannot force me to leave the country!”
“Indeed, I cannot. The decision is yours. If you choose otherwise, beginning the day after tomorrow, you will be hunted, confined, and thrown in prison until your debts are paid, which might take forever.”
“But how can you expect me to leave all of a sudden? Alone. What if I want to bring a friend?”
“Surely you would not dare to try to extort more money from me, would you? After all, I could follow my cousin’s suggestion instead.”
“It is not about extortion! But you have to be reasonable, Darcy!”
“Ihave to be reasonable? Are you out of your mind?” Darcy roared. “I purchased you a second-class cabin, which is more than you deserve! I should have let you sleep on the deck! If you wish to take a friend, you can pay for them from the amount you will be given. And no, I shall not allow you to take a female friend with you, as I expect you to seduce her, maybe have a child with her, then abandon her as soon as you arrive at your destination.”
“What if I want to take a male friend? I am not sure who would want to go…but to be alone in a savage country…”
“What do you want, Wickham? A chaperon? A governess to hold your hand? You expect me to provide you with company?” Darcy asked sarcastically.
“What if I want to go with him?” Mrs Younge suddenly, surprisingly, enquired.
“You? Why would you want to leave? What about this business of yours?”
“Business is not going well. And there are certain circumstances that I would rather not face any longer. There is not much for me in London. I could not find any other employment without recommendations. Nobody will ever hire me for any respectable job.”
“And neither should they!” Darcy exclaimed. “You cannot be trusted around respectable people any more than Wickham!”
“That is why I want to leave. I could pack my luggage by tomorrow.”
