Wickham looked down at Caroline and smiled mischievously. Her auburn curls were spread across the pillow in wild disarray. It was a look that he found most appealing despite the onset of night draining her hair of its deep colour. He found Caroline to be a very pleasing lover. After only their second time together she had lost all her inhibitions and now, after a few lessons in love, she serviced him with a willingness and skill which was hard to come by in English women. He chuckled to himself, Darcy, the prig, didn't know what he was missing.

Caroline reached up and pulled Wickham down to her. They kissed, a long, slow, lingering kiss that was in danger of once again igniting both their passions. Eventually Wickham pulled away, "Your link boy is waiting."

"So let him wait," Caroline reached up for another kiss but Wickham pulled away and sat on the side of the bed, suddenly in ill humour.

"Wickham, my love?" Caroline sat up and hugged him from behind, her auburn curls tumbled about his naked shoulders. "A penny for them?"

"I love you, Caroline."

Caroline felt herself stiffen.

"Well, say something!"

Caroline unpeeled herself from his back, "I...I, I don't know what to say."

"Well, do you feel the same way or no?" He turned to face her, his blue eyes piercing, his jaw clenched.

Caroline loved Darcy, or so she had always thought. But now that she was in a physical relationship with a man who wanted her...well, things were different. "Yes. Yes, I do love you," she admitted quietly.

Wickham let out his breath and relaxed. "So when are you going to do it?"

"Do what?"

"Kill Darcy."

"Kill him?"

"Yes, kill him!" Wickham's temper was starting to rise.

"But, I thought we could go on like this. At least for a while longer. We're having fun aren't we? We meet frequently enough."

Wickham let out a bitter laugh, "Yes, in a tawdry rented room, twice a week." He turned upon her and gripped her by the shoulders, "Do you think for one minute this is how I want it to be with you, my future wife!"

Caroline gasped, "Future wife?"

"Yes. Since Darcy senior died everything in my life has been sordid and rotten and no good. You are the one ray of light that has walked into it and I do not intend to lose you."

Caroline was flattered but not at all sure that she wanted to marry again, to again be the property of another but she wisely decided to keep this thought to herself.

"So, I ask again," said Wickham with mounting impatience, "when are you going to murder your dear husband?"

"I have been trying!" cried Caroline. She grabbed at her chemise, leapt off the bed and paced back and forth in front of the dying embers of the fire. "I've been trying to do it gradually but the fellow drinks and eats so very little that I have made very little progress. I have only succeeded in keeping him weak and bedbound. And now that his damnable manservant is back, Larwood, Darcy will not take a morsel from me and cook, the butler and the housekeeper all contrive to keep me from the kitchen."

"Well, try harder, damn it!" Wickham's fist slammed down on the bedside cabinet that contained the chamber pot. Caroline flew to Wickham, kneeling before him in supplication.

"I will! I am! But please! I cannot kill Darcy until I am sure I am with child otherwise I inherit nothing."

"When is your term due?" asked Wickham sulkily.

"Soon, soon, in the next few days."

"Well, hurry up and fall. This waiting, meeting like this, is driving me to distraction."

"I will, I will! I am healthy. It will happen soon, my love."

"It better!" Wickham dressed hurriedly and left leaving Caroline feeling hollow and alone.

***

Moments later Caroline hurried along the dark street, her head down, auburn curls escaping from her hooded, flowing cape of bottle green velvet. A young boy, no older than the age of seven, lit the way with a burning torch. After a moment the link boy stopped. Caroline looked up irritably, "Hurry boy, find me a carriage! What is this? You've taken me into an alleyway, why I'll have your guts for garters for this!"

Just as she went to box the boy's ears a man's strong hand stayed her.

"Run along," said Larwood as he threw a penny to the link boy. The boy scampered away leaving only the moon for light.

Caroline's green eyes flashed with fury, "What outrage is this? A servant touching his mistress?"

Larwood's lip curled in distaste, "I'd sooner touch a trull." He calmly released his grip upon her, "And you are not my mistress," he spat coldly, "and when I tell my master with whom you spend your time, and where, you will no longer be his wife!"

Caroline gulped and her chest pounded with fear, "I know not of what you speak!"

Larwood's anger returned as he gripped her by the shoulders, "Oh yes you do! You know very well. I must say that you and Wickham are much suited. You are both creatures of the gutter. And once my master knows what has been going on he will throw you out without a penny. But I dare say you will feel at home...in the gutter."

Caroline's mind raced as she fought not to panic.

Larwood's handsome face lit up as he laughed, "Oh, what a fine picture you make - a rat caught in a trap!"

The light was too poor for him to see Caroline's half smile start to form, "Is that what you think?"

Larwood was put on warning by the new note of confidence in her voice but had no time to react as Caroline reached up and grabbed at her emerald necklace before ripping it away from her throat.

"What the...?" said Larwood.

"Thief! Thief!" screamed Caroline as she threw her necklace at his face. Larwood caught it as reflex and tried to hand it back. "Thief! Somebody please! I will offer a rich reward! Just rid me of this thief!"

Just then a passerby and a Bow Street Runner rushed into the alleyway and grabbed Larwood, pulling him to the ground. Larwood threw the necklace away from him.

"No, no! Let me go! You are mistaken! I am not a thief! Release me!" Larwood struggled but the passerby was a thickset labourer.

"Yeah, and I'm the Queen of Sheba!" said the labourer before quietening Larwood with a blow to the face.

"Ah, my necklace!" cried Caroline as she retrieved the emeralds from the filth of the cobbles where it had landed. But no sooner had she placed it safely in her reticule than her eyes opened wide as she touched her hand and wrist, "Oh but gentlemen! My bracelet and ring are both missing!"

"Search his pockets!" commanded the Bow Street runner.

After a moment the labourer pulled out a matching emerald bracelet and ring from Larwood's jacket pocket.

"You're be transported to the colonies for this!" said the Runner to Larwood who was just coming round from the labourer's punch.

"Thank you so much gentlemen," said Caroline graciously, "Oh look! There is a carriage. I must dash. As she tripped past she gave a discreet wave and whispered to Larwood, "Oh, I hear that the weather in Australia is a trifle inclement at this time of year. That's if you survive the journey."