Chapter Two – Bad Blood
Early Summer 1790
As the two young boys carrying poles and buckets disappeared into the wooded area near the trout stream the men watching them from the study window smiled. After a moment they returned to their seats on either side of the big desk.
"I am glad young George accompanied you today," Darcy told his steward. "I remember heading out to fish just like those two are doing now. It was always a little more fun with company."
"My son always enjoys his time here at the manor house. I appreciate that you allow him to keep company with Master Fitzwilliam in his pursuits. Many men of your station would not allow the steward's son to play with their own and particularly not the heir."
"George is my godson, Wickham. Of course he is welcome to keep my Will company. In fact I would like him to start joining Will in his studies with his tutor. I know it must be hard for them both being only children. I had Miranda as a companion growing up. Even though she was a girl, she was only a year younger and had an adventurous spirit. We had fun times. Will would be very alone here without George for company. Aside from that, I know things are not easy in your home right now with your wife being so ill."
Abraham Wickham nodded acknowledgment of his employer's words. "She has always been delicate. Her current condition only makes it worse. She finds it a blessing not to have George underfoot all day."
"I understand what you mean. My Anne recovered well after Will's birth, but the two she has lost since then combined with the fever she had last year when that sickness went through the area have left her more delicate as well. She is so determined to have another child. The cost to her health may be high even if she succeeds. I suppose whatever happens, it is in God's hands." George moved his head as if to shake out any unpleasant thoughts. "I believe we need to speak about the work at the Carver farm..."
The two men sat at the desk and covered the current business of the estate. They had completed their review and were standing in preparation to leave the study when Darcy glanced out the window. To his surprise he saw the boys returning, but not in the state of happy excitement he would have expected. Young George, soaking wet from head to toe, carried a broken fishing rod and an obviously empty bucket. Will sported a fierce scowl and carried an equally empty bucket, although he was dry and his fishing rod was in one piece.
"This does not look good," Darcy said, gesturing out the window at the two boys. He sighed. "I wonder what Will's excuse will be this time?"
He and Wickham left quickly to intercept the two boys before they made it to the side door that was their usual entry to the house. Deferring to his employer, Wickham allowed Darcy to ask the questions that concerned them both. "George, what happened to you?"
George looked down and shifted his weight from foot to foot as if he was nervous. "I would rather not say, Sir," he answered quietly.
"And why is that?" Darcy asked.
"I do not want to carry tales, Sir," he said, still looking down.
Will's glare grew even fiercer. "Why, you..." he began, but his father cut him off.
"Silence, Fitzwilliam! I asked George to speak and now I insist on an answer to my question."
"Yes, Sir," George answered with a show of reluctance while Will fumed but kept quiet as ordered. After pausing for a moment young Wickham said, "We had caught some nice fish, but Master Fitzwilliam became jealous because I caught more than he did. When I did not give him some of my fish he kicked my bucket into the stream and pushed me in after it, causing me to break my pole as I fell."
"Liar!" Will shouted, lunging towards the boy only to find his father in the way.
"Fitzwilliam, I said be silent! Violence is not an appropriate response," Darcy said, grasping his son firmly by the shoulder to stop his move towards George.
"But he is lying, Father! He knocked my pail in and then jumped in and broke his pole on purpose..."
"Enough, Fitzwilliam! I am ashamed of you and your ridiculous excuses. When you do wrong you need to own up to your errors. Now, you will apologize to George and then go up to the nursery where you will stay until I determine your punishment."
"But, Father, he is lying! I have done nothing to him. He is just trying to get me into trouble." The boy looked ready to cry from anger at his inability to get his father to listen.
"You say that every time some trouble comes up between the two of you. Apologize now and then off to the nursery."
"But, I have my own room now, Sir," Will said, almost pleading, "Why must I go to the nursery?"
"You are behaving like a small child, so you will be treated like one. Apologize to George."
Will looked at George with a murderous glare. "I am sorry," he gritted out between clenched teeth before turning abruptly, breaking away from his father's grasp as he did, to go inside.
As the two men turned to watch him go, heads shaking in disappointment, neither saw the satisfied smirk that briefly appeared on George Wickham's face. By the time they turned back to him he had recovered his look of embarrassed distress. He maintained that expression as he allowed himself to be fussed over, given dry clothes and a sweet treat from the kitchens. As far as George was concerned, another victory over Fitzwilliam Darcy was well worth the wetting he had given himself and the loss of the fish and pole.
0o0o0
Late summer 1790
Mr. Farleigh, the new tutor, looked up from his reading to check on his two charges. Both boys sat with bent heads, working through the set of calculations he had assigned them. From this angle they could almost be twins. With their dark, curly hair cut in the same style and falling forward over their foreheads one was struck by the similarity in their coloring and build. It was only when caught in the sharp gaze of Master Fitzwilliam's cold blue eyes or charmed by the softer look in George's warm brown eyes that the differences became apparent. Mr. Farleigh briefly wondered if there was a blood relationship between them which would explain why the steward's son was taking lessons with the heir, but quickly dismissed the idea as being none of his business.
Satisfied the boys were fully engaged in their work, Mr. Farleigh returned to his book. He had not read more than another page when his concentration was interrupted by a sharp cry from George. The boy was rubbing a spot on his neck as if it hurt.
"What happened, George?" the tutor asked.
George looked a little flustered as he answered, "I am sorry, sir. It is nothing." He dropped his hand and Mr. Farleigh saw a bright red spot on George's neck and two smaller spots just below it.
Still absently holding his book, with a finger in it to keep his place, Mr. Farleigh got up to investigate. As he walked between the two desks something crunched under his feet. On examination he found three small rocks, one of them very sharp.
"Where did these come from?" he asked the two boys. Will gazed at the tutor steadily, with a hint of either sorrow or dismay in those clear blue eyes. George looked somewhat embarrassed. Neither boy answered.
"George, do these pebbles have anything to do with those marks on your neck?" he asked sternly.
Keeping his eyes down while rubbing the sore spot again, George softly said, "Yes, sir."
The tutor immediately jumped to the obvious conclusion that Will had thrown the rocks at the other boy. He lightly cuffed Will on the back of the head with his book. "Do I need to speak with your father about this, Master Fitzwilliam?" he asked.
"No, sir," answered Will, knowing even that small response would sound like an admission of guilt. Behind Mr. Farleigh, George finally looked up, grinning at Will in triumph. George felt it was worth the momentary pain of pressing the stones into his own skin to begin the process of prejudicing the new tutor against Will just as he had done with Darcy and the other adults.
0o0o0
Spring 1791
"You do understand copying the work of another is cheating, do you not?"
"Of course, Father," Will said. Suddenly he realized where the question led and his expression darkened. "Has someone accused me of cheating, Sir?" he asked.
"I think you already know the answer to that," said Darcy with a disappointed look.
"I had no idea of it until this moment, Father. I have done nothing to deserve such an accusation."
Darcy's look of disappointment increased. "Your tutor has shown me the papers you and George turned in to him this morning. They are identical right down to the errors. I wish you would simply own up to your misdeeds, Fitzwilliam."
"I did not cheat on that paper, Sir. Why do you suspect me instead of George?" Will only just kept his voice calm. He knew from experience if he lost his temper the final punishment would be worse.
"His paper is more neatly written than yours, indicating it was written first. Your tutor and I know you struggle with Latin. It is clear you rushed to copy his work."
"Test us both, then, away from each other. I am perfectly willing to redo the assignment. You will see I know the material even if I do make some errors. I did not cheat."
"I wish I could believe that, Fitzwilliam, but you lie so frequently I cannot trust a thing you say."
Will clamped his jaw shut on the angry response he wished to make. He knew very well that he never lied and knew equally well who did. He wanted to ask why his father bothered to speak to him at all since he was already convicted of the crime.
"Perhaps George and I should have our lessons separately," he said instead, hoping against hope.
"Perhaps you should simply learn to do your own work," his father said coldly. "I will not inconvenience Mr. Farleigh by requiring him to teach each lesson twice because you cannot resist the temptation to copy. I do not know how to get through to you. This behavior is not acceptable now and will tarnish the family honor if you engage in it at school." He sighed in frustration and then pointed to the door. "Out. I do not want to have this conversation again," he said wearily.
"That makes two of us," thought Will to himself as he left the room, certain he would never be that lucky. How he wished he could be free of George Wickham. Since his father would not allow that, Will would just have to be more careful to prevent George having the chance to copy his work again. Will sighed heavily as he made his way up to his room to attend to his studies.
0o0o0
Summer 1792
"I do not understand why you think it is acceptable to exclude George from your games just because he is the steward's son. He is also my godson and that makes him good enough company for the two of you," Darcy stated angrily, glaring at his son and nephew as he stood in their path, preventing them from passing by him in the hall to go outside.
Richard Fitzwilliam stood straight and tall against him, his bearing already that of the officer he hoped one day to be. Although his height at twelve years old was not very intimidating, he spoke with quiet dignity. "Uncle, we do not exclude him for his social status, no matter what he has told you. We have no desire to play with him because he is a liar, a cheat and a troublemaker."
Will shook his head slightly at his cousin even as his father exploded verbally. "Enough, Richard! I see you have been listening to Fitzwilliam's lies. Neither of you has ever shown any proof of your assertions while George always can. You will include him or you will not be allowed out to play."
Despite seeing Will shake his head again with a resigned look, Richard persisted, "With respect, Uncle, you have never chosen to question George's idea of proof or to consider anything we have brought forward with any kind of openness. We shall stay inside if that is your decree, Sir. Even being confined to our rooms is better than taking the blame when George throws the ball through a window or finds a way to blacken his own eye and say one of us hit him."
Darcy could barely control his fury at his nephew's defiance. "I am losing all patience with this nonsense. If you cannot behave as gentlemen you will stay inside for not just today but tomorrow as well."
"As you wish, Uncle," Richard answered calmly. "Are we excused?"
At Darcy's surprised nod both boys turned and quickly headed back upstairs. He watched them go, still slightly bemused by the way the interview had ended. Behind him, Lady Anne stepped into the hall from the sitting room where she had heard the entire conversation.
"George, why do you insist on forcing them into the Wickham boy's company all the time, particularly when they feel so strongly about it? Richard is correct that any trouble that arises will be blamed on them. What is wrong with letting them play together just as cousins?"
"They need to learn to behave properly around others no matter what their station. I am fed up with all the lies they tell about young George."
Lady Anne regarded her husband sadly. "Are you absolutely certain they are the ones lying?" she asked him.
"Has Fitzwilliam been whining to you? Of course I am certain. I have seen the proof too many times. I want our son to be a proper gentleman. I do not understand what is wrong with him or why he persists in his mean-spirited actions."
"George, I think our son is wise to want some time away from the other boy. No matter who starts it, there is always trouble when you push them together. I do not believe Will is always at fault, no matter what stories young Wickham tells you. You just never seem willing to listen to any other opinion where that boy is concerned."
"I believe the evidence and it always against our son," he insisted stubbornly.
Disappointment could now be seen as clearly as the sadness in Lady Anne's expression as she told her husband, "Perhaps that very consistency should tell you something, George. No boy is as angelic as that one appears to be."
She walked away, leaving her husband to stand where he was, slightly confused again. He shook his head slightly, drawing his own conclusion from the conversation. It was clear his wife was too soft on their son. Maybe that was why he persisted in his behavior.
0o0o0
1793
"Please, Father, may I not stay?" Will pleaded. "I do not want to be away at school while Mother is so ill."
"Her illness will pass soon, Fitzwilliam, and all the faster if you are not here underfoot. You must go and I expect you to behave properly with the other boys. You must be a credit to our family and leave your childish ways behind." Darcy gave his son a very severe look, which became even harder as the boy's expression took on the sullen look he now so frequently wore in his father's presence. "Enough of that attitude, young man!" he added. "You will go to school and you will behave properly."
With an effort, Will made his expression as neutral as possible. "Yes, Sir," was all he said. He had to keep very tight control when he realized George Wickham stood just outside the door, eavesdropping as he so often did.
Realizing he had been noticed, George smirked at Will before fixing his features in the charmingly ingratiating expression he saved for the adults. He knocked on the frame of the open door. As Darcy turned, George said pleasantly, "The carriage is ready, Sir."
"Thank you, George," Darcy replied, smiling at his godson. "I hope you will embrace the opportunity offered to you at Eton. I want you to know I will miss you." While Darcy might have meant the statement for both boys, he kept his focus on George, who practically glowed under the attention.
Once again Will had to work to keep his expression neutral as he watched the difference in the way his father interacted with the other boy. He could only hope that getting away from Pemberley meant not having to spend nearly as much time being forced into George's company. If nothing else, he would be relieved of his father's frequent lectures. That thought almost made him smile.
0o0
Because of Lady Anne's illness, which she and her husband both hoped would eventually result in the birth of a healthy child, Darcy chose to stay at Pemberley to look after his wife. In his place one of the senior footmen escorted Will and George to Lord Ashby's estate in Northamptonshire, where they would stay for the first night. The remainder of the trip would be made with Alex and Richard Fitzwilliam under the supervision of their father, Viscount Ashby.
Not all the servants at Pemberley believed George Wickham's lies or fell for the tricks planned to cause trouble for Will. Some had seen him in unguarded moments and recognized his deceptive behavior. Others simply resented the favoritism Darcy showed to the steward's son. Many of the more self-serving realized it was better to favor Master Fitzwilliam no matter who was at the root of the problems between the boys because he would one day be their employer. Whichever of these camps Hanson, the footman entrusted with their care, fell into, he clearly would not allow George to cause problems during their journey.
Although George fidgeted, squirmed and claimed Will was poking him, Hanson said nothing to either boy about it. He chose to simply glare at George until the boy finally settled into his corner of the carriage to sulk, leaving Will free to read his book in peace.
At their second stop to rest the horses, George tried again to cause trouble. There were few people in the inn at the time, so when Will, right before they left, decided to visit the room set aside for gentlemen to refresh themselves, George saw his opportunity. Claiming a similar need, he followed and jammed the door of the small room shut while Will was inside. Returning to the carriage he wondered aloud where Will might have gone to, since he had used the room first. Hanson remained quiet and waited. Finally Will came running out of the inn.
"The door jammed," was all he said as he got into the carriage, not mentioning how he had to bang on the door until one of the inn servants heard him and finally let him out. Hanson said nothing about the discrepancy in the stories and when George tried to bring it up the footman glared him into renewed silence. Realizing further attempts would gain him nothing, George spent the rest of the trip in his corner staring out the window. Will felt he had never had a more pleasant time in George's company. Even as he applied himself to his book, his expression showed the slightest of smiles now and again.
When the carriage pulled up at the door to Ashby manor house, Richard came running out to greet Will. Alex and the Viscount followed more sedately.
"Good to see you Will," Richard said loudly as his cousin stepped out of the carriage. He shook Will's hand enthusiastically as soon as Will was on the ground, while pointedly ignoring George.
The Viscount and Alex followed suit, greeting Will without a glance for George, although he stepped forward as if he expected the same familial greeting.
"Any problems, Hanson?" Ashby asked the footman, who he knew from visits to Pemberley.
"None, sir," he answered with a slight roll of the eyes towards George.
"Very good. The housekeeper has rooms ready for you and the others. Take George around with you." Ashby finally looked directly at George Wickham, catching a hint of the boy's anger at being sent to stay with the servants. "And just a word of warning, George," he said in a slightly menacing tone, "I am not my brother. If there is any trouble between now and the time I leave you at Eton, no matter who appears to be at fault, you will be the one punished. Remember that and act accordingly."
"But that is hardly fair, my lord," George protested. "I cannot help it if they cause trouble." He offered Ashby his best wide-eyed and innocent look with a hint of injury added to it.
"Oh, I think it is perfectly fair," Ashby told him before waving him off with the servants. Clapping Will on the shoulder as they headed inside, he waited until George was out of hearing before adding. "My words to George do not mean any of you have free rein to cause trouble, Will. Or you either, Richard. I just wanted the boy to be aware I am not fooled by his tricks and I do not want any trouble during this trip."
"I am most grateful, Uncle," Will said. "I will not cause trouble for you."
"Good lad. You and Richard run along now and have some fun without your shadow."
Will actually smiled outright at that comment, a sight seen very infrequently since George Wickham had first started spending time at Pemberley's main house. Following Ashby's instructions literally, he and Richard ran off towards the gardens with a loud whoop of joy. Alex and his father both laughed to see them go.
"Protect him as best you can this year, Alex," Ashby told his oldest son. "I cannot countermand my brother's choice to lodge them in the same house, but with you and Richard there I have hopes he may not be blamed for everything that goes wrong."
"I will do my best, Father. George is a slippery one."
Viscount Ashby nodded agreement with his son's opinion. George Wickham was a slippery one indeed and the bad blood between George and Will could have far-reaching consequences.