Chapter Thirty-Two
Mr. Wickham could not believe his luck. He had known that something good was waiting for him, for his luck always turned eventually, but never had he expected to be so fortunate as to find Georgiana Darcy in Meryton!
He had long hoped to find a way to get close to Georgiana, who he knew remembered him fondly. His plan to have Mrs. Younge become her companion had come to nothing; but now here Georgiana was, most unexpectedly, practically thrown into his lap! And she had been so very happy to see him!
The chief impediment to his hopes was, of course, Darcy.
Darcy would doubtless do everything in his power to keep Georgiana away from him; so he would have to convince Darcy that he was a new man, changed entirely from the – what had Darcy once called him?
– ah, yes, the ‘immoral rapscallion’ that he had once been.
He whistled cheerfully as he returned to the encampment, where he found Mr. Denny waiting for him in their shared tent. Mr. Denny clapped him on the shoulder, exclaiming, “I say, Wickham, this is the friendliest town I have ever seen!”
“Have you found it to be so, Denny?”
“I certainly have! I met two young ladies, Miss Kitty Bennet and Miss Lydia Bennet, and they all but threw themselves into my arms! I can tell you that I have never before been met with such enthusiasm from the fairer sex.” Mr. Denny’s round face glowed with satisfaction.
“And there is to be a card party in just a few days, to which all the officers are invited,” added Carter, who had just put his head inside the tent.
“A card party? Just for the militia?” Mr. Wickham enquired.
“No, indeed; it is for the gentlefolk of the town, as well as for us officers,” Mr. Carter replied. “It is to be held at the home of Sir William and Lady Lucas.”
“See, Wickham? Was not joining the militia the best of ideas?” Mr. Denny demanded.
“It certainly was,” Mr. Wickham replied with real feeling.