Page 5 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

That evening, they dined early, and after dinner, Georgiana recovered enough to play a favorite sonata on the pianoforte.

Then Elizabeth, importuned by her uncle, sang a favorite ballad of his, The Fair Flower of Northumberland.

At Mrs. Gardiner’s request, she followed with The False Knight Upon the Road.

Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam entered just as Georgiana’s piece concluded and stood unobtrusively at the back to hear both songs.

The rich fullness of Elizabeth’s voice filled the room.

It was not the thin, careful sound of a lady trained to display her accomplishments, but a natural gift, strong and clear, that carried the meaning of the words straight to the heart.

When she ceased, no one spoke at first; the stillness seemed part of the enchantment.

Darcy drew a steadying breath. What a woman she is, he thought, his eyes fixed upon her.

Her figure was light, and her graceful curves were pleasing; her manner was lively, and her voice possessed both power and tenderness; everything about her was formed to charm.

For one disarming instant, he felt she might be the loveliest creature he had ever known.

After a moment, he forced the thought back. As captivating as she might be, the lovely girl was the niece of a man engaged in trade, and his family would never approve such a connection.

He sighed and endeavored to reason with himself. Admire her if you must, but never imagine more. Through her, his children would be forever tainted by trade.

Elizabeth, unaware of his conflict, smiled at Georgiana as the young girl applauded for her friend. Darcy’s chest tightened despite himself. He could not, for all his stern resolve, keep from thinking that her smile alone might one day be his undoing.

She rose and rejoined the family circle. Darcy and his cousin stepped forward. “Mr. Gardiner,” Darcy said, “my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

The three gentlemen bowed. The colonel, who bore a striking likeness to Darcy, greeted the company with easy politeness, then accompanied Darcy to the study with Mr. Gardiner.

“Sir,” Richard said, “thank you for the prompt express and for protecting my young cousin and ward. I don’t mean to be impertinent, sir, but did you serve in the military?”

Mr. Gardiner smiled. “You noticed the limp, Colonel. I served a few months in the Peninsula before I stopped a bullet, and an infected leg sent me home. They thought me done for, but my wife’s father is a physician, and between them, they kept me on this side of the grave.

I married his assistant, and I count myself a fortunate man. ”

“And I,” Richard returned, “served there in 1808, but was recalled some months ago to the War Office. My next duty will be on the Continent, though not in uniform.”

Mr. Gardiner inclined his head, understanding more than was said. The man would serve as an intelligence agent.

Darcy said, “Mr. Gardiner, I intend to hunt down George Wickham, a man who has proved himself a reprobate. His attempt to abduct my sister has crossed a line. Richard and three soldiers will remain in the house I leased. Three others will be posted in an empty house on the other side. If you will permit, I would like to stand watch here with my groom, one of us at the front, and the other at the back. If Wickham comes to retrieve Mrs. Younge’s property or to seek my sister, we shall close the trap and deliver him to the military. He is wanted for desertion.”

“You have my consent,” Mr. Gardiner said at once. “And any assistance I may furnish.”

He reached for a decanter, but Darcy lifted a hand. “Your kindness does you honor, but we must keep a clear head tonight. Might we have coffee and the loan of two of your grooms instead?”

“By all means.” Mr. Gardiner agreed. Mrs. Gardiner provided coffee, and the men reviewed the plan a final time, then they dispersed to their posts.

About midnight, they saw a man skulk along the street, keeping to the shadow of the buildings.

Soon, they noticed that a woman was following behind.

It was Mrs. Younge. She produced a key, and the pair slipped into Darcy’s leased house.

The colonel signaled, and Darcy and his groom crossed from the Gardiners’ and entered by the garden door.

In the passage, Richard stepped from the dark with a brace of pistols leveled. “Stand where you are.”

“Richard,” Wickham said, attempting a smile that faltered at once. “A misunderstanding, I assure you.”

“Spare your breath,” Darcy said, coming up behind him. His groom pinned Wickham’s arms and, in a moment, had him bound hand and foot. Mrs. Younge gave a thin cry and shrank back; one of Gardiner’s servants was called to keep her under watch. Wickham was carried down to a kitchen cellar and secured.

When Darcy and Richard went below with a lamp, Wickham began to implore. “Darcy, for the sake of your father, have mercy.”

“Not this time,” Darcy replied. “You set yourself against my sister. She hid for two nights in the attic rather than fall into your hands. You will spend this night in the cellar, and tomorrow you will be conveyed under guard to London. You’re a deserter, Wickham, and you tried to commit an abduction.

I trust you will remember your treachery against Georgiana every day of the brief span that remains to you. ”

Wickham cursed and then fell into sullen silence.

At dawn, Richard departed in a hired post chaise with Wickham bound inside between two soldiers and Mrs. Younge, who would be taken before a magistrate and then transported to Australia. He rode alongside another trooper, and the little party turned toward London.

Darcy remained. Georgiana led him to the attic that had been her refuge, and he squeezed through as she had done, then moved the barricade to examine her small encampment.

She trembled as her eyes fell upon the place where she had hidden, then she began to gather the remaining fruit, bread, and cheese, while Jenny collected her mistress’s brushes and other personal items. They went below once more.

Georgiana would not consent to sleep in the house.

She wished to turn her back upon Ramsgate altogether.

Darcy, however, persuaded her to return at least long enough to speak of it.

“Invite Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet,” he said.

“Show them your stronghold. Describe to them how you contrived your escape.”

So she did. Together they climbed to the attic, and Georgiana, animated now, described how she had covered the windows, forced them open for air, turned the mattresses, and contrived her barricade.

In the telling, color and animation returned to her cheeks, and the worst edge of the terror began to lift.

That evening, the Darcys dined with the Gardiners.

Darcy found the couple easy to converse with, despite the fact that Gardiner was a tradesman.

He was disconcerted that his gaze returned again and again to Elizabeth, who sat opposite him.

Fortunately, she remained unaware because she was engaged in a playful exchange with his sister.

When they parted for the night, Darcy invited the family to a performance at the theatre in Margate, even though he knew he should not prolong the acquaintance.

The following evening, he made certain that Elizabeth sat between him and his sister during the carriage journey to Margate.

He found her light-hearted teasing very pleasing, and he wished again that she was not so closely related to trade.