“What of tomorrow’s assembly? Is that not a more pleasant subject to discuss? Perhaps Miss Grantly will be there again.”
“Aye, she is a comely lass,” interjected Chamberlayne. “But she prefers me, Denny, so there is no sense insinuating yourself into her notice.”
While the two men debated with good-natured barbs about whom the young lady preferred, Wickham only listened with half an ear. The assembly was a good time to steal away under the cover of night, and if he executed it properly, he might be all the way to London before they realized he was missing.
“You may all dance with Miss Grantly when I have finished with her,” said Wickham, drawing protests from his companions.
As the men stated their displeasure, Wickham smirked at them, anticipating how surprised they would be when he turned up missing. They were amusing fellows, but Wickham had never had any trouble making friends wherever he went. The next part of his life’s journey was at hand; the perfect way to go about it was to teach Darcy a lesson he would never forget and then move on. Perhaps life in the Americas would allow Wickham to realize his dreams of wealth and a life of ease. Certainly, England had never done him any favors.
Darcy regarded Fitzwilliam, confused about what he was saying. “Wickham often makes statements about me he can do nothing to bring to fruition. I cannot see what has brought you here in this state unless you believe he means to target Georgiana again.”
“No, that is not at all what I suspect.” Fitzwilliam eyed him for several moments before he opened his mouth again. “I see we must sit and discuss this rationally, Darcy, for it is clear you have not seen the potential trouble that I have. Come, let me explain my reasoning to you.”
Seeing no reason to demur, Darcy nodded and seated himself in a nearby armchair, while Fitzwilliam took the other. If nothing else, he saw that his cousin considered this a matter of great import; as Fitzwilliam was not one to see phantasms lurking behind every piece of furniture, it would behoove him to pay attention.
“I suspect, Darcy, that Wickham has directed his malevolence toward a particular target. The first matter of which Wickham was not aware is that I have a passing acquaintance with his commanding officer. While we are not close friends, we know enough to understand each other’s situation, including our connections.”
That got Darcy’s attention. “Then Colonel Forster was aware that I am your cousin? That is interesting, for he said nothing of it when I was in the neighborhood, and we attended more than one function together.”
A shrug was Fitzwilliam’s response. “We are not close friends, such that he would feel comfortable broaching the subject. He also observed that you were not in good humor last autumn, your demeanor not open enough to invite such conversation.”
It was nothing less than a reminder of the reason for Darcy’s current straits. “That was not long after Ramsgate if you recall. I will own that Colonel Forster’s observation was accurate, though I would not have abused him for raising such a subject with me regardless of my mood.”
Fitzwilliam returned a chuckle and a shake of his head. “I know you would not have, old boy. But Forster does not know you as I do.
“There is little enough reason to speak of the matter of our connection, for it is slight. Suffice it to say that I am known to him. When Wickham absconded, Forster contacted me, knowing of our status as relations. As your name had often been on Wickham’s tongue, he hoped I might know something of him, somewhere he might go for succor, for example, or some means of finding him.
“What we discovered sobered me exceedingly, though I will not sport with your intelligence and not suggest the notion of tracking Wickham down and ensuring he pays for his deeds did not appeal to me.”
“Perhaps you should come to the point,” said Darcy.
“Yes, I might exhibit the same impatience if I were you,” said Fitzwilliam. “When I received Forster’s letter, I applied to my commanding officer, and he granted me leave to investigate. The regulars rarely have much to do with the militia, as I am certain you are aware, but we all take desertion seriously. As such, I departed London at once and arrived in Brighton late yesterday. There I interviewed Wickham’s fellow officers and learned a few troubling pieces of information.”
Darcy leaned forward, inviting his cousin to speak of the evidence he had collected. Fitzwilliam did not hesitate.
“Besides Wickham’s comments concerning ‘having a bit of fun at your expense,’ he has made a habit of making... offensive references to the Bennet sisters. It seems the youngest two are incorrigible flirts and well-known among the regiment.”
“That is true,” said Darcy with a grimace. “You have met Miss Elizabeth and know her character, and her eldest sister is perhaps the sweetest woman I have ever met. The younger sisters, however, are not their equal.”
“It seems Wickham took notice. The comments about the younger girls were the typical bawdry jests about comely young ladies, and while not appropriate, are not concerning. Since he went to Brighton, however, Wickham’s commentary about Miss Elizabeth has become rather more pointed. While he made no overt threats, it seems his fellows suspected him of the wish of returning to Hertfordshire to make her his mistress.”
“But that is nonsense!” objected Darcy. “Miss Elizabeth is not the sort of woman who would allowanyman such liberties with her person.”
“I agree with your assessment,” replied Fitzwilliam. “Remember, Darcy, we are not speaking of a rational man. Wickham has some interest in Miss Elizabeth, and I do not think it is about offering her carte blanche when he cannot even support himself.
“Tell me, has Wickham ever seen you in company with Miss Elizabeth?”
Taken aback, Darcy blurted: “Seen us in company?”
“Wickham knows you well, Darcy. Could he have divined your interest in her?”
“Only when I first encountered him.” Darcy was now distracted, only giving his cousin a portion of his attention. “I suspect it was the day he joined the regiment. Bingley and I rode into Meryton, intending to call at Longbourn to ask after Miss Elizabeth’s sister, who had been ill the previous week. There we came upon all the Bennet sisters, who were speaking with Wickham and another officer. I suspect they had just made his acquaintance.”
“What did you do?”
Darcy recalled the moment, the utter shock and rage he had felt at seeing George Wickham standing in the street as bold as brass speaking to Miss Elizabeth. There was little enough to recall, for Darcy and Bingley had come upon the company, and as Bingley had dismounted to approach Wickham, Darcy had caught sight of Wickham as he regarded Miss Elizabeth. He did not think Wickham could have seen enough in his manners to give rise to any suspicion of his partiality. Then as Wickham had not attended the ball and Darcy left soon after, there had never been another occasion in which he had needed to avoid the man.
“Was there no other instance?” asked Fitzwilliam when Darcy related these details to him. “No other event that might have given him a clue as to your feelings?”
