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The corners of Darcy’s lips lifted briefly, but his frown returned as he began to speak.

“George Wickham was the son of my father’s steward and was my father’s godson.

He was raised by both parents. John Wickham was an excellent estate manager; he and my father held each other in high esteem and great trust. Mrs. Wickham was a spendthrift.

I recall my mother once calling her grasping and saying she was reaching far above her position in society.

George spent the majority of his time with Mrs. Wickham, though he and I played together frequently.

“George has a way about him that draws people in. He can be very charming when he wishes to be, and after my mother’s death, my father drew great comfort from his visits.

By that time, Mrs. Wickham had also passed away and since we were playmates, he was often in company with me.

” Darcy looked down and paused, then took another deep breath, letting it out slowly.

“As I said, Father was very close to the elder Mr. Wickham by this point and trusted him above all others.

He wished to honor the man he thought of as a friend by assisting his son.

Therefore, he sent George to school with me – we are only a few months apart in age – starting with Eton.

In his will, he left his godson a bequest of one thousand pounds, along with the promise of a living that was in his gift, should George take orders.

“You already know that my father died four years ago.” He looked up again and, when Elizabeth nodded her understanding, continued.

“His steward and friend followed him to the grave barely six months later. It was then that George finally came to me wanting to know if he had been left anything by his godfather. He was disappointed to discover what his bequest was.” Darcy glanced up when Elizabeth gasped.

“How ungrateful!” She pressed her lips together. “I am sorry I interrupted you.”

Darcy gave her a small smile. “I do not mind.” He sighed.

“George declared that he had no desire to join the church and since I knew he was unsuitable to lead a congregation, I acceded to his desire to be compensated. We negotiated a bit, and in the end he accepted a sum of three thousand pounds in lieu of the living. He signed away his rights to the position, took his money, and left Pemberley.”

Elizabeth’s brow creased. “I do not understand; if he agreed to the sum and attached his signature to the acceptance, why is he now saying you deprived him of it?”

“Do you remember when I said he was unfit for the church?”

She nodded. “I do.” Her eyes widened. “In what way is he unsuitable?”

“Wickham has always had vicious propensities. He often injured me during our play but always passed it off as an accident, especially in front of his godfather. I remained silent about the events because I had no proof that they had been done on purpose and I saw how much comfort he brought to my only remaining parent.” Darcy shrugged.

“Once my father had sent us off to school, Wickham fell in with a group of boys whose behavior tended toward wildness. They often pulled pranks on the more studious and quiet of us and generally got away with it. Then, when we moved on to University, George and I grew further apart. He often skipped classes, cheated on exams, and drank himself into a stupor. Worse, we shared an apartment, and more than once, I came home from studying or from class to find he had a woman in his room.” Darcy looked up, gazing deep into her eyes.

“I never caroused as he did. I decided long ago that I never wished to be tarred with the same brush as he, and have kept myself pure, as I was taught in church to do. I cannot say I have never been tempted. I have. However, I have always removed myself from the situation with alacrity, if not with grace.”

Elizabeth felt her heart swell. “Thank you for sharing that part. I am happy to hear it. I know it is not the usual thing for a gentleman. It could not have been easy to avoid the things your classmates participated in.”

The corner of Darcy’s lip twitched upward. “It was difficult. At times I felt very much alone, though I know I was not, especially when I was much younger. You would be surprised at the young men who declare themselves accomplished with the ladies who have never even been kissed.”

Elizabeth giggled behind her hand. “Oh, my.”

Darcy chuckled for a moment before becoming serious once more.

“I did not hear from Wickham for two years after I paid him for the living.” He paused and played with her hand, as though he was uncertain what to say next.

“This past summer, he intruded into my life again in a manner that nearly ended in disaster.” He looked into Elizabeth’s eyes again.

“I beg you to keep what I am about to tell you a secret. Will you do that?”

Elizabeth instantly agreed. “Of course.” She squeezed his hand.

“I spoke to you of my sister, Georgiana.” Elizabeth nodded and he continued.

“She was in school in London for a year or two and when she was finished with her studies this past spring, a companion was hired for her. I was persuaded by this woman, Mrs. Younge, to lease a house in Ramsgate for my sister for the summer. I was assured that many of Georgiana’s friends and their families would be holidaying there.

Since I wished to allow her to have some pleasant company for the season and also wanted to spare her the putrid air of London, I agreed.

I happily waved the pair of them off, content in having found a way for my only close family member to have an enjoyable summer.

“Georgiana had not been gone for many days when I began to miss her. I decided to wrap up my concerns in town as soon as possible so I could visit, and I hoped to surprise her.” He paused and snorted. “I certainly did that.”

Elizabeth squeezed his hand again but said nothing.

“She and Mrs. Younge both reacted very strangely to my arrival. It did not take long before my sister confessed to her reasons.” He stopped again, looking over Elizabeth’s shoulder.

He swallowed. “It turns out, the companion had a previous connection to George Wickham; it had been at his instigation that she approached me to send Georgiana to Ramsgate. Once they arrived, the pair contrived to meet when my sister and Mrs. Younge were out shopping, and from there, Wickham began paying a great deal of attention to Georgiana. Courting her, if you will. Eventually, he convinced my sister that he was in love with her and to elope with him to Gretna Green. He insisted she keep it a secret from me. I had arrived just two days before their planned departure.”

Elizabeth’s free hand had come up to cover her mouth, which had fallen open. “Thank goodness you visited! What happened after that?”

“I sent a note to Wickham’s residence, demanding that he leave.

He did, without a word to my sister. She was heartbroken when he would not present himself to me as her suitor.

She realized then that he never loved her and was only after her dowry, which is thirty thousand pounds.

Mrs. Younge was turned out immediately without a reference.

Her things were sent to her later.” He paused once more.

“Georgiana is in London now, with a new companion whose references were more carefully scrutinized than those of Mrs. Younge had been. She remains melancholy; she has gone from a happy and cheerful girl to a shadow.” He sighed.

“She is just fifteen, too young to have to suffer such a thing.”

“I agree. The poor girl!” Elizabeth rubbed the back of Darcy’s hand, which still held one of hers in its grasp. “Mr. Wickham is a liar, then. It is not you who is a rake, it is he. I am so glad I gave his words no credence.”

“Thank you for trusting me, and thank you for your compassionate response. Not every lady would.” Darcy leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers.

Elizabeth allowed his liberties and they enjoyed a few minutes of stolen kisses before parting. “You will come to Longbourn today?”

“I would not miss it for the world.” With a parting caress of his lips, Darcy jumped down out of the curricle and climbed over the fence to his patiently awaiting horse. He mounted and waved before kicking the animal into motion.

Elizabeth watched him ride away and sighed.

She wished their interlude had not had to end, but judging by the location of the sun in the sky, she was out past her time and needed to get home.

She expertly turned the equipage around before slapping the reins on Gracie’s back and speeding toward Longbourn.

~~~***~~~

True to his word, Darcy arrived at the Bennet home that afternoon, Bingley and Madison in tow.

Lady Lucas and her daughters had come for a visit, along with two of her younger sons, making the drawing room a bit tight, but no one seemed to mind, much less the gentlemen.

Madison had immediately removed to Charlotte’s side, barely paying his respects to the rest of the group.

Bingley made a pretty bow and greeted everyone heartily, but then sat himself next to Jane and proceeded to mimic his friend and ignore everyone else in the room.

Though he knew he should be ashamed of it, Darcy followed suit, acknowledging everyone properly but then giving over his entire attention to Elizabeth.

Mr. Collins, who had spent the first part of the Lucases’ visit trying to gain Charlotte’s esteem, did his best to interfere with everyone else’s conversation while at the same time publicly rebuking his cousin Elizabeth.

“Did you enjoy the remainder of your ride this morning?” Elizabeth lifted a brow and tilted her head as she smirked at him.

“I did. It was quite invigorating.” Darcy’s lips twitched. “I see that you returned home safely.”

“I did.” She laughed. “I may have frightened some sheep in the far field, though.”

Darcy chuckled. “Did you take a turn too fast?”

Elizabeth blushed. “Something like that.” She laughed.

Darcy admired her twinkling eyes for a long moment, but then recalled their conversation of the morning. “I think it would behoove me to speak to your father. Is he available?”

She nodded. “I understand him to be in his book room.” She rose. “I will show you the way.” Turning toward her mother, she excused herself and Darcy and slipped into the hallway, her betrothed on her heels.

Upon reaching her father’s library, Elizabeth knocked on the closed door and leaned her head toward the wooden panel to easier hear Mr. Bennet’s response.

“Enter.”

She pushed the door open and led Darcy inside. “Papa,” she said, “Mr. Darcy has something important to tell you. Would you be willing to listen to him now, or should he wait until after we dine ?”

Bennet’s brows rose and he leaned forward from where he had slouched as he read. He placed his book on the desk in front of him, pages open and spine up. “Now is as good a time as any.” He waved them inside. “Close the door behind you, Elizabeth.” He stood and bowed to Darcy. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you, sir.” Darcy waited for his betrothed to sit; he then followed suit, moving his chair closer to hers.

Bennet smirked when he saw his soon-to-be-son sliding the furniture toward Elizabeth. He clasped his hands and laid them on the desk as he waited for Darcy to begin.

The younger gentleman cleared his throat and glanced at his betrothed before looking back at Bennet. “I understand from Elizabeth that she and her sisters have made the acquaintance of an officer by the name of Wickham, and that this man tried to blacken my name to her.”

Bennet’s brow creased. “Wickham?” He tilted his head and looked at his daughter. “I do seem to recall Lydia mentioning someone by that name.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, she thought he was quite handsome, and until she became distracted with her cards, flirted with him quite a bit last night. Not that she did not flirt with the other officers, as well; she did.” She shrugged. “But yes, Lydia was speaking of him last evening upon our return.”

“I thought so.” Bennet moved his attention back to Darcy. “Do you know this Mr. Wickham, sir?”

“I do.” Darcy’s mien grew more solemn as he related to Bennet the tale he had shared with Elizabeth earlier in the day. “I wanted you to be aware of the manner of man he is so you could better protect your daughters, especially the younger ones.”

Bennet had leaned back in his chair as Darcy’s tale had unfolded, clasping his hands together with index fingers up and pressed to his lips. Now, he moved his hands down. “I thank you for the information. They are silly girls and my wife indulges them.”

“Father …” Elizabeth hesitated but, seeing Bennet’s encouraging nod, plunged forward.

“I know that you probably think they are not wealthy enough to be a target for someone like Mr. Wickham, but based on what Mr. Darcy has said, the lieutenant does not target only wealthy young ladies. Lydia, especially, is fearless. I can see her being easily persuaded to behave in a manner she should not. After all, if Miss Darcy, who is better educated, fell for the scheme, what is to stop my sister, whose only interest in schooling was to learn to read novels and do household accounts?”

Bennet nodded and sighed. “You do have a point.” He thought a bit longer, and neither his daughter nor his future son thought it wise to interrupt.

Finally, he sat up again. “I will have to take more time to consider what I wish to do with this information. Something will have to be done to protect the girls; I simply do not know yet what avenue is best.” He stood and held his hand out to Darcy.

“I thank you for bringing this to me. I promise you that I will not ignore it.”

Darcy bowed. “Thank you for taking it seriously.”

“Thank you, Papa.” Elizabeth curtseyed to her father. “We will be dining very soon.”

“I will be along shortly.” Bennet waved toward the door. “Tell your mother to hold the meal until I get to the table.”

“Yes, sir.” Elizabeth took the elbow that Darcy held out to her and left the room with him.