Chapter 15 #2
“But he imposed on me again in Ramsgate. If not for the hooded man’s warning, Wickham would have carried Georgiana off to Gretna.” The memory of her despair still haunted him.
“Good God. He was the man?” Charles glanced over his shoulder at the village behind them. “And now he’s come to Hertfordshire to seek his fortune.”
A terrible thought occurred to Darcy. “Your sister must not fall prey to his false charm.”
“You may be sure that I will protect her,” Bingley said in a resolute voice, but in the next instant, his shoulders dropped. “However, I fear I must rely on you to warn Caroline on my behalf.”
Darcy groaned, cursing his bad luck. Had he not already suffered sufficient degradation?
Not only had he been forced to play the role of Charles Bingley, but now he must also be Caroline’s advisor.
The woman who had been relentless in her pursuit of him this past month and had put herself forward at every opportunity.
He rid himself of that line of thought. Despite Caroline’s forward conduct, even she deserved to be protected from the clutches of an unscrupulous fortune hunter, as Georgiana had nearly succumbed. “I’ll see to it immediately.”
Darcy paced in Charles’s study as he waited for Caroline and Louisa to join him.
He and Charles had decided that as Caroline’s chaperone, Louisa must also be advised of Wickham’s presence in the neighbourhood.
Although he dreaded this meeting, he recalled Georgiana’s heartache after the Ramsgate affair, and how easily it could have been prevented if only he had advised her of Wickham’s true character.
The ladies finally stormed into the room. “What on earth can you mean, Charles, summoning us to your study, as though we are schoolgirls?” Caroline said in high dudgeon.
Recalling the importance of this errand, Darcy kept his temper in check. “I have information that I must relay to you in the strictest confidence. May I rely on you both to keep a secret?
Caroline gasped. “Good heavens, what do you mean?”
Darcy gestured to the chairs and waited for the ladies to be seated. “Darcy and I ran into a militia man in the village this morning who must be avoided at all costs.”
When both women gaped in shock, he continued, “George Wickham is the son of the late Mr Darcy’s steward. He and Darcy grew up together at Pemberley and were the best of friends. Mr Darcy was Wickham’s godfather and saw to his education, including university.”
He hesitated, searching for the best way to relay the gravity of the matter without delving into the sordid truth.
“I shall not attempt to convey the details of that young man’s conduct during his years at Cambridge and beyond.
Such stories are not meant for your ears, but once he was free of his restraints at home, he succumbed to every vice.
I daresay you could never imagine such immorality.
Darcy’s father never learned of his reprehensible conduct and left a generous provision for him in his will, which Darcy faithfully executed, despite his disapproval of his former friend.
However, even after receiving his full inheritance, Wickham continued to harass and abuse Darcy. ”
Caroline clucked her tongue. “How infamous. I can scarcely believe it.”
“I assure you, it’s perfectly true, and I shouldn’t wish you to succumb to his predatory charm. Since he now resides in the neighbourhood with the militia, I shall rely on you, Louisa, to keep Caroline safe if you venture away from the house. Be sure to take a footman with you.”
Louisa kept her hands firmly clutched in her lap. “I certainly shall, Charles, but surely this abuse of Mr Darcy must not be allowed to stand. How could Colonel Forster admit such a dreadful man into his regiment?”
“I doubt the colonel had much say in the matter. The militia accepts even worse men into their ranks,” Darcy said, relieved that they fully understood the urgency of the situation.
Then, hoping to avoid any further questions about his past history, which Charles would be unable to answer, he continued, “I must beg you not to mention the matter to Darcy. George Wickham has caused so much suffering that he can’t endure hearing the mention of that name and no longer acknowledges him in public. ”
Caroline curled her lip in disgust. “Nor shall we, Charles, I assure you.”
Having completed that distasteful chore, Darcy found Charles in the billiard room. The furniture and billiards table were still pushed against the walls, but Charles had arranged three chairs around the serving cart.
“I’ve sent for Henry,” Charles said, offering him a tankard of ale. “How did it go with my sisters?”
Darcy paused for refreshment and sat with his friend. “I didn’t mention Georgiana or Ramsgate, but they are fully aware of the danger Wickham poses and will take care to avoid him.”
“Thank you for that, Darcy. I’m in your debt.”
“No, indeed. It’s exactly what you would have done for me, were the situation reversed,” he said, to which Charles nodded glumly.
“What’s amiss?” Henry said from the doorway.
“Come in and close the door, Henry. We have news.” Charles poured another tankard.
Henry listened intently as they disclosed the events of the morning and Darcy’s history with Wickham.
“Do you suppose he followed you here, Darcy?” Henry inquired.
Darcy discarded this possibility. “He didn’t appear any happier to see me than I was to see him.”
“What’s his game, then? He didn’t join the militia for the pittance they pay.”
“True, but they’ll feed and house him until he finds greener pastures.”
Henry released a long, frustrated breath. “You’ll need to stay well away from that fellow, Charles. He has a long history with Darcy that you know nothing about.”
Darcy disagreed with this evasive tactic. He had no intention of backing down from his mortal enemy. In this case, decisive action was necessary. “I absolutely refuse to acknowledge him in public, so if you run into him, you’ll have to cut him, otherwise he’ll suspect that something is off.”
“I beg you to use caution, Darcy,” Henry said in an urgent tone. “The last thing you want is for him to discover your secret and use it to extort you.”
Darcy groaned at this suggestion. “That’s exactly what he would do.”
Observing Charles’s worried brow, Darcy relented. Although he had never walked away from confrontation, he couldn’t reasonably expect his amiable friend to fight his battles. He doubted Charles had ever quarrelled with anyone on any subject.
Although uncertainty hovered over his head, he couldn’t properly address this latest issue without first returning to his true form.
Henry finally broke the troubled silence. “You know, Darcy, I’m not without friends in town. I can put the word out at my club to refuse his vowels.”
“I doubt he travels in your circles, Henry, but warning other men of his duplicity would help immensely.”
“I’ll see to it immediately, and a letter will go out with the morning post.”
This reminded Darcy of the letter he intended to write to his cousin, which must also go out in the next post. Richard would be furious that Wickham had resurfaced so soon after the Ramsgate incident.
But Henry was right about one thing; Wickham must have come to point non-plus in town to have settled for the militia.
Did he hope to take advantage of his anonymity here in Hertfordshire?
Would he pass himself off as a dutiful soldier, honourably serving the King and defending the homeland?
Would he attempt to make himself agreeable to Elizabeth?
Not if Darcy had anything to say about it.