Page 191 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“It appears not. Harper could not establish that any of the young women were seduced. One father refused to discuss what occurred between Wickham and his daughter, and Harper did not press him. I will not draw conclusions the evidence does not support.”

“I am grateful for that. I have no wish to protect my own daughter by sacrificing another man's.”

“There have also been drunken disturbances, unpaid wagers, damaged property, and quarrels. Individually, most of these matters would have appeared little more than the misconduct of an irresponsible young officer. Taken together, they reveal a pattern I cannot ignore.”

Darcy read through the list of creditors. “Have any of these men begun proceedings against him?”

“Not that Harper discovered. Most still hope to be paid.”

“Some months ago, I began purchasing obligations from Wickham's creditors,” Darcy said.

“You purchased his debts?”

“Yes. He presently owes me nearly one thousand pounds and does not know that I hold them.”

Mr. Bennet looked from Darcy to the papers on the desk. “I assume you intend to purchase these as well.”

“If the creditors are willing to sell them. My solicitor can contact each man, verify the account, and purchase whatever lawful debts they are willing to assign to me. Once that is done, he can determine the proper proceedings to have Wickham arrested for debt.”

Forster considered this. “I presume you have a reason for gathering so much of his debt into your own hands.”

“I do. A single tradesman may hesitate to incur the expense and trouble of pursuing Wickham for an unpaid account. I have neither difficulty. I intend to prevent him from continuing to incur debts and leaving others to bear the consequences.”

“Will his commission protect him?” Mr. Bennet asked.

The two men looked to Colonel Forster for an answer.

Forster said, “I am willing to cooperate, but I must be careful not to use my authority as his commanding officer to enforce a private debt.”

“I would not ask you to. I ask only that Wickham not be permitted to use the regiment to evade lawful process. If my solicitor obtains the necessary authority to arrest him, I would be grateful for whatever cooperation your position lawfully allows.”

“You shall have it. His debts, however, do not dispose of the other matter. I intend to address what falls within my authority and make certain that his conduct is watched closely from this point forward.”

“I would prefer that Wickham not learn of Harper's inquiry until my solicitor has had time to act,” Darcy said.

“I can manage that for a short while. Harper has been discreet, but Meryton is not a large town. With this many creditors, someone will eventually tell Wickham that questions are being asked.”

“A short while should be sufficient.”

Mr. Bennet said, “Then I believe we have done what we can for the present.”

“You have done considerably more than that,” Forster replied. “Had you not come to me, I might never have known what was happening under my nose.”

Mr. Bennet regarded him for a moment. “I have recently learned the disadvantages of discovering too late what is happening under one's very eyes.”

Forster understood him.

Darcy indicated the list of creditors. “With your permission, Colonel, I shall give this to my solicitor.”

“Take it. Harper retained his notes if anything needs to be confirmed. I shall keep Wickham ignorant of our inquiries for as long as I reasonably can.”

“Thank you, Colonel.”

Darcy took the papers with him when he and Mr. Bennet left the office.

* * *

Several days later, the Bennet carriage drew up before Netherfield Park.