Page 126

On Wednesday morning, George Wickham was up earlier than his wont.

He packed his meagre belongings into his saddle bags then descended and made sure that he settled his account in full with the landlord.

He wanted no one to have reason to remember him, and landlords always have an excellent memory about those who do not pay what they owe.

A half hour later he was on his way toward Meryton after casually informing the Landlord that he was going to London and then Leeds.

He rode at a leisurely pace and arrived in the little market town about two hours later.

He was early, so he went to the inn where the recruiters would be and ordered some food, as he had not yet broken his fast.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Since the rumours about the settlement that would be offered to one who entrapped him into marriage had been confirmed as fact, and he was certain of the effect of Lady Elizabeth’s letters to her aunts, for the first time since he had been out in society Fitzwilliam Darcy was able to move about without the fear of being hunted.

It was as liberating a feeling as he had ever felt.

Several single bachelors who used to be hunted as relentlessly as he was had braved the disapproval of being seen talking to a persona non grata and thanked him sincerely for the trend that he had started; bestowing freedom for them to move in society with impunity and not having to worry about an attempted compromise.

As popular as he had become with single men of fortune, he had become much more unpopular with the huntresses and their matchmaking mamas and papas.

At first those whose whole life revolved around marrying well, even if they needed to affect a compromise, rejected the rumours out of hand.

It was not until the father of one woman who was interested in marrying the Earl of Granville, regardless of his thoughts on the matter, saw the settlement that he had to sign.

His daughter publicly ‘fell’ into the Earl’s arms with her dress magically ripped, for which he and his wife had been there to cry ‘compromise’ and demand that the Earl marry his shrew of a daughter.

The Earl had said nary a word, except to hand the grasping father the card to his new solicitors, Steveton and Son.

When the man saw the settlement, and it was exactly as purported by the rumours, he refused to sign.

He was told that he either sign the settlement or a document releasing the Earl with his honour intact, which he did with alacrity and practically ran out of the solicitor’s office to the sounds of the Earl’s rich laughter.

As soon as the truth of the matter was confirmed, all huntresses and their handlers withdrew to lick their wounds, trying to divine new stratagems rather than attempting to be decent women that would attract a man for the right reasons.

Besides his changed attitude and the newfound respect that he afforded his solicitors, Mr. Darcy was exceedingly popular at Steveton and Son for the many new clients that had come to them due to the settlement.

There was so much work that the older Mr. Steveton had added another solicitor and three clerks.

Mr. and Mrs. Killion, the butler and housekeeper at Darcy House, could not fathom the changes in their master.

He had always treated them with respect and been caring of their needs, but he was also stoic, sometimes even taciturn.

Now he seemed to smile more than not, and he looked much happier.

The housekeeper felt that the change in the master was so extraordinary that she wrote about it to her fellow housekeeper at Pemberley, Mrs. Reynolds.

Pemberley’s housekeeper was in regular communication with the mistress, and she had recently heard the tale from Lady Anne about the ‘fearsome’ Lady Elizabeth who took Master William to task, and the resulting emergence of the man that they always hoped that he would become.

Mrs. Reynolds had been Pemberley’s housekeeper since the young master was four, and before that she was under housekeeper for several years.

The relationship between mistress and housekeeper was more of friends than employer and servant.

There was never any impertinence and Mrs. Reynolds knew her place, but the two were remarkably close and Lady Anne knew that she could tell her housekeeper anything and that it would always remain in confidence.

The letter that Cheryl Killion received back assured her that all was well with the master, though it lacked any details of why Mrs. Reynolds knew it was so but informed her that what she was seeing was a positive not a negative.

Darcy was waiting in his study for his uncle and male cousins to join him.

When the butler announced the three Fitzwilliam men, the four repaired to the library.

The butler bowed to the men, exited the library, and shut the doors.

“It seems that you have mitigated a lot of the damage to yourself in society with the abject adoration of many single members of the Ton,” the Earl informed his nephew.

“With the women who used to hunt wealthy bachelors, you are considered the devil himself.” The four men laughed as they sipped their chosen drinks.

“My commission was purchased this morning, so all ties that bound me to the army are now cut,” the newly minted Honourable Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam reported.

“Mother has never been happier,” Andrew stated the truism.

“The same can be said for your aunts and female cousins Richard.” Lord Matlock said in a gruff voice thick with emotion, “I include myself in the number happy that I never have to see you go into battle again.”

“Me too,” Darcy agreed with deeply felt relief and gratitude.

“And I,” Andrew added, “thank God above that you came back to us in one piece after Bucaco. I am sure that Jane is ecstatic that she will not lose you to the army again.”

“She is, very much so. In her letter today she informed me that that reprobate Forster is the commander of the militia that will be arriving in Meryton on the morrow. They will be encamped just outside of town until April, then they will move to the big camp at Brighton.” Richard grinned as he teased about his friend in the same way as was done to him.

“Let us hope that they are all honourable officers,” Lord Hilldale opined, “you know some of these militia officers are barely gentlemen, and some worse.”

“I know that Forster does not stand for that kind. In fact, he makes all new officers sign a pledge of honour and woe to the man that breaks that agreement.” Richard shuddered as he considered the punishment that Forster issued. “He is very skilled with the cat.”

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

George Wickham strutted up to the table where the militia officers were seated. There were two men ahead of him and soon it was his turn. “Welcome Mr….”

“George Wickham, at your service, sir,” Wickham gave the militia fool his most charming smile.

“Welcome, Mr. Wickham. I am Colonel Forster the unit commander, and this is my adjutant, Lieutenant Denny,” the Colonel informed him as he indicated that Wickham should sit in the chair placed in front of the table where they sat.

Wickham was somewhat apprehensive as he knew the Denny name from Lambton.

He could only hope that this Denny did not know of his ‘activities’ in that area.

He relaxed some when the adjutant did not react to his name.

“How may we help you, Mr. Wickham?” The Colonel asked professionally.

“I am here to join your unit, Colonel. I would like to purchase the rank of ensign.” Wickham proffered the ten pounds to Forster.

“We welcome all, Mr. Wickham, but there are some things that I must tell you. If after you still want to join, then, as all gentlemen are, you will be welcome.”

“I am here to join, so please, go-ahead sir.” Wickham nodded once, thinking that the man was just overblowing his self-importance.

“My unit drills regularly. You can canvass any of my officers, so if you expect that your life will be strutting about in regimentals and attending balls and soirées, then this is not the place for you. There will be some society when one is off duty, but most of your time will not be so. I do not look with a kind eye on any man that breaks the code of conduct that each officer is required to sign prior to joining and receiving his commission. Any violations of the code will be met with severe punishment. I expect the highest level of professionalism from my officers.” Forster paused so the man had time to assimilate what he had been told.

Wickham, who was used to lying, manipulating, and charming his way out of any situation, presumed, much like he always did, that the rules did not apply to him.

“There is nothing you have said that discourages me, so I will sign the pledge and happily accept the commission in the Derbyshire Militia.”

The blackguard signed, shook hands with the colonel and his adjutant, and was sent on his way to get fitted for his regimentals.

Forster, who was a particularly good judge of character, did not get a good feeling from his new ensign.

He decided to give him the benefit of the doubt but would have him watched.