Then Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to Elizabeth. “I will own that I am curious about one thing. Wickham came to Meryton in November, and to the best of my knowledge, Darcy was still in residence at Netherfield. Did Darcy know he was here?”
“He did,” said Elizabeth, taking control of her frayed nerves. “We met Mr. Wickham on the street in Meryton a few days before the ball at Netherfield. Mr. Darcy saw Mr. Wickham, then turned his horse and rode away. Even then, I could see there was something between them, though it appears I did not have the wit to see who the instigator was.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s expression softened. “I do not blame you, Miss Elizabeth, for Wickham is a practiced deceiver. Did Darcy say nothing about him? Did he say nothing to any of you?”
“At the ball,” ventured Elizabeth, feeling diffident, “Mr. Darcy suggested that Mr. Wickham made friends but could not keep them.”
Mr. Bennet’s snort of disdain spoke eloquently to his feelings on the subject. “If he thoughtthatwas sufficient, I must revise my opinion of his capabilities.”
“With that, I cannot disagree,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam.
That he was not pleased with Mr. Darcy was clear. What he meant to do about it was less so, though Elizabeth did not suppose he would remain silent.
“The question is,” said Mr. Bennet, “why he did not see fit to extend a warning. If this Wickham has been a millstone around your cousin’s neck, I understand why he would not wish to deal with him. But at least, he could have provided a warning that would put us on our guard. I have five daughters I must protect; my interest in this matter is greater than anyone else in the neighborhood.”
Mrs. Bennet gasped as she understood the import of her husband’s words, but Colonel Fitzwilliam did not gainsay him. “Please understand that I do not defend my cousin, but Darcy ignores Wickham’s existence when he can. I have advised him for years to take action against him—perhaps I may induce him to do so now.”
“Even despite his betrayal of Mr. Darcy’s family?” asked Jane.
Though Elizabeth did not know to what Jane referred, she understood at once that Colonel Fitzwilliam must have told hersomething about the specifics of Mr. Wickham’s offenses against Mr. Darcy’s family. Curious though she was, Elizabeth knew it was not proper to inquire, and Mr. Bennet’s glare told his youngest daughters that they had best not pry either.
“Even that,” agreed Colonel Fitzwilliam. “I can say nothing of my cousin’s failure to act in this instance but be certain that I mean to discover it.”
The family separated soon after, the younger sisters to their whispering friends, Mrs. Bennet to the other clucking hens of the neighborhood, while Mr. Bennet was soon in earnest conversation with Sir William. Elizabeth, feeling lightheaded, kept to Jane’s company for the rest of the evening, and the colonel, sensing her discomposure, did not begrudge her sister’s attention.
Chapter V
Only the greatest need would induce Darcy to appear at Bingley’s house unannounced, but the cloying attentions of the man’s sister were the furthest from Darcy’s mind when he arrived the day after Christmas. Though he was uncertain if the current situation fit the description, he knew Fitzwilliam was not one to wait for a response, and anything regarding George Wickham was an emergency.
“Mr. Darcy!” The smooth, eager tones of Miss Bingley came the moment Darcy stepped into Bingley’s townhouse. “How good of you to visit us today.” The woman gave him a conspiratorial smile. “Is dear Georgiana not with you?”
“I apologize, Miss Bingley,” replied Darcy, not willing to trade words with her, “but Georgiana is occupied with Mrs. Annesley. Today I have come for a brief conference with your brother, but then I must depart at once.”
Miss Bingley was disappointed as he knew she would be, but Darcy turned to Bingley, who was watching all with bemusement, and his friend rose at once. “Certainly, Darcy. Let us go to my study.”
With a few short words and a perfunctory bow, Darcy excused himself from the ladies’ presence, noting with some distraction thatHurst was watching it all with his usual amused indifference. A few moments later, Bingley opened the door to his study and led Darcy in, closing it behind them. Then he turned a speculative eye on Darcy and spoke.
“Perhaps you should use this device more in the future, Darcy,” said Bingley, hilarity coloring his voice. “I have not seen you dispense with my sister’s company with such alacrity in many a month.”
Darcy refused to rise to the bait. “I apologize for coming in this state, Bingley, but there is a matter of which I must speak with you, and I have little time for niceties.”
“By all means,” said Bingley, now appearing curious. “How can I help?”
“I need your permission to join my cousin Fitzwilliam at Netherfield for a few days.”
Whatever Bingley had expected, it was not a request for the use of his leased estate. “That is most curious, Darcy, for I had thought your return to Hertfordshire was even less likely than my own.”
“The truth is I have no desire to return to Hertfordshire,” confessed Darcy, “but Fitzwilliam has summoned me there. George Wickham is making a nuisance of himself—I received a letter from Fitzwilliam this morning; he all but ordered me to deal with him.”
A frown settled over Bingley’s genial face. “Wickham, you say. As I recall, he is that man connected to your estate, is he not?”
“Yes, he is,” confirmed Darcy. “Wickham is a most distasteful subject that I do not like to discuss if I can avoid it. Suffice it to say that he is a scoundrel and a libertine, a man who is not to be trusted.”
Bingley considered this. “Did he not arrive in Meryton before we departed?”
“Not long after Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth returned to Longbourn,” agreed Darcy. “There is now some trouble, and Fitzwilliam has convinced me to put a permanent stop to Wickham’s ability to wreak havoc.”
“Of course, you are welcome to stay there as long as you need,” said Bingley with a nod. “Fitzwilliam is already there, so I cannot suppose the staff will struggle to manage one more guest.” Bingley grinned. “To own the truth, as I am not to be there, Fitzwilliam’s presence is a boon, for he has kept an eye on the place, though I suppose there is not much to do in winter.”
