“Mr George, please, not here. I told ye, I be set to wed in a fortnight. I canna risk him learnin bout you.” She swatted his hand.
“My dear Penny, I swear, he will never learn of our…dalliance. I promise you that you are safe with me. You are just such a tasty morsel, and I find it difficult to keep my hands from wandering over your luscious curves. Please, Penny, I have told you, there is no one like you. And if necessary, when my father sends me funds, I can afford to take care of you.”
“And why would you be here in the militia if you be from a high and mighty family? You expect me to believe in ya with no proof.”
“My father is in a difficult position, Penny. He is having to deal with my younger brother, who has committed a crime and has caused my father grief. As soon as my brother has been dealt with, Father will see to my fortune. I am to inherit, after Father legitimizes my being his son.”
The girl was not completely falling for his words, but she did not wish to burn any bridges, just in case he was telling the truth. “You best be bringin the funds Friday, or Mr Walden will sack me and take the coin from you hide.”
“As soon as I have my pay, this will be my first stop.” Wickham smiled as he accepted the drink she placed on the table. When she returned with food, he thanked her with another smack on her ample rump. “On Friday.”
~~ ** ~~
Mr Bennet and Elizabeth rode to Meryton in the curricle that the Bennet family kept at Longbourn. Usually it was available for the Hills to use when they went to Meryton for shopping. Elizabeth was not fond of horses, even ones pulling a carriage or wagon, and she usually walked to where she needed. Her reputation for walking was well known in the neighborhood, and she had been teased for years for her preference. But her father insisted that she make the trip to the village with him, so they would not appear suspicious. Their mission was to learn of the man who was allegedly a murderer, so they could protect their family and loved ones.
Another reason that Mr Bennet insisted on his daughter joining him in the curricle was to avoid having to accommodate Mr Collins. The toad had declared his decision to spend time with Elizabeth Bennet, having set his eye on her to be the object of his affection, and his future happiness. By using the small curricle, there was no room for the blundering imbecile, and they would not be forced to walk beside him, as he regaled them of everything miraculous that was Lady Catherine.
Arriving at the merchant village, Mr Bennet first went to the book shop. He had received word of the arrival of a book he had ordered previously, and Elizabeth wished to find something new to add to her personal collection. As they finished there, the father and daughter made their way to where Colonel Fitzwilliam was standing, near the entrance of the mercantile. Coming close to the young man, Mr Bennet held out his hand as he spoke. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, what a pleasure it is to see you today. Are you well?”
“Mr Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, the pleasure is mine. I am well. And yourselves? How is Longbourn fairing today?”
“All is well. It was a pleasure having you dine with us the other night. I hope to have it repeated often while you and Mr Bingley are in the neighborhood.” Mr Bennet stated. Several people walking past the trio quickly moved on about their business, ignoring the group. Then came a group of men who gave the trio their complete attention. Several officers from the militia were on their way to the haberdashery to place an order. One person in particular focused upon Colonel Fitzwilliam.
“George Wickham, fancy meeting you here.” Richard stated, looking at the new officer. “And in a uniform. Did my uncle finally learn his lesson about paying your bills and insist you find a profession?”
Wickham gulped. He had never been fond of Richard Fitzwilliam. Richard had always seen Wickham for what he was, and had protected the younger Darcy from Wickham’s cruelty. “Colonel, a pleasure seeing you here. I thought you were still on the continent.”
“I was injured in battle, and am on leave. Just happened that Charles Bingley had leased an estate near here, and he asked me to visit. I have been pleased to make the acquaintance of the Bennet family, as they are one of the prominent families in the neighborhood. Mr Bennet, did you not state, when we dined at your home, that you are close friends with the local magistrate, Sir William Lucas?”
Mr Bennet understood Richard was issuing a threat to the scoundrel. “I am indeed. And, when Sir William has been away, I stand in his place. We keep a quiet neighborhood, and am pleased to see the new crop of militia has caused no disruption to that peacefulness.”
“Forgive us, but I was on my way to the haberdasher’s shop to place an order.” Wickham stated cautiously. “Our colonel has sent us to order some clothing we will require.”
“I pray you have the coin to place the order, men. Our village will not stand for the sort of unit that comes into our neighborhood and leaves a mountain of bills when they move on to another location.” Mr Bennet announced. “Sir William has been harsh on those who have behaved so in the past, as he was the former owner of the mercantile before being knighted. We do not tolerate foul treatment of our merchants.”
The nervous appearance of Wickham made Richard nearly laugh. Clearly, the man was planning to do as he had in the past, charge his purchases and then leave the neighborhood, leaving the merchants at a loss. “There is no reason to fret, Mr Bennet. We are officers, and represent the crown. To behave in such a manner would be disrespectful to the King.” Denny stated, unaware of his friend’s proclivities.
“Very good, Sir. Make sure that your fellow officers abide by the same principles and all will be well. And I would also state that Sir William has two unmarried daughters, and he does not approve of any man who takes advantage of young ladies. So, you had best mind your steps when it comes to how you treat the ladies of the neighborhood. As a father, I agree with Sir William in his view of dandies who take advantage of unsuspecting girls.” Mr Bennet drove home his opinion, glaring directly at Wickham.
Denny defended his fellow officers. “We would never disrespect a young lady by behaving inappropriately towards her. You have my word of honor, Mr Bennet.”
“Very good.” Mr Bennet turned his attention towards Denny. “It will be an honor see you next week, at the dinner that is being held in honor of the militia coming to the neighborhood.”
Mr Bennet and Richard remained outside the mercantile, excusing Elizabeth to enter the shop, to make a purchase. Richard spoke to his companion. “Mr Bennet, I believe you have made your point to most of those young men. Unfortunately, Wickham is not intelligent enough to realize you were speaking directly towards him.”
“Well, we will see what happens. If his fellow officers find his behavior distasteful and they know we are keeping close watch over all of them, those men will be more likely to speak out against him. They do not wish to pay the price for his misdeeds. Men such as they are easily persuaded towards proper behavior if they are rewarded.”
“Sir, you would have made a perfect general for King and country.” Richard lightly patted the gentleman’s shoulder. “And I will have to ensure that I never cross you, as I would not wish to have you angry at me. I fear you more than I do Napoleon’s army.”
“Never underestimate the determination of a gentleman in possession of five daughters and no sons. Contrary to what many might think of me, I would do anything necessary to protect my daughters. And that includes dealing with dandies.”
~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~
Chapter 11
There was to be no enjoyment at Longbourn, as the family and friends waited for supper to be announced. As soon as Mr Collins was introduced to Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam, the clergyman could not contain his good fortune. He ranted and raved about being in the presence of a member of the Fitzwilliam family, feeling far more important in circumstances than he truly was. Richard gave his cousin a look which spoke of the revenge he would strike for being the only member of the family having to endure the foolish man’s attention.
“Why Colo
nel, I have the privilege to inform you that only two days past, I was in the presence of your esteemed aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. It pleases me that I can relate to you her good health, and that of your cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh. Such a precious jewel, and a true pity that her frail health has kept her from being presented. I have related such to Lady Catherine, that England is suffering from not having the blessing of Miss de Bourgh part of society. For, if Miss de Bourgh were able, she would be the most accomplished young lady in all of England.” Mr Collins gushed over meeting the nephew of his esteemed patroness.
“I thank you for the information. My father recently spoke with his sister, and assured me of both ladies being in good health.” Colonel Fitzwilliam was not thrilled to contend with his aunt’s parson. What was further difficult was keeping from relying on his cousin to deal with the sort of people with which Lady Catherine was prone to surround herself. Though Fitzwilliam Darcy was sitting in the same room, Richard could not address him by his name. But the line of conversation was to prove even more difficult.
“I must say, your other cousin, Mr Darcy, has become a thorn in Lady Catherine’s side. She has spoken of his engagement to Miss Anne, and how his being a wanted man casts a shadow over the rest of the family, especially his intended. Lady Catherine has determined that the engagement should be dissolved. The grand lady had the foresight to send notice to the papers in Town, notifying them that the family of de Bourgh have withdrawn their support of the union and have disavowed any future connections with the younger Mr Darcy.” Mr Collins prattled on. “To think, someone as close to Lady Catherine as Mr Darcy, to be a murderer. Had she not informed me herself, I am certain I would never have believed the accusation. But she has told me the entire matter.”
“Mr Collins, I must ask you to not discuss such matters that are not connected to yourself.” Richard’s voice was deeper, as his anger was beginning to grow.
The bumbling idiot did not take heed of the colonel’s warning. “It appears that the young man had relations with a young maid, leaving her in a delicate state. Forgive me cousins, but I must speak of this matter, as it shows the dangers that come with the loss of reputation a young lady might find herself. One should always remember that loss of virtue can lead to many terrible consequences. Why, when the maid made demands of the young man, to take responsibility for the babe, he lost his mind and bludgeoned her to death. Then, as if that were not bad enough, the blackguard fled the scene, and has not been seen since. Lady Catherine has been beside herself with fear of how it will harm Miss Anne’s future. And that is not even discussing Miss Darcy. Why, when Lady Catherine last spoke with her brother, the Earl of Matlock, she insisted that their poor niece be removed from school and turned over to my patroness. Only Lady Catherine’s sage advice can protect Miss Darcy from the shame her family is suffering.”
“Mr Collins, please, refrain from discussing my family matters in public. We do not know all that happened with regards to my cousin, Darcy. I refuse to accept idle gossip to convict him, as he might be completely innocent of your charges.” Richard attempted to correct Collins’ assertions. “And I am certain that my father will not allow Miss Darcy to be removed from her father. Lady Catherine is not the head of the family, and it would be wise of you to understand my father will take any matters in hand, if there is need.”
Collins had never been called intelligent, and this moment was a prime example of his foolishness. “But you must see that Lady Catherine is the only female in position to guide a young lady, such as Miss Darcy. It would be a shame if her chances for a proper match were thwarted due to her brother’s taint. From what I was told by my patroness, it was a characteristic from the Darcy line, as his father is believed to be the natural father of the young man who was raised by the steward. Lady Catherine swears that the young man was raised alongside the legitimate son, as if the two were brothers. Why, the young man even received a gentleman’s education. What other reason is there for a wealthy man to pay for such, if the young man were not his son?”
Richard was well aware of his cousin’s growing desire to throttle the blustering windbag. In a stronger growl of a voice, Colonel Fitzwilliam attempted to rein in the sycophantic buffoon. “I will say this once, and only once, Mr Collins. You will keep such comments to yourself. My uncle is not the father of the young man of which you speak. I know this to be the truth, as my uncle was not in England when the steward’s wife was taken with child. My uncle had been on the continent for three months prior to the event, and did not return home until Mrs Wickham was heavy with child, making it impossible for Gerald Darcy to have fathered the scoundrel. These rumors have been spoken of for years. The elder Mr Wickham was a devoted and dedicated steward, and his duty to Pemberley and the Darcy family was rewarded in the care he showed Wickham, especially since the boy had been declared my uncle’s godson. Gerald Darcy has only loved one woman, and that was my father’s younger sister, Lady Anne Darcy. Now, Mr Collins, I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself, for they are untrue. If you are unable to remain quiet on such matters, I will be forced to preserve my family’s honor.”
It took a few moments for Collins to realize what the colonel hinted . Suddenly, the toad was unable to speak coherently. “Oh, no…but sir…I could not…but what was told…but I will not…I cannot… please, Colonel, forgive me. Your aunt…she is all wisdom…told me…she said…”
Seeing how red Collins’ face had become, Richard was pleased to discombobulate the sycophant. Richard then turned to his host. “Mr Bennet, I believe it would be best if I were to remove from your home, and return to Netherfield.”
Bingley was enjoying his time, speaking with Jane Bennet, as the two were seated in a corner of the sitting room, and had been somewhat oblivious of what was happening. Hearing Richard declare his intention to return to Netherfield, Bingley became disheartened. Before he could say anything, the colonel looked towards Bingley. “Charles, I can return on my own. You need not change your plans.”
“No, Colonel, I insist you remain.” Mr Bennet spoke. “It is my cousin who will need to excuse himself. I believe he has not had proper rest, which accounts for his inability to control his tongue.”
Mr Collins was dumbstruck. “Cousin Bennet, I was speaking the words of my esteemed patroness. She is one of the closest family to the good colonel, and her words have great import with regards to their family. I will apologize if the discussion is not fit for some to hear, but as I learned of the matter from one of the prominent members of the Fitzwilliam family, and I am called upon, in my duty as a clergyman, to discuss matters of sin and redemption, this topic is of vital importance for me to take a stand. Your daughters need be aware of the dangers which lurk about, waiting for unsuspecting young ladies to be vulnerable.”
“Mr Collins, as a guest in my home, I would ask you to respect my decision and retire to the guest room. If you cannot do such, I will have you removed, by force if needed, and expect you to find other accommodations. The colonel and Mr Bingley are my guests by my choice, where you have been thrust upon me for no other reason than a distant family tie.”
“I am your heir, Mr Bennet. That should garner respect alone, yet my position as a clergyman demands respect shown. My patroness has spoken often that as her parson, it is my duty to warn people of the dangers in the world, so that they might be able to protect themselves, and protect her from being associated with such behavior. And you must see that the fate of your wife and daughters will be at the mercy of my benevolence upon your death. If you force me to remove from your home in such a manner, I assure you that I will have no sympathy for the ladies. And I will not offer for any of them, you have my word on that matter.”
Mrs Bennet entered the fray at this point. “Mr Collins, I would not allow any of my daughters to marry the likes of you. It would be preferred to live in the hedgerow than to live with you as a son-in-law. No, my girls deserve better. And, it might not be true, you might not be the heir of Longbourn.”
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This declaration made all of the men turn their attention to the Mistress of Longbourn. Blushing vividly, Fanny Bennet looked at her husband. “Forgive me, Thomas. I had planned to inform you privately, but it is best to speak of this matter now. I am with child. We have not had the best of luck with having a son, but I believe this child is different.”
Mr Bennet stepped across the room, taking his wife’s hands in his own. “Truly, Fanny?”
Her smile was contagious, as Mr Bennet wore one similar. All of their daughters moved to congratulate their parents. The Master of Longbourn turned to his cousin, desiring to be rid of the disgusting man. “Mr Collins, I ask that you remove from my home immediately. I will not have you insult my guests any further. And, to be honest, I dislike you as much as I did your father. You will never be welcome here as long as I am alive, and I will see that my wife and daughters are protected from you, if this child my wife carries is another girl.” A motion towards Mr Hill alerted the butler to have the stable hands come to assist in removing Mr Collins from the premises.
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Fugitive Page 8