Chapter 33
“What will happen to Mr. Wickham?” Georgiana asked solemnly.
Elizabeth, who had changed out of her dirty gown into a fresh one, had been pacing up and down the drawing room, unable to relax after her recent ordeal.
At this question, she stopped and sank down next to her young friend, her brow furrowed.
“I am not certain, Georgiana, though his attempt of abduction could earn him a death sentence.”
“And it should!” Mrs. Annesley exclaimed.
Georgiana’s widowed companion was usually a placid soul, but the news of Wickham’s attempt to abduct her charge had turned the lady into a virago of fury.
Elizabeth found it rather charming, if truth be told.
It was wonderful that Georgiana had several passionate protectors.
“What do you think?” Georgiana inquired, her blue eyes fixed unnervingly on Elizabeth’s brown ones. “Do you think Wickham should die?”
Elizabeth blew out a breath and sighed deeply.
“I … believe that I do,” she said, though rather reluctantly. “The other obvious option is that he be transported to the Australian colonies, but he is such a rogue, and I fear that given his proclivities, he would eagerly take advantage of women elsewhere. I hate the thought of such a thing.”
“As do I,” her young friend said. “If he is hanged, will he be able to meet with a man of God to talk about his eternal soul?”
“Yes, he will,” Mrs. Annesley declared. “I have a distant cousin who is a rector, and he provides spiritual instruction and comfort to condemned prisoners at Newgate. Wickham will have an opportunity to make his peace with God.”
Privately Elizabeth wondered if Wickham, a man who had heartlessly plotted to abduct his own godfather’s daughter, would submit to God’s authority, but perhaps when faced with death, even George Wickham would seek forgiveness.
“Then I am at peace with a death sentence,” Georgiana said, breaking into her thoughts. “He is an evil, dangerous man.”
“He is,” Darcy agreed, causing all three ladies to turn toward the door in surprise.
“Brother!” Georgiana exclaimed, rising to her feet and hurrying toward him. “Is Wickham locked up now?”
“Yes, and he is being held by the military authorities who have agreed to hold him for desertion and attempted kidnapping. Richard is working with the man in charge, a Colonel Mueller, to ensure that Wickham does not escape.”
“Good,” Georgiana said in relief. “I am glad we are safe from him. What of Mrs. Younge?”
“Colonel Mueller has sent out men to search for her, though if she has any sense at all, she will have fled Ramsgate.”
“One thing I do not understand, Mr. Darcy, is why Wickham attacked Anne instead of your sister,” Elizabeth said. “Georgiana is a few inches taller than her cousin.”
“Wickham explained that he made the mistake because Anne and Georgiana were wearing nearly identical bonnets,” Darcy explained.
“Mrs. Younge, who was familiar with Georgiana’s preferred headwear, misidentified Anne because she was turned toward the sea, and in their rush, they did not realize that Anne was too short to be my sister. ”
“Such a vile man, and a horrible woman too, to plot against a girl like Georgiana,” Elizabeth said in disgust.
“They are, but we will soon be rid of Wickham and Richard has promised to track down Mrs. Younge,” Darcy said. He paused and added hesitantly, “Miss Bennet?”
“Yes?”
“Would you care to walk down to the beach with me?”
Elizabeth blushed and said, “Yes, Mr. Darcy, I would be delighted.”
“May I come too?” Georgiana asked eagerly.
Darcy turned and put his hands on his sister’s shoulders. “Another time, Georgiana. I would like to speak with Miss Bennet alone.”
Georgiana stared in confusion, and then her face cleared. “I understand, Brother! Have fun!”
Elizabeth’s face felt like it was on fire, but she managed a shy smile at Mr. Darcy. “I am certain we will.”
/
Elizabeth was thankful for the crisp air blowing in from the ocean.
She and Darcy had silently walked arm in arm from the red brick house down the street to the sandy beach.
Now, with her cheeks cooled and her heart beating steadily, she turned to look upon her companion and said, “I love Ramsgate.”
“I love you,” Darcy said bluntly, which caused Elizabeth’s traitorous skin to flush pink again.
“Mr. Darcy…”
“Please, allow me to speak further. I confess that the day I met you, I had no idea how quickly you would capture my heart. You are a beautiful lady, Miss Bennet, but I have known many beautiful ladies. No, I have fallen in love with you because of your courage, your intelligence, your wit, and your kindness to my dear Georgiana. By the time your party left Pemberley, I was strongly drawn to you. In these last few days, my attachment has grown only more robust. Today, when you bravely rushed to save Anne, well – I confess I was greatly alarmed when I heard your cries for help. If I had lost you … oh Miss Bennet, the threat of your loss has forced me to realize how I adore you! My dear Elizabeth, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
He halted and stared down at her, his heart beating rapidly.
He had not intended to declare himself so quickly, but then he had never imagined that within a day of their arrival at Ramsgate they would be subjected to an attack by George Wickham.
When Elizabeth had cried out for help in the marshlands, Darcy had truly been frightened for her sake, and even now, though she bore herself with her usual strength, he felt a deep desire to pull her close and comfort her after such a terrifying ordeal.
Elizabeth had been thinking deeply as well. She loved Mr. Darcy, she knew that. But…
“You have not forgotten, sir,” she said with some difficulty, “that I have relatives in trade, and that my mother and young sisters are not entirely as well-mannered as…”
“It is nothing to me,” Darcy insisted with a rather wild wave of his hands. “I love you, and I love your parents for raising you, and the younger Misses Bennet because they are your sisters, and I hope, soon to be mine as well. I have not come to this decision lightly, I assure you.”
Elizabeth’s eyes were suddenly filled with joyful tears, and she nodded ecstatically. “In that case, yes, Mr. Darcy, I would be honored to be your wife.”
“Oh Elizabeth!” the gentleman murmured, “Oh my dear Elizabeth!”
Elizabeth Bennet, who had thwarted an abduction attempt today, found new heights of courage as she lifted herself up on her tiptoes to plant a firm kiss on Darcy’s mouth.
He returned the kiss with passionate enthusiasm, and they only broke loose when a cheerful male voice commented, “Well, it seems that more congratulations are in order.”
Both breathing heavily, Elizabeth and Darcy turned smiling, bashful faces on Richard Fitzwilliam, who had been walking back toward the brick house when he spied his cousin locked in a firm embrace with Miss Bennet.
“Yes, Elizabeth has agreed to be my wife,” Darcy said, beaming.
“I am very happy for you both,” Richard declared.
/
“Thank you, Priscilla,” Anne said to her maid, taking one last look in the mirror. She had a slight bruise on her cheek, but her face was otherwise unmarked. Her body was another matter, as she had contusions across her torso where Wickham had held her in his harsh grip.
She shuddered slightly, which provoked her maid to ask, “Are you well, Miss de Bourgh?”
“I am well,” Anne answered quickly, and then added, “I am more than well. Colonel Fitzwilliam offered for my hand in marriage, and I have accepted.”
“Oh, I am so happy for you!” the girl gushed. “Colonel Fitzwilliam is such a wonderful gentleman.”
“He is,” Anne agreed, passing out of her bedchamber into the corridor, down the stairs, and into the drawing room, where her cousins and Elizabeth were assembled.
All rose as she stepped into the room, and Richard rushed forward to grasp Anne’s hands in his own large ones. “Anne! How are you feeling, my dear?”
She smiled at her fiancé’s affectionate words and said, “I am well enough, though sore. Miss Benn... Elizabeth, are you well?”
“I am a little bruised but essentially unharmed.”
Anne released her grip on Richard, though she remained close to his comforting bulk, and turned toward Miss Bennet. “I do not remember if I thanked you previously, Elizabeth. You were so very brave. Thank you for saving me.”
“You did thank me,” Elizabeth assured her, “and truly, I need to thank you. You were also brave, Anne. You fought and struggled and even bit Mrs. Younge to escape, and you kicked Wickham hard enough to make him let me go. You were marvelous.”
Anne blushed at the reminder of her own kick at Wickham’s nether regions, but she said in wonder, “I suppose I was rather brave. It is quite astonishing, really.”
“It does not astonish me in the least,” Richard said fondly. “But come, there is other news that will bring you much joy.”
Georgiana, finding she could no longer hold back, cried out, “My brother and Elizabeth are engaged to be married!”
Anne’s face lit up, and she turned toward her wealthy cousin. “Darcy! Many congratulations to you! Elizabeth is perfect for you.”
“I quite agree,” Darcy answered, his gaze fixed on his fiancee’s vibrant countenance. “I prayed that God would bring me the right bride, and He has done so.”
“Elizabeth and I will soon be sisters!” Georgiana said ecstatically.
“How soon?” Anne asked, her own eyes turning to fix on Richard’s face.
“We were just discussing that when you came in, my dear,” the colonel said, guiding her toward a comfortable couch so that they could both seat themselves.
“I am inclined to think it would be best for us to marry quickly, the better to deal with Lady Catherine, though of course I will not press you if you wish for more time.”
“The sooner the better,” Anne agreed firmly. “The sooner that you gain control of Rosings, the sooner we can work to make the estate our home as opposed to my mother’s.”
“As for Elizabeth and I,” Darcy said, “we too wish to marry soon, but I must ask for Mr. Bennet’s blessing first. We will likely marry in Hertfordshire by common license as soon as we have arranged for the settlements and the like.”
“Anne, we will need to speak with the lawyers regarding the specifics of Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s will and your mother’s jointure,” Richard said, “and I must sell my Army commission. It will not take long. I imagine we can be married within a fortnight.”
“That is marvelous,” Anne began and then trailed away at the sound of an unwelcome, imperious voice in the outer foyer of the house. “Where is Darcy? Where is my daughter, Miss de Bourgh? Take me to them at once!”
Anne shot a horrified glance at Richard, who said, “Do not worry, darling. Darcy and I can manage Lady Catherine.”
“Indeed we can,” Darcy said grimly.
“I suggest that we should avoid telling Lady Catherine about Mr. Wickham’s attack,” Elizabeth said. “It would only upset her.”
“You are right, of course,” Darcy agreed. “Georgiana, do not say anything about Mr. Wickham, please.”
“I do not wish to say anything at all to Lady Catherine,” Georgiana said, her face twisted in distress. “She frightens me, and she is going to be very angry when she hears that my brother and Elizabeth are engaged.”
Elizabeth glanced at Mrs. Annesley who proposed, “Perhaps Miss Darcy and I should leave by the servant’s door to avoid Lady Catherine?”
“That is an excellent plan,” Darcy concurred with a grateful look at his sister’s companion.
He had chosen Mrs. Younge very poorly, but Mrs. Annesley was a treasure.
He watched with satisfaction as the older woman shepherded Georgiana out of the room, and then he turned to Elizabeth.
“My dear, my aunt may well be abusive towards you. Do you wish to leave?”
“Not at all,” his lady declared. “My courage always rises with any attempt to intimidate me.”
“Anne, you should leave if you are not ready to speak to your mother,” Richard said.
“No, I will stay. I feel safe with you here.”
The door opened, and the butler entered and said, “Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”