by Kate Speck
“That sounds good, Millie.” Mrs. Kingston agreed. “I hope this is all over soon. As grand as Netherfield is, I cannot wait to return to Longbourn!” The ladies laughed, all wishing for an end to this nightmare.
Mrs. Annesley locked the servant’s door as soon as Millie left down the service stairs and awaited her return in the dressing room.
Georgiana and Elizabeth were speaking animatedly with Mrs. Kingston about wedding preparations for a quarter hour when the dressing room door opened and Mrs. Annesley walked out first with fear in her eyes. There was what appeared to be a tall lady standing behind her with a hooded cape over the head and the ladies froze when a deep man’s voice commanded them, “Do not make a sound and stay where you are, ladies. I have a knife and I will kill her if you do not cooperate.”
The tall figure took the hood off and it was clear that Wickham had dressed in lady’s clothes to disguise himself.
“What have you done with Millie?” Elizabeth hissed. “Let Mrs. Annesley go, Mr. Wickham. We will do as you say. Just let her go.”
Wickham laughed as he pushed Mrs. Annesley toward the group of women on the bed. “Millie is unconscious in the corridor but she will survive. I had to wait to knock her out until I could see which room you were in but I left her alive. I am here for Georgiana, ladies. No one will get hurt if she willingly leaves here with me. Miss Elizabeth and I will be soon related as soon as I marry Georgie and get my hands on her dowry. I will finally be a Darcy by becoming his brother and I will be part of the Darcy family. That was all I ever wanted, you know,” He spoke to Elizabeth, “I grew up like a brother to Darcy and I should have had everything he had. I killed Mrs. Younge because she failed me and almost killed him when she ordered the attack on you, Miss Bennet. He is my blood brother and I do not wish for harm to come to him and I would do everything to be part of his family. I want to remind him of our long past and I am never far from him.” He looked at Georgiana now, “If only Darcy had agreed to let you go to Ramsgate with Mrs. Younge, I would have courted you and we could have eloped to Gretna Green. You would be my wife already and we would be so happy, living in luxury in Pemberley and all of its grandeur. Come with me now, Georgiana. If you do not comply, I will kill...” he looked around, “your cousin.” He grabbed Anne by the arm and pulled her toward him.
The ladies whimpered and began to cry. “No! I will go with you. Let her go.” Georgiana frantically replied.
Wickham maniacally laughed and looked down at the petite woman. “Pathetic! She cannot even cry out.” He scoffed. “Come behind me, Georgiana. You will put on a cloak and we will depart for Scotland immediately. I promise no harm will come to you as long as you do what I say.”
Georgiana squeezed Elizabeth’s hand and bravely approached the villain. She stood behind him and Wickham flung Anne de Bourgh to the right side as he grabbed Georgiana’s arm with his left hand.
“You will not make a sound through the corridors, Georgie. My escape lies close and my plan will finally be complete.” Wickham began to put his knife back into its sheath on his waist belt. “I can harm Georgie and I can still kill Millie in the corridor. I have killed before, I will have you know, not only Mrs. Younge, but I have had a hand in several others as well.” He gloated.
Suddenly, there was a large crash on his head and Wickham fell into unconsciousness as he collapsed to the floor.
“HE KILLED GREGORY!” Anne de Bourgh screamed out. “I saw him murder his own brother all those years ago and I did nothing then. I will not allow him to hurt anyone else again!”
Elizabeth was in shock to hear Anne speak for the first time. She ran to Georgiana who was already hugging Anne and embraced them both.
“Anne, you were so brave!” Elizabeth responded. “I can hardly believe that you knocked him out with the vase and we are so proud of you!”
Mrs. Kingston quickly opened the bedroom door and instructed the guards to alert the gentlemen and to take Wickham out of the room, while Mrs. Jenkinson and Mrs. Annesley wrapped up their charges with a blanket.
A few minutes later, all of the gentlemen and ladies of Netherfield rushed to Georgiana’s room and heard Anne speak, “Will Mr. Bingley be upset that I broke the vase?” And the ladies burst out laughing.
“What has happened?” Darcy asked first. “We had not been able to locate Wickham but it appears you ladies were successful in apprehending the criminal! He is being tossed in the cellar as we speak.””
“Anne saved us, William,” Elizabeth exclaimed, “She struck Wickham with a vase when he attempted to kidnap Georgiana to force her to elope with her, and she told us that he is responsible for the death of his own brother.”
Darcy looked at the demure woman, “What?! Do you mean Gregory? How do you know this, Anne?”
Anne responded, “I saw him convincing Gregory to go for a swim. I was playing with my dolls away from Mother and I was curious how one swam in the pond so I remained hiding behind the trees. George told his brother a swim would be a good idea and he and another boy called Murphy told him to go for a soak, but then they jumped in and held him under the water until Gregory stopped flailing. I was so afraid of what I saw that I could not dare speak of what I witnessed and my tongue would not move since that day.” She wiped her tears, “But seeing that evil man today and how he wanted to hurt Georgiana, I knew I had to do something.”
Darcy walked to his cousin and bowed over her hand. “Thank you, Anne. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” He embraced Georgiana next then held on to Elizabeth’s hand. “I will get more answers from Wickham but it is over. It is all over.” He turned to Elizabeth, “You are well? You were not harmed, were you?”
Elizabeth smiled tenderly, “I am well. Please allow the ladies to return to their rooms and this one will need cleaning. Oh! Millie is injured. She must be seen to!”
Georgiana stepped forward, “I have already instructed the footman to find her. I will take care of her. Why do you not go tell William of what Wickham confessed to us so far?” She squeezed Elizabeth’s hand.
Darcy led Elizabeth back to her room while she spoke. “Wickham confessed to killing Mrs. Younge, William, and he said he had ‘a hand in several others’ as well. I believe he must be the tall, dark-haired man that was witnessed!” She spoke with enthusiasm. “He must have been an accomplice in London and helped John Williams with all those murders.”
“That fits, Elizabeth,” Darcy agreed, “He must have been assisting Williams and was witnessed by John Turner at the tavern. The tall figure under the bridge describes him as well. I can hardly believe that he killed his own brother, though. But Anne witnessed it and it must be true. It is a fantastic finding.”
Elizabeth hugged his arm closer, “I will change and meet you downstairs. You must not have slept a wink through the night but I am glad it is over. He is captured and we are free.”
“I will see you downstairs, my love.” Darcy quickly kissed her lips. “We will have our answers today and then we will celebrate.”
Elizabeth nodded and returned to her room while Darcy ensured that Wickham was locked away in the cellar, still unconscious from his head wound.
~*~
“Do you think he will come clean and tell us all?” Darcy asked Richard Fitzwilliam, as they looked down at the unconscious man on the floor. “I need to know if Colquhoun is involved. Was he truly complicit in the murders of ten people, no, eleven, including his own brother, and what was the motive of such horrendous acts?”
Richard shook his head, “He is a vile thing. Even if he did not kill them himself, Wickham is an accomplice and is just as guilty.” He bent down and lifted up Wickham’s sleeves to inspect his wrists. “Look, Darcy, he has a bite wound on his left wrist when Mrs. Younge must have fought back.” He dropped the limb abruptly and wiped his hands on his clothes. “He has a rash around it. I think it might be the French disease. Peel’s doctor confirmed that John Williams was indeed infected and Wickham appears to have it as well.”
“Disgusting,” Darcy exclaimed as he took a step back. “But if the sore is on his wrist, I wonder if he was infected from Mrs. Younge. Knowing that she had relations with John Williams and then bit Wickham later, she must have been carrying the disease as well. Where is that smelling salt? I will also have a doctor inspect him closer.” Darcy walked to the door to instruct the guard to fetch a local doctor to look over the scoundrel.
Suddenly, Richard found himself thrown down to the ground from behind and his flintlock on his waist belt was pulled away.
“Stay still or I will shoot!” Wickham bellowed. “I do not have the French disease, you idiots. It is only a bite wound from that harlot.” He waved the pistol to move the two men to the inner corner of the cellar. “I am going to walk out of here and you will not follow me.” He looked out the door and saw that the area had a few servants in the distance. He began to take off the dress that he had been wearing and he had his trousers and a lawn shirt beneath. “Toss me your cravat and coat, Darcy. My ride is waiting for me and I am late. I will return to get Georgiana later; you can count on it.” He laughed wickedly.
Darcy growled as he took off his cravat and coat, “You will leave her alone. Why do you torture me so, Wickham? My father loved you and this is how you repay his generosity?!”
“Your father should have made me his son. You and I were blood brothers and all I wished in life was to be a Darcy. You lived in comfort with all that wealth at your fingertips and I had to scrounge for droppings from your table. I should have been born a Darcy and everyone would have respected me!” Wickham spat. “Once I marry Georgiana, you will have to accept me as your brother and nothing will get in my way.”
“You are an evil monster, Wickham! You will never get my sister. Anne told me what you did to your own brother and I will never let you near my family.” Darcy shouted as he drew closer to his cousin’s side. “You will be captured and imprisoned to be hanged.”
Wickham laughed, “Gregory was a twit and should have never spoken to you in such a way. I would have never tolerated such insolence as a Darcy and I shut him up. John did most of the work but it was my idea and you owe me for getting rid of the little pest. I know you wanted him killed, Darcy.”
“Never!” Darcy shouted. “I never wished for Gregory to be injured! I was a conceited child and it was wrong of me to tease your brother. John? John Murphy was responsible? He was all but nine years old then!” Darcy was aghast with the information he was hearing.
Wickham’s evil laughter rang out, “John Murphy was an odd one. Something was not right with his head even as a child and he did my bidding as I wished. You know him as John Williams and he truly went mad after he developed a taste for the killings. He enjoyed squeezing the life out of them with his bare hands.”
Darcy stood in shock that the timid boy he had known had become a mass murderer, responsible for at least eleven deaths, beginning with Gregory Wickham.
Darcy, as inconspicuously as possible, stepped a few inches in front of his cousin with his hands behind his back and spoke to Wickham. “And you have had a part in the London killings as well, had you not?” He tried to keep the blackguard talking. “Your face was covered up but your height gave you away. You helped John Williams escape the tavern?”
Richard looked down at Darcy’s hands and saw that he was holding the knife that had been concealed in his boot. Darcy had managed to distract Wickham enough to pull out the weapon and was waiting for Richard to take it.
Richard discreetly took the knife from Darcy as Wickham replied, “He had gone mad when his father wanted him to work at the tavern together. The old fool thought his illegitimate son would welcome him and his wife, and John killed him in cold blood. He had no brains and I was the one that got him out of that sticky mess. It was my plan to create chaos in London so our master could carry out his wishes and he will start it up again when it is time,” Wickham looked back and saw that the kitchen was clear. “I will take my leave now, gentlemen. Do not worry; I will return soon to finish my task and I will finally be a Darcy!”
“NOW!” Darcy shouted and Richard threw the knife at Wickham, whose eyes widened in shock seeing the knife lodged within his chest cavity. He dropped the gun to cover the pool of blood on his torso.
Wickham pulled the dagger from his own chest and gasped, “How could you betray me, Darcy? I should have taken your precious Elizabeth and I only wish I had married Georgiana last summer.” He began to wheeze.
Darcy grabbed his former friend by the collars and shook him. “Colquhoun; was he behind the killings? Did he order the plan to create the chaos? Who hired you?”
Wickham’s rattled laughter faded as he exhaled for the last time and died in Darcy’s hands. Darcy released his grip and dropped the body back on the floor and stood up.
“Damn it, Richard. Your aim was too good.” Darcy grumbled. “I should have thrown the knife myself.”
Richard began to chuckle, “You would have missed him entirely and gotten yourself shot. He would have killed us both.”
Darcy laughed now as he relaxed. “I will admit that, Richard, as my knife skills are still awful. Although we do not know if James Colquhoun was involved, we have much to update Peel now. I am relieved it is all over. It seems he intended to hurt not only Georgiana but Elizabeth as well. I shall not mourn his death.”
The guard who had been calling for the doctor returned then and shrieked, “What has happened, sir? I thought he was still unconscious but now he is dead!”
“He feigned his sleep and attacked me when my back was turned. He grabbed my weapon but I was able to strike him with Darcy’s dagger. Get a few more men to clear up this mess and we will alert the other gentlemen.” He turned to Darcy, “I will tell my father and Lord Suffolk and you can inform Bingley and the others.” Richard directed.
Darcy nodded and walked upstairs and saw Elizabeth exiting her rooms. He hurried to grab her by the waist and carried her back into the bedroom and closed the door behind them. He lifted her up by her bottom and fervidly kissed her mouth, pinning her against the wall and pressing his chest against her full bosoms.
Elizabeth was surprised but she touched his burning hot body, which was only covered with his lawn shirt without a cravat, then she wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the passionate kiss and held on to him tightly. She felt faint and her heart beat wildly and felt flushed all over. Darcy finally released her and placed her back down on the ground again.
“Oh, my love, I have never imagined such ardency before.” Elizabeth breathed out as Darcy continued to puff for air. “What has happened to warrant such affections?”
Darcy returned his attentions to her neck and décolletage. “Wickham is dead. He tried to escape after taking Richard’s pistol but Richard killed him with my dagger and it is all over. I wish we were married already, Elizabeth. I am desperate for you.”
His mouth was on hers again and they spent another few minutes embracing each other as closely as possible. Finally, Darcy laid his forehead against hers and took several deep breaths. “I will need to calm before I see your uncles, Elizabeth. I love you and we will have our happiness without fear of our future. Give me a moment and let us find your uncles. Your father will need to be informed as well. It is all over.”
“Perhaps you may wish to dress more formally as well, William. You are quite underdressed!” Elizabeth teased.
Darcy chuckled, “I saw you in your nightgown last night and today you see me without a coat or cravat. We will certainly have to marry now!”
Darcy ran to his room to dress and returned to his beloved’s side. He placed Elizabeth’s hand on his arm and they walked downstairs to find the gentlemen to provide an update. As none of them had truly slept during the night in search for Wickham, they hoped tea and coffee were readily available.
~*~
Thankfully, everyone had already gathered in the drawing room to speak excitedly of the events of the morning, and Richard entered soon after Darcy
and Elizabeth once he completed attending to details with his officers. He carried the woman’s dress that Wickham had been wearing into the room when Louisa Hurst cried out, “What are you doing with my dress, Colonel? Where on earth did you get it?”
Richard’s eyes met Darcy’s and he left the room abruptly to speak with his men. Darcy cleared his throat and spoke, “Mrs. Hurst, Colonel Fitzwilliam is going to alert his men to look for your maid. Wickham had an accomplice who is waiting for him to escape and we believe that whoever gave him this dress is responsible for allowing him into Netherfield.” The residents all gasped in surprise. “Wickham is dead. He attempted to escape but he was defeated by the colonel and we discovered that his plan was to force my sister into marriage so he could become a member of the Darcy family. He confessed his complicity in the murders in London and justice has been served today. We only need to locate his accomplice and it is all over.”
The group sat together and those who had not heard all of the details were made abreast of the latest, and everyone took their turns to kiss and embrace Anne de Bourgh as the heroine of the day. Darcy and Elizabeth beamed as they covertly rubbed each other’s hands and awaited Richard’s return.
The colonel returned half an hour later with a wailing maid being ushered in by two officers. “Sincere apologies for my absence, ladies and gentlemen,” he nodded with a smile, “but I had my men search for Mrs. Hurst’s maid in the nearby woods and found this woman waiting in a wagon at the Netherfield-Longbourn border.” He pulled her in front of the audience to expose her involvement. “She has confessed that she is Wickham’s partner and he coerced her to help him hide in Netherfield. He had been secreted in Mrs. Hurst’s dressing room while we were searching the estate throughout the night and he used the servant’s corridor this morning to accost Georgiana’s maid. She was to meet him by the fence to make the escape. It appears Wickham broke down that section of the fence by Longbourn so the wagon could fit through to get to the nearest road out of Hertfordshire.”