The South Lawn
“Nurse,” Elizabeth said quietly, “I think the boys have been outside long enough.”
Nurse folded her sewing without asking why. “Come along, Master Anthony.”
Anthony looked from Elizabeth to the gentleman crossing the lawn. “Is he the dragon?”
“We shall ask Grandmama inside.”
Lewis took Elizabeth’s hand rather than Nurse’s. She did not attempt to correct him. The house lay beyond the trees and up the long garden path, much farther away than she had allowed herself to notice before. Behind them, footsteps sounded upon the gravel.
Elizabeth stopped and turned. “Mr Wickham.”
He bowed politely. “Miss Bennet. Forgive the intrusion. I had hoped I might find you amongst Rosings’ many delights this morning.”
“I fear I cannot claim much responsibility for them, sir.”
“No, though I begin to suspect Rosings has become considerably more delightful since your arrival.”
“The children are expected inside.” Elizabeth turned to Nurse. “Please take them back to the house and tell Lady Catherine that Mr Wickham has come to call.”
Nurse understood at once. She gathered her sewing beneath one arm and held out her hand to Anthony.
Lewis tightened his hold upon Elizabeth’s hand. She bent and gently loosened his fingers.
“You must go with Nurse, my darling.”
“Miss Bennet too.”
“No. I shall remain here for a little while.” She placed his hand in Nurse’s. “You must tell Grandmama who has arrived.”
That gave the errand sufficient importance. Lewis allowed Nurse to take him, though he continued looking back at Elizabeth.
Mr Wickham watched the exchange with an amused expression. “You appear to have acquired considerable authority during your stay.”
“The children are accustomed to being listened to.”
“A rare indulgence.”
Nurse began leading them towards the upper path. Elizabeth remained where she was, forcing Mr Wickham to keep his attention upon her rather than following them towards the house.
They had gone only a few steps when Mr Wickham moved across the path. The action was unhurried enough that Anthony nearly walked into him.
“I do not think Lady Catherine need be disturbed just yet,” he said pleasantly.
Nurse drew the boys back. Elizabeth moved at once, placing herself beside them.
“Lady Catherine will wish to know that you are here.”
“I am certain she will.” Wickham’s smile remained easy. “That is precisely why I should prefer to speak with you first.”
“You have nothing to say to me that cannot be said in her presence.”
“I think you may find that I do.”
One hand rested easily behind his back, concealed from view by his coat, whilst the other remained carelessly at his side. There was nothing careless about George Wickham.
“I do not believe my wishes upon the matter have been sought, sir.”
“No,” he agreed pleasantly. “I am afraid they have not.”
Anthony stood very straight. He was four years old, he had his stick, and he had been told that dragons were dangerous if one failed to recognise the right kind. He watched Mr Wickham without moving while Lewis pressed himself against Elizabeth’s side.
Mr Wickham appeared to find all of this mildly diverting. “Miss Bennet, I have no interest in frightening children. I have only a few questions, and then you may all return to the house and enjoy the remainder of Easter.”
“You are blocking the path.”
“I am.” He tilted his head. “You have been spending a great deal of time at Rosings.”
“Mrs Collins is my friend.”
“Yes.” His eyes moved over her face with the same measuring attention she remembered from the ribbon shop. “And is that the only reason?”
“I wonder,” Mr Wickham continued pleasantly, “whether my ward has been equally attentive to his aunt this Easter.”
“I understood Mr Darcy to be travelling.”
“As did I.” His smile remained in place. “Yet certain reports have lately become rather confused.”
“You have travelled a considerable distance to discuss uncertain reports with me.”
“Not merely with you.”
His concealed hand had not moved.
“Nurse,” Elizabeth said, without taking her eyes from him, “take the lower path.”
Nurse turned immediately. Mr Wickham stepped sideways and blocked it as well.
His smile did not alter. “I fear that none of you is returning to the house just yet.”
Elizabeth glanced towards Nurse. “Take the boys to Lady Catherine and tell her that Mr Wickham has come to call.”
Nurse gathered Anthony closer. Mr Wickham shifted one step across the path.
“Presently,” he said. “I should prefer that we all remain together until Miss Bennet and I have reached a clearer understanding.”
Anthony’s grip on his stick tightened. Lewis pressed closer to Elizabeth’s side.
Elizabeth understood what he wanted. Mr Wickham did not know Darcy was here. He suspected it, and he needed her to confirm it. Until she did, he had not yet got what he had come for.
“Mr Wickham,” she said calmly, “I do not know where Mr Darcy is. I have not seen him since January.”
“Have you not.” It was not a question.
“I have been at Hunsford. I am a guest of Mrs Collins. My acquaintance with Mr Darcy is slight.”
“And yet Lady Catherine has been very particular in her invitations to you.”
“Lady Catherine is particular about everything.”
“Miss Bennet, I think you are rather more than a guest of Mrs Collins.”
Anthony took one step forward. “You are blocking the path.”
Mr Wickham looked down at him. “So I am.”
“You should not block paths,” Anthony said. “It is not polite.”
Wickham’s smile deepened. “I shall endeavour to improve.”
Anthony remained where he was. Nurse placed one hand upon his shoulder, though whether to restrain or reassure him Elizabeth could not tell.
“You have asked your questions,” Elizabeth said. “You have received your answers. You may now allow the children to return.”
“I have received very little resembling an answer.” Mr Wickham’s attention returned to her. “But perhaps I have asked the wrong question.”
His concealed hand shifted slightly behind his coat. Nurse saw it too; her fingers tightened upon Anthony’s shoulder.
Mr Wickham inclined his head towards the deeper path. “Walk with me, Miss Bennet.”
“No.”
The word came out evenly. Elizabeth was aware that her heart was beating rather faster than usual, that Wickham’s hand remained hidden, and that the deeper path led away from the house towards the south wood.
“No?” Wickham repeated mildly.
“The children are cold. Nurse will take them inside. Then you may say whatever you have come to say.”
“That is very considerate of you. But I find I prefer the present arrangement.”
Lewis had both arms around Elizabeth’s leg. Anthony stood with his stick at his side and his eyes fixed on Wickham.
Elizabeth turned slightly towards him. “Anthony. Do you remember what I told you about dragons?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know what to do.”
Anthony turned and ran.
He ran as fast as a boy of four can run, which was considerably faster than his short legs suggested, directly for the upper path Wickham had not yet blocked. He did not look back. His voice carried across the gardens.
“GRANDMAMA!”
Mr Wickham moved at once. His hand came from behind his back, and the pistol in it was no longer concealed.
“Stop.”
Anthony did not stop. Elizabeth stepped into Wickham’s path before he could raise the weapon fully.
“You will not point that at a child.”
For the first time, the pleasantness left his face. “Move.”
“No.”
Nurse caught Lewis around the waist and pulled him away from Elizabeth’s skirts. He began to cry, reaching for her as Nurse carried him towards the shelter of the low wall.
Anthony had reached the upper path. His stick fell behind him, forgotten in the gravel, but his voice carried clearly through the gardens.
“GRANDMAMA! DRAGON!”
Mr Wickham seized Elizabeth’s arm and dragged her against him. The pistol pressed into her ribs through the folds of her pelisse.
“Call him back.”
“I cannot.”
“You will.”
“He is four,” Elizabeth said, though her breath had become difficult. “He has been told to find his grandmother when there is danger. I doubt even you can persuade him that you are not dangerous now.”
His grip tightened. Anthony disappeared beyond the hedge, still shouting.
Wickham watched the empty path, calculating whether he could reach the boy before the alarm was raised. Then he turned towards the house.
“Walk.”
He pulled Elizabeth towards the deeper path leading to the south wood.
Nurse rose with Lewis in her arms. “You will not take her.”
Mr Wickham turned the pistol towards her. Elizabeth stopped resisting.
“Nurse,” she said sharply. “Stay with Lewis.”
Nurse’s face had gone white, but she held her ground.
“Miss Bennet—”
“Stay with him.”
Wickham pressed the pistol back against Elizabeth’s ribs and forced her towards the trees. Lewis was crying openly now, both hands stretched towards Elizabeth. She could not look at him for long.
“You have acquired a tiresome quantity of courage since Hertfordshire,” Wickham said.
“Perhaps I have acquired better reasons for it.”
His mouth tightened. “How affecting.”
From somewhere beyond the hedge came Anthony’s voice again, fainter now but still carrying.
“GRANDMAMA!”
Mr Wickham forced Elizabeth forwards. Behind them, Nurse began speaking softly to Lewis, though her eyes never left the pistol. Ahead, the path narrowed beneath the trees and curved out of sight of the house.
Elizabeth allowed herself to be moved. Anthony had got away. The house would know, and that was what mattered.