Chapter Thirteen
APPREHENSION
Darcy’s Carriage
William sat staring out of the window, obviously disturbed. He had asked Richard to allow Elizabeth to read Georgiana’s letter.
“Who is this Wickham?” she asked with alarm on finishing. “And why would Mrs. Younge allow him unchaperoned access to a young woman not yet sixteen?”
At this point Richard took over the telling of Wickham’s connection to the Darcy family, also revealing some of his unscrupulous habits. As he talked on and Elizabeth asked more questions, William was plagued by unpleasant thoughts of the past.
George Wickham was a man without principle and one who had no qualms in doing whatever it took to get what he wanted.
The fact that Wickham had managed to manoeuvre himself into Anne’s good graces while William was at Pemberley with Anna and Georgiana did not sit well.
Not only had he been seen about Town as her escort, but it was later discovered that his wife had lent Wickham and his friend, Lord Webster, large sums of money to cover their gaming debts.
Needless to say, Anne’s indiscretion had become the source of yet another argument between the unhappy couple.
“What in Heaven’s name were you thinking, Anne?! Your so-called friends are known gamesters, and they have been using you to finance their addiction. You have no business giving Lord Webster or George Wickham money! Are you aware that these sums total more than eight thousand pounds?”
“Fitzwilliam, how can you be so callous?” she flippantly answered.
“My friends were in need, and I found myself in a position to assist them. Between my inheritance and yours, we certainly have plenty. The papers I had drawn up by our solicitor are perfectly legal, and I have no doubt we shall be reimbursed at some point.”
Reimbursed, indeed! George Wickham had been a taker all of his life, and after Anne died, instead of making good on his loan, had the nerve to come around asking for additional monies.
“What can you possibly need money for this time, George? More gaming? Women?” William scoffed.
“If you must know, I am bound for France. It is a personal matter.”
William looked at him with suspicion. “You mean to tell me you would go to France in the middle of a war? What kind of inane excuse is this to garner more funds?”
“It is no excuse, Fitzwilliam; it is the truth. I have a medical condition which needs immediate attention, and there is a physician in Paris who has been successful with his treatments.”
William’s eyes narrowed with the realisation of what Wickham was saying. “George, I am not your keeper. If you have managed to get the French Disease, it is no concern of mine, nor is it my responsibility to fund your little trip to Paris.”
“Need I remind you that I was your father’s godson, and just as your father did, my dear Anne promised me I would always be taken care of?”
“YOUR DEAR ANNE?!” William bellowed. The familiarity with which Wickham spoke of his wife drove William to lose his temper and forcibly grab the man by the throat.
“Let me never hear you speak of my deceased wife in such a manner. She was not ‘your dear’ anything.” He abruptly released Wickham, causing him to stumble.
“And how would you know that, Fitzwilliam, when you spent most of your time at Pemberley? How do you know I did not provide the satisfaction which Anne craved in your absence?” he boasted, while straightening his cravat and pulling his coat taut. “A woman has needs.”
“NEEDS?!” With that, William stepped forward, made a fist and struck Wickham on the jaw. “Get out of my sight, you poor excuse for a man, and never let me see your sorry face again, or you will be bound for debtor’s prison.”
Refusing to be intimidated, George rubbed his jawbone while boldly responding, “I came to you today as a friend, Fitzwilliam. Just give me the money I require for my trip, and I shall be on my way.”
Cursing under his breath, William went to his desk drawer and pulled out a handful of paper money in various denominations. Thrusting it across the top of the desk, it flew off and landed on the floor. “That is all you will ever get from me. The rest is on your head. Now get out.”
Wickham quickly counted the money he had been given and scowled. “This is barely twenty-five pounds, hardly enough for me to get to France and sustain myself while I receive treatment.”
“That is none of my concern.”
“At some point you will wish that you had made it so, Fitzwilliam, for I shall not forget your selfish disdain.” With that, he picked up his hat and gloves and left the premises.
Was it not enough that William had compensated Wickham three thousand pounds in lieu of the living his father had left for him?
Because of Anne, the man had walked away with another five thousand pounds, and his good friend, Lord Webster, with three thousand more.
While he would never wish the French disease on any man, William had reached his limit.
Now, however, there was Georgiana to consider.
Knowing that Wickham was infected, he prayed to God that he had not taken his sister’s virtue and infected her as well.
“Oh, William,” Elizabeth nearly sobbed, clutching his hand in both of hers after learning all. “Our poor sister. This man Wickham must be stopped. He must not be allowed to harm her. Pray, what is your plan?”
“As much as I would like, it is not possible for us to reach Ramsgate yet today. Once we arrive at our house in Town, however, I shall enlist two of my trusted servants who will serve as outriders and do Richard’s bidding in preparation for the rest of our journey.
As soon as we are able, we shall leave for Rosings Park, where I would like you to stay with Anna.
It will be nightfall, but once you are settled and my men have regrouped, the rest of us will most likely continue on to Ramsgate by horseback and hopefully reach the cottage by dawn. ”
“More travel by night and on horseback?! William, it will be very dangerous, especially if the roads are poor.”
“You are not to worry, Elizabeth. We will manage as long as there is no rain. There should be some moonlight, and whether by carriage or horseback, we will not travel without lanterns.”
Assuming William and Elizabeth needed some time alone to discuss the situation, Richard quickly interjected, “Cousin, if you do not mind, I would like to ride up top for a while. Some fresh air will do me good. Moreover, it will give me time to formulate several stratagems against our foe.”
“As you wish, Cousin.”
After Richard had left the vehicle and the two of them were alone, William pulled Elizabeth into his embrace. “I am so sorry,” he whispered, while deftly untying the ribbons to her bonnet and placing it on the seat.
Taking her face into his hands and gently kissing her on the lips, he murmured, “My dearest love, you deserve far better on our wedding day.”
“William, you need not apologise. I understand.”
“Elizabeth, this situation is my fault. Once I suspected Mrs. Younge was not a suitable companion, I should have removed Georgiana from Ramsgate without hesitation. Instead, I allowed myself to be pressured by time and distance as I tried to navigate the season. I relied on Lady Catherine’s advice instead of following my own counsel. ”
“I understand about Mrs. Younge, but you could not have foreseen such treachery with Mr. Wickham.”
“Possibly not, but the last time I saw him he made threats which I should not have taken lightly. Let me explain.” William proceeded to tell Elizabeth more of his long-time connection with Wickham and how the man had insinuated himself into Anne’s good graces.
He also told her how Anne had given Wickham and Lord Webster money to cover their gaming debts and how Wickham came asking for more funds after Anne’s death.
“Elizabeth, George Wickham has the French disease.”
Elizabeth gasped, realising the further gravity of the situation. “Then this is far worse than I feared.”
“Wickham wanted the money to go to Paris for treatments. After he took advantage of Anne’s kindness, I had no desire to fund him. Yet, if I had given him the money, he would have left the country and none of this would have happened. Georgiana would be safe.”
“William, you cannot accept blame for Mr. Wickham’s misconduct. He is the worst sort of man. From what the colonel said, he would never be satisfied.”
“I know, I know, but Georgiana, Anna, and now you, Elizabeth, are all my responsibility. I should have been more diligent where my sister was concerned. In the end, money means nothing if any one of you is harmed. I learned that lesson well with the death of my son.”
“Dear William,” she softly said, tears misting in her eyes.
“You are truly a good man, and I love you all the more for the care you continually give us. This Wickham, this animal, cannot defeat you or the colonel. I know it.” She pressed into his arms saying, “We must believe that Georgiana will be safe, and I will pray with all of my heart for God to protect her from that evil man until the two of you can come to her rescue.”
Continuing to hold Elizabeth close, he tenderly kissed her, saying, “What did I ever do to deserve another chance at living and to have you by my side?”
“Husband, I believe that God has a plan for us and together we are far stronger than alone.”
“I would like to believe that, Elizabeth.”
“Then believe it, William. Believe it for my sake, for Anna’s, for Georgiana’s and for yourself. You, too, are my life, and with God’s help we shall face this and every trial that comes our way together.”
“No man could ask for more.” He tenderly kissed her, saying, “Dearest Elizabeth, I am so very proud to be your husband.”