Page 16 of The Shades of Pemberley
“The living at Kympton,” replied Wickham with complete unconcern. “As Darcy gave that boon to another, I shall accept a pecuniary reward in exchange for not prosecuting Darcy here for his cousin’s misdeeds.”
Fitzwilliam snorted and turned to Darcy.
“If you check the safe in the study, you will find a contract, signed by our Wicky here, that details the transfer of three thousand pounds to him in exchange for his resignation of the living forever. It appears Wickham’s memory is deficient, for my cousin already compensated him for the living, which I will note was not even a bequest in my uncle’s will. ”
“His impudence is beyond measure,” said Darcy, eyeing the man he now considered to be among the worst of men. “What I cannot determine is how he thought your cousin did not inform you of these transactions.”
“It did not even cross his mind,” snorted Fitzwilliam with disgust. “Even if Darcy had not made me aware of it, a simple question to Darcy’s banker would have cleared any confusion, as would an investigation of the documents my cousin kept in the safe.”
That Wickham was furious was not unexpected, nor did he take the trouble to hide it. Underneath, however, Darcy thought Wickham had expected to be rebuffed, which made the motive for his application even more curious.
“The money Darcy paid me was a pittance.”
“Three thousand pounds a pittance?” said Fitzwilliam.
“That is a handsome sum, indeed,” said Darcy, surprised his cousin had paid this cur off with such an amount. “It is perhaps double what any living is worth in ready funds.”
“As I told my cousin when he informed me of his dealings with Wickham,” was Fitzwilliam’s curt reply.
“It seems you are cursed with the same greed that beset Darcy,” spat Wickham. “I—”
What he might have said remained a mystery, for at that moment Fitzwilliam lost all patience with him.
“Thompson!”
At his call, the burly footman entered the room and directed a crooked grin at Wickham, who paled at the sight of him.
“Please escort Wickham from the property,” instructed Fitzwilliam. “If he resists, you may use whatever means necessary to dispense with him.”
“A pity,” said Thompson. “By your leave, I would be pleased to give him a reminder of why it would not be in his best interest to return.”
“So long as he departs, I have no interest in his state when he reaches Pemberley’s border.”
Having said this, Fitzwilliam addressed Wickham again.
“Do not presume to return and do not approach anyone in my family again. If you persist and if you bring a ridiculous suit against Darcy, know that my father will jump at the chance to deal with you once and for all. Do not test us, Wickham, for it will go ill for you if you do.”
Though burning with fury, Wickham was impotent in the presence of three men who wished him gone.
While he directed one hateful glare at Fitzwilliam, and one filled with even more poison at Darcy, he stalked from the room, followed by the faithful Mr. Thompson.
In a few moments, the echoing of their footsteps ceased, leaving silence in their wake.
Darcy regarded Fitzwilliam, wondering how much he could ask. “Is it improper to ask after Wickham’s specific offenses?”
“Not at all, for I am convinced you need to know everything. Let us call Georgiana to attend us, for I would not repeat this more than once.”
Once the girl joined them, Fitzwilliam explained the story of Mr. Wickham in detail, and given the girl’s surprise, much of his account was new to her. She confirmed this at once when Fitzwilliam finished speaking.
“In short,” said Fitzwilliam, “Wickham is a bounder, a debtor, a thief, a liar, and a seducer. There is naught of good in him, for everything he does is aimed at his gratification, or with his benefit in mind.”
“I knew Jamie had severed ties with him,” said Georgiana, still shocked by what she heard, “but I had no notion he was this bad.”
“He is even worse, Georgiana, for I have not told you the parts that are not fit for gentle ears. Suffice it to say that should Wickham ever attempt to so much as speak to you in passing, you must inform me, Darcy, or my father, and we shall deal with him.”
Georgiana nodded and excused herself to return to the pianoforte. When she was gone, Darcy eyed his companion.
“These sins of Wickham that were not fit for gentle ears—might I suppose they stray into debaucheries, natural children, and activities of questionable legality?”
“You may,” was Fitzwilliam’s curt reply.
“Wickham will do anything if he feels he will profit from it, and he does not care if he hurts others. I can only suppose my cousin did not see the necessity of informing his sister about Wickham or ordering his staff to deny him access once he sent him away.”
“It is well that we did, then,” said Darcy. “Perhaps it may be best to send word to London to inform the staff there of the same. Do you suppose he will attempt to intrude upon the satellite estates?”
Fitzwilliam’s snort told Darcy what he thought of Wickham. “He might, though there is little of value for him to profit from them. Still, instructing Moore to send to the stewards of the estates cannot go amiss, for one can never predict when and where Wickham will poke his head out of his hole.”
“Then I shall remain watchful. If he is this opportunistic, it is no stretch to suppose he might take an interest in Georgiana. Her dowry is substantial, I believe.”
“Thirty thousand pounds,” agreed Fitzwilliam, his manner thoughtful. “The way he was speaking to her suggests he might have already thought of it.”
“Then we must guard her. As a young lady of her position in society, I must suppose a footman attends her wherever she goes. I shall assign Thompson to her protection, for Wickham appeared frightened of him.”
Fitzwilliam’s grin was feral. “As he should be. Thompson scares even me !”