I apologize for the long wait. I've had writer's block, competions and Spring Break....
Chapter Thirteen
It was late in the evening. Mr. Collins had taken upon himself to visit Mr. Wickham.
The officer had baggy eyelids and his eyes were blood shot. He had not shaved in days. His coat was wrinkled and he smelt of liquor from the top of his messy-haired head down to his scruffy boots.
He had not slept since that night. The event had rattled his soul. He could not even close his eyes without seeing the blood that covered the floor.
Mary had not spoken to him since that night. No letters either.
So it was safe to say that when Mr. Wickham had opened the door, he was severely disappointed to find that it was Mary's cousin at the door, not Mary herself.
However, he invited Mr. Collins in for a drink.
Mr. Wickham stumbled slightly as he took the wine from the cabinet to the end table, "It certainly is a surprise to have you calling upon me, Mr. Collins."
Mr. Collins smiled slightly, but inside he was reeling in disgust at the thought of Mary being engaged to this drunk, "Well, I am merely interested about how my cousin's future husband is doing."
Mr. Wickham poured the wine in the two glasses before going to put the wine back in the cabinet, "How is Mary doing, by the way?"
Mr. Collins adjusted his sleeve as Mr. Wickham walked back, "Mary is doing well. Why do you not call upon her?"
Mr. Wickham smiled sheepishly, "Every time I try to call upon the Bennet household, she is either out or sleeping. Odd, isn't it?"
Mr. Collins nodded, slightly, "Truly…"
Mr. Wickham took the wine glass and smiled at Mr. Collins, "Shall I propose a toast?"
Mr. Collins asked, nodded, "To what, Mr. Wickham?"
The officer looked out and smiled as he clicked his glass against Mr. Collins' glass, "To pretty women…"
"To pretty women," Mr. Collins said, smiling.
An hour later, Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham were simmering on the side of inebriation. They realized that they had a common interest.
Women.
"My favorite part about women is the way their lips move when they blow out a candle," Mr. Wickham said as he poured himself another glass.
"Ah, yes, and when they come down the stairway," Mr. Collins said as he sipped the wine.
"The way they smell after a walk in the garden," Mr. Wickham said, imagining.
"And the way they twirl their hair," Mr. Collins said, thinking of Mary when she did that while reading a book.
"Oh, Mr. Collins, you are a man after my own heart," Mr. Wickham said, friendly.
He smiled at him, "Is there a woman you have your eye on? Perhaps one of the Bennet daughters? Kitty? Lydia?"
Mr. Collins smiled slightly, "Mary…"
There was a pause before Mr. Wickham laughed slightly, hoping that he was not serious, "…Oh, you have an interesting sense of humor, Mr. Collins."
Mr. Collins said as he finished his drink, "If I were making a joke, I would agree with you."
Mr. Wickham stared at Mr. Collins for a moment and then felt the jealously rise up in him.
"Oh…Well, you do understand that she is engaged to me….Pining after her would be pointless," Mr. Wickham said, trying to keep his composure.
Mr. Collins looked at him, smugly, "Whatever you say, Mr. Wickham."
Mr. Collins felt so good knowing that Mary was in love with him, not with Mr. Wickham. And that he was the one that was going to be with Mary. Not Mr. Wickham.
In his state of mind, he wanted to show off this more. It was something he would not have done if he were in sound mind.
"See, Mary is a woman that requires an intelligent mind," Mr. Collins said.
Mr. Wickham glared slightly at that, "…You lie. She does not care. I do not mind being inferior to her in that matter."
Mr. Collins just smirked, "And do tell me, Mr. Wickham, who will Mary go to when the charm of an officer wears thin?…"
"Certainly not to someone of your arrogance," Mr. Wickham said, his vision getting blurry. He took another drink of his wine.
"Rather it be me than a brute such as yourself," Mr. Collins said.
Mr. Wickham grew angrier at this statement, "What makes you think that Mary would want to be with someone like you?"
Mr. Collins just laughed.
Mr. Wickham's breathing quickened and he went to grab the wine bottle. His intention was to smash the wine bottle across Mr. Collins' mocking face.
But his hand wavered and he dropped the wine bottle. The bottle burst and the glass scattered all over the rug.
Mr. Wickham swayed slightly as he leaned back into the chair. His eyes rolled back and closed as his head rolled back. He was out cold.
Mr. Collins smirked as he put his hand under Mr. Wickham's head and moved it, making sure he was passed out.
Step Two…
When he went to check, his sleeve went down, revealing that he hand a band around his wrist. And on that band was a small vial.
It was easily just to shake his wrist and pour the contents into Mr. Wickham's wine glass without the officer noticing.
Mr. Collins smirked as he watched as Mr. Wickham began to open his eyes. He tried to speak, but he couldn't open his mouth. He tried to move, but he couldn't. He began to panic.
Mr. Collins said, "Mr. Wickham, your body is so numb, you cannot move. I am sorry that it had to come to this."
He grabbed a pillow off the couch.
"But I will not let Mary be with scum like you. She is mine," He said as he put the pillow over Mr. Wickham's face.
It only took a few minutes.
Mr. Collins sighed as he took the pillow off and started at Mr. Wickham.
He left the house and his victim behind.
Mary was in her bedroom, brushing her hair when someone knocked on the door. She got up and opened the door to see Mr. Collins.
She knew that he did it. She could tell by the look in his eyes.
She took his hand and caressed it, softly, "Wonderful job, love…"
Mr. Collins smiled at her, but his smile turned into a frown, "There is still the matter of Charlotte."
Mary frowned in jealousy, "…I will take care of her…How much is her dowry?"
Mr. Collins said, "A sizable amount…"
Mary asked, "And the wedding date?"
Mr. Collins told her, "December…"
Mary smiled as she said, "Here's the plan…"
Cliffhanger. ^^