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

“Colonel Forster is a fool, Mr. Bennet,” Colonel Fitzwilliam told the master of Longbourn. “He will find himself in trouble soon enough; Wickham is a vile troublemaker, and with a colleague in the form of this Captain Williamson, they will cause significant trouble if not stopped.”

Darcy, who was pacing up and down Bingley’s office, only managed a disgusted mutter of agreement. Wickham! When would he ever be free of the man’s machinations?

“To be fair,” Bingley said hesitantly, “the colonel is correct that many young men gamble, especially gentlemen’s sons who attended Harrow or Eton. Of course I realize that there is danger due to Wickham’s proclivities, but no doubt to Forster it seems like a great fuss about nothing.”

Fitzwilliam shook his head and said, “No commander of a militia regiment should so casually dismiss the concerns of a major land owner in the town in which his regiment dwells. On that account alone, he is an idiot. However, you are correct in that he, like so many others, has doubtless been taken in by Wickham’s handsome features, soft speech, and external charm. ”

“I presume you know nothing of this Williamson?” Mr. Bennet asked from his seat near the fire.

Everyone looked at Darcy, who shook his head. “I have never heard his name before, but Wickham seems to attract fellow malefactors like honey attracts ants.”

“Do you wish for me to speak to Colonel Forster?” Fitzwilliam asked. “As an officer in the Regulars, I might be able to break through his thick head, especially since I have personal experience with Wickham.”

“No, thank you,” Mr. Bennet said. “We are taking our own steps to block the plans of these two men by warning both the local merchants and families with daughters. Now, Mr. Darcy, you know Wickham better than anyone else here, I presume. Do you think that Wickham might become sufficiently desperate to attempt to compromise a young lady for her fortune? I presume that Miss Bingley will be a wealthy bride.”

Charles Bingley stared at the man incredulously.

The very thought of Caroline being compromised was an odd one; she was so strong willed and arrogant in her ways, and he had been haunted by thoughts she might attempt to compromise a man – namely Darcy.

It seemed impossible that a man would compromise her .

However, she was not strong physically, and perhaps, if Wickham was sufficiently desperate, she might find herself in dire straits.

He often found his younger sister annoying, but he would be heartbroken if she was forced into marriage with a rogue like Wickham.

Was his sister Louisa also in danger? Her son was heir to an estate, though the boy’s grandfather was in robust health.

No, Wickham would be a fool to attempt to compromise a widow with uncertain prospects.

Furthermore, since Louisa was still in half mourning, she was rarely in company away from Netherfield.

“I will warn Caroline,” he said slowly, “though I suspect Miss Darcy is in even more danger.”

“Georgiana is already aware of Wickham’s presence in the area,” Darcy asserted, “and my footmen have been watching her carefully when she is out of the house. Furthermore, we have servants at every door, for safety.”

“My own daughters will not bring much money into marriage,” Mr. Bennet said, “but given Wickham’s despicable words, I am taking great care that they are safe.

Elizabeth is rather annoyed about it; she is a vigorous young woman who loves her solitary walks, but for now, she will always be accompanied when out of doors. ”

“That is wise,” Darcy agreed. “As far as I know, Wickham has used his silver tongue and good looks to trick people in the past, but I would not put him past violence if he found himself in great difficulty.”

Mr. Bennet stood up and bowed to the other men. “Thank you for allowing me to share our concerns in this matter and for your support.”

“It is our honor. The sooner Wickham is dealt with the better,” Fitzwilliam asserted. He looked at Darcy with raised eyebrows, and Darcy shook his head slightly; they needed to talk about the debt receipts from Lambton, but privately.

“Shall we join the ladies in the drawing room?” Bingley asked eagerly. He knew that Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Mary had called with their father, and he wished to bask in the bright light of the eldest Miss Bennet’s smiles.

“That sounds delightful,” Mr. Bennet continued just as eagerly. Mrs. Hurst was, he hoped, available for visiting, though if she was caring for Christopher, he could not fault her for it.

“Go ahead, please,” Darcy said. “I would like to speak to my cousin a little more on this matter.”

The two other men departed enthusiastically in search of their preferred female company, and Fitzwilliam shut the door and turned back to his cousin. “Do you think that we should use the debt receipts to cast Wickham into debtors’ prison now, before anything else happens?”

Darcy’s forehead creased with concern and he asked, “What do you think?”

“Perhaps? I worry that given Forster’s championship of Wickham, he might take heed if Wickham begins speaking of Georgiana’s near disaster at Ramsgate.”

“He might,” Darcy agreed, and openly shuddered.

Georgie had come so far in the last weeks; if word got out of the planned elopement, if she was scorned and derided by their acquaintances and lectured by Lady Catherine de Bourgh, she would be devastated.

“I think we ought to wait. Mr. Bennet has shown surprising fervor in this matter. He is obviously angry at and disgusted with Wickham.”

“It seems he is very fond of Miss Elizabeth. Yes, I agree, Darcy. We will keep a close eye on the situation, but Sir William and Mr. Bennet seem to have the matter well in hand thus far.”

/

Elizabeth, who was speaking cheerfully with Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley, looked up as the door opened and Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam entered the room.

The two men bowed a little to their companions and the colonel, after collecting tea from a simpering Miss Bingley, walked over to join Mr. Bennet, Miss Bennet, Miss Mary, Mrs. Hurst, and Mr. Bingley.

Darcy also accepted tea with a word of thanks and then, to Miss Bingley’s annoyance, walked over to join his sister.

Elizabeth noted the happiness in her young friend’s eyes and rejoiced.

For all that Darcy did not have a particularly warm personality, it was obvious that his sister adored him.

That was, she thought, an excellent indicator of the true character of the man.

Many an older brother would pay little heed to a much younger sister.

“Good day, Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said with a slight smile, seating himself across from both young women.

He had decided that Georgiana was quite right; he was awkward in company, and it would behoove him to improve his communicative powers.

Miss Elizabeth could be trusted to keep up her own end of any conversation between them.

Indeed, the young lady was quite capable of dancing circles around him with her clever speech.

“Good day, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth returned with her own smile. “Your sister was just telling me about your visit to the Lakes two years ago. The area sounds truly delightful!”

Darcy lit up with enthusiasm. “I believe you would relish the mountains and lakes and streams more than most, Miss Elizabeth, as I know you are a vigorous walker.”

“Miss Darcy tells me that the mountains in the region are remarkable in their height?”

“They are the highest in England, I believe, though nothing to the Alps and Pyrenees of Europe.”

“I fear, Mr. Darcy, that until the Corsican tyrant is brought to heel, I will not have the opportunity to climb the Pyrenees,” Miss Elizabeth replied with a twinkle in her eye.

/

“Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Mr. Bennet said heartily as Richard approached the group by the fire, “I am not certain if you have met all my daughters. Jane, Mary, Colonel Fitzwilliam of the Regulars. Colonel, my eldest daughter, Miss Bennet, and my third daughter, Miss Mary.”

Richard Fitzwilliam bowed quite low, the better to recover himself.

He had heard that the eldest Miss Bennet was a beauty, but was not prepared for such a gorgeous face and figure.

When he had straightened, both Misses Bennet favored him with welcoming smiles, and he found himself swallowing hard.

As the second son of an earl, he was used to being hunted by eligible young women, including some with considerable beauty.

He did not consider himself very susceptible to the charms of young ladies, but Jane Bennet was truly exquisite.

It was no surprise that Charles Bingley was quite besotted with the girl.

“My brother intends to host a ball here at Netherfield in the near future,” Mrs. Hurst said, which pulled everyone’s attention toward her.

“Mr. Bennet, is there any particular evening in the next two weeks which would not be convenient for your family? We would all be disappointed if you were unable to attend.”

Bennet shook his head and said, “No, Mrs. Hurst, I believe our schedule is quite clear whichever day you choose. I do have a question; will the militia officers be invited?”

“It is probable,” Colonel Fitzwilliam chimed in, having recovered his equanimity, “but do not worry, Mr. Bennet. I will make it clear that certain members of the militia realize they are not, in any way, invited to the festivities.”

/

“Do be careful, Lydia,” Luke instructed his younger sister. “If you fall you will probably break a limb, which would be inconvenient. I do not think you should go any higher.”

Lydia pulled a comical face but obediently settled herself in a crook of her favorite oak tree as she complained, “I used to be able to climb higher.”

“You are bigger and taller now,” Luke pointed out affectionately.

“I am,” his youngest sister answered, this time with satisfaction in her tone. “I am the tallest of all my sisters, even if I am the youngest.”

Luke grinned at her as he settled into the branch below hers.

He was two years older than Lydia and several inches taller, and thus knew he had best not ascend higher in the great oak.

He turned and looked around, carefully maintaining his balance.

Longbourn’s kitchen chimney was puffing enthusiastically as Cook and her servant girls prepared for dinner in two hours.

To the east and northwest stretched tenant farms; the harvest was in and the fields lay bare.

To the north rose Oakham Mount; it was more a hill than a mountain, but he, Lydia, and Lizzy had climbed it many times together to enjoy the view of the greater countryside around Meryton.

A chatter of teeth made him look at Lydia, this time in concern.

“You are cold!” he exclaimed. “We should descend.”

Lydia’s gloved hands tightened on the branch and she nodded reluctantly. “I suppose so, though I so enjoy being up here. Soon it will be too cold and snowy to climb at all, and I like being so high when the branches are bare; we can see so far!”

Luke gazed around once again at his beloved Longbourn. “So do I, Lydia. So do I.”