Page 26 of Rumours & Recklessness (Sweet Escapes Collection #1)

Chapter 24

“G entlemen, I am sorry to report that my man has lost track of George Wickham.” Colonel Forster re-entered the room where his guests waited. He clasped his hands dejectedly behind his back.

Darcy shot to his feet. “Lost track of him? How is that possible, Colonel?”

“It seems the Lieutenant was calling at the home of one of the better-respected residents in the town. My man was obliged to await him without, but the Lieutenant never reappeared. I suspect, Mr Darcy, that he ingratiated himself to some of the servants of that household and was able to leave through the back entrance. By the time it was realized that something was amiss, he was nowhere to be found.”

“So,” Darcy’s tone dropped dangerously, “in addition to slandering a respectable young woman and a decorated war hero with noble connections, he is also guilty of desertion in a time of war. Have I got it all, Colonel, or have I missed something?” Darcy stared icily—of course, there was more. This was Wickham!

Forster’s face reddened, and he cast the gentlemen a pained expression. “I have been making inquiries. He owes money to several shops in Meryton. He has also been implicated in the disgrace of two of the local tradesmen’s daughters. He has debts of honour as well.”

Darcy paced, his jaw and mind working ostensibly in conjunction. Bingley watched the play of muscles in Darcy’s cheek with some amusement. His old friend was boiling in rage, but few would ever have known it. I bet Elizabeth would notice. The thought came seemingly from nowhere. Yet, he was quite sure of its accuracy. Her sharp wits and keen discernment were surely marks in her favour in the eyes of the highly private man before him. Yes, regardless of her station, she was exactly what his old friend needed.

“Colonel, have you any notion where he might have gone?” Darcy ventured at last, recalling Bingley’s mind to the trouble at hand.

“Not as yet,” Forster sighed. “Desertion is a very serious charge, not one we take lightly even in the local militia. I have my eyes and ears out for him, but my resources are tapped. What of Fitzwilliam? The man is part bloodhound, Darcy. He has means which I do not.”

“I intend to get him here again, to clear his and my sister’s reputations if nothing else. I have no idea how I shall go about that bit, however.”

The colonel shook his head unhelpfully. “I wish I knew, Mr Darcy. I will send you word immediately should anything be found out regarding Wickham.”

Darcy and Bingley took their leave and emerged into the crackling winter air. They set out for Netherfield again at an easy jog, not wishing to overheat their horses. Bingley gazed idly up at the stars and waited for his friend to speak. He was waiting for a long time.

“I wish to pay a call to Longbourn first thing in the morning,” Darcy spoke at last.

“Why so early? I imagine Mr Gardiner will not smile upon such audaciousness from a suitor who so recently caused such a stir.”

“I am betrothed to a daughter of the house—at least conditionally,” he reasoned. “It is only natural that my welcome should not be confined to the traditional visiting hours. Much as I desire to speak with Elizabeth, though, that is not my primary motivation.”

“Shall I ask, or would I do better to wait and watch?”

“Georgiana. We have to set things right.” Darcy grunted a little as his horse fumbled in an unseen rut along the road.

“Yes, she ought to apologize. Do not go too hard on her, Darcy—she was quite overwrought. Of course, she was in the wrong, but I suppose it was understandable for her to be so. Just… I beg you would not frighten her more than she already is, Darce.”

“You ought to know me better than that, Charles. I shall traumatize her no further, but she must apologize to Elizabeth. Such an attack on my wife, I will not tolerate, even from her!”

“Getting a little ahead of things, are you not?”

Darcy shook his head wearily. “Forgive me. It seems I am a little overwrought myself.” He sighed and continued. “I hope to amend Mr Gardiner’s first impression. I fear it was not one of which to boast—and that was before Georgiana’s little scene.”

Bingley fixed his friend’s shadow with a presumptuous stare. “You don’t say,” he drawled.

Darcy glared back. “ And there is the matter of Georgiana’s reputation. It occurs to me that it should be dealt with at the source.”

“We cannot find him. How do you hope to do that?”

“Not Wickham.” Darcy smiled to himself. How had he not thought of this earlier? “Lydia Bennet. Two can play at this game.”

“M y dear, what do you make of all this?” Mr Gardiner drew his wife down to sit upon the still-made bed in the guest room after the family’s somewhat melancholy dinner. Madeline draped her head over his shoulder in weary relief. What a trying day it had been!

Lydia and Kitty had been ordered to their room with strict instructions to speak to no one. Mary and Elizabeth had trained their gazes steadfastly upon their largely empty plates, eating little and speaking less. Jane had returned only very lately from Netherfield, providing Elizabeth, at least, with an excuse to see her sister upstairs.

Mrs Bennet had appeared the only family member whose spirits remained unflagging. She, of course, had heard the shocking reports of “that poor Darcy girl and that dreadful colonel!”

“I knew him to be a dangerous sort, and so I told the girls!” she stated emphatically. Her endless chatter she had couched in her anxious concerns for that “sweet Darcy girl, poor little fool,” but “such a shocking lack of guardianship from her brother,” she declared she should never understand. A rational mind, upon believing such vagaries, would naturally leap to wonder how a poor guardian of a sister could hope to prove a worthy husband, but it seemed Mrs Bennet was not capable of such a conclusion.

Mary had left the room in disgust soon after Elizabeth’s silent retreat, abandoning the Gardiners to face the matron’s ramblings alone. When her talk had turned to wedding lace and the various calls she was expected to make, the visiting in-laws had quite bluntly recommended they all withdraw to retire early for the evening.

Edward Gardiner heaved a long sigh of fatigue. His journey had been a hasty and uncomfortable one, undertaken with expedience as his primary motivation. Rather than the distressed and mournful family he had expected to find, he had stumbled upon a hopeless tangle of scandal and romantic conundra. “My dear?” he queried again. “You have not yet made any answer.”

“I was trying to decide which to answer first. You, no doubt, are most concerned for Lizzy, but I do not feel equal to addressing that scenario before laying out what I know of other matters.”

“By all means.” He rubbed his tired eyes, waiting.

“Thomas is showing steady improvement. This evening while Lizzy was sitting with him, he squeezed her hand in answer to her voice. Mrs Cooper says that is a very good sign, indeed.”

“Forgive me, my love, but how is it again that the nurse came?”

“Mr Darcy sent for her—immediately upon hearing of the accident, it seems.”

“Why would he do such a thing? I wonder if the man can be quite sensible.”

Mrs Gardiner laughed lightly. “Tell me a man violently in love who is?”

“You really think his feelings are so strong? He seemed rather distracted when I spoke with him.”

“So, you would be as well, I imagine. Miss Darcy’s behaviour rather puzzled him.”

“He is not the only one!” he interjected. “But go on.”

“I was only going to add that perhaps he was also somewhat preoccupied by his private walk with Lizzy.” A knowing little smile curved her lips as she tilted her face up to her husband’s.

Gardiner narrowed his eyes at his wife’s playfulness. “Is that what you call it? Pray tell, how did an unchaperoned walk come about? Where was everyone else?”

“Oh, dear!” Madeline described the morning’s events and the couple’s endeavours with estate business. “I really did not think it would come to the point so quickly,” she flushed guiltily. “My concerns were more for the younger girls’ impropriety. I had hoped to wear Lydia out on the pianoforte, but it was quite the reverse! As for Lizzy, perhaps a chaperone should have been found, but here on the estate, practically within sight of the house, none could have thought….”

Gardiner gave a short wry huff. “You were not privy to the little scene I witnessed! It seems, my dear, that our Lizzy either blows hot or cold. The young lady I observed seemed to have no reservations whatsoever about the gentleman.”

Madeline sighed. “I suppose that is just as well—she has little enough choice in the matter, and I am glad to see she has turned her sentiments in his favour. I do think him a fine young man, Edward. There is something very pleasing about his manner. He may appear proud at first, but that impression wears off quickly. I believe him quite taken with Lizzy.”

“What is to be done about that sister of his? Gossip and tittle-tattle, I care nothing about, but if she is as ill-tempered as my first impression….”

“Oh, no, my dear! I do not believe she is. It seems that Elizabeth held some details of Miss Darcy’s past in trust, and when these tidings were aired, she feared herself betrayed. The poor girl! I do hope Mr Darcy can patch things up for her!”

“Well,” he declared with decision, “our family will do nothing to further such slander. I will not have the girls abroad at all, save perhaps Jane. I trust her discretion at least, unless she should desire to walk alone with her own young man,” he shot his wife a wink. “Fanny, we shall have to detain as well. I cannot as easily order my sister to remain within her own doors, but we must preoccupy her somehow. I am afraid, my dear, that we are set for a few trying days ahead.”

Mrs Gardiner let go a long sigh of resignation. “Such a fate!” she moaned dramatically.

“I have every confidence in your fortitude and ingenuity, my dear,” he answered her dryly.

“G eorgiana?” Darcy tapped his fingers hesitantly upon his sister’s bedroom door. He could not decide whether it would be safer to let her rest, or to present himself with the contrition he felt was her due. He stood in silent attendance, straining for any creak of the furniture within which would declare his sister’s wakefulness.

After a few moments, he moved to step away, only to have the door opened to him. Georgiana had never changed for bed, but her rumpled clothing attested to the restless few hours she had spent. She crossed her arms sullenly and looked up to him with swollen eyes.

Compassion tugged at his heart. “Oh, Georgie,” he sighed, opening his arms to her. With a trembling shudder, she came willingly to him and buried her face in his chest. Somewhat awkwardly, he waltzed her back into her bedroom so he could close the door, then held her for long minutes.

Her tears had begun anew. “William,” she blubbered at length, “what is to become of me now?”

He gritted his teeth, wishing he could supply her with a confident answer that all would be well. “I do not know,” he admitted finally. “The rumours have no doubt taken on a life of their own by now. Still,” he drew back enough to force her to look at him, “this is a small town, and one fantastic story will quickly be supplanted by another.”

“That is not how you felt about the matter when the rumours were about Miss Elizabeth,” she retorted bitterly.

He sighed and put his hands on her shoulders. “This is Miss Elizabeth’s hometown. She had no means of escape, no recourse to counter such slander, and no hope of forming any other respectable establishment. You are not quite so unprotected.” He struggled against the irritation in his voice. He did not like her petulant attitude, but he could sympathize. His sister was immature and very badly hurt, and he resolved to handle her as gently as possible.

Georgiana continued silent and morose for another moment. Then, timidly, “Are you going to send me away?”

“That would only confirm the rumours, would it not? No, Georgie, we are going on the offensive, to quote one of Richard’s phrases.”

Her head lifted, curiosity sparking through her tears. “How do you mean?”

He braced her shoulders carefully, gazing into her streaked face. “Georgie, how much of the rumour did you actually hear? Did you know they do not have the right of it?”

Her eyes reflecting confusion, she shook her head.

“It is not Wickham your name is linked with. It is Richard.”

Horror crossed the girl’s features. “No! Richard would never... !”

William raised his hand, interrupting her. “I know, Sweetling, but apparently, your outburst at Longbourn confirmed some part of it, at any rate, as true.”

Georgiana began to sob again. “Poor Richard! If I had only known! Why, I should have simply laughed, like Miss Elizabeth does! Now I have ruined him, as well as myself!”

“If it is any comfort, I do not believe your reaction can have spread to other ears yet, and I suspect the persons who witnessed it to have a short memory.”

Georgiana wiped her face. “What is to be done?” She began to wring her hands in worry.

“Sweetling, it seems to me that the best way to combat an enticing tale is to put forward an even more interesting one. I do not mean we ought to lie,” he added quickly, noting the concern on her face, “but we can clear up matters somewhat.”

“But how?” The frustrated tears wavered in her voice again. “We cannot simply declare Mr W— him a liar. He will only tell the real truth, and that is worse!”

“I do not think he would do so. He likes having the general public’s good esteem. I think it pleases him to be better thought of in company than I. Regardless, that is not my intention. Please do not ask me more as yet, though. I am still trying to decide what is best to be done.”

She firmed her mouth. She would trust her brother; he always knew what was right. Dearest William! He was so good to her, even after her unsurpassable foolishness. A long breath of remorse left her. “Have I…” she hesitated, fearful, then resolved to start again. “Have I ruined things with Miss Elizabeth? Does she hate me now?”

He gave a wry chuckle. “Not in the slightest. She was very worried for you, Georgie.”

“She cannot have forgiven me so easily! I was so vicious and unreasonable! The things I accused her of!”

“Yet she has, and I do not believe it was through any superhuman effort. She has a very generous nature, Georgie, and her sympathies are quite engaged for you. Not,” he held up an admonishing finger, “that you will not be expected to apologize, for I shall insist upon it, but you need not fear any harsh feelings from her.”

Georgiana stared in wonder, a little comforted. “And… what of you, William? Do her sympathies include you now?” She peeked timidly at his face and was treated to a sly little grin. She brightened instantly, her woes temporarily banished. “Oh, William, tell me, please!” she begged.

“I certainly shall not!” he drew to his full height, a faint return to the masterful demeanour he affected before others.

“Very well, I shall just have to ask Lizzy when I see her next,” she tilted her head teasingly.

“Perhaps I shall have to rethink my previous good opinion of her influence upon you,” he quirked an eyebrow.

“It is too late for that now, Brother,” she informed him archly. “If I am to understand you correctly, I will have much opportunity in the future to be influenced by her.”

A satisfied smile slowly blossomed on his face, and he acknowledged the truth. “She has obliged me with her acceptance.” His pleasure clouded slightly. “Her uncle is more sceptical of my intentions, but I am not without hope there. He seems a worthy man, and after today I would not blame him for any reservations he might hold.”

Guilt washed over Georgiana’s features once more. “I did not help, did I?” she whispered.

“Hardly,” he observed dryly. “Though I would not have you think that all of the blame can be assigned to you. I regret that Mr Gardiner first happened upon us just after Elizabeth’s acceptance, at a moment when I was not yet master of my feelings.” He paused, a distant little smile warming his eyes again. “Elizabeth is a woman of strong affections,” he murmured, almost to himself.

Georgiana covered her mouth with her fingertips, both embarrassed and thrilled at her brother’s confession. “William!” she scolded laughingly.

“Oh, yes, I deserve your censure. I should not have mentioned a word of my transgressions to my impressionable sister, should I? I do so because I would not have you believe I am without fault. I am perfectly capable of folly of my own.”

“Yes, but at least Elizabeth is respectable and trustworthy, unlike… well, unlike some others. You may be faulted for some things, perhaps, but it cannot be said your faith is ill-placed. Nor can anyone accuse you of shirking your responsibilities to her.”

“No!” he declared vehemently. “I intend to marry her as soon as it can be arranged!”

Georgiana fell, laughing into his arms. “Oh, William, I am so happy for you! Richard told me this morning, he said… Oh! I nearly forgot!”

She spun away from him and went to rummage in her jewellery case. He waited for her, perplexed. “What did Richard say? I did not know you had even seen him before he left.”

“Hmm? Oh, it was nothing. He only knocked to say goodbye. I was taking an early breakfast in here.” She left her reason unsaid, but it seemed plausible that avoiding Miss Bingley might have been a motive for taking a tray in her room. She kept her eyes resolutely on her jewellery case as she searched for something among its many contents. At last, she found what she sought and came forward, hiding it in her hand.

He arched a brow. “What did Richard say?” he demanded again.

Her lashes fluttered hesitantly. “That… that it was well you had found love and that he hoped others in our family might one day do the same. Here,” she thrust the object in her hand into his, changing the subject. “It was Richard’s idea that I should bring it.”

He turned over a small velvet sack, closed by a drawstring. “So, this is that secret you had concocted? I wondered what you two were up to.” Opening the drawstring, he dumped out the prize hidden within. “Aha. I might have known,” he smiled. He opened his hand to reveal a lovely antique ring; a ⒈／⒉ carat emerald stone crusted all about with a tight and dazzling array of diamonds.

She smiled shyly. “I didn’t know Miss Elizabeth’s tastes, so Drake suggested I choose the one Papa gave to Mama. I hope I have done right….”

“It was very thoughtful of you, Sweetling. I think she will like it very much; green is a favourite colour of hers, though I daresay this ring will be too ornate to befit her simpler tastes for every day. Now that I consider it, there is not a ring in all the Darcy coffers which truly suits her—she is cut from quite a different cloth. Still, this is a fine heirloom to gift my bride until a more suitable one can be made. Thank you, Georgie.” He tucked the ring back into its velvet case, then secreted it into his pocket. Georgiana drew a satisfied but trembling little sigh.

He smiled commiseratingly at his sweetest little sister. “I am glad you can put aside your fears for a time. I wish you to rest at peace tonight. It will not do for you to appear worn and guilt-ridden on the morrow!” He drew her into his arms for a tight hug, planting a brotherly kiss on her forehead. “Sleep now, and we will face tomorrow together.”

She drew another long breath, squeezing her eyes shut and relaxing in his embrace. “Thank you, William.”