Page 199 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Wickham looked at Forster. “Colonel, I ask that you delay this until Darcy can be sent for. He and I have known one another since childhood. I am certain the matter can be settled between us if you will only allow me to speak with him.”

Forster regarded him without sympathy. “This is a civil matter, Wickham. I have no authority to interfere with lawful process.”

“I am not asking you to interfere, Colonel. Send a man to Netherfield. Darcy is there. Give me an hour with him.”

“I shall do no such thing.”

Wickham released the chair and faced the officers. “What amount does he claim?”

The officer named the sum.

Wickham stared at him. “That is impossible.”

“The accounts accompany the process.”

“I do not owe Darcy that amount.”

“The creditors named here assigned their debts to him.”

Understanding came slowly across Wickham's face.

“Creditors? Darcy has purchased my debts?” Wickham looked again at Forster. “Colonel, you cannot mean to allow them to take an officer of your regiment away without giving him an opportunity to answer for himself.”

“You will have the opportunity to answer through the proper proceedings. I will not prevent these men from doing their duty, nor do I wish to retain an officer who brings disgrace upon his regiment.”

One of the officers stepped beside Wickham. “You must come with us, sir.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“You will be taken into custody under the process against you and conveyed to London.”

Wickham's eyes moved toward the door.

Forster saw it.

“So that you understand your position completely, Wickham, I received word yesterday that you had purchased passage to St Albans for four o'clock this afternoon.”

Wickham looked at him.

“I do not know what you intended,” Forster continued, “and I have no need to ask. You were ordered to report here this morning, and you did so. What occurs now is between you and the officers executing the process.”

Wickham's expression changed. “You had me watched?” He stepped back from the men.

“Send for Darcy, Colonel, I beg you. This is a misunderstanding. If you will only send for him, we can work this out.”

Forster made no move, but nodded to the men.

The officer took Wickham by the arm. “Come along, sir.”

Wickham resisted only long enough to look once more at Forster, but the colonel offered him nothing.

The two officers escorted him from the room.

Peter and Robert Miller waited outside.

Neither spoke as Wickham was brought past them and taken to the waiting carriage. Wickham glanced at the brothers without recognition before an officer directed him inside.

The door closed behind him.