AN: Well everyone, I am finally back! I cannot apologize enough for keeping you all waiting for so long. Although I returned home Saturday morning, I forgot how exhausting camp is (even more so now that I returned for the first time as a leader instead of as one of the girls) and things got crazy pretty quickly. Despite my anxiousness to post (I have been really looking forward to writing and sharing this chapter), life and a lonely husband got in the way demanding I catch up after camp. If it's any consolation, my mom has been bugging me non-stop about this chapter since I got home, and she is very much aware that I had no time to do so. So, since I finally had time to write today/yesterday, I decided I needed to once again stay up late and finish this chapter. I hope the fact that it is my longest yet will appease your impatience. I also hope and pray that I will never have need to make you wait so long for a new chapter again. Much love and enjoy! -Allahteeah


Chapter 10

Shrinking further into the shadows, Darcy watched his old friend down yet another brandy. With a small smile he took a sip from his own glass.

For two days he had waited for an opportunity to confront Wickham, only to have the scoundrel successfully evade him through his new employment. Bitterly Darcy had speculated that it was perhaps the first time in his life that Wickham had lifted a finger in honest work. Although the delay in protecting his beloved had greatly agitated him, Darcy was grateful as the time had allowed him to develop a plan that would hopefully keep the man out of his life forever.

When he first left Longbourn Thursday afternoon, Darcy had been determined to hunt Wickham down and cause bodily harm to the man for giving Miss Elizabeth more reasons to despise him after the hurt he had caused Georgiana. Upon discovering that he would be detained for several days as Colonel Forster was personally seeing to the charming lieutenants' training, he came to the realization that if he let his anger take over, he would only push Miss Elizabeth farther away from him.

It had dawned upon him that if Wickham were to come to sudden harm, Miss Elizabeth would know that he had been involved. Although she had not fully recognized him when he had possessed Cyrus' body, she was very aware of the fact that the cat had been under his power and influence. As such she would be aware that he knew about her private conversation with her sister if Wickham disappeared. For the moment, he was willing to let her delude herself into thinking of his interference in her life as nothing more than pure imagination. When the time came, however, for her memories to return and she realized the full extent of what he had done, he was hopeful that she would be forgiving. He also hoped that she would be able to tell him who was watching them, unless he discovered it for himself first.

For some unknown strange reason, Darcy and Elizabeth were being carefully watched by a powerful being. Although he was sure it was not the first time they had been thus watched, it was the first time anyone had interfered in their everyday lives.

Upon further reflection, he was indeed convinced that the same person who was watching them was also preventing the return of Iliana's memories. Having seen the beginning of recognition in her eyes after he had kissed her, he knew that she would have had to have recognized the being somehow, and trusted it, in order to let her true self fade away once more. This understanding, however, offered no comfort only more uncertainty and fear. If indeed Iliana had recognized the being as trustworthy enough not to let her memories return, then the being's presence meant that they were in greater danger this time around. Speculation, however, would get him nowhere at the present time, instead he needed to focus on his task at hand.

Even though he knew Wickham to be training, Darcy wanted to be aware of his every movement so that he could approach at the earliest moment. However, due to constant rain over the past two days, he had been unable to escape Netherfield to personally watch him. Instead he had asked Cyrus to follow Wickham around. Finally, after two days of impatient waiting, Darcy spied the cat from the drawing room window shortly after dinner.

Feigning indisposition, Darcy excused himself from the Netherfield party for the evening and retired to his room. Upon arrival, he quickly dismissed his valet for the night expressing a desire to remain undisturbed until morning. Once he was left alone, Darcy secured the lock on both his bedroom and dressing room doors, changed into a set of rough work clothes, ragged coat and farmers cap, and walked towards his window to open it

Looking out, Darcy was pleased to discover Cyrus directly beneath his open window watching him expectantly. Smiling, he reached out with his consciousness until he touched the cats welcoming mind and once again allowed himself to take over the cat's body.

Having heard Cyrus' thoughts before the merge, Darcy immediately understood Wickham to have entered a tavern with several of his fellow officers about an hour ago. Darcy was delighted with the information as it would mean that his plan would be easily implemented in such an atmosphere.

Not wishing to waste any time, Darcy quickly bounded away from Netherfield towards Meryton delighting in his freedom from inside the suffocating house. As he made his way towards town, Darcy contemplated on the anxiety he always felt whenever there was poor weather.

During an evening conversation with Miss Elizabeth while she and her sister were staying at Netherfield, the topic had arisen between herself and Bingley. Bingley had claimed that there was no more awful subject than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening when he has nothing to do. Although Bingley had not specifically mentioned poor weather, it had been implied and had in fact been to what Bingley referred the most heavily to. While at the time he had been upset with his friend for portraying him in such a poor light, Darcy had been unable to deny the statement. Darcy had never done well when forced to stay inside; a fact he owned to his true inner-self. As a fairy, Eavan was one with nature. He belonged outside where there was always fresh air to be had. As a gentleman, however, especially one of such consequence as him, Darcy was often cooped up inside during inclement weather; his poor attitude a testament to his restlessness and frustration.

Arriving at the tavern, Darcy quickly surveyed the building. Despite the torrential rain, there was much traffic in and out of the building; most patrons those who had been working in their fields or shops all day alongside the officers. Darcy was grateful for the crush of people as it would allow for the most witnesses, and also help to prevent his sticking out like a sore thumb. He wanted to blend in as that would serve him the most advantageously. Skirting in and out of several men as they walked towards the tavern door, Darcy made his way to a small window ledge and nimbly leapt up. Peering in through the filmy glass, he quickly spotted Wickham sitting at a large table playing cards and appearing in good spirits. With a mischievous twitch of his tail, Darcy considered that never before had lady luck shone on him as bright as it did at that moment.

Jumping down from the window ledge, Darcy made his way up the street and behind a shop several buildings away from the tavern. Looking around to make sure he would not be observed, he quickly separated himself from Cyrus. Crouching down, he scratched the cat behind the ears and told him to go home, thanking him once again for his service. When Cyrus hesitated to leave, however, Darcy merely chuckled and told him that unless he could manage to jump to a second story window without a nearby tree, he would be required to find another host to return him to his bedroom that night. "You might as well go home to Mr. Taylor, my friend, where I am certain you will find a nice fire to curl up in front of," Darcy said. With a loud purr, Cyrus rubbed his neck up and down Darcy's leg before disappearing into the darkening night.

Standing up tall, Darcy looked around once more before taking a deep breath. After two days of careful planning and impatient waiting, he was finally ready to exact his revenge on the man who had caused him nothing but misery his entire life. He was determined not to let Wickham influence his life, or the lives of those he cared about, ever again.

Closing his eyes, he passed his hands up over his face and through his dark curly hair, dislodging his cap and changing his features. Turning, he looked into an empty shop window and observed his blurred reflection. Gone was the clean shaven dimpled face he claimed as his, and in its place was a large and scruffy square jaw with a large crooked nose beneath heavy set eyes and bushy reddish-brown brows. His once curly hair now hung limp and straight in the same hue as his eyebrows. Bending down to pick up his fallen cap, he quickly placed it on his head as he adjusted the size of the rest of his appearance.

Although he was unable to physically change his form as a mortal, Darcy had discovered many centuries ago that not only could he inhabit an animal's body, he could alter how he appeared to others; a talent that had become quite handy during several of his many lifetimes. As long as no one came into physical contact with him, he would be able to pass for a much larger and burlier man than he truly was.

While he had been planning for his confrontation with Wickham, Darcy had carefully considered who he wished to impersonate as he had no desire for his name to be associated with what would occur. Not only was he concerned about Miss Elizabeth's opinion of him, but he also had Georgiana's reputation to consider. For years, he had been quietly buying up Wickham's debts and having the man followed. It had been massive blows to Darcy's confidence to have Wickham disappear just before and after the Ramsgate incident. As a result, however, of his careful watching, Darcy was aware of several families and merchants who would gladly pay to see Wickham set down. At the time he had begun to keep track of Wickham's whereabouts, he had been simply trying to protect his family name for Georgiana's sake knowing he might not always be there to protect her only for it to turn into his personal attempt to improve the lives of those who were not as blessed as he. Never had it crossed his mind that the information might one day become useful to him in disposing of Wickham from his life.

After careful consideration, he had chosen a family from Somerset whose only daughter had been compromised almost three years ago. Unfortunately she had not survived childbirth and her parents had been very distraught. In their despair, her father's business began to fail at the same rate as her mother's declining health. Wishing to avenge his sister's death and bring peace to his parents' life, her elder brother had left home to hunt Wickham down. Regretfully, the man had been thrown from his horse and had been unable to continue to pursue the scoundrel he believed to have killed his beloved sister due to permanent injuries.

Although the brother had been unable to continue his search, Wickham was unaware of the family's reduced circumstances and the brother's attempted pursuit; Darcy planned to use this to his advantage. It also helped that he had kept in contact with the family, helping them as they struggled to recover from their losses, and as such knew that Wickham would be unlikely to run into the family again. The brother also had been blessed with large rugged looks inherited from his Irish ancestors; size, whether real or not, would definitely be useful in intimidating his foe. Intimidation was his goal.

Slightly hunched over, Darcy made his way towards the tavern. Once he stepped inside, he removed his cap stuffing it into his coat pocket and shook the rain from his shoulders. With a scowl, he looked around at the assembled men, pleased at the wary looks he was receiving, until his gaze alighted on Wickham. Smirking, he watched as Wickham leaned across the table to take the current trick.

Not wishing to approach Wickham just yet, Darcy sauntered up to the bar and took a seat. Immediately the men on either side of the stool he had taken moved slightly away from him as the tavern owner approached him.

"What can I get ya, mister?"

"A brandy if you please my good man," Darcy replied with a hoarse voice attempting to disguise that as well. After the owner had brought him his drink, Darcy quickly stopped the man from walking away by pulling out a handful of coins and laying them out on the counter, keeping his hand over the pile of coins. "I would also like for my friend's glass over there to be kept full," he stated gesturing over his shoulder towards Wickham.

Shaking his head, the owner looked at him hesitantly. "I don't want no trouble."

With a sinister smile, Darcy looked up at the man. "I'm not here to cause trouble; I just wish to have a chat with an old friend of mine. I just think it would be easier to get what I want if he were to be in a better mood before discovering I am here. Besides, I would hate to interrupt him during a winning streak. After all, if I were to stop him now, I might never get back what he owes me."

"Sorry, sir, but I can't allow ya to rough up my customers. It ain't good fer business ya know."

Having expected the proprietor to be hesitant, Darcy reached into his jacket and pulled out a full bag of coins, adding it to the pile already sitting on the counter. Leaning back with his arms crossing his chest, he watched as the man looked at the pile of money sitting in front of him over towards Wickham and back again to his own face, a greedy glint in his eyes.

"Very well. But I won't have no fights in my tavern ya hear! If it comes to blows take it out inta the street."

Darcy reached for his glass and raised it in a silent toast to the man in thanks before taking a large swallow. Scowling, the owner quickly scooped up the pile of coins dropping it into his pocket. Darcy watched as the portly man walked away towards a serving girl and began whispering to her making gestures to both himself and Wickham. Certain that the man would do as he had asked Darcy stood and walked towards a dark corner table then turned his attention towards his quarry.

Already well on his way towards being in his cups, Wickham was joyfully laughing with those seated around the card tables. When the serving girl approached with a new glass, Wickham simply looked up at her with a lascivious smile and wrapping his arms around her waist pulled her towards him. When she tried to break away, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear causing her to blush becomingly. With a small smile she congratulated him on his decided luck that evening before offering him a full view down her bosom. Pleased, Wickham licked his lips as he perused the offering. Before long, his fellows called his attention back to the game and he released the serving girl reluctantly.

Disgusted, Darcy struggled not to rise from his seat and force the girl away from the cad. If he was to be successful in his plan, he needed to remain unnoticed by Wickham for as long as possible. However, not wishing to remain any longer than necessary, Darcy quickly began to work his magic in an effort to hurry the process along.

Wickham had never held his liquor well, so by keeping him well supplied with brandy, Darcy knew the man would be unable to resist and soon would be oblivious to most of his surroundings. That was the easy part of his plan, however; the rest would be a little trickier.

Carefully watching the man from his dark corner, Darcy took stock of Wickham's opponents. Most of the men were fellow officers, but there were several local shop owners who were taking turns entering the fray. After a few games, Darcy realized that Wickham was still as poor a player as ever, he had just been lucky enough to be seated at a table with players who wished to give him a false sense of security. Smiling, Darcy knew that he had indeed come upon the most brilliant plan, and that by the end of the evening, Wickham would be dealt with for good.

As Wickham continued to down the never ending glasses of brandy, he became more reckless in his playing and with his bids. Darcy noticed the secretive looks shared by the other players and knew that it was finally time to act. With a slight flick of his hand under the table, Darcy stacked the deck in Wickham's favor from across the room. Surprise caught every other player as Wickham took trick after trick.

Not wishing to cause suspicion among the players, Darcy was careful to let Wickham lose a few hands when his bids had been lower. Before long, however, the other players began to leave the table in anger at having lost all their money to a drunk. Oblivious to the feelings of the others, Wickham continued to play against those who dared to attempt to win against him, letting the giddiness of winning and the alcohol get to him.

"I say, Denny!" Wickham practically yelled as his friend pushed his chair away from the table to stand up. "We're having such a grand ol' time, ain't we? There's no need for such a sour face. Sit back down, play another round!"

"I'm done Wickham," Denny replied. "It is obvious that despite your intoxicated state I am no match for your skills at the game. Let us call it a night. We have much to accomplish on the morrow."

"Nonsense my friend! I cannot leave now when fortune has finally smiled upon me! At last I shall have what that insufferable Darcy denied me. I am determined to have what is rightfully mine!"

"You are in no state to continue so, Wickham. And though we all know Mr. Darcy to be a proud and disagreeable man, surely you can have no complaint against him. You have only just met the man!"

"HA! That is where you...where you are wrong my friend," Wickham stuttered, his head bobbing dangerously as he attempted to swallow more brandy. "I have known the pompous pig my entire life! He has denied me everything that was meant for me! A living, a comfortable life as a gentleman, and a wife with a large dowry! He has taken everything from me, but no more!" He said his voice gradually rising until at the very end he had been shouting as he slammed his drink down upon the table.

Startled at the violence of the man, Denny took a step back from Wickham before once more attempting to draw him away from the table. Shaking off his friend, Wickham stood and looked around the room, calling for more challengers. Although none of the players had left the tavern, they instead turned to others for cards or gathered around the counter for drinks. Content in knowing that all was going exactly as he had hoped, due to careful magical manipulation, Darcy quietly stood up and walked to a seat across from Wickham. Pulling out yet another pouch of coins and tossing it onto the table, Darcy looked up into Wickham's glazed eyes and stated calmly that he would play.

Squinting and rocking unsteadily upon his feet, Wickham looked Darcy up and down carefully before nodding and sitting back down.

Just as Darcy had hoped, his simple action had garnered the attention of all those in the tavern. From the moment he had entered the building, everyone had been wary of the large, quiet stranger. That he would finally leave his solitude behind to challenge Wickham to a game shocked everyone in the room. Before long, the noise in the tavern had dulled to a quiet din as everyone strained to get a view. Out of the corner of his eye, Darcy noticed the owner nervously watching the pair while obsessively polishing the same spot on a mug with his dirty rag.

"We've met before, haven't we?" Wickham asked breaking the eerie silence.

"Not officially, no," Darcy replied in a low grumble, a dangerous smile upon his face. "Although we do share several acquaintances, one of which I am quite surprised to discover you have just slandered before this entire room."

"Humph...you must be one of Darcy's pets he has sent to keep me in line," Wickham spat. "Well you can tell him that try as he might, he will never again tell me what to do and I shall not leave Meryton simply because he was here first. I shall not be kept like you."

Laughing, Darcy looked his old friend in the eye and truthfully stated, "I am not on Darcy's pay." Sitting down, he reached forward and began to play with the coin bag he had pulled out. "Although I have briefly met the man many years ago, I am here on my own free will to collect on a debt you owe me."

"How can I owe you a debt if you say we have never met?"

"All shall be revealed, but for now, I wish to play. Do you accept my challenge?" Darcy asked as he began to toss the bag of coins in his hand. Keeping a neutral facade, he watched as Wickham eyes followed the bag. Nodding, Wickham gestured for Darcy to deal first.

Once again using his magic, Darcy carefully stacked the deck in such a way as to give Wickham a false sense of security. With each trick Wickham took, his confidence grew as his unease lessened. What he failed to notice, however, was Darcy's increasing pleasure and delight; a fact that had not gone unnoticed by those surveying the game.

After the first round had been completed, Wickham glanced up at his opponent triumphantly only to be arrested by the contented smile upon his face. Chuckling at the anger quickly suffusing his face, Darcy asked in a low voice, "How do you plan on spending your winnings, Wickham?"

Confused, Wickham quirked his head as he contemplated the man seated in front of him. "I do not see how that is any business of yours."

"Oh, but surely you must know that I am here simply because you are my business."

Shuffling the deck, Wickham refused to answer and instead glared at his opponent. Leaning back in his chair, Darcy watched Wickham deal out the cards and again, using subtle movements stacked the deck completely in Wickham's favor.

As the next round continued, and Wickham continued to win more of Darcy's money, he again let his excitement grow. Upon completion of the round, he looked up at Darcy with a smirk and asked if the man wished to forfeit. Shaking his head, Darcy held out his hand for the deck and began to shuffle.

"Tell me Wickham, have you already run up debts with all the tradesmen in this town? Based on your history, I would be quite shocked if you were to answer in the negative. Perhaps you should put your winnings towards those to whom you owe money. Then again, if I know you at all, I know you will never do the honorable thing."

Darcy's words had an immediate effect upon the room. Whispers broke out among all the shopkeepers in attendance, and the few who were attending to their own conversations wandered closer to the card table anxious not to miss a thing.

Squirming under the building tension in the room, Wickham leaned forward and quietly whispered, "Who are you and what do you want from me?"

Ignoring the questions, Darcy looked up with a steely glint in his eyes. "Care for another round Wickham? Or are you afraid that your luck is finally running out?"

Scowling, Wickham threw a handful of coins onto the table in answer.

Having stacked the deck again, Darcy watched as Wickham began to grow uncomfortable with his winning streak. Darcy hoped that it would only take one last round after this before he finally broke through Wickham's defenses. Although he could continue to accuse Wickham of his misdeeds, without a confession, all would be for naught. Only then would Darcy make his final move.

Hesitantly, Wickham looked up to Darcy's smiling face as he gathered the rounds winnings to add to his pile. With a gesture from Darcy, the young serving girl came forward with a new glass of brandy for both gentlemen. Thanking her, he watched as Wickham nearly shoved the girl away from him in frustration.

"What appears to be the matter Wickham? Has the young lady lost her charm on you already? I must say I am quite astonished since you never lose interest in a young woman until after you have had her in bed." Angry words were huffed quietly from many of the gentlemen nearby while the tavern owner quickly strode forward placing a protective arm around the girls shoulder and leading her away from Wickham.

"What would you know of my interests?" Wickham sneered.

"Plenty. I remember the day I first laid eyes on you. There you were, standing in my father's store, flirting with my younger sister. Every day for a week you would stop by the store, add more items to your growing bill, and charm dear Cassandra. Then suddenly you disappeared, leaving behind you debts and a broken heart." As he finished his speech, Darcy struggled to remember that he was portraying another man, and as such could not think on his own dear Georgiana's heartbreak.

"Ah, I know who you are" Wickham said with a smile of comprehension. "I should have known by the red of your hair. You are the McClellin son. So," he sneered, "you have followed me for three years all the way here to Hertfordshire for something as simple as an unpaid debt to your father and the foolishness of a young girl? In that case here, take your money; I have no need of you."

"I do not want your money as your debt has already been paid. Mr. Darcy discovered through his man of the many debts you had incurred in our town and was kind enough to compensate us accordingly."

"Yes, yes. Good ol' Darcy always coming to my rescue. What need have I of honor when that gentleman is always so willing to step in for me?"

Seething in anger, Darcy forced himself to calm down before replying. "Your deal Wickham." Waiting until Wickham's arrogance had once again arisen with each new trick he took Darcy eagerly took advantage of his distraction to deliver his final blow. "What you have failed to realize, Wickham, is that Mr. Darcy was unable to cover all of your debts with my family, though he tried most valiantly. It is for this reason that I am here. In following you all these years, I have come across several others to whom Darcy has attempted to pay off your debts, only to fall short. Where you are filled with selfishness and conceit, that gentleman has behaved most honorably."

"He only does so out of concern for his name. He does not care about anyone outside of his family circle."

"That is where you are wrong, Wickham," Darcy fumed. "If a man like Mr. Darcy were truly that self-centered, then he would not willingly go out of his way to pay for your mistakes. I never once heard mention of that man's name until well after you had left our town. If he had never shown up, I would not have known you once had a connection to that family." Uncomfortable with the turn the conversation had taken as he had not wished to forward his own interests and qualities, he quickly brought the topic round to his final point. "It is for what he tried to compensate us for and failed to do so that has led me here this night. I do not want Mr. Darcy to atone for your mistakes any longer. I wish to repay my debt to him by claiming mine from you."

"You have already declined my money, so I fail to see what I can give you."

"It is about time you come to the crux of the situation. You cannot give me what I want in order to repay your debts. Instead, you will repay me by coming clean with these good folks here and living an honest life from here on out."

"What makes you think you have the power over me to do such a thing?" Wickham asked nervously as he watched those around them inching ever closer to him.

"Because I know you better than anyone else in this room Wickham; and what I know, once shared, will give you no other option."

"I am not afraid of you," Wickham stated as he took the final trick and all the coins.

Chuckling darkly Darcy reached across the table and began to take his money back from Wickham. Enraged, Wickham stood and drunkenly tried to shove his hand away while yelling. "How dare you! You lost McClellin. Take your hands off of my winnings and go home to your pathetic store and your idiotic sister."

"Cassandra is dead, Wickham. She died giving birth to your child! She wasn't alone either. Two of your brats now run motherless through our streets," Darcy stated sullenly watching as angry men began to crowd Wickham whispering of their own daughters with whom he had flirted with since his arrival.

"They are not mine. You can have no proof of it."

"Then explain to me how my sister died convinced you would return to her!"

"She was a fool, that's why! How could I love someone as silly and young as her? Oh I admit she was a beauty, but the pretty ones always are the most ignorant. You should have seen her, practically begging me to make love to her. I will admit she was a quick learner; one of the fastest I must say. What I would give to live those nights over again," Wickham stated proudly, oblivious to the fury radiating from the men around him. His only goal was to provoke his opponent into reacting.

Darcy heaved a heavy sigh. He knew that although he had finally gotten him to confess, what Wickham had said was a falsehood; based off of the McClellin's story, poor Cassandra had been forced upon. Sending a silent prayer asking for her forgiveness in the slight falsehood he had given, Darcy stood and finished collecting his coins, further enraging Wickham.

"I thank you sir for your confession. Now I can return home knowing that I have repaid my debt to Mr. Darcy in ruining you. No longer will he need to pay your debts as no one will ever extend you credit or admit you into their society ever again."

"I think not McClellin. You have failed to do more than malign my own good name and share your family's tattered reputation with all present. Now I insist that you return my winnings to me."

"I will do no such thing for you did not win."

Laughing harshly, Wickham leveled an icy glare at him before gesturing to all the confused faces around him. "I beg to disagree. All these fine men will attest to my winning."

"Indeed they will unless they figure out what I have known all evening," Darcy smirked. "You, Wickham, have never been an honest man."

Suddenly realizing what Darcy was implying, Denny and another officer quickly grabbed hold of Wickham's arms and pulled up his jacket sleeves. Several cards immediately fell out all over the table. Panic immediately set in for Wickham and he gazed at those closing in on him.

"No! I did not put those there. You set me up!" he pointed accusingly at Darcy.

"How could I have done such a thing?" Darcy asked hiding the glee he felt. "I have been watched from the moment I entered this establishment. Every person here can attest to the fact that I have not once laid a finger on you despite my great desire to do so." With those words, Darcy turned and began to walk away, the crowd silently moving aside for him. "I would suggest, Wickham you make your life easier and simply give everyone their money back willingly," he called over his shoulder.

At the door he was met by the tavern owner who tipped his head and said, "on behalf of all the town of Meryton, sir, I thank thee fer exposin' that wretched being fer who he is before anyone could suffer."

Smiling, Darcy nodded in return and said, "It was my pleasure, sir." Turning to look back, he noticed Wickham was already closed in from all sides by angry men. With a sigh, he tossed his bag of coins to the owner who barely caught it in his surprise. "For the trouble I did not want to cause you," he said with a nod towards the crowd.

Without another word, Darcy strode quickly from the tavern wishing to put as much distance between him and the place before chaos broke out. Once he had achieved a secluded destination, and seeing no one else around, Darcy quickly dropped the enchantment he had used to change his appearance, and searched the night sky for a creature to take him home. Smiling he caught a brief glimpse of the owl he had discovered his first night in Hertfordshire.

With a gentle word, Darcy called out to the animal. As soon as the owl had come close enough to see clearly, he quickly grasped hold of the creatures mind and merged with it. As he flew off towards Netherfield, Darcy thought of how much easier his life would now be without Wickham in it.


AN: For someone who said she'd rarely post an AN, I feel weird posting 2 in a single chapter. However, I felt this could not be included at the beginning.

I wish to add a disclaimer to this chapter. I know nothing about card games and gambling from the 1800's. To be honest, I hardly know card games now. If it is not Solitaire, Hearts or Canasta I am totally lost! I'd gladly take Skip-Bo or Phase 10 any day; Fluxx, too! People have tried to teach me other games over the years, and I just don't get it! That being said, I found myself too frustrated and confused when I attempted to research what Darcy and Wickham might have played, not to mention my anxiousness to get this uploaded for everyone. So, if this chapter is not historically accurate enough for you, I apologize. Perhaps in the future I might attempt to once again research games played during the regency era, but for now, I am quite happy with how this chapter turned out as I truly have been impatiently waiting to share my version of Wickham's downfall with you. Until next time!