Chapter 18 Houseguest
Mr. Gardiner stood looking at his niece.
“Elizabeth, help me to understand. You say Mr. Darcy is not at home, his sister has no companion, and she has asked you to visit her for a few days, to keep her company?”
“Yes, sir.”
He turned to his wife.
“Maddie, do you not see the impropriety? Two young ladies alone in a house with no chaperone?”
Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes narrowed as she considered.
“Edward, the master of the house is absent, and there is a respectable housekeeper overseeing the establishment. Elizabeth is twenty years old, soon to be one and twenty. If she should observe anything concerning, she may send a footman to call for you at once. It is only a thirty-minute drive from Mayfair to our home.”
She paused, then added, “I know it is not quite the thing, but I see no real harm in it. The butler is a respectable man and runs the house with strict discipline.”
Mr. Gardiner looked from one woman to the other, then inclined his head.
“Very well, Elizabeth. You may go.”
“Thank you, Uncle Edward!”
Elizabeth threw her arms about his neck.
Then she turned to her aunt and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Aunt Maddie.”
It was the third day of Elizabeth’s visit, and she and Georgiana sat together upon a small couch in Georgiana’s private sitting room, poring over a fashion magazine. Georgiana was sketching a ball gown for Elizabeth.
“This style would suit you exactly, Lizzy, for it would enhance all your charms.”
Their tête-à-tête was interrupted by a knock at the door.
Georgiana called, “Come in.”
Higgins entered.
“Miss Darcy, Mr. George Wickham is here. He asked for Mr. Darcy. I informed him that Mr. Darcy is out, and he has requested to see you, Miss.”
Georgiana turned to Elizabeth, eyes wide, her color fading.
“Georgiana, you must not see him. You must send him away at once.”
She looked to Higgins.
“Sir, did you grant him entry into the house?”
“No, Miss Elizabeth. I left him standing in the entrance hall, with Finch watching him.”
At this, Georgiana spoke. “Please inform Mr. Wickham that it is improper for him to request an interview with me, and that under no circumstances will I receive him.”
The butler bowed.
“Yes, Mistress.”
Elizabeth turned to the young girl and added,
“Georgiana, perhaps a footman should be assigned to watch the house. If he observes Mr. Wickham lingering about the square, your butler may send for a constable. And someone ought to lock every entrance to the house.”
Georgiana turned again to Higgins.
“Have all the entry doors been locked?”
“No, miss. It is still daylight.”
“Then have them secured at once. Instruct Mrs. Nichols to see to every door, including the front entrance. And set a footman to watch the house.”
“Yes, ma’am. At once.”
He withdrew and shut the door behind him.
Elizabeth rose. “Come, show me to a window. Let us watch as they send that scoundrel on his way.”
Georgiana led Elizabeth down the corridor and into a closed salon. Elizabeth murmured, “Stand at the edge of the window frame, and I will conceal myself at the next window. We must not allow Wickham to look up and see us. Keep behind the drapery.”
A moment later, they saw him, flanked by two footmen, one on either side, being conducted through the front garden and out the gates, which were shut and locked behind him.
The two young women watched as Mr. Wickham walked along the road that fronted the house, and when he reached the corner, he stopped and looked back.
He began to scan the windows, even those of the upper story.
Elizabeth felt a chill pass through her as his gaze lingered upon the very place where she stood concealed.
Then, to her dismay, he approached the stone fence, hoisted himself upon the flat surface, swung one leg over, and dropped into the side garden of Darcy House.
Georgiana gasped. “Lizzy, did you see him?”
“I did. Come. We must tell Higgins. I pray every door has been secured.”
“There are no doors on that side of the house,” Georgiana whispered, “and the windows are too high. But Fitzwilliam sometimes leaves the library doors unfastened, that he may come and go with ease.”
“Then we must ensure they are locked.”
They ran down the stairs, startling Higgins and Dunn in the hall.
Georgiana cried out. “He has jumped the stone fence. He is in the side garden. Have the library doors been secured?”
Higgins turned to the footman, “Dunn, go and see to the doors.”
The man ran to do as bidden.
Elizabeth said, “Sir, send for a constable to deal with this trespasser.”
“Miss Elizabeth, the parish constable resides on the other side of Mayfair, and he is too old to be of any use,” Higgins replied. “Our men must take Mr. Wickham, and we shall bring him before a magistrate. Perhaps a night or two in gaol will teach him to respect the privacy of a gentleman.”
He turned to the hall boy.
“Christopher, run down to the kitchens and fetch the other men to assist us.”
The boy fled down to the lower floor.
Higgins ordered, “Finch, take Dunn, Gibbs, and Hardy, and sweep the yard.”
Then he turned back to the two ladies.
“For the present, you should go up to Miss Georgiana’s room and lock yourselves in. I will come to you as soon as Mr. Wickham has been apprehended.”
“Lizzy, I am afraid.”
Elizabeth took her hand. “Come, let us return to your room.”
As they ascended the stairs, Georgiana asked, “What if Mr. Wickham knows this house, and knows where my bedchamber lies?”
“Why should he? Has he ever been in this house? How could he know which chamber is yours?”
“He could not, unless Mrs. Younge told him.”
She took Georgiana’s hand and hurried her up the stairs.
“Come, let us lock ourselves in your room where we will be safe.”
When they entered Georgiana’s bedchamber, Elizabeth stood watch as Georgiana turned the key in the lock.
“Lizzy,” she whispered, “what if he is hiding here?”
Elizabeth glanced about the room, her eyes narrowed. “I do not see how that could be, but for your peace of mind, we shall look.”
She took up the metal poker from beside the hearth and then handed the small metal shovel to her companion. Together they searched behind the drapes, within the dressing room, and then Jennie’s adjoining bedchamber.
“Jennie, lock your door and keep the poker near you until we hear from Higgins. There may be a stranger in the house.”
The maid hurried to do as she was told.
The two women returned to Georgiana’s room and seated themselves upon the small couch. Georgiana reached for Elizabeth’s hand.
“I am glad you are here with me. I am frightened beyond anything.”
Elizabeth returned the pressure of her fingers.
“Mr. Darcy has ensured that there are many able men in the house to protect you, and you are not alone. We shall be safe, my dear.”
She drew a slow breath, willing calm into her voice, though in her heart she wished that Mr. Darcy were present to stand between them and all that threatened.
“Let us take up a book and try to occupy our minds while we wait, if we can.”