Author's note:
Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to give feedback - the positive and the areas where people feel I should have shown greater historical accuracy. It is all very useful. I'm glad so many of you are enjoying the story. I know some of you have appreciated it being released quite quickly, but I can't promise it will also be the case. This book has been easy as it has already been published. Someone also asked me, if I would make it clearer when new parts had been published, but I am not sure how easy that is to do when you are all reading at your own pace. However, I am now posting the rest of the book. Enjoy.
Chapter Thirty-One
As Elizabeth entered the church, it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the sudden gloom in contrast to the beautiful day outside. Mr. Darcy was already striding up the aisle, calling out to the reverend who was standing near the altar with four people facing him. Elizabeth could not immediately see who they were, but as she got closer, she suddenly saw Georgiana turn around, her face full of horror. A man who she presumed was George Wickham was standing beside Georgiana. He was wearing a red jacket with gold and white trousers, and although not as tall as Mr. Darcy, had the sort of stature that people stared at. He too turned and stared at Darcy. Elizabeth knew instantly that he had a deep hatred of his old childhood friend.
"This ceremony must be stopped at once," said Mr. Darcy, waving his cane in a most alarming manner.
The reverend, a plump man with a reddening face, looked most annoyed at being interrupted. "And you are, sir?"
"Fitzwilliam Darcy, of Pemberley, Derbyshire. This is my sister and this man is a fraud."
Georgiana looked mortified. "Fitzwilliam…. Please don't make a fuss. What are you doing here?"
The handsome man at Georgiana's side stepped forward, putting himself between Georgiana and Mr. Darcy. "There's nothing for you here. Why don't you just go away, Darcy?" Elizabeth saw the sneer on Wickham's face and shivered. Despite his handsome looks, there was something quite menacing about him. She thought about the bruise on Mary Moser's face. He was a man with a temper. She hoped that Mr. Darcy would not unduly antagonise him.
Mr. Darcy stood his ground. "I am going nowhere without my sister," he said firmly. "This wedding is not going to take place."
"And what objection do you have, sir?" asked the reverend.
Elizabeth too was curious to know what Mr. Darcy would say. The fact that Mr. Darcy didn't like Wickham was not enough to halt the ceremony.
"There is nothing," snapped Wickham. "He's just causing trouble. Let's get on with the service."
Elizabeth was worried for a moment that Mr. Darcy would strike the man he considered a scoundrel, but he did not.
"I cannot continue without investigating whether this gentleman's objection is valid, sir," said the reverend, ignoring Mr. Wickham's fury. "Proceed, sir.
The man and woman who were acting as witnesses stepped aside and started whispering urgently at each other.
"The ceremony cannot take place, sir," said Mr. Darcy, his eyes firmly fixed on Mr. Wickham not the reverend. "Mr. Wickham is already married."
Elizabeth was not sure whether it was Georgiana who gasped loudly or herself. She could see that Georgiana was starting to shake. She wanted to rush forward and comfort her, but something was going on that she did not understand and she waited patiently, standing in the second pew waiting for what would happen next.
"What nonsense is this?" asked Mr. Wickham. "I am not married."
Elizabeth did not believe him. There was something in the belligerent way in which he spoke that made her certain he was lying.
"Oh yes, you are," said Darcy coldly. "I have irrefutable evidence that you are married to a young woman called Gloria Newsome." He took a paper out of the inside of his jacket. "Shall I show this to the reverend?"
Georgiana started to sob. "He threatened Mary. He said I had to marry him."
Mr. Darcy seemed to grow even taller as he glared contemptuously at Mr. Wickham who was standing very still, one fist clenched. "If you do not leave here at once, I shall call a constable and have you arrested. You were about to commit a fraud with my sister by trying to marry her when you are already wed."
"That paper proves nothing," snarled Mr. Wickham, his face almost as red as the reverend's.
"And that is not the only thing I shall be talking to him about. Yesterday when searching for you, I found a number of people who you owe money to. I am sure they will be interested to talk to you once again."
The reverend looked shocked. "Is this true, sir?" he asked Wickham.
"No… these are just lies made up by a brother who does not want his sister to marry the man she loves."
Mr. Darcy ignored the remark. "And I am sure the constable will be interested to hear about your assault on Mrs. Moser. Only a coward like you, Wickham, would attack a woman, an elderly woman."
"You…." Mr. Wickham launched himself at Mr. Darcy, shouting obscenities and hitting at him.
Elizabeth winced as one blow hit Mr. Darcy's shoulder, but Mr. Wickham was not able to land any more as the male witness and the reverend moved forward to restrain him.
"Darcy, you will be sorry for this. I promise I will make you sorry. Do you think your sister's reputation will survive what I have to say….?"
Elizabeth heard no more as she led the weeping Georgiana out of the church.
Elizabeth found a seat outside the church and urged Georgiana to sit down. She was worried about Darcy's sister and held her hand while Georgiana continued to sob. Georgiana tried to speak, but no words came out and Elizabeth merely squeezed her hand and waited patiently until the tears lessened. "Do you think Fitzwilliam will ever forgive me?" she asked at last.
Elizabeth wanted to be careful that she did not speak on Mr. Darcy's behalf, but she was certain that he would be relieved that he had managed to keep Miss Darcy out of the clutches of Mr. Wickham. She couldn't imagine that he would still be angry with Georgiana.
"I am sure that Mr. Darcy will be glad to have you back at home where you belong," said Elizabeth quietly.
"But I do not belong. Oh Elizabeth, he will be angry with me, I know he will be and then he won't let me paint. Elizabeth, I need to paint."
Elizabeth was not sure that she entirely understood Georgiana's passion for her art and yet it was evident that she felt an urge to be creative that was uncommon. She was surprised that Georgiana was not more concerned with the fate of Mr. Wickham.
"Don't rush to judge," she said. "You may find that Mr. Darcy is ready to listen."
Elizabeth only hoped that she was right. She was wondering how long they would have to wait, when the man she'd seen as a witness in the church came out. He politely doffed his hat at them both. "If you please, ma'am, Mr. Darcy asks that you return to the hotel as he has business to conduct. He asked me to say he will join you later."
With the message delivered, the man bowed and left them alone.
"What do you think Fitzwilliam is doing?" asked Georgiana.
"I do not know." Elizabeth did not like it. The manner in which the two men had been looking at each other did not bode well.
Georgiana's tone was fearful. "I hope Fitzwilliam will not do anything foolish."
Elizabeth was hoping the same thing.