I updated chapter 6 to fix the issue regarding banns. Also, "leftenant" is an archaic spelling of leutenant.
Chapter 7
Saturday, December 7, 1811
"Dearest, I must depart for London this morning. Richard has been recalled by his commanding officer and will be conveying Wickham to Town to be tried today instead of waiting for Monday," Darcy said as soon as he saw Elizabeth early that morning when they met near Oakham Mount. "Once we have matters with Wickham sorted, I will return to Hertfordshire for a brief trip, bringing Georgiana so the two of you can meet. By any chance, were you able to write that letter of introduction to your Uncle for me?"
Elizabeth, whose face had brightened when she first saw Darcy approach, frowned at his words. "Yes, I have the letter here, but I hate that you are leaving sooner than you had intended. It is difficult to believe that you only returned on Wednesday, and now, on Saturday, you are to depart, taking my heart with you."
"I am very sorry to leave you, my darling, but I will be glad to have these matters with Wickham finalised. Once he is in debtors' prison, he will not be able to cause any more trouble for me or anyone else."
Nodding, Elizabeth moved to wrap her arms around Darcy's middle. He quickly reciprocated. "I will miss you. Please send letters to Mr. Bingley and Uncle Phillips. And, well, anyone else inclined to share your news with me. I wrote to my aunt and uncle separately and posted those in Meryton yesterday. I wrote they should expect you to visit next week."
"I will return in a sennight if I can arrange things that quickly. Or, more accurately, I suppose, in nine days. I intend to return on Monday next, the sixteenth of December. Your aunt and Uncle will arrive a sennight later. You can tell me when I return if I should remain at Netherfield or if I can join any of the entertainments in the neighbourhood. Obviously, I cannot call at Longbourn unless your father changes his mind …"
"He will not," Elizabeth interjected. "I spoke to him again yesterday after I met with you and my uncle, and he remains obstinate. Regardless of our situation with my father, we would have likely waited to marry until at least January, so I suggest we seek my aunt and uncle's advice. We could marry in London if my father permits me to go with them after Christmas since we do not need his permission to call the banns."
"I also intend to speak to my aunt, the Countess of Matlock. I believe she will support our marriage and may have some ideas for getting around our not having your father's permission and blessing. For a time, I considered presenting our marriage to them as a fait accompli, but Fitzwilliam said his mother may be more amenable than the Earl, and, of course, she will be able to bring him around."
Elizabeth nodded but then changed the subject. "When do you depart for London, William?" she asked.
"Soon. My valet was finishing packing my things, and my cousin was to meet with Colonel Forster to ensure the transfer was secure. I sent for several armed men from London to accompany us; I have never trusted Wickham. He may appear beaten, but I do not want to give him any room to escape or to avoid his punishment."
A rider approached the mount where they stood just then. "Darcy!" Colonel Fitzwilliam shouted. "Wickham has escaped. His colonel does not know how, but the guard—they only had one man watching him overnight—was stabbed and the door forced open. He was heard speaking of getting revenge on you and Miss Elizabeth. Forster was to ride over to Longbourn to inform Mr. Bennet, and I came here, thinking the two of you may be together."
Elizabeth gasped. "My father will not take any threat seriously, and I worry that he may harm others in my family. Lydia is not convinced he is the villain I claimed he was because I could not tell her all of what he said and did without compromising myself. She would have little compunction in sharing the tale all over Meryton, embellishing it to make it appear worse and probably making Mr. Wickham the hero of the entire story." Elizabeth paused and thought for a moment. "William, if you go to Longbourn, my father will be even less inclined to believe the story, but I no longer trust him to keep me safe or to do what is best for me. I am truly concerned for my family, my love."
Despite the chaos and fear of that moment, Darcy closed his eyes at hearing Elizabeth refer to him in such a way. How he ever considered leaving her behind was unfathomable. Finally, he spoke. "Your uncles, both of them, are far more reasonable in this matter. While Fitzwilliam escorts you to Longbourn and speaks to your father with Colonel Forster, I will speak to your uncle Phillips to see what he suggests can be done. Colonel Forster should offer your family some measure of protection, given that Wickham is one of his officers. Fitzwilliam, can you hire some men to watch over the Bennet family? Even if it has to be covert if Mr Bennet proves stubborn?"
"If he refuses, it will be more than just stubborn, but foolish. Wickham is likely to strike in any way that he sees as advantageous. If he ruins one of your sisters, he will believe it will make you, Miss Elizabeth, unmarriageable, especially to a man like Darcy here. I do not believe my cousin would forsake you for any reason, but Wickham has never understood any emotion other than greed and jealousy. He cannot fathom love."
Darcy looked at his cousin carefully. "I am surprised at you, Fitzwilliam. I have never heard you speak like that."
"I believe in love, even if I have never felt it, nor have I ever met a woman I felt enough for to rhapsodise, as you have been doing. Despite its brevity, I can see the connection between you and feel a bit envious that I have yet to find a woman who inspires such devotion."
Elizabeth blushed brightly as this conversation took place around her. "I should return to Longbourn. If Colonel Forster had come, the house would have been in an uproar, and Jane would need my help to calm everyone. If you do come, Colonel Fitzwilliam, I apologise in advance for my family. I am certain you will not see them at their best."
"I think most families would struggle if they learned a villain in their midst sought to do them harm. I will attempt to speak to your younger sisters to impress upon them the danger Wickham poses. Perhaps they will listen since I am wearing my uniform."
Elizabeth sighed deeply. "I hope so, Colonel. Nothing Jane or I have said to them has sunk in, but perhaps hearing it from you will work. William, I suppose you will remain close by for now, though my walking to meet you will not be wise until Mr. Wickham has been located."
"You are correct, my love," he said, capturing her in his embrace. She was embarrassed by the colonel's presence but did not pull away. "Be safe, my darling, and I will find a way to see you. Do not go anywhere alone if you can help it. Forster should leave a guard, but regardless, I will supplement whatever he leaves with men of my own. It may take a day or two to arrange matters, and once that is done, perhaps we can return to our meetings."
"You will not be safe on your own, either, William," Elizabeth protested. "You must be cautious as well."
"I will, dearest. My saddlebags contain two pistols that are easily accessible as I ride, but I will take care not to be alone, either. Wickham has never been able to beat me in a fair fight, but he is also disinclined to play fair when he can help it. I have, however, learned a few tricks that I doubt he is aware of that should level the playing field a bit more."
"Oh, do be careful, William," she cried again, but he stopped her protest with a kiss. Fitzwilliam chuckled quietly before he turned his back on the couple and gave them a few moments. Finally, he coughed to gain their attention.
"Yes, well, Darcy, I need to get Miss Bennet home, and you need to go to Netherfield to tell Bingley about the change of plans. I dare say you have several letters to write, and you also intended to pay a call on Miss Bennet's uncle," Fitzwilliam said once he had the couple's attention.
Darcy scowled but, after another brief kiss, released Elizabeth. "I love you, my dearest. Be safe, and know that somehow, we will ensure Wickham does not harm you or your family. And remember, no matter what happens, I will marry you in two months. Never doubt that, Elizabeth."
She smiled tenderly at him through her tears. "I love you too, William, and I will be waiting for you on February seventh, no matter what happens in the meantime."
With those words, the three separated, with Colonel Fitzwilliam escorting Elizabeth to Longbourn and Darcy heading to Meryton to visit with Mr. Phillips and then intending to return to Netherfield, where he would have several letters to write.
"What do you mean, Colonel?" Bennet asked. "How does that man's escape affect my family?"
"He was arrested in your house, sir. He was in the process of assaulting your daughter, and Wickham is aware of Darcy's intentions toward her. The officer guarding him heard him mention several times his intention to get revenge on Darcy as well as Miss Elizabeth. I am afraid that he has become unhinged at the thought of finally receiving the punishment due to him. He would not hesitate to ruin another of your daughters if he thought it would prevent Darcy's marriage to Miss Elizabeth, as he believes that ruining one would ruin the rest. Darcy would not let that stop him; he is determined to marry Miss Elizabeth regardless, but …"
"You mean this whole mess? The reason my daughters and family are threatened is due to that disagreeable man and his intentions toward my daughters. As if I needed another reason to keep him away from my family …" Bennet ranted at the colonel. "And you, you speak of him familiarly; are you a friend of his? How do you know that cad?"
"Darcy is my cousin and is the furthest thing imaginable from a 'cad'. He is an honourable man who loves your daughter very much. He is ready to face the wrath of my parents and our aunt and take on the entire ton to marry your daughter. He will still marry her regardless of Wickham's success in carrying out his threat. He will not allow any possible ruin of any of your daughters to deter him; the only thing that will turn him away is Miss Elizabeth sending him away. And she is nearly as stubborn as he," the colonel laughed, despite his initial affront at the man's characterisation of his cousin. Darcy was many things, but a cad was definitely not among them. If not for the insult intended, Fitzwilliam would have laughed. With his stubborn adherence to what he believed to be right, no one had ever before accused Fitzwilliam Darcy of toying with a woman's affections.
"Pah," Mr. Bennet challenged. "All rich young men are the same, taking what they can and avoiding being entangled as long as possible. Darcy only claims he wants to marry my daughter until she gives in to him. If he remains in the area, it will be him who is a danger to my daughters, not this militia leftenant. He has escaped from a military gaol and would be a fool to remain in the area. I sincerely doubt my daughters have anything to fear from him."
Colonel Forster watched the conversation between the two men uneasily. He had met Mr Darcy a few times, and while he was standoffish, Forster had never seen or heard anything in the gentleman that made him believe he was the type of man who took advantage of women. However, he could attest to Wickham's propensities in this area, as since he had been imprisoned, several fathers had come forward with claims that Wickham had taken advantage of their daughters. For the moment, there were only flirtations, several promises of marriage, and a few stolen kisses, but nothing more. It was clear to the colonel that state would not have lasted as Wickham was clearly paving the way for further liberties.
Hoping to aid the situation, he spoke for the first time since Colonel Fitzwilliam had entered the room. "Mr. Bennet, Colonel Fitzwilliam is correct in his assessment of this situation. I cannot speak to Mr. Darcy's character, as I only met him a few times, but I can say that the leftenant's leaves much to be desired. He was priming several girls, one as young as 14, to seduce them. There are presently three girls, daughters of tradesmen in the area, who claim he promised to marry them but insisted they keep it a secret until he could earn a promotion. According to all three, he would earn a captaincy in the New Year, and then he would be able to support a wife. All claim he had only stolen a kiss or two so far; however, he told the others he would take what he wanted from them. According to his 'friends,' he intended to marry a wealthy woman and would not settle for such paltry dowries as those girls offered."
"I will permit you to leave your men nearby in case he does attempt to sneak in, but as I said, only a fool would remain where he is expected. I will say nothing to my daughters; they would not bother to listen anyway," Bennet replied tersely. "Now go so that I might return to my books. Colonel Fitzwilliam, I am not certain how you met my daughter Elizabeth, but since you are a cousin of Darcy's, I expect you not to speak to her and not attempt to pass any messages from your cousin. He will lose interest and depart this area if he cannot see or speak to her."
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. "You, sir, are a fool. Believe that if you wish, but I can guarantee you, once Miss Elizabeth reaches her majority, my cousin will return, and the two will wed. I suggest you decide if that day will be the last time you see your daughter because if she marries against your wishes, she will no doubt not desire to return. Given your laissez-faire attitude toward her safety and that of her sisters, I cannot fault her."
Since encountering Wickham abusing a tenant's daughter when they were fifteen, Darcy had held himself to a rigid sense of morality. He had not engaged in the pastimes common to many men at Cambridge, and his quiet and studious nature had earned him the nickname "The Monk." Both Fitzwilliam and Darcy believed Wickham started that either as a way to mock him or as a way to taunt him for his morality. Had he accomplished the latter, both men were certain Wickham would have used the information to blackmail him or to give him something to accuse him of to the elder Mr. Darcy. As it was, Darcy had been well-respected and received all manner of awards at school. Some continued to tease him about his lack of experience in this area, even now, though Darcy withstood it all in his typical manner. It had become such a habit to avoid the vice that Wickham had perfected that Darcy could not imagine doing otherwise.
Until Elizabeth.
Elizabeth had very nearly tempted him beyond reason, and the kisses they had exchanged surely were designed to drive him to the brink of madness. The thought of abstaining until their wedding day was a constant source of tribulation, as every kiss threatened to set him ablaze. The intensity of his desire prompted contemplation of an immediate escape to the Scottish border with Elizabeth, both as a means of shielding her from the danger presented by Wickham and as a way to appease the nearly overwhelming longing that overcame him in her presence.
However, at the moment, he was settled into the library at Netherfield, a book in his lap covering the bulge he manfully struggled to control and a glass of Bingley's whiskey in his hand. His cousin found him in this position, and Darcy was thankful the book was already doing its job. However, his cousin's words put a damper on his longing as quickly as they raised his ire.
"Bennet is a damned fool," he began nearly as soon as he entered the room and spotted his cousin.
"Tell me something I don't know," Darcy sallied. "I have been sitting here contemplating just eloping with Elizabeth. I think Bingley is willing to marry her elder sister, but I am not certain he will if Wickham does manage to ruin one of the other girls. I have been uncertain how much to say to him, as I do not want any of this getting back to his sisters."
"He called you a cad and thinks Wickham is a fool to remain nearby," Fitzwilliam replied. "He does not understand the lengths Wickham will go to get his revenge on you, and the Bennet girls are the best way to do it. How did you manage your tasks after leaving your fair maiden?"
"Phillips is sending an express to Mr Gardiner to inform him of our concerns about all the girls. Phillips does not believe Bennet will be able to be worked on, and until he is proven wrong through his indolence, he will stubbornly persist as he is. However, it could be too late at that point, and one of the girls could have been harmed. I received a reply from my express and expect four or five men to arrive before noon tomorrow. I know it is Sunday, but I believe it is sufficiently important that they travel anyway. Did Bennet at least agree to the militia guarding his home?"
"He did," Fitzwilliam replied, and Darcy sighed in relief.
"At least he allowed that concession to his daughters' safety, even if he will not act," Darcy replied. "I hope to be able to speak to Elizabeth at church tomorrow, and I will write her a note telling her of what we have arranged. On Monday, I will have a man waiting at the kitchen door to escort Elizabeth to Oakham Mount so we can speak in greater privacy. Her father will separate us as quickly as he can tomorrow, that is, if he even notices. If he does not, you and I can walk her home after the services."