Chapter 49 Justice
The house was in an uproar when the Darcys arrived at Darcy House. Both Mr. Higgins and Mrs. Nichols awaited them in the hall. Their countenances were so grim that Elizabeth’s hand flew to her breast to still her stuttering heart.
Darcy spoke at once. “What is it? Has Georgiana fallen ill?”
Mrs. Nichols burst into tears, but Higgins answered plainly. “Sir, we found Mr. Wickham collapsed upon the floor of Miss Georgiana’s parlor. There is blood everywhere, and Miss Georgiana is missing.”
“She is missing? When was the last time she was seen? Bring Jenny down.”
Mrs. Nichols wiped at her eyes. “Jenny carried her dinner tray up to the parlor at half past seven, sir. She then went below stairs for her own dinner. When she returned at nine o’clock, as Miss Georgiana had instructed, she found Mr. Wickham upon the floor and Miss Georgiana gone.”
“Where is Wickham now? Is he refusing to answer questions?”
“He is unconscious, sir. We sent for Doctor Barnes, but he has not yet arrived. Mr. Wickham has lost a great deal of blood. It appears to me, sir, that he may not survive. I set Peter and Robert to apply pressure to the bleeding wound as soon as he was discovered.”
“And you have not located Georgiana?”
Mrs. Nichols held out a hairpin. “We found this in Miss Georgiana’s room, sir. It was lying on the floor on the far side of the chamber.”
Darcy took the pin. He recognized it at once. It was the miniature dagger he had purchased for Georgiana’s protection.
“Thank you, Mrs. Nichols. I believe I know where my sister may be hiding. She is still in this house and hiding from Mr. Wickham.” He turned to Higgins. “Thank you for managing matters here.”
Elizabeth asked, “Is the house secure, Higgins? Do we know how Mr. Wickham gained entrance?”
“Mistress, we found the library doors ajar. We believe they had been left unlocked and that he entered there.”
“That is entirely my fault,” Darcy said. “I almost always enter by that door.”
He placed an arm around Elizabeth. “Come, darling. Let us go and find Georgiana. Higgins, remain here and await the physician. Notify me once he has examined Wickham.”
“Yes, sir.”
Darcy led Elizabeth to the library. Taking up a branch of candles, they entered. He checked the French doors and found them locked. Then he crossed to the far side of the library and felt along the bookcase until his fingers located the concealed lever. It was locked.
Now he knew with certainty that Georgiana had taken refuge there.
He felt a rush of relief. He searched the adjoining bookcase until he found the volume he sought.
Opening it, he removed a key concealed within a hollow cut into the pages.
He unlocked the lever, worked it, and pushed open the secret door.
He raised the branch of candles. They saw the cot and Georgiana sleeping soundly upon it. Darcy raised a finger to his lips, and together they withdrew from the room.
After he closed the door behind them, he asked quietly, “Shall I leave her there? She is fast asleep.”
Elizabeth said, “I believe I should remain with her. She may wake from a night terror. At least for this first night, and since she lies in such a strange hiding place, I do not think she should be left alone.”
He agreed. They went upstairs and prepared for bed before he escorted Elizabeth back down to the library. He placed the key in her hand.
“There is a second cot and several blankets. Take these candles with you and lock the door behind you.”
He kissed her, and then Elizabeth slipped into the secret room.
Elizabeth squeezed her eyes shut, but the noise persisted. Someone was rapping upon the door.
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. It was unfamiliar. Where was Fitzwilliam? She reached toward his side of the bed and overshot the narrow cot upon which she lay. She tumbled to the floor.
Then she remembered where she was.
She looked toward the other cot and saw Georgiana’s curls spread across the pillow. Rising quickly, she hurried to the door.
“Elizabeth?”
“Coming. Let me find the key.”
She unlocked the door and stepped aside to admit him.
“How did you sleep?” he asked.
“Very Well. I did not wake once.”
“And Georgiana?”
“She is well.”
He glanced over her shoulder. His sister still slept tucked beneath the blankets.
“Richard is on his way. We are going to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital to check on Wickham.
I intend to pay officers to guard him day and night until he is returned to custody.
I have learned of a transport ship, the Somersetshire, sailing for Australia in late June.
Should Wickham survive his injury, he shall be aboard it. ”
“So, his injury was grave?”
“Yes, it was severe. When I purchased the little dagger for Georgiana, I had no notion it could prove such a deadly weapon. The wound was very nearly fatal, and over the next few days, we shall learn whether it has, in fact, proved fatal.”
“Will Georgiana face any repercussions from the law?”
“No, I do not believe so. The law shall not even be involved unless he expires. For now, it is regarded as a break-in, and he was injured in self-defense. We can only hope and pray that Wickham survives. Not the least reason is that I should hate for Georgiana to carry the burden of his death upon her conscience for the rest of her life.”
“No indeed. Let us pray he survives.” She turned the subject. “Will the matter keep you away all day?”
“No, I believe not. Richard and Anne shall join us for a late luncheon. I have already informed Cook.”
He kissed Elizabeth, and then he was gone.
Elizabeth was awake now, yet she thought it best not to leave Georgiana alone in the hiding place.
She whiled away the time searching through the drawers of a large dresser and discovered several miniatures there: Fitzwilliam, Georgiana as a child of about five, a tall, elegant blond, perhaps Lady Anne, and his father, Graham Darcy.
She was studying them and several others when Georgiana spoke.
“Elizabeth?”
She turned. “Good morning, Georgiana. It is after eight. Are you hungry?”
The girl sat up. “Yes. I am famished. I had eaten only part of my dinner when George Wickham entered my parlor.” She raised a hand to her throat.
Elizabeth’s expression softened. “Your neck is bruised.”
“Yes. He intended to throttle me until I became insensible, and then he meant to carry me away with him.”
The two women remained within the hidden room while Georgiana recounted the assault she had suffered.
As she spoke, she trembled and wept. Elizabeth moved to her side and held her.
She herself felt deep anger toward the man who had brought so much misery upon both the Bennets and the Darcys.
The lives of two young girls had been forever altered by the depravity of one evil man.
Surprisingly, the girl recovered enough spirits to ask about Lord Dunwich. Elizabeth gave her an abbreviated account suitable for younger ears. Georgiana was gratified to learn that Fitzwilliam had used his fists against Lord Dunwich and that the gentleman would most likely be going abroad.
“Lizzy, perhaps his time abroad shall improve him, and he will return older, wiser, and a better man.”
Elizabeth said, “Perhaps it will.” Then she added, “The same may be hoped for Mr. Wickham. He may learn to work and to take responsibility for himself on that continent. He has always known that the head of the Darcy family would rescue him from whatever difficulties he brought upon himself. In a new country, he may learn to labor with his own hands and provide for his own needs.”
Georgiana said, “Yes, perhaps. You should have seen his eyes when he spoke of commanding my forty-thousand-pound dowry.” She turned to search Elizabeth’s face. “Lizzy, is Mr. Wickham going to die?”
“It is too early to say, dearest. Fitzwilliam shall let us know. He and Richard went to St. Bartholomew’s this morning. We shall hear of his condition soon enough.”
“I hope he does not die. I do not know whether I could bear the knowledge that I killed a man.”
Elizabeth embraced the young girl. “He is a strong young man, dear. I believe it will take far more than this to kill him. He is in hospital receiving the best care. Fitzwilliam has already learned of a government transport ship sailing for Australia in May. If he is looking into arrangements for Mr. Wickham’s transportation, then matters cannot be quite so grave. Let us wait and see what transpires.”
Elizabeth shivered. “Come, Georgiana. Let us go upstairs and dress. Your cousins shall soon arrive for luncheon.”
When they inquired, Mrs. Nichols informed them that Mr. Darcy had ordered everything moved to another chamber the previous evening.
She conducted the two ladies to Georgiana’s new room and explained that Mr. Darcy had selected it himself.
Mrs. Nichols assured them that Jenny would soon bring up Georgiana’s bath water and that Gibbs would carry up Elizabeth’s directly.
After the housekeeper withdrew, Georgiana closed the door and said, “Help me find the secret stair. Fitzwilliam says there is more than one hidden stair in this house, and I am certain he has selected this new chamber with that in mind.” She squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “He is such a thoughtful brother.”
The two women searched the room but could not discover the concealed entrance. Georgiana’s expression was earnest as she said, “I feel especially safe in this room, Lizzy. If you and I cannot find the secret stair despite knowing one exists, then I need not fear for my safety.”
At the hospital, a nurse escorted the two gentlemen to Wickham’s bedside. Darcy took one look at the man’s pale face and turned to Richard.
“Is he alive?”
Richard bent down and touched their old friend’s wrist. “I can feel his pulse, though it is very weak.”
“He lost a great quantity of blood. Dr. Barnes says he is dangerously weakened, but we shall know within the next few days whether he survives the hemorrhage.”
When the nurse left the bedside, Darcy turned to Richard. “It is difficult to remember that George was one of my closest friends throughout my boyhood.”
Richard grunted. “Yes. Phillip and I were fond of him as well. He was an amiable boy, and we always looked forward to spending the summers at Pemberley with the two of you. He felt more like a cousin than the steward’s son.”
“Yes, it was the same for me. He became a different man once his eye turned toward women. When he impregnated the upper chamber maid, everything changed. What was her name?”
“Bridget. She was a lovely woman. I do not wonder she caught Wickham’s eye. I admired her myself, as did Phillip.”
“I remember my father warning us never to compromise the servants, or there would be consequences.”
“I remember that day,” Richard said.
“I was shocked when my father told me she was with child by Wickham. He called George in and informed him that he had set aside the Lambton living for him, but would not grant it unless Wickham married the servant he had ruined. And he refused.”
“Darcy, he was already far gone before then. He frequented brothels throughout university, and you know he never took orders. He never fulfilled the requirements for the clergy.”
“He was never fit for holy orders. His character is deplorable. My father was deeply wounded by George’s perfidy.
Wickham had always been his favorite. I remember him saying he was grateful his old friend had not lived to witness how far his son had fallen.
What my father would say had he lived to see Wickham’s attempt upon little Georgiana, I cannot imagine. ”
The two men remained at Wickham’s bedside for more than an hour before departing. Though they did not know it then, neither would ever see him again.
Wickham remained in hospital for six full weeks before he was sufficiently recovered to return to gaol.
On March 2, 1812, Kendall was present, along with the hired guards, when Wickham was taken back into custody. Kendall later presented himself to Darcy to inform him that the transfer to gaol had been completed; all three Darcys felt relief that Wickham was no longer free to make another attempt.