Page 40 of I am Jael (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

She took a deep breath, “There is that little window seat near the drapery on the north end. I would take a book and start to read, and would often fall asleep. Six times I woke to two maids cleaning the room. I was concealed by the draperies so they did not know I was there.”

“You spied on them?” Fitzwilliam demanded incredulously.

She turned now and shook her head, “No, I did not spy on them, or at least not intentionally. Yes, perhaps I should have spoken up but it was awkward and truly I enjoyed the first five times. They spoke of their work, of their families, of the Darcy family, of Pemberley. They are proud of Pemberley, Fitzwilliam, and proud of working for the Darcy family. It made me feel good inside. I made such a dreadful mistake at Ramsgate, but the Darcy name lives on and I am a Darcy. I was proud.”

She looked down at the floor, noting the rather garish orange and yellow hues of the rug placed there, “The last time, Mrs. Reynolds came as well. She had a new maid to train, and she wished to ensure that the job was done correctly, but it was apparent she also wished to privately warn the girl. She closed the door and told the new girl, Ruth, that she must come to her if she was ever uncomfortable about anyone working on the estate. Mrs. Reynolds explained what happened to Jenny – that Wickham had singled her out and she had resisted his charms. That Jenny had told Mrs. Reynolds that he was making her uncomfortable. That he crept into the still room ...”

“Stop, Georgiana,” her brother ordered, though softly. “Stop. My darling, surely ... surely you ... could you have been dreaming? Mrs. Reynolds would have told me!”

“Why would she, Fitzwilliam?” the young woman demanded.

“When have the Darcys ever done anything to stop the depredations of George Wickham? She probably assumed you knew when Jenny fell with child. The new maid asked about whether this was customary at Pemberley and Mrs. Reynolds said no, it was not, but that Wickham was the old master’s godson and his favorite, and nothing would ever be done to stop him.

All that could be done was to avoid him, and poor Jenny was not able to do so.

She did assure Ruth that Wickham was long gone, but she made a point of warning new maids in case another foul fiend appeared on the horizon.

She said it broke her heart that she had failed Jenny so. She is her own niece, you know.”

Darcy’s teeth were clenched. That dear Mrs. Reynolds felt partially responsible for Wickham’s horrid actions was terrible enough. That his loyal housekeeper thought Darcy would do nothing was agonizing.

“If I had known, I would have done something, Georgie. I promise you.”

His sister gazed into his eyes, her expression making her look older, “What would you have done, Fitzwilliam?”

He blinked, his brain moving sluggishly. What would he have done if he had known his boyhood playmate, his father’s godson, had perpetrated such a dreadful deed on one of the servants of Pemberley?

“I would have,” he began slowly, then more confidently, “I am not certain, my dear. But I would have had him sent away, perhaps to Van Diemen’s Land, or the New World. I would have had him transported where he could never harm anyone again.”

“And are there vulnerable women in the former Colonies, Brother? In Van Diemen’s Land?” Georgiana asked quietly.

Darcy stared at her in bemusement, “I suppose, Georgie, but ...”

“But that is not enough, then, Fitzwilliam! George Wickham is an evil, dissolute man. It is not enough to push him off somewhere, to allow him to wage his war against God and man elsewhere. The Darcys made him what he is, and the Darcys are responsible for ending his vicious ways!”

Darcy was tall, handsome, strong and confident. But as he looked into the eyes of his younger sister, he suddenly felt meek, and very much wanting.

“My darling, it is not your problem. It is mine.”

“No, it is mine as well. I would prefer to leave it in the hands of my male relatives but when men refuse to do their duty, sometimes women must step forward. I am Jael.”

This whole conversation had grown increasingly surreal, but now Darcy truly wondered if he was asleep and dreaming.

“Jael?”

“From Judges, in the Holy Book.”

He was very well read, and his memory a good one.

“The woman who drove a stake through the head of Sisera?” he demanded in alarm.

“Yes! She was so brave, Fitzwilliam. She is my inspiration. She destroyed Sisera, and I will destroy George Wickham.”

Darcy stared at Georgiana in shock. His sister looked entirely too enthusiastic.

“Georgie, I do hope that you have no intention of driving a stake through Wickham’s head.”

The girl’s eyes widened before she released a nervous giggle, “No, of course not. No. I intend to stop him if I can.”

“Stop him from what?”

“From attacking servants and deceiving gentlewomen, Brother,” Georgiana stated, “I heard him, and saw him, in that book store, William. I heard his honeyed words and the Miss Bennets’ responses ...”

“Miss Bennets?”

“Yes, two young women, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary Bennet. They were standing in the book store, and I could just hear that clawing charm in his voice. He is very handsome, Fitzwilliam, and his manners are beautiful. When I stepped forward, I saw that light in his eyes that he used to turn on me. I had to warn them. And I did.”

“My dear,” Darcy breathed out, aware that his heart was beating quickly. Elizabeth Bennet had been there when Georgiana confronted his childhood friend? He did not entirely know what Georgie had said, but …

“Georgiana, your reputation,” he began.

“Is not as important as the life and livelihood of those below us, Brother!”

She looked so fierce as she said these words. So strong.

“We owe it to the lower classes, do we not? Wickham has the air and manners of a gentleman, and the morals of a wretch. If my reputation suffers, it suffers. I will not be violated, nor will I lose all hope for a good marriage, like poor Jenny did.”

Darcy gazed at her astonishment even as the bell sounded outside for tea.

/

Darcy stared with grim satisfaction as Colonel Fitzwilliam coughed hard, expelling stray droplets of brandy.

“Georgie did what?!” Richard demanded once he had recovered from his fit.

Darcy told him. It was a relief to lay out his conversation with Georgiana, to share the burden of anxiety over the future of his sweet, suddenly fiery sister.

The Colonel listened gravely to his cousin’s exposition, his face shifting from the cheerful aristocrat to the military man. When Darcy had finished, silence reigned for a minute as Richard considered his words.

“Jael?” he finally asked in a puzzled tone.

“She appears in the fourth chapter of the book of Judges,” Darcy explained. “Her method of dealing with an evil man was to put him to bed and drive a stake through his head when he had fallen asleep.”

“I see,” Richard murmured, then lifted his head to look directly into his cousin’s eyes, “I am proud of Georgie. She did a very brave thing.”

Darcy jerked in surprise at these words, “Proud of her? She put herself in danger, Richard! Wickham is obviously a more violent man than I knew, and she confronted him openly and publicly! Even if he does not attempt to harm her physically, her reputation will be in ruins if Wickham shares the details of what happened at Ramsgate!”

The Colonel frowned at these words, “As for her physical safety, we will ensure that she is guarded at all times, Darcy. Those two footmen of yours should be with her when she is outside, and we can warn Bingley to be careful of security in the house. Not that I expect Wickham will try anything. Frankly, he is a coward.”

“He apparently attacked Jenny Reynolds,” Darcy pointed out.

Richard sighed, “A chicken-hearted attack, Darcy. Wickham no doubt found it all too easy to overpower your maid, but he would not dare confront a strong man.”

“I am horrified at his actions. I had no idea that he attacked the girl, and am grieved that Mrs. Reynolds did not approach me.”

The Colonel shrugged, “Georgiana said this happened eight years ago? Your father was ailing at the time and you were a young man struggling to learn how to administer the estate on rather short notice, even as you worried about your father. And Georgie is right – you would not have really done anything about Wickham, I expect. At that time, he was no doubt still seeing your father on a regular basis and you would not have deprived Uncle Darcy of that pleasure.”

Fitzwilliam Darcy opened his mouth to protest, then closed it.

“He was my father’s godson, and his favorite,” he said after a moment.

“Your father had no idea of the man that George Wickham was,” the Colonel replied sternly.

“True.”

The two cousins stood silent for a few brooding minutes before Darcy turned to gaze directly into his cousin’s eyes, “Regardless of my failings where Wickham is concerned, and I acknowledge I have failed, I want you to take Georgiana back to London tomorrow. She’ll be safer there.”

Richard responded promptly, “No, I am staying here. If you want to take her back, you may, but I would not advise it.”

“Why not?”

“You need to think like a military man in this case, Darcy. Georgiana confronted Wickham in a bookstore in Meryton. We do not know exactly what she said, but she revealed at least some of his lies about the Darcy family. If she scurries away from Hertfordshire quickly, anything that Wickham tells about her will seem more valid, as if she is afraid of him or ashamed of his words. No, the tactical high ground is for her to stay here, along with both you and me. We should enjoy our time in the country and befriend the neighbors. If Wickham spreads gossip about her, many will believe he is merely trying to obfuscate his own deception.”

“The people here are simple folks, Richard,” Darcy stated. “They are more likely to believe Wickham, I fear. He is, as Georgie said, quite charming.”

“By which I assume you have managed to alienate the locals,” the Colonel replied with an irritated sigh. “That is another reason for me to stay. I am not as endearing as Wickham, but everyone agrees I am an agreeable soul, unlike the stern and distant Mr. Darcy of Pemberley.”

Darcy sighed, “I am weary, Richard, and not inclined to debate with you anymore. I am going to bed now. We will speak of this in the morning.”

“I look forward to it. With Georgiana as our inspiration, perhaps we can finally rid the world of the excrescence that is George Wickham.”