Chapter 33: The enemy of my enemy is my friend

He knew that Miss Bingley would not give in to his blackmail easily. He expected some attack from her side and kept looking over his back for a few days.

He had asked Dorothy to quit her job, and she was currently residing with Mrs Younge. He took a room in a lodge. I cannot afford for her to get caught by Miss Bingley. He thought.

He hoped that he could get a lot of money from her as often as he wished. He even contemplated marrying Dorothy to have a better hold of the situation. But he had always looked at marriage as a way of settling with a fortune. So, he did not want to get things complicated.

He stood at Hyde Park on Saturday morning, waiting for Miss Bingley. He did not like the idea of going back empty-handed.

He saw her walk towards him. A small smile played on her face, and she looked confident. Somehow her demeanor unsettled him.

"Good morning, Mr Wickham."

"Good morning, Miss Bingley. You look beautiful." He said with a handsome smile.

Miss Bingley smiled back at him.

"Did you bring the money?" He asked with a disappointed look as he eyed her small purse.

"I did not." She said plainly.

I knew it.

"You still do not understand the seriousness of the situation, do you? I know where you live. I cannot wait till you give in. I bet your brother will be very interested to hear my story."

"I thought you were an intelligent man. You seem to prove otherwise."

"What do you mean? Do you think I am scared to tell the story?"

"I am merely suggesting that you won't get anything by telling it."

"But it will ruin your reputation, and you will have no chance in society."

"What does that give you?" She asked him, raising her eyebrows.

He was silent.

"It gives you nothing. My brother won't give you a penny. If I don't give you what you asked for, you get nothing. Do you understand that?"

"Are you willing to risk everything for money?"

"Well, that is my decision. What I was wondering is that if you could assist me, I may be able to pay you more than what you asked for."

Wickham was surprised by her words.

"How would I be able to assist you?"

"I maybe able to pay you more handsomely if I were to be Mrs Darcy."

What is wrong with her?

"Madam, he is married. I do not see how you could become his wife. Maybe you can declare that you were the one he should have compromised and win his affection." He said and let out a laugh.

"I can be Mrs Darcy. If you can get rid of the woman who is holding the position now."

Wickham was shocked. He had done a lot of misdeeds in his life, but he had never murdered anyone.

"I am not a thug. Who told you I would be up to murdering someone for money?"

"There is no need to murder her. You can kidnap her. I think Mr Darcy does not trust her. We can spin a story that she eloped with you. I am still thinking of a perfect plan."

Wickham could not believe his ears. Does she think she can marry Darcy like this?

"Mr Wickham, just imagine the kind of money I can give you if I am the mistress of Pemberley."

"Do you think he will marry you?"

"Mr Darcy has principles. Even if he married her, he still blames her for the compromise. I know that now. If we slander her reputation again, he will have no choice but to divorce her. I am not sure how, but I am intent on becoming his wife. I will. I am thinking about it every second."

Wickham's mind raced to Elizabeth. As much as he wanted to avoid getting into Miss Bingley's schemes, greed engulfed him. Greed for money and the woman he had missed so narrowly.

"Miss Bingley, how can I trust you? I am putting myself in danger. You will look innocent in the whole thing."

"You need to trust me. Don't you want to get revenge on Mr Darcy? Don't you want to humiliate him?"

Her words tempted him. Yes, I do. I cannot imagine how gratifying it would be to have his wife and put him to shame.

"What is your plan?"

"I am still thinking about it. You need to abduct and ruin her. She already has a reputation for orchestrating a compromise. We can easily slander her further. We must convince everyone that she left him for another man. We need to find the right time to execute it."

I am willing to take the risk. It is too tempting to let go. But I cannot trust her.

"Miss Bingley, if I am to be a part of this, I need some money in advance. I cannot go into this blindly."

"Do not worry about that. Can I trust you?" She asked him earnestly.

"Of course, you can trust me. I am your friend." He said and smiled handsomely.

Miss Bingley smiled back at him. The enemy of my enemy is my friend!