Page 3 of I am Jael (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary,” Wickham said with a courtly bow, “it is truly an honor and privilege to see such lovely ladies on a drab and dreary day.”

“The pleasure is ours, Mr. Wickham,” Elizabeth replied, her eyes twinkling. “After two days trapped at home in the rain, we are delighted to enjoy the ambiance of a bookstore.”

“And, I hope, you are also enjoying the pleasure of unexpectedly meeting a friend?”

Elizabeth felt a delightful lurch in her chest. Mr. Wickham’s eyes were glowing, his handsome face full of admiration.

“Indeed,” she agreed with a smile.

“Mr. Wickham, you truly are blessed with such happy manners as may ensure making many friends – whether you are equally capable of retaining them, is less certain,” a feminine voice commented from behind the militiaman.

Elizabeth turned toward the door, startled. A girl a few years younger than Elizabeth herself stood a few feet away. She was tall, blonde, and blue eyed, and dressed in the finest of traveling clothes.

Wickham turned as well, his practiced smile shifting into an expression of open surprise.

“Georgiana!”

“Miss Darcy, if you please, Mr. Wickham,” she replied primly.

Wickham collected himself, smirked, and bobbed his head courteously, “Of course. Miss Darcy, it is a surprise to see you here. I had no idea you had joined your brother here in lovely Hertfordshire.”

“I just arrived, yes,” Georgiana continued, her gaze steady. “Would you be so kind as to introduce me to your companions, Mr. Wickham?”

She turned her attention to the two women. One was very beautiful, the other less so. Both were obviously gentlewomen based on their clothes. They were also not extremely rich, as they were clothed in simpler fabrics than those used for her own attire.

The one in front, the prettier one, was gazing at her in surprise before shooting a startled glance at Wickham.

“Miss Darcy, may I introduce you to Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Miss Mary Bennet? Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, may I introduce you to Miss Georgiana Darcy?”

The women curtsied politely and Miss Elizabeth, clearly the bolder of the two, smiled. She was, Georgiana realized, even more lovely when she smiled. She had very fine eyes, brown with tints of amber and gold shot through.

“Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth said. “It is an honor to meet you. I had not realized you were planning on joining Mr. Darcy at Netherfield.”

“It was a recent decision,” Georgiana said gravely, glancing at Wickham. “I heard that Mr. Wickham had joined the militia and that knowledge spurred my journey here.”

Elizabeth blinked in confusion and looked at Wickham, whose grin was now feral.

“My dear Miss Darcy, I had no idea that you so longed to see me again.”

“On the contrary, Mr. Wickham,” Georgiana began.

“Dear Lord, help me have courage,” she prayed silently.

“On the contrary,” she repeated. “I am here to destroy you.”

There were gasps of shock from both Bennet girls, and Wickham’s face shifted to one of confusion, rage, and insolence.

“I think not, Miss Darcy,” he growled, his voice disdainful, his expression cruel, “else I will destroy you.”

“I care not,” the girl replied, taking a bold step toward the man. She heard John take a step with her, and was comforted by his bulk. “No longer will I be held captive by fears for my reputation. I am Jael.”

Wickham’s angry countenance shifted to confusion, “I hardly think you, even as a Darcy, can send me to jail.”

Georgiana allowed an unladylike huff to escape her lips, “Not jail, Mr. Wickham; Jael, from the book of Judges in the Bible.”

The man’s face continued to be a study in confusion and Georgiana readied her next arrow.

“I am not surprised that you do not recognize her name, Mr. Wickham. For all that you slandered my brother over the matter of the Kympton living, it is not as if you know the Holy Book well. I doubt you have opened its revered pages in the last decade.”

Miss Mary gasped again as Miss Elizabeth’s fine eyes widened in wonder.

Wickham peeked nervously at Elizabeth before speaking in a gentler tone, “Your father did wish for me to have the living, Miss Darcy, regardless of what your brother has told you.”

“Indeed he did,” Georgiana replied agreeably, “since he was unaware of your vicious proclivities. My brother knew better, and offered you a princely sum for you to give up the living, a sum you accepted.”

Wickham glanced at the Bennets again and bit his lip, “Your brother may have told you ...”

“I saw the document!” the girl interrupted angrily.

“Even after Ramsgate, I had difficulty believing the extent of your deception and betrayal. You signed the document yourself. My brother paid you 3000 pounds for the living, Mr. Wickham, less than two years ago. That is a noble sum and it is indicative of your character that apparently it is now gone.”

Elizabeth’s eyes were round now with amazement and Georgiana heard Mary mutter softly, “3000 pounds.”

Georgiana glanced toward the windows of the shop and noted that Mrs. Annesley was in the street now, walking toward the book store.

“I must go,” she stated abruptly. “Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, it was an honor to meet you.”

She turned and caught the eye of the proprietor of the book store, who was watching the entire scene in astonishment.

“If I may, sir,” she cautioned, “I would not extend credit to Mr. Wickham. He is notorious for racking up debts wherever he goes, and after his betrayal of our family a few months ago, my brother is no longer inclined to tidy up after him.”

She shot one last look at Wickham, whose jaw was now hanging open in shock.

“Good day, Mr. Wickham.”

“Why?” he whispered. “Why, Georgiana?”

“Because I am Jael.”