Page 48 of These Dreams (Heart to Heart Collection #1)

Chapter forty-eight

Weston

“M r Wickham, you are late!” Mrs Annesley stood back from the door of the cottage, a frown lining her features.

The gentleman—if he was such—swept from his mount with a gallant bow. “Forgive me, Mrs Annesley. The fault was not mine, but I cheerfully accept your censure. May I enquire after your health, madam?”

“You may not.” She extended a hand to receive what he had brought her, but drew it back in dismay when he merely approached with empty hands.

“Mrs Annesley, you would not send a caller away without refreshments, would you? Of course not, for only a perfect gentlewoman could have found employment as Miss Georgiana Darcy’s companion, and you, madam, are indeed a gentlewoman.” He saluted with a flourish of his hat and advanced, giving her no option but to fall back.

“Mr Wickham, this is most irregular!” she objected. “You are not permitted to enter the house. That was the agreement!”

“It was,” he concurred with a smile and a satisfied nod at the comfortable room. “Matters have altered somewhat. I find myself in need of your assistance, Mrs Annesley.”

She crossed her arms. “Do you think I would help you, Mr Wickham? I know too much about you!”

“I think,” he turned about with a cheerful grin, “you have little choice, Mrs Annesley. I require a safe place for a few days, and I’ve a mind that the room off the back of your kitchen will serve nicely.”

“What have you done? Gone and killed a man this time?”

“Me? Oh, no, no, no, Mrs Annesley.” He began to stroll about the room, touching the little knick-knacks and baubles he found arrayed thereabout. “Our generous benefactor has encountered some difficulties, that is all.”

“Generous! We both know very well that he has not been the source of funds for either of us.”

“Why would he be? That would be pure folly, Mrs Annesley, for he intended to come into his new fortune by summer. What matter a few pennies here and there from the Pemberley coffers?”

“It matters because I was not told beforehand that such would be the arrangement.” She withdrew a handkerchief and dabbed at her mouth, her face suddenly flaming in mortification. “Had I known, I certainly never would have agreed to any of this!”

“Would you not? And pray, would you have confessed your brother’s condition to your employer to openly beg assistance, or would you have simply let the French pox take him?”

The woman bent over her handkerchief, but solemnly reached her open hand back toward him. “Have you brought the medicine, Mr Wickham?” she asked hoarsely.

He grumbled and withdrew a phial from his pocket. “This is the last of it. I’ll not perform the service again, Mrs Annesley, not while half the country is hunting for my head, and there is no more money forthcoming to make it worth my while.”

She clasped the glass bottle, tilting it to watch the mesmerising, thick silver fluid. “It does nothing for him,” she murmured aloud, as if to comfort herself. “A waste of money. I should never have consented….”

“And not tried to help him? Tsk, tsk, Mrs Annesley, but you are too much the lady for that. Even the appearance of aid is better than nothing at all. Gives the old boy hope, do you know. And now, what have you got around here to eat? I am famished.”

“You are not staying, Mr Wickham! Oh, no, I absolutely insist. You must go. What if it were discovered that you were here?”

He laughed. “It would harm neither of us any further, I would warrant. And do not think of running to the authorities, because you would instantly look as culpable as I. Miss Darcy’s loyal companion, taking bribes and knowingly abandoning her post? For shame, Mrs Annesley.”

She turned away from him, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. “That I should have come to this!” she lamented, her hand clutching the phial until her fingers ached. “I used to be respectable!”

He shrugged and tossed his hat on the sofa, then began to unbutton his coat. “Yes, yes, then some foolish man had to go and ruin your life. I have heard it all before, Mrs Annesley. Be so good as to fetch some tea, will you?”

She rounded on him, eyes blazing. “Tea! I would drop arsenic in your tea, had I any sense. A man who would betray the family who brought him up, the daughter of your patron—I am ashamed to know you, sir! You are a dissolute wretch, and you have led me down a path from which I can never recover!”

He seated himself and began to pull at his own boots, with little success. “Never? Oh, people such as we always land on our feet. Be a good lass, and lend me a hand with this boot.”

Her mouth dropped open in astonishment, but whether at his casual request or his declaration that she was like himself, she could not be certain. Everything about the man was offensive. “Mr Wickham! I am nothing like you are! Do you even care what happens to that poor girl? No, you never did, Mr Wickham! She was only ever a means to a comfortable life for you!”

“Georgiana Darcy? Oh, of course I cared for her. A fine girl like that? What man would not be interested in her person? I never wished Darcy any harm, for that matter. But you may set your mind at ease, Mrs Annesley, for from what I can discern, Miss Bennet has done an admirable job of shielding Miss Darcy in your absence. So admirable, in fact, that some while ago I was instructed to discover a way to lure her away from Pemberley as well. Sadly, someone else was rash and employed a very clumsy kidnapping attempt before I could do anything. After that, I doubt a hurricane could have drawn her off.”

Mrs Annesley bit her lips and shivered in relief. “Miss Bennet has been a faithful friend?”

“Unfortunately, but I would have expected nothing less of the wench. Blast Fitzwilliam for dragging her up here to Derbyshire! Last thing I would have expected. He was easily enough distracted. A word or two to his investigator’s informants, drawing eyes away from London and toward Portugal… took the bloke forever to come round to the point, but he put it all together at last. Such a pity that he left the she-wolf to guard the den! And now that Darcy has returned, I—”

Mrs Annesley whirled about, her face ashen. “Mr Darcy returned?”

“Oh,” he stretched in his seat, giving up on his boots. “Did not I mention that? It turns out that he was not disposed of as promised, and is, in fact, alive and well. Rather inconvenient. No, do not think of running to him, Mrs Annesley, for I have seen him, and he is half mad. Why, he even lost his temper with a lady, and one he used to admire, if I am not mistaken. He would eat you as soon as look at you. ‘Tis a pity, I suppose, for our erstwhile benefactor, for now Miss Darcy is not the sole heir to Pemberley as she was supposed to be. There is still the matter of that Portuguese fellow, though, so I think things may yet become rather interesting. I shall bide my time here, and see what comes of it.”

“You shall do no such thing, you heartless blackguard! To think I would give shelter to one who could bring harm upon Mr Darcy, who was kind to me, or Miss Darcy, the sweetest girl in the world! I cannot believe I did not know of your involvement from the first!”

“I was not involved at first,” he protested. “I was merely a tool, just as you were. We are stuck with one another, Mrs Annesley.”

“Absolutely not! And you will absent yourself from this house at once, Mr Wickham. My brother is dying, and the disease has got to his head! I’ll not have you here to trouble him.”

He raised his brows and smiled in that charming way of his. “Mrs Annesley! I do not intend to make myself a burden. Surely you will need a clever head about, to establish yourself respectably once more when the time comes. Think of me as your knight, madam. You may as well confess that you have no means of recovery without my assistance. Now, about that tea?”

Pemberley

“C olonel! You are not going?” Elizabeth rushed down the front steps of the house, still draping her shawl over her shoulders.

Richard turned reluctantly. “I bloody well am, Miss Bennet.” He heaved a sigh, braced a hand upon the door of his coach, and looked back up at her. “Forgive my language, Miss Bennet. Hardly the thing before a lady.”

“Has he not relented? Oh, I was afraid of this!”

“Relented? My dear woman, are we speaking of the same man? This is the fellow who won the fencing championship at Cambridge after tying with the same opponent twice, and then going a full nine-minute round to finish him off! Darcy does not relent, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth offered a sad smile. “He is rather… obstinate. Even my aunt described him as such, and that after only a short acquaintance.”

“Mrs Gardiner knows what she is about. Perhaps I will pay a call on her, when I have returned to London.”

“Colonel, is there no other way? Mr Darcy is like to say many things he may regret. I cannot believe he truly wishes for you to go. There are so many things I must tell you; about Mrs Annesley, and the account books, and—”

“No, Miss Bennet. I wish to leave, and with all due respect, I am not inclined to discuss it.” He waited for the footman to place the stool and offered a short bow before mounting the step. “I think it unwise for Mrs Wickham to attempt travel, and so I shall conveniently neglect to take her. I hope this will cause you no hardship, Miss Bennet.”

She frowned at the ground. “Mr Darcy may be displeased that she is to remain for now, but then I am no longer certain that he desires my presence, either.”

The colonel allowed the footman to close the door, and leaned out the window. “Darcy can go hang himself, Miss Bennet. I love the man like a brother, but his insults have touched a little too near. At present, the only thing that could cause me to delay is for you to express your own desire to quit Pemberley. I should be honoured to escort you, Miss Bennet, and Mrs Wickham if such is your wish.”

“And what of Georgiana?”

He looked away. “Darcy will see to her, naturally.” He drew a long breath. “I know what you are about, Miss Bennet, and I dare not attempt to cross swords with you in debate. My mind is set. Perhaps in a month’s time I may write, and see how things stand.”

“A month? Do you suppose matters will keep for so long?”

“It does not matter, for my assistance is not wanted. I will bid you a good day, Miss Bennet.” He rapped the top of the carriage, and it started to roll. Gazing down at Elizabeth, his eyes full of regret, he raised a hand in farewell.

Elizabeth watched the carriage as it rolled out of sight, then turned around to see Darcy himself lurching to a halt in the doorway. His eyes were fixed on the empty drive, and his mouth opened as if to cry out, but he was disappointed. A moment later he saw her hesitating on the stair below him, and gave a start. Again, he looked as if he desired to speak, his whole body drawing up for the effort, then his courage failed and he sagged.

He looked back into the house, then down to her once more. If he could not find words, his eyes spoke deeply and simply of his remorse. Elizabeth ascended slowly, until she stood only one step below the landing.

His fingers twitched at his sides. “He is gone, is he not?”

She nodded.

He was staring down, seemingly at her hands, when his eyes cautiously lifted. “Elizabeth… have I offended you, as well?”

“Oh, William,” she breathed, rising to the last step. “I… I was hurt, I will confess, but my affections are not the work of a day, and I shall not be easily turned aside.”

He looked down at the marble steps, swallowing hard. His eyes were blinking rapidly, but he could not seem to find the words he wished for.

“William?”

“Elizabeth,” he said abruptly, “will you take a walk with me? I do not care to be indoors, and I have been for too long today.”

She turned wordlessly, facing back down the steps and tilting an inviting smile back to him. He seemed at a loss, but a bashful smile quivered in answer beneath his beard. Haltingly, he extended his elbow, hope shining in soft brown eyes.

Gingerly, she reached to pass her arm through his, studying his expression. Their first, precipitous moment of reconciliation seemed to have shattered some measure of his reserve, at least with her, but he had been terribly shy of everyone else, and looked apprehensive about touching even her with others watching.

Once secured of her arm, she could feel some of the tension drain from him. His eyes more often on her face than on the steps, he slowly led her down. Not more than halfway, however, Georgiana’s voice halted them. Elizabeth sensed him bracing himself, and together they turned.

“Fitzwilliam, has Richard truly gone? I was not able to say good-bye! Oh, Fitzwilliam, why has he gone? Was he recalled to his regiment?”

Darcy flashed a helpless look to Elizabeth. Understanding, she ventured an answer on his behalf. “The colonel expressed his desire to return to London.”

Georgiana shot Elizabeth a brief glare, then turned again to her brother. “But so late in the day! Why, he can go no farther than Lambton. Why would he not wait until morning?”

Darcy glanced toward the stoic footmen at the door. “We will discuss it later, Georgiana. I… Miss Bennet and I were about to take a walk. Would you care to join us?”

Georgiana flicked a deadpan expression toward Elizabeth, then directed a pronounced pout toward her brother. “No, it is too late. I should dress for dinner.” She followed this statement with another meaningful glance at each party, then turned back into the house.

Darcy’s arms dropped, his face falling. “She is correct,” he admitted.

Elizabeth forced a cheerful smile and turned, offering him her other arm. “Perhaps we will take that walk on the morrow, Mr Darcy.”

He nodded, quietly accepted her arm, and led her back into the house.