Page 21 of Longbourn’s Son (Pride and Prejudice Variation #22)

“Georgiana, I know it is chilly outside, but would you care to join me for a short walk after you eat?” Darcy asked.

Georgiana, who had been gathering food from the buffet, nodded eagerly and quickened her movements.

Ten minutes later, she had eaten a reasonable repast, whereupon the Darcy siblings hurried to collect their outerwear.

Once again, they succeeded in escaping outside before Miss Bingley appeared in the dining room.

As the two siblings walked down the side path, one of the Darcy footmen, Jacob, slipped out behind them and walked a sedate distance behind them.

Darcy took the time to turn and give the man an approving smile.

He was himself a well-built man and likely could protect Georgiana if Wickham tried anything, but Jacob and his twin brother, John, were several inches above six feet and intimidatingly strong.

It was cold, and the mostly bare trees twitched in the breezes, but Georgiana merely shifted closer to the comforting bulk of her brother and pulled her pelisse a little tighter.

“Where would you like to walk, Georgie?”

“To the stables, of course,” his sister replied with a smile, pulling an apple out of her pocket with a gloved hand. “I must continue to give treats to Maple if I expect her to like me, after all.”

Darcy laughed and patted her arm, “I do not believe you have anything to fear, Georgiana. The stable boy tells me that you are by far the mare’s favorite rider, even if Bingley is her owner.”

“Poor Mr. Bingley!”

“I do not believe he minds in the least, my dear; he is delighted that you have a comfortable steed when you wish to ride. Speaking of that, would you care to ride out with me this afternoon? Phoenix needs exercise.”

Georgiana looked up at the sky. While mostly blue, a bank of ominous clouds undulated on the western horizon. “If the rain does not arrive, yes, I would very much enjoy a ride.”

Another minute passed in comfortable silence before Darcy asked abruptly, “Georgiana, do you wish to attend the ball here at Netherfield?”

She looked at him in bewilderment. “Attend? No, of course not! I am not yet out!”

“No, you are not, but if you wish to attend, it might be possible for you to participate in at least a few dances if, for example, you wish to experience being in company. The rules of etiquette concerning such things are different in the country than in London.”

She shook her head rapidly and said, “No, no, I would hate it! I would find it quite terrifying to be circulating with so many people I do not know.”

“Very well,” Darcy agreed in a relieved tone.

“Why did you ask?” Georgiana asked.

“You seemed strangely enthused at the prospect of a ball being held at Netherfield, so I thought perhaps you wished for an opportunity to dance.”

“Oh!” his sister exclaimed, and then laughed aloud. “That was for your sake, dear brother, not mine.”

“Mine?”

“Yes. Now that you are not to marry Cousin Anne, you need to learn to mix more comfortably with other ladies, and how better to do that than at a ball here at Netherfield, especially when you already know the Misses Bennet and Misses Lucas.”

Darcy stopped and looked down at her in surprise. “How did you know that I am no longer considering marrying Anne?”

Georgiana’s cheeks, already pink from the cold, reddened a bit more. “My bedroom is next to your sitting room, Fitzwilliam, and the walls are quite thin. I overheard that part of your conversation with Richard; you were speaking loudly.”

Darcy compressed his lips, his mind flying back to his conversation with their mutual cousin. Had he said anything unfit for his young sister’s ears?

“You need not worry, Brother. I heard nothing in the least distressing; I am happy you do not plan to marry either Miss Bingley or Cousin Anne.”

Darcy drew her gently to his side, and they began walking toward the stables again. “Do you not like Cousin Anne?”

Georgiana considered this and finally said, “In truth, I do not feel I know her at all. She is so very quiet and Lady Catherine is so very...”

She trailed away uncomfortably, and Darcy finished for her, “So very loud. Yes, she is.”

The twosome continued on in comfortable silence as Darcy considered his sister’s words.

On the one hand, Meryton society was no place for a Darcy to find a wife; on the other hand, he knew himself to be awkward in company, and the people of this little town were welcoming souls.

Perhaps Georgiana was right; he could practice small talk and the like, the better to prepare for the balls and engagements of next year’s London Season.

Now that he had decided not to marry Anne, it was time for him to find a proper wife to be the mistress of Pemberley.

/

Colonel Forster, commander of the militia regiment currently ensconced in Meryton, leaned back in his chair and regarded his visitors cynically.

Mr. Bennet of Longbourn was master of the largest estate in this part of Hertfordshire, but he was a notoriously lazy man.

Sir William Lucas, while usually pleasant enough, was a former tradesman with rather too high an opinion of himself.

“Gentlemen,” he said in a tone which was patronizing even to his own ears, “I truly do not understand your concern. It is the way of young gentlemen to gamble, and the way of soldiers to admire pretty women. I hear nothing worrisome in your reports about Mr. Williamson and Mr. Wickham.”

Sir William’s already rubicund countenance grew even redder with outrage. “Did you not hear us, Colonel Forster? They are deliberately plotting to enmesh the local young men in their gambling schemes in order to take their money!”

“Furthermore, they are cheating in order to win,” Mr. Bennet added, his own nostrils quivering with suppressed outrage.

“That is a most serious offense, Mr. Bennet,” the colonel said haughtily. “Do you have any proof of these allegations?”

Bennet narrowed his eyes and said smoothly, “They were overheard admitting that they are working together to win at cards, and Williamson plans to use his horse to win races by initially pretending the beast is slower than he is.”

“Who overheard them?” Forster demanded.

“The individual in question does not wish to be named,” Bennet returned coldly.

Forster interlaced his fingers together and laid them carefully on his desk. “Gentlemen, I fear I can do nothing for you. You have accused two of my men of cheating but have provided no proof. If you are concerned about your sons gambling, I suggest that you look to your own houses.”

“And what of Wickham’s pursuit of the local girls?” Sir William demanded angrily. “Are you going to permit that miscreant to ruin honest young women?”

“If they are honest, they will not go to bed with him,” Forster said condescendingly.

“Wickham spoke crudely of targeting one of my daughters, Forster,” Bennet said coldly.

Forster waved a languid hand. “I fear that is the result of eavesdropping on conversations, Mr. Bennet. The listener will not always hear words to his or her own liking. I say again, look to your own house. If you are concerned about your daughter, speak to her, not me.”

Sir William looked on the verge of an apoplexy but Bennet, though his face was taut with anger, kept his temper.

“Very well, Colonel Forster. We thought it appropriate to come to you first, as you are the commanding officer of these miscreants. As you have failed to take the matter seriously, we will take our own steps to deal with these ruffians. Thank you for your time.”

He bowed stiffly, and Sir William, with a glower, followed Bennet out the door.

Colonel Forster watched them with a trickle of unease running down his spine.

He was a leader of men and considered himself a good judge of character.

Within days of meeting Mr. Bennet, he had pegged the man as an idle landlord and father, not inclined to bestir himself out of his library unless his house was burning down around him.

There had been, however, a martial light in those usually cynical eyes today.

It was just possible that Bennet would cause trouble.

He called for his secretary, who appeared in the doorway a moment later. “Holmes, summon Captain Williamson and Lieutenant Wickham here.”

“Yes, sir.”

/

“That condescending, self-satisfied, arrogant man!” Sir William fumed as he and Mr. Bennet walked rapidly away from the militia’s temporary headquarters.

Bennet also felt extremely annoyed, but he forced himself to speak calmly.

“We will have to deal with this in our own way, Sir William. You are by far the most popular man in the district; would you be willing to speak to the local merchants about Wickham’s predilection for running up debts and leaving without paying? ”

Sir William’s eyebrows hiked high. “Is he prone to that?”

“So I understand from Elizabeth’s discussion with Mr. Darcy of Pemberley.

Wickham has quite a reputation for causing trouble wherever he goes.

I suggest we both talk to our womenfolk within hearing of the servants about how Wickham is targeting the female servants and tenants’ daughters.

The information will spread quickly enough that way. ”

The other man nodded. “That is true enough. It is remarkable how quickly news proliferates in Meryton.”

“I will also call at Netherfield and speak to Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley on this matter.”

“That is sensible, as Mr. Darcy knows more of Wickham, at least, than we do. Thank you, Mr. Bennet.”

“It is my pleasure,” Bennet replied as a smile tugged at his lips. He hoped he would be permitted at least a glimpse of Mrs. Hurst during his visit.

/

“Perhaps we should eat at The Golden Daffodil,” Wickham muttered, looking around suspiciously from his usual seat in the corner of the Pig in the Poke.

Williamson looked puzzled, “Why? The food and drink are better here.”

“Has it not occurred to you that someone must have overheard us while we were talking of our plans here? How else did Mr. Bennet and Sir William learn that we are working together to win at cards, and that we plan to use your horse to win races?”

Williamson gazed sadly on his colleague. Wickham was reasonably intelligent, thoroughly charming, and very handsome, but he was not particularly quick with his wits. “It was not here that we were overheard.”

Wickham scowled. “Where, then?”

“It must be at the stables.”

“The stables? Why do you think so?”

“Colonel Forster said that Mr. Bennet was indignant over our discussion of his daughters. We have only conversed about the Bennet ladies when we were inspecting Eclipse, do you not remember?”

Wickham squinted as he thought back and said. “You are entirely correct! But no one else was there!”

“There is a window in the empty stall next to Eclipse’s, and it was partially open. I suspect someone was hiding out there eavesdropping.”

“Who?” Wickham snarled angrily, just as a servant girl bustled over and placed food and drink before the two men.

Williamson waited until the girl was out of earshot before saying, “The blacksmith has a number of servants who could have overheard our words, but most likely it was the stable boy, Will. He came in rather ostentatiously at the end of our discourse; he might well have listened to our discussion, and then rushed over to the main door to ward off any suspicions that he was listening to our conversation.”

Wickham stared at the older man and his face flushed. “That little snake,” he hissed, slapping his open hand on the table. “He should be horsewhipped!”

“Now, now, Wickham,” Williamson said sternly, “calm yourself. We do not know it was the stable boy, and even if it was, we cannot move against him.”

“Why not? He is a mere servant!”

“His master would not appreciate losing the man’s abilities from being pummeled,” the other man pointed out.

“No, there is no reason to despair, my friend. Colonel Forster is on our side, and if we continue to behave in a reasonable manner, all will be well. I daresay we will need to be a little more cautious in fleecing the young fools, but the regiment is here through the spring; there is plenty of time.”

Wickham grimaced in resentment but remained silent.

It was all very well for Williamson to preach patience – the older man had plenty of money.

Wickham, who was openly pursuing two local girls in the hopes of finding his way into their beds, was in need of coin to buy trinkets and ribbons and the like, and he was in debt to a number of the local merchants.

He needed money sooner rather than later.