Hi everyone, sorry I haven't updated in two weeks but I was on holiday and also I was finding it difficult to decide what to do with Wickham but I decided to just get it over and done with so here it is. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Maybe there is, maybe there isn't" Richard said smiling.
"Please I'll do anything, this is my life!" Wickham pleaded looking desperately between them both.
"Oh boohoo you, did you think that when you ruined the lives of young ladies hmm?" Darcy hissed.
"I was only having some fun" Wickham defended himself.
"At the expense of young ladies reputations!" Richard stated coldly.
"Don't pretend like those young ladies were Angels" Wickham screeched.
"Is Georgina included in that list?" Darcy asked, shooting daggers at Wickham.
"No she's not. I admit that I was rather unkind in my treatment of Georgina but the others were no ladies I assure you" Wickham said as calmly as he could in his current predicament.
"That does not justify you taking advantage of them" Darcy argued.
"Why am I getting all the blame? They were more than willing I assure you!" Wickham said with some pride which annoyed Darcy and Richard even more.
"Just when I think you can get no more disgusting you go and prove me wrong!" Richard sneered.
"Oh please Fitzwilliam why don't you do us all a favour and get off your high horse!" Wickham snapped.
"How about I kick you in the face instead?" Richard asked glaring at the fiend before him.
"Wickham I would watch myself if I were you, I mean you wouldn't want to upset further the people who have your future in the palm of their hand now would you?" Darcy asked with a small smile.
"God rich boy you have been a thorn in my side from the day I met you!" Wickham hissed.
"Oh pray tell how I have been the thorn in your side?" Darcy chucked at the mere thought of it.
"Precious Darcy always got whatever he wanted whilst I had to watch from the side-lines, it made me sick!"
"Yes and you had such a horrible upbringing, you got everything that I got!"
"Everything I got I deserved having put up with you and your family" Wickham stated feeling immensely sorry for himself.
"Don't you dare insult my family, my father was nothing but good to you, better than your own father!" Darcy couldn't believe Wickham, his father had treated him like another son yet this was the thanks he was getting.
"And what did I get that I did not deserve?" Wickham asked genuinely.
Wickham question was not answered though, instead he got a fist in the eye by Richard.
"There you deserved that as well!" Richard said triumphantly.
"Would you please watch my face!" Wickham pleaded, looking around for some reflective surface to see if his handsome features were still intact.
"You maybe be alright looking on the outside but on the inside your as nasty as they come" Darcy told him quietly.
"Darcy what happened to make you hate me so? Is it that Georgina preferred me to you? Or that Miss Elizabeth likes me more than you? Which one is it?" Wickham asked with a gleam in his eye.
He once again didn't get an answer but instead got a fist in his jaw that sent him hissing in pain.
"That was a rather good punch cousin" Richard praised his cousin.
"Why thank you Richard, I have been taking extra fencing lessons of late and that's improved the muscle in my arms" Darcy said showing off the guns.
"Do you to mind not having this cosy little praising session and would you stop hitting me!" Wickham all but screeched.
"What is it with you and dictating to your captors?" Richard asked frowning.
"Do you not realise that you have absolutely no power in this situation whatsoever?" Darcy questioned also frowning.
"That does not mean you can abuse me?"
"Oh but I think it does" Richard informed him before swatting him at the back of the head.
"Now now Richard I think your being mean, I mean has Wickham ever done anything to warrant such behaviour?" Darcy inquired sarcastically.
"I think he has" Richard said truthfully.
"Well then bruise on" Darcy said with a wave of the hand that 'accidently' hit Wickham in the chin.
"For the hundredth time stop hitting me!" Wickham hissed glaring at them both.
"I've told you a million times not to exaggerate!" Richard said sarcastically earning him a chuckle from Darcy.
"That was a good one" Darcy complimented him.
"Why thank you I just came up with it on the spot" Richard said smiling with a puffed up chest.
"God you two are the most irritating people I have ever had the misfortune of meeting" Wickham sighed, his sympathy for himself increasing by the minute.
"How my heart bleeds for you Wickham" Darcy said sarcastically, wiping away a non-existent tear.
"What are we to do with him?" Richard asked Darcy seriously.
"I think debtor's prison would suit him nicely" Darcy said glaring at Wickham.
"Hmm maybe but then again I would dearly love to see Wickham here in a monastery wouldn't you?" Richard almost pleaded.
"Yes that would be pleasant I agree but then again what have the poor Priests ever done to us for us to give them such a fiend?" Darcy wondered out loud.
"I understand maybe we could send him to New Holland?"
"No I think Debtors prison is the way to go" Darcy said looking straight at Wickham.
"You can't do that, I won't go" Wickham insisted.
"You can and you will Wickham" Darcy said finally.
"Oh and who is going to make me?" Wickham questioned.
"I can think of a few people who will make you go" A voice said from the doorway.
"Ah Mr Bennet Colonel Forster" Darcy said smiling at his accomplices.
"Wha-what are you doing here" Wickham stuttered.
"Mr Bennet enlightened me as too your character and I was more than willing to help him in his endeavours" Colonel Forster said smiling, the sooner he got rid of him the better. The men in his regiment had been rather out of control since the arrival of Wickham and he was anxious to get them back under control.
"Don't believe them, they have it in for me!" Wickham pleaded with them.
"Oh but we do believe them and we have also had first-hand accounts from several tradesman and from young ladies who you have… been acquaintances with" Mr Bennet informed them.
"It isn't true though!" Wickham lied easily.
"Have you decided what to do?" Mr Bennet asked, completely ignoring Wickham.
"We have decided that it would be best to send him to debtor's prison" Darcy said on behalf of both of them.
"Good choice" Colonel Forster agreed.
"When shall we send him?" Mr Bennet enquired, hoping to get rid of the fiend as soon as possible.
"Tomorrow morning first thing but tonight he will have to spend the night in a cell in Meryton but first thing he will be out of here" Colonel Forster stated walking over to Wickham.
"I am not going!" Wickham said struggling from Darcy and Richard's grasp.
"You have no choice Wickham, now get up" Colonel Foster stated coolly.
Wickham couldn't even couldn't even complain as he was grabbed by the collar and thrust on his feet. He was then marched out of the Library and down the hall in front of all his fellow officers and guests. He had never been so embarrassed in his entire life, he could see the shock and curiosity in people's glances. He could hear the whisperers and felt his cheeks heat up. He looked at Miss Elizabeth who looked completely unfazed by his current predicament. This was it. The end for this mischievous ways. No more cavorting with young ladies; the thrill of the chase was over. No more gambling and feeling the rush of excitement when he won. No more drinking whatever he wanted in quantities that no one cared. No more freedom.
As he walked out into the moonlight he felt something unfamiliar pang in his chest. Not anger at someone else, jealousy for other's good fortunes or thrill at scheming some poor fool out of all he belonged. He suddenly regretted his actions, regretted not taking the chances that he had been given. He should have controlled himself when he was younger but he just spiralled out of control. Darcy had been right in what he said earlier, he had had all the same opportunities and as he had but he had been too stupid to realise it. Now whose fault was it? Certainly not Darcy's or Richard's or Mr Darcy senior's or his own father's. There was no one to blame but himself. Wickham sighed and looked up at the moon one more time before entering the carriage. He didn't bother look back at the faces that crowded by the door or windows, he blocked out their voices. He focused on the moons and felt….empty. He entered the carriage and closed his eyes. The only thing he could think was; where had it all went wrong?
Darcy stood in the doorway and watched as the carriage pulled away. He felt Richard by his side but neither spoke. Darcy didn't know why but he didn't feel happy, he didn't even feel relieved. He just felt… sad. Wickham had been his greatest friend when he was little. He at one time considered him a brother, was closer to him than he even was Richard but then things started to change and not for the better. Whilst Wickham had wronged not only Darcy but the people he loved the most it didn't mean that underneath all that anger there wasn't deep hurt. He had tried to help Wickham, put him on the right path but like his father once said there is just no helping some people. Darcy turned to Richard who looked deep in thought, he clapped him on the shoulder and walked back into Grangemore. The first person he saw was Elizabeth, he decided that she would help him lift his mood. He saw Miss Lucas look behind him and try to contain a smile so he presumed that Richard was also making his way in.
"Hello Miss Elizabeth Miss Lucas" Darcy bowed to both women who curtsied in response.
"Lovely to see you Mr Darcy" Miss Lucas stated but wasn't particularly interested, she was too busy staring at Richard. Darcy however wasn't offended he knew she didn't mean him any disrespect.
"Hello Ladies" Richard said with a dashing smile that made Miss Lucas giggle but then blush furiously and look away.
"Would you do me the honour of a dance?" Richard asked a bright red Miss Lucas, she was rather lovely when she blushed.
"Yes I would love to" Charlotte beamed before practically grabbing Richard and running him to the dance floor.
"Some people just love to dance" Lizzy observed watching Charlotte and Colonel Fitzwilliam dance.
"I know it can be highly entertaining" Darcy observed trying to stop smiling whilst looking at a flustered Richard.
"I haven't saw much of you tonight" Lizzy stated quietly.
"I apologise but I was dealing with business" Darcy said conspicuously.
"Did you get it all sorted?" Lizzy asked, knowing exactly what he was referring to.
"All sorted" Darcy confided in her with a dazzling smile that made her blush like…Charlotte.
"So how ha..." Lizzy began but was interrupted but her aunt Helena.
"Lizzy, your excellency" Helena said dramatically to her niece and Mr Darcy.
"Mrs Burton it has been too long" Darcy said kissing the back of her hand.
"Well I know how you must have grieved my absence but I have just come to ask you a question" Helena said waving a fan about dramatically.
"Oh please ask away" Darcy said kindly.
"Well my sister Madeleine…you know Gardiner?" Darcy nodded "Well her and Edward, you know her husband?" Darcy nodded "Well they travel to Derbyshire often but this year they wish to visit Lambton with Lizzy and Robert my son, have you met him?" Darcy shook his head "Well I shall have to introduce you but back to the problem at hand, the inn they usually stay in has some sort water damage or something or another and they were wondering if there is any other kind of inn or rental properties in the areas?" Helena questioned.
"Staying in Lambton? I didn't know" Darcy said, the wheels in his head turning.
"Yes they are. Is there nowhere for them to go, shall they have to rent a barn with horses and unicorns?" Helena's brow knitted.
"While Derbyshire had some of the finest barns in the country and the unicorns are delightful I don't think that it is the solution to your problem" Darcy said with a secret smile.
"Well shall they sleep outside? Probably the best for them, bunch of ruffians" Helena said smiling from ear to ear.
"Well why don't they stay at Pemberley?" Darcy asked looking at Elizabeth.
"Really oh wonderful, they would be honoured, I'll go tell Madeleine" Helena said bouncing off.
"Are you sure, we wouldn't want to inconvenience you" Lizzy said frowning but on the inside she could kiss her aunt Helena.
"No I insist, I greatly enjoy your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner and I would love for Georgie to become acquainted with you"….for when you become her sister, Darcy added silently.
"Oh well if it would be no problem I would like to say thank you" Lizzy said with a smile that literally stopped Mr Darcy's breath intake.
"Do not thank me I assure you the honour is all mine" Darcy said once he had regained his thoughts.
"Well how did it go?" Nora asked when Helena returned.
"It went to plan, they are to stay at Pemberley" Helena said almost jumping with excitement.
"What did you say?" Nora asked with a small smile.
"Oh I told them about the inn being damaged but left out that it was only some rooms damaged, I also said that Lizzy would be visiting and reeled him in" Helena stated mentally patting herself on the back.
"Well done Helena" Nora said patting her on the back.
"Why thank you Nora" Helena said grinning.
"We make a fabulous team you know but remember that we mustn't tell anyone including Emilia or Madeleine, they'll kill us for meddling even though they would have the cheek, the amount of times they interfere" Nora stated looking around to make sure no one was listening.
"I assure you I will take it to the grave" Helena stated before dramatically putting her hand over her heart.
"We should do this more often" Nora said smiling, she loved interfering.
"We did it for Madeleine and Edward remember?"
"Oh do I ever, they would constantly give each other puppy dog eyes but when it came to courting they were useless" Nora said reminiscing.
"Tell me about it! I had to practically lock them in a room together" Helena said sighing thinking of the hassle they had caused her.
"One day we should sit the younger ones down and tell them how we all met our dishonourable halves" Nora said smiling softly at Samuel.
"Oh we should, Oh I would love that!" Helena said already dying to tell them how her and her Henry got together.
"Well that is a plan then" Nora said looking at Charlotte and Colonel Fitzwilliam 'God I haven't got enough hats for all these weddings!'
Hope you liked this chapter, thanks for reading. Please review to let me know what you think.