Page 38 of I am Jael (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Wickham was pleased to have no obligations today, except that is, to further his own goals.

It took ambition and commitment to entice young women, especially those with a large dowry.

Despite feeling tired and untoward after a late night of gambling and drink, George pushed himself onward, even on this rainy day.

He dressed himself in his uniform, carefully arranging his clothing and hair to accentuate his impressive features.

Beguiling young ladies was hard work, but inevitably, it would pay off in time.

As was his habit, he made his way to the center of Meryton, which held shops popular with the fair sex.

He had identified a few potential targets and would attempt to meet them, apparently by chance, in their favorite shops.

Of course, wealthy women were not always in town; in those days, he would practice his charms on those he was not particularly interested in, at least for anything of lasting connection.

Garnering popularity amongst all of the women in Meryton promoted his stock to those few he sought, so it was still valuable.

He was also desirous of more intimate, if short term, relationships with the daughters of shopkeepers and tenants, and thus the possibilities from putting himself on parade held some excitement on that score.

Luck was with him today; in spite of the early hour and the rather dreary skies, two of the Bennet girls were entering a book shop just ahead.

Miss Mary, the third Bennet daughter, was a plain girl with an annoying penchant for reading sermons.

Miss Elizabeth, however, was a lovely companion; how could he find out the size of her dowry without being too obvious?

He followed them into the book shop, waited for them to notice him, and stepped forward with a courtly bow.

“Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary,” Wickham said, “it is truly an honor and privilege to see such lovely ladies on a drab 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 ambience of a bookstore.”

Wickham bent his most winsome smile on the woman, displaying his white teeth in all their glory, “And, I hope, you are also enjoying the pleasure of unexpectedly meeting a friend?”

“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.

Wickham spun around, his practiced smile shifting into an expression of open surprise.

“Georgiana!”

It was indeed Miss Georgiana Darcy of Pemberley, dressed in traveling clothes, with a tall and imposing servant at her back.

“Miss Darcy, if you please, Mr. Wickham,” the girl 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,” Miss Darcy continued, her gaze steady. “Would you be so kind as to introduce me to your companions, Mr. Wickham?”

Wickham blinked at this. Georgiana Darcy had always been a shy girl, not one to ask for introductions of strangers.

Indeed, part of the reason he had nearly been successful at Ramsgate was that the girl did not easily make friends, but she had proven most loyal to those friends she had.

When Georgiana was but a child, and Wickham a young man, he had spent considerable time playing with the little girl, planning for the future when the goodwill of Miss Darcy would prove useful.

He needed to find out why Georgiana was here and how long she would be staying. She was even more gentle and pliant than her brother, and her presence opened up new possible vistas in his plan to gain wealth and, preferably, take revenge on Darcy.

“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 smiled.

She was, Wickham thought, even more lovely when she smiled.

She had very fine eyes, brown with tints of amber and gold shot through.

It was really a pity that she was a gentleman’s daughter and likely not amenable to open seduction.

She would be a most pleasing companion in bed, but he would be pressured to marry her and he would not do so unless he knew her dowry was appropriately large.

“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,” Miss Darcy 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.”

Wealth and, yes, revenge were indeed in his grasp, and he felt his breath quicken with excitement.

Somehow, Georgiana had learned of his presence and naturally she had rushed to him.

Young girls were so easy to manipulate that it hardly seemed sporting.

Perhaps he would yet elope with Georgiana.

Both she and her dowry were sufficiently handsome.

On the other hand, it would be even more satisfying if he ruined her, a more fitting revenge on Darcy. He could ...

“On the contrary, Mr. Wickham,” the blonde woman said with an imperious lift of her chin. “On the contrary, I am here to destroy you.”

His thoughts of revenge and conquest were replaced by shocked disbelief.

There were gasps of amazement from both Bennet girls, and Wickham’s face shifted to one of anger and insolence.

She would not dare challenge him. He knew she was weak willed, and he also held the knowledge of her planned elopement, which he could let slip any time he wanted.

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

“I care not,” the girl replied, taking a bold step toward him. Behind her, the imposing footman took a step with her. “No longer will I be held captive by fears for my reputation. I am Jael.”

That was a remarkably odd thing for her to say. She planned to send him to jail? She was clearly rattled and not making sense. Wickham’s angry countenance shifted to condescension, “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.”

Did she just mention the Bible? George had studied as little as possible at Cambridge and certainly had no intention of memorizing Scriptures. He much preferred to spend his time enjoying the finer things of life.

Miss Darcy’s chin lifted imperiously, “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 even as Miss Elizabeth’s fine eyes widened in wonder.

Wickham shot them an unnerved glance, aware that the situation was getting out of hand.

Sweet, little Georgiana was acting in a very unladylike manner and was starting to cause him embarrassment.

He understood the power of rumors and realized he would have to discredit Georgiana before his reputation suffered locally.

Wickham plastered a gentle expression on his face as he addressed the girl, “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.”

Miss Elizabeth’s eyes were round now with wonder and Wickham heard Miss Mary mutter softly, “3000 pounds.”

Miss Darcy glanced toward the windows of the shop and turned back abruptly, “I must go. 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 called, “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 glare at Wickham, whose jaw was now hanging open in shock.

“Good day, Mr. Wickham.”

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

“Because I am Jael,” she snapped, and turned on her heel and marched out of the store with her tall guardian behind her.

George closed his mouth and gathered himself. This interaction with Miss Darcy had gone very poorly indeed, and it was time to retreat and regroup. He turned toward the Bennet ladies.

“Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary, I must apologize for Miss Darcy’s behavior just now. Like her brother, she is an arrogant woman and she disdains me because I have always refused to submit meekly to the Darcys’ haughty conceit.”

He did not catch the response the Bennet sisters gave as his mind was whirling. With a final bow toward the sisters, he excused himself quickly and returned to his lodgings, cursing softly as he went.

That was quite possibly the most vile attack by a woman he had ever experienced. Georgiana’s assault was cruel, demeaning, and unwarranted, and she had the gall to quote from the Bible to justify such a reprehensible condemnation of his character!

Wickham sighed softly to himself. If he had been “Jaeled”, whatever that was, then he had best look up the text to see what foolishness has taken hold of Georgiana. There must be some way to turn Miss Darcy’s presence to his advantage.