“A bad one,” growled Hurst. “The sooner we clip his wings, the better.”
A few moments later, they had made their way down the street to the regiment’s headquarters, and after a quick request to the man on duty there, they entered the colonel’s office. When he espied them, the colonel rose and nodded, greeting each with a shake of the hand—he was curious, but he did not neglect the social niceties.
“Gentlemen, I had heard of your return to Netherfield. I hope your journey here was pleasant.”
“It was, thank you,” replied Bingley, the most gregarious. “How is the business of protecting English soil?”
Colonel Forster offered an agreeable smile. “Well enough. My officers are more interested in chasing the ladies and my men will do anything to avoid training, but I cannot complain. Meryton has been quite welcoming, though I suppose that is as much because of the plethora of young ladies than any other concern.”
Bingley laughed. “Theredoappear to be many agreeable ladies here to be certain.”
“I apologize, Colonel,” said Darcy, having no patience for useless civilities, “but I fear we must interrupt your morning with news that cannot wait.”
The colonel regarded him shrewdly. “Is this about Lieutenant Wickham?”
Nonplussed, Darcy asked: “Do you know about Wickham?”
“Little enough,” replied the colonel. “He is rather close-mouthed about himself, but he has much to say aboutyou, sir.”
“That is unsurprising,” muttered Darcy.
“Yes, I suppose it must be to you,” mused the colonel. “Though some men have listened to him, I have always suspected he tailored his tale to suit his needs. As it does not concern regiment business, there was no need to involve myself.”
“Understandable,” said Darcy. “What we have come to discuss does not concern Wickham’s tales of me, except in a most indirect fashion.”
“Then let us sit,” said the colonel, gesturing to several chairs in one corner of his office.
When they were seated, Darcy laid everything they had discovered before the colonel. Then Darcy offered more context about Wickham’s misdeeds, informing him of the debts in Lambton and Cambridge. Finally, Darcy said a few words about Wickham’s other proclivities, the gambling and the seductions, though he did not dwell on them. The longer they spoke, the more forbidding Colonel Forster’s mien became.
“And he did all this in two months,” said the colonel, disgusted to have such a man in his command.
“He did,” said Darcy. “The question is what other damage he has done in the town.”
Colonel Forster shook his head. “This is troublesome, gentlemen. I appreciate your offer to settle his debts, Mr. Darcy, but if he has engaged in any seductions, our welcome will evaporate without warning.”
Darcy, feeling his culpability in the matter, did not hesitate to own it. “I offer my apologies, Colonel Forster. I knew Wickham was in town—knowing him as I do, I should have warned you all. In my defense, I can only say that a lifetime of cleaning up George Wickham’s messes has left me fatigued and unwilling to do it anymore.”
Though the colonel eyed him, he nodded at length. “That is understandable. While I might wish that you had said something earlier, I appreciate your efforts to make amends.”
“Where is Wickham now?” asked Hurst. “If he catches wind of our activities, he will disappear.”
“Wickham is not on duty this morning,” said Colonel Forster, rising to his feet.
He went to the door and opened it, passing instructions to the officer outside, then returning to them.
“When not on duty, the men have taken to visiting the surrounding estates or flirting with the ladies on the streets of Meryton. I have instructed my batman to make inquiries—we should know his whereabouts before long.”
ELIZABETH HAD NOT PLANNEDto walk to Meryton that day. As winter had curtailed her walks to a large degree, she usually spent chilly January days near the fire in Longbourn’s sitting-room with a book, dreaming of the return of spring’s new life and summer’s warmth.
That morning, however, the weather was fine for January, and her youngest sisters had declared their intention to walk to Meryton. A sense of foreboding settled on her at the thought, theremembrance of Mr. Darcy’s caution the previous day coming to mind. There was little enough chance of convincing the girls to stay home, especially when they had some hope of encountering officers on the streets of Meryton. Thus, Elizabeth opted to go with them. Mr. Wickham might have no intention of anything inappropriate, but until there was no longer any danger, she would not relax her guard.
The walk was brisk, the paucity of recent opportunities rendering it even more enjoyable. Kitty and Lydia walked ahead, talking and giggling, as was their wont, Elizabeth following behind, speaking when they addressed her. Mary and Jane had both chosen to stay at home that morning, neither being interested in the officers nor avid walkers.
When they reached Meryton, her sisters ignored the shops in favor of a pair of officers walking down the street. Elizabeth did not know either well and spoke little—to anyone watching, she supposed she might have appeared like a protector standing over her sisters. In some respects they would be correct, as she kept watch for any sign of Mr. Wickham.
A few moments later, Elizabeth’s vigilance was repaid. The two officers said their farewells to Kitty and Lydia and moved on their way. Elizabeth was about to suggest that they make for the milliners when three officers appeared from another street, talking and laughing among themselves. A groan nearly escaped Elizabeth’s lips—Mr. Wickham strutted beside Mr. Denny and Mr. Sanderson, all three among the girls’ favorites. Lydia and Kitty noticed them at once.
“Denny!” Lydia called with that giggle Elizabeth detested. “Wickham! Sanderson!”
