Chapter 45 Mr. Wickham #2
“I do apologize, sir, most humbly. I have come to realize that many of my strongest opinions are not supported by evidence. Please pardon my ill-judged remarks about Miss Ashbrook. I have been prejudiced.” Mr. Darcy took her hand and leaned in to kiss her.
After that, neither of them spoke, and Miss Ashbrook was entirely forgotten.
The following morning, Elizabeth walked out to Georgiana’s treehouse and sat on the little bench to read.
She left Mr. Lewis pacing the library, unable to give him news of Mary.
Elizabeth pursed her lips, not knowing what to think about him.
He seemed to be too easily angered, and she feared her sister would be made unhappy as his wife.
She deliberately put thoughts of Mary and Mr. Lewis aside, reminding herself that Mary’s relationship was not her concern, and she would be better served by learning to mind her own business. She settled into her book.
“Wickham, what are you doing here? Fitzwilliam has banned you from Pemberley.”
“My, my, Georgiana, you have grown into a judgmental baggage. Have you become as officious as your brother?”
Georgiana stepped back from him. He was sneering at her, and his presence was menacing. He drew nearer, and she backed away to maintain the distance between them.
Wickham? Could this be the same Wickham who was wagering to take Lydia’s virtue?
Elizabeth crawled to the edge of the treehouse and peered over the half wall.
The man was threatening, and fear shot through her frame.
She looked around for something to use as a weapon should they need to defend themselves.
Was he meaning to force himself upon her sister?
There was nothing in the treehouse that would serve, except perhaps her book.
She crept down the stairs that were built on the far side of the thick tree trunk, hidden from Wickham’s view. When she reached the ground, she tried to think how best to approach the man, but then she watched as he reached out and seized her sister by the arm.
“Let me go. I have heard all about you and how you force yourself upon women.”
He laughed. “Georgiana, do not tell me you listen to sordid tales. That lessens you in my eyes. Your mind ought not to be dragging through the gutters, my dear. Do you not remember what the good book says? Whatsoever things are pure, think on these things.”
“What do you know about the good book? Nothing, nothing at all.” Then she cried out. “You are hurting me. Let go of my arm.”
Wickham said, “I am going to do much worse to you, my girl, and then your brother will have no choice but to give you to me. If he will not, he will pay handsomely for my silence.”
Georgiana said, “You are despicable.”
Elizabeth crept closer to the pair, and as she moved through the tall grass, she searched the ground for a stone or a piece of wood to use as a weapon against this blackguard.
Anger had replaced the fear. She saw a round stone and picked it up.
It was too large and heavy to hold easily, but it was all she had.
Then Georgiana caught sight of her. Elizabeth raised her finger to her lips to signal her to keep silent. The girl lowered her eyes, but Wickham had been alerted. He half turned, still holding her by the elbow.
Elizabeth realized it must be now or never. She had lost the opportunity to strike him with the stone, so she dropped it and hurled herself with all the force she possessed against his legs, aiming for the level of his knees. She struck him from his left side, full on his left knee.
He crumpled to the ground and shrieked, “Ugh! My knee. You little devil.”
Georgiana had gone partway down with him, but she scrambled out of his grasp.
He grabbed Elizabeth’s arm as she struggled to her knees, but her gown tripped her up.
Then he caught her by the hair. Georgiana ran, picked up the stone, and struck him with a glancing blow to the head. He fell back, releasing Elizabeth, and she threw herself out of his reach.
Then she clambered to her feet and took Georgiana’s hand. “Come, let us find Fitzwilliam.”
They had just begun to run when they heard a voice behind them.
Miss Ashbrook stepped out from among the trees.
She was laughing at Wickham, who lay curled on the ground, groaning.
She stood over him and said, “So the devil got his comeuppance. How dare you come to Scotland to threaten me after all these years?” She was screaming at him.
“At last, you will be taken to prison. You meant to kidnap this child.”
She turned to the women. “Bring Fitzwilliam before this revolting coward escapes. He is nothing better than a lecherous criminal.”
Elizabeth and Georgiana ran through the meadow, and when they reached the side entrance of the house, they hurried through the library and burst into Darcy’s study.
Startled, he rose to his feet and became alarmed at the sight of Elizabeth’s grass-stained gown and unkempt hair.
“Fitzwilliam,” she said, “A man named Wickham is here. He tried to kidnap Georgiana and threatened to force himself upon her. He is out by the treehouse.”
Bingley had risen as well, and now both men rushed out of the room.
Darcy called, “Peter, come with me.”
The butler had stepped out of his pantry, and Darcy continued, “Get Robert. Tell him to bring rope and send him to the treehouse.”
The three men ran out through the French doors in the library, which were still standing open.
Elizabeth turned to Georgiana. “I am going back, but you may remain here if you feel safer. You can find Jane.”
Georgiana shook her head. “No. I will go back with you. I need to see this through.”
The two women hurried out through the library doors and ran back. Darcy, Bingley, and Peter were standing around Wickham. Miss Ashbrook stood a little distance away, and the two women joined her.
Peter pulled Wickham to his feet while Darcy questioned him, but Wickham only sneered.
Then Miss Ashbrook spoke. “This devil found me in Scotland and threatened to reveal my secret to Edinburgh society if I did not return to Derbyshire and persuade my father to pay for his silence.”
Wickham struggled to free himself and said, “Do not listen to her. She is hysterical. We can work this out as we have done before, Darcy.”
But Miss Ashbrook interrupted him. “Wickham has been lurking on your grounds, and when he saw your sister, a grown woman, he decided to kidnap her and take her to Scotland. Then he would have her dowry as well as Papa’s money.”
Darcy swore an oath under his breath, and Wickham whined, “This has all been a mistake, Darcy. Let me go, and I swear I will never come near you again.”
Christiana laughed on the edge of hysteria as she approached Wickham.
“But you did not account for Mrs. Darcy, who has disabled you! And now look at you, you devil! You have been caught at last, and you will finally answer for the evil you have brought upon women through all the years of debauchery.”
She spat in his face, then turned away, walking into the woods.
Robert arrived then, and Darcy turned to the Millers. “Take him to the stable and tie him up. We will leave for London in the next couple of hours. I mean to deliver him to debtors' prison today.”
He walked toward Elizabeth and Georgiana and drew them into his arms. “Are you well?”
They both nodded.
“Elizabeth, your hair. Did he catch you by your hair?”
Her hands went up to her head, and she felt several loose strands. She began to pin her hair back up. “I am uninjured, sir.”
Darcy turned to watch Wickham being led away, and he saw that the man was limping. “My dear, it appears you left your mark on that blackguard. He may be lame the rest of his life.”
He turned to her. “Why is your hair coming down?”
“Wickham seized me by my hair, thinking to restrain me, but Georgiana struck him, and he let go.”
Darcy drew her close and kissed the top of her head. “You will not go out without a footman while I am away, Elizabeth. I will not leave you unless I have your solemn promise.”
She shivered. “I will not go outside alone for a long time. This incident has made me afraid.”
He drew her against him and kissed her temple.
“I am sorry, darling. Perhaps a dog would help you feel more secure. I could purchase a Newfoundland or a mastiff that would belong to you alone. When I return, you may tell me if you wish for a dog, and I will obtain one for you. Or perhaps you would prefer a footman to trail behind you.”
She objected at once. “No footman, sir. Purchase a dog for me, so that I may maintain my independence. Georgiana will need one also.”
He turned to his sister, who was nestled against his other shoulder. “Did he hurt you, my dear?”
She pushed up her sleeve and studied her elbow. There were blue marks on her arm. “They are only bruises, brother. I gave him worse than I received.”
Darcy shook his head. “I never foresaw this. Wickham grew up at Pemberley; he was like a family member. I never imagined that he could turn on us.”
Hearing horse's hooves, they turned toward the sound and saw Miss Ashbrook riding out of the woods toward them, leading a second horse.
She addressed Darcy. “Fitzwilliam, I am returning to Edinburgh. You need not fear that you will ever see me again.”
Darcy said, “Before you leave, answer me one thing. Wickham threatened to force himself upon my sister. Did he force you that summer?”
She shook her head. “No. He did not need to. I sought his attention. I was a silly and naive girl in those days, but I learned a hard lesson. Be certain that I will never show my face here again. Now that you are happily married, I see there is nothing left for me here.”
She turned a petulant face toward Elizabeth, ran her eyes down her form, then addressed Darcy again. “Swear to me that you will bring Wickham to justice. I could not bear to be threatened again.”
“To ensure the safety of my wife and sister, I have every intention of having him transported to Australia for his debts,” Darcy replied.
Miss Ashbrook turned to Georgiana. “I am sorry that you were entangled in this. He forced me to bring him here.”
Georgiana frowned. “You should be ashamed of yourself. You could have written to your father so that he and my brother might have devised a counterplan, but instead, your actions brought our family very near to ruin and sorrow. I will not take my leave of you nor wish you well, for you had no such intentions toward me, and it is only by Providence that neither Elizabeth nor I was injured in any permanent way.”
With that, the young girl turned her back and walked away.
Darcy spoke then. “Come, darling, we are done here. Georgiana has said all that needs to be said.” He turned, set Elizabeth’s arm within his, and together they walked toward the house.
Miss Ashbrook remained on her horse until the Darcys disappeared from view.
She looked upon the manor and the estate with regret.
This place could have been her home, and that man could have been her husband.
His heart had once been bound up in her, but now it belonged to another.
But it was all water under the bridge now.
She turned her mount toward home and rode away.