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As Darcy gazed up at the night sky he heard someone approach. It was not the soft pad of slippered feet but the heavy tread of boots. Only one of the officers present wore boots this night, as he was forbidden to dance.

“What do you want, Wickham?”

“Am I interrupting your solitude?”

“You are. Have you come to stab me in the back again?”

“I know you despise me now, but we were friends once, were we not?”

“I have reason and not those you prattle about to any that will listen.”

“I will not deny the charge.”

“Because you cannot,” Darcy replied, facing him. The light coming through the large French doors behind him put his enemy’s face in shadow. “You did not think word would reach my ear? As far back as our days at university, I have heard what you do and what you say. Why did you think I rejoiced when you gave me the opportunity to not carry out my father’s wishes with the Lambton living?”

“I never wanted to be a pastor. That was his wish. Even with the steady income, I could not see myself in that life.”

“Because you are greedy, George, and think of nothing but indulging in self-pleasure. You have the mind of a man who could make it in this world and be successful. You had the opportunities given to you with an education. Instead, you sought shortcuts to wealth. Even when you had money for a good start, you spent it on your degenerate ways.”

“And you were handed everything on a silver platter. There was no effort on your part. The unfortunate circumstances of this past year have made you vastly more wealthy.”

“Which I would gladly forfeit for the lives lost,” Darcy snapped back bitterly. Wickham stammered for a reply, but he did not know how to express what he wanted to say about Richard. Darcy continued. “Worse, when you did not have money or needed what little you had left for your debauchery, you stole from others like a common thief.”

“I’ve never stolen in my life.” He replied indignantly.

Darcy let out a laugh of contempt. “What do you think it is when you run up debt with no intention to pay? You may as well have pilfered the items like a thief for the victims of your schemes. The loss for some of them was a heavy burden. I know I am partially to blame for paying them off so my father would not find out. Because of that, you never had to face the consequences of your actions.”

“And I took advantage of it once I found out what you had done,” he admitted weakly.

“You could have made something of your life if you took the time. And pity yourself because of it. Bingley’s grandfather was born in a hut with a dirt floor. He made enough to give his son some education, who then went on to send his son to university and leave him with a fortune.”

Darcy saw the musicians returning through the windows to prepare for the rest of the night’s dancing.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“I was commanded.”

“I see. I will thank you for not telling him about Ramsgate. You see, George. I could forgive your profligate ways, but not what you tried with Georgiana.”

“You may not believe this, but it was not my original intention. The plan was only to get money from her.”

“Then your natural tendencies and greed came through. You thought you could get your hands on her fortune and took advantage of fond memories and her naivety. You were lucky that Richard had not been here. He would have run you through.”

“Is there any way I can fix this?”

“Change your ways, George. Until then, do not come near my family. That includes the Bennets. For reasons I cannot fathom, the two youngest enjoy your company. If you do, I will bury you in the darkest prison I can find. One that will make Marshalsea seem a picnic.”

“So the rumors are true. You are to marry Miss Elizabeth?”

Darcy stood there a time. Wickham took it that the answer was yes. It was only a matter of time before an announcement was made.

“She has declined my offer.”

The revelation stunned Wickham. She seemed intelligent, unlike her two foolish sisters.

“Why?”

“That is your problem, George. You cannot imagine someone turning down wealth. Unlike most, she is not mercenary. She is looking for more in life. That in itself must tell you something.” Darcy ended the encounter by walking past him and going back inside.