Page 42 of Elizabeth’s Choice

The rest of the men came out and were in awe after Darcy explained what happened when he had walked out of the boarding house. The colonel led Lydia to Elizabeth and the young girl cried as she held her sister and explained herself, “I met Wickham to tell him that I did not want to elope with him but he grabbed me and brought me here. He struck me when I tried to get away. I do not want to marry him! He is cruel and tricked me into believing that he wanted to marry me!”

Elizabeth inspected Lydia’s bruise on her face and growled, “I nearly wish I had shot you through your heart, Wickham. You will be punished for your evil acts. How dare you lay your hand on an innocent girl?”

One of the Bow Street Runners said, “He will go to Newgate and will be hanged for this.”

Richard added, “He will answer for his crimes and not only will he be found guilty of kidnapping and assault, but also for desertion. He owes massive debts as well and will have only days until he has a noose around his neck.”

Wickham, hearing all the charges laid upon him, shook in fear to fall to his knees, “She is lying! Lydia seduced me first and told me how rich Miss Elizabeth was and that if we married, that we could live at Ashworth and that Miss Elizabeth would pay thirty thousand pounds to save the family name. She got into the carriage willingly enough but then told me that she wanted to enjoy all that town had to offer and that she did not want to elope until after we got paid. I only wanted ten thousand but she was the one who came up with the idea to send a ransom note for a bigger fortune and to come to London! I only struck her once because she hit me first, all because I did not want her to go shopping and be outside. I will pay you back, Darcy. Please do not let them kill me!”

Darcy walked next to Elizabeth and Lydia and spoke sternly, “Miss Lydia, tell us the truth. Did you give him the idea and plan the ransom?”

Lydia stopped her false crying immediately and huffed, “I wanted to be the first to marry,” she spoke spitefully, “and Bingley was getting close to declaring himself and Mr. Collins would not stop talking about marrying Lizzie. I could not let two sisters marry before me when I’m the liveliest and mama told me that I have five thousand pounds! Wickham was easy to trap but he would not stop his praises about how amazing and accomplished Lizzie was. I should have some of it. It’s not fair that Lizzie gets to live so well after being gone for five years. What’s it to you, Mr. Darcy? Why are you meddling in my family’s business? I heard you favour men and do not like women. I know about you and Frank and that you like bugga…”

Just then, Elizabeth slapped her sister’s cheek and growled, “You horrid girl. Do not dare speak to my betrothed in such a way. You have no idea what is happening and are deluded in every way possible.” She turned to Darcy, “I am so sorry, William. She is a stupid chit and does not know anything.” She turned back and asked Lydia, “Are you not even wondering how we tracked you here? I believe you left the ball before my arrival.”

Lydia recoiled in fear as she held her cheek and asked, “Now that you say it, when did you get to the ball? You were not there for the first hour I was there. What do you mean betrothed? You are going to marry Mr. Darcy? But, he is so rich! Can I live at Ashworth and you can go live with him in his mansion? Oh, I would like to marry Wickham, then!”

Colonel Fitzwilliam walked up to them and enquired, “What shall we do, Lady Elizabeth? It is apparent that this is no longer a kidnapping case. There is still the desertion and his debt, but…”

Lydia exclaimed, “Lady? How are you a lady?”

Elizabeth glared at her sister but did not reply to her. She faced the Colonel and stated, “No, I believe my sister should get exactly what she wants. I believe it serves them right that they marry each other as they originally intended. Please take her to Gracechurch Street and my father will handle it. They can marry in a week and live the life they were meant to live.”

Lydia grinned as she was led to the colonel’s carriage, immensely pleased with the result of her scheming, while Darcy and Elizabeth turned away from the others to discuss what to do with Wickham, when there was a sudden scuffle between Wickham and one of the colonel’s men. Wickham, fearing that he would be tossed into prison and hanging on the gallows soon, bent down to reach for the officer’s pistol so that he could escape. But before the pistol was taken out of its holster, there was a swishing sound and Wickham screamed in agony.

Darcy instinctively shielded Elizabeth’s body to protect her but as he lifted his face, he could see his sister’s focused eyes as she held her bow steady in place. He followed the path of Georgiana’s sight and found Wickham was writhing on the ground with an arrow sticking out of his right buttock and could not help but burst out into laughter.

“You got him in his hind, Georgie!” Darcy declared. “Perfect aim, sister!”

Elizabeth also joined in, “You did something I wanted to do since I first heard about Wickham, Georgie! I am so proud of you!”

Georgiana blushed as she responded, “I did not think I could shoot so well but you have been an excellent teacher and told me to keep my eye on the target at all times, right? I know you were busy with Miss Lydia but I did not want him escaping.”

Darcy embraced his sister, “That was amazing. Thank you, Georgie.”

Elizabeth hugged her also and commanded the others, “Please take him to Gracechurch Street as well and we will call for a surgeon. He will have some decisions to make but it is only a flesh wound and he must recover quickly so he can marry Lydia in one week.”

As the men were loading him into the carriage, Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Elizabeth boarded their own. “What do you plan to do, Elizabeth?” he enquired. “I think you have a plan and I do not think it will be a happy ending for those two.”

“You know me so well,” Elizabeth laughed. “You know I can hold a grudge for a lifetime and will be vindictive to those who enrage me. I will need your help but my plan is to give Lydia everything she deserves.”

~*~

Mr. Bennet could be heard raising his voice to the senseless child in the other room while Darcy and Elizabeth sat in the parlour with the Gardiners. Georgiana had gone back to Darcy House with Mrs. Annesley to give the family some privacy, and Colonel Fitzwilliam and his men returned to their duties. The Bow Street Runners stayed in one of the bedchambers to watch Wickham while the surgeon was working on him, and only four people in the house were smiling as they conversed pleasantly with each other.

“I plan on holding an archery contest in Mayfair later this week while we await Wickham’s wedding,” Darcy explained to the Gardiners. “Our betrothal announcement will be printed in two days, and with my sister’s shopping ideas for Lady Elizabeth as well as visits to the museum and the London Stock Exchange, we shall not lack for entertainment before we return to Hertfordshire.”

“I think it is brilliant that Lydia will get exactly what she deserves. That foolish girl has had nothing in her head but marrying first, and she will get her wish!” Mr. Gardiner chuckled.

Darcy agreed, “It will be the greatest achievement of her life and only at fifteen. What will she do for the rest of her life when this is to be her pinnacle?”

Mrs. Gardiner shook her head in disbelief, “She has no idea what will become of her, since she will be moving to a desolate town in Northumberland. There will be very few parties and it is very cold there.”

“Colonel Fitzwilliam will have him transferred to the militia there and Wickham will have a fresh start after he pays off his debts. But my friend, the Duke of Kielder, despises any foolishness and will ensure that they stay out of trouble. I will write to him today to request his assistance. I will also tell him of our betrothal and he will be shocked, since he never believed I would marry for affection. Perhaps it will inspire him to find a wife.”

“Is the Duke of Kielder named Adam Boyce?” Elizabeth asked and Darcy nodded. “I met him once in London. He had a scar on his face and constantly hid in the shadows but he was rather pleasant compared to you, William! Colonel Fitzwilliam once told me that you were tenfold more beastly compared to His Grace and I can now see the similarities,” she laughed loudly as she teased him. But she held his hand and continued, “Perhaps you hide your true self because you are guarded but you are so gracious and generous. I adore you for that.”

He kissed her hand, “I would do anything for you. It matters naught that Wickham will become my brother. We need never think of him again after next week and can look to our own future.”