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Mindless of her dishevelled attire and unkempt hair, Lydia pranced into the room. “Why on earth would my family be devastated by my marrying the handsomest, most amiable man in the world, and an officer no less?” She clasped both hands to her face to contain her exuberance. “The youngest daughter married before the eldest! Who should have imagined such a thing? Mind you, I did write to my dear friend Harriet providing her the strongest hint of our intentions. She was to tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed up⁠—”

Wickham marched towards her, forcing her to trace her steps backwards. “I do not wish to hear another word from you. Do I make myself clear?” She nodded and retreated into the room. He grabbed the knob and slammed the door. “Do not force me to lock this door! The next time, I will!”

Darcy ran his fingers through his hair. Why am I wasting my time on a silly young girl so deficit of sense and feeling as to consent to live with a man on terms other than marriage? The fact that she has chosen to follow Wickham down this scandalous path of shame makes her even more pitiable. Wishing to be done with the two of them as soon as possible, Darcy knew there was only one route to a speedy resolution—the one that led straight to Gretna Green.

A knock at the door summoned their attention. Wickham sauntered over to the door and pulled it open. “Who in hell is this?” he barked, glaring over his shoulder at Darcy.

Darcy approached and greeted the elderly woman. “Mrs. Shaw, thank you for coming. I am sorry to ask you to do this and even more sorry to subject you to such conditions, but there is no other way. You will find the young woman in the adjacent room.”

Lydia, who had not been deterred from listening to the goings-on outside her door, bounced into the room again. “La! Have we another caller? Two callers in one morning, I shall go distracted.”

“Quiet, Lydia!” Wickham’s heightened colour evidenced his exhausted patience. “Go back inside until I say it is acceptable for you to come out.”

In a manner reminiscent of a petulant child, Lydia stomped her foot and crossed her arms. “Am I not the mistress of my home? Is it not my privilege to receive our guests?”

Glowering, Wickham lunged towards her, but Lydia scuttled off in a flash. Mrs. Shaw trailed behind her. He rubbed his hand over his face and blew out a sharp breath. All but dropping to his knees, Wickham said, “Darcy, take her away, and take that old woman with you. I assume that is her purpose in being here.”

“It will not be as simple as that. The young woman is ruined. What is more, her entire family risks ruin because of your debauchery. There is but one way to rectify the situation. You must marry her.”

“Marry her?” Wickham snorted. “You know as well as anyone that my habits of taste require that I marry a woman of means. Why would I marry this silly girl? You and I both know she is not the first to throw herself at me. I dare say she will not be the last.”

“Silence, Wickham! You will marry her, and before you protest further, you ought to know that while I was turning over every rock to find you, I had my man conduct a thorough inquiry on your spending habits in Meryton and Brighton. It seems you incurred significant debts. You can have no doubt who now holds the notes. So, unless you fancy a good long stint in prison owing to your inability to pay your sizeable debts, you will marry the girl.”

Wickham raked his fingers through his hair and then placed his hand about his waist. “How am I to support a wife, a home, and, heaven forbid, children? Do you mean to grant me the living that ought to have been mine all along?”

Darcy laughed aloud. “Leave it, Wickham! How you mean to support yourself is none of my concern.” Darcy considered it was Elizabeth’s sister he was subjecting to such a fate. “Although you were amply compensated in the past in lieu of the living, I am not unreasonable. I am willing to discuss arrangements to set you and your bride on a steady path.”

A half hour later, Darcy pushed himself away from the rickety wooden table where Wickham and he had hammered out the scheme. His purse was destined to be lighter by nearly ten thousand pounds by the time it was all done, but it was worth it. The worst Elizabeth’s family need endure was the embarrassment of the youngest daughter’s elopement to Gretna Green, which they must surely consider a blessing in view of the alternative.

“Gather your belongings, Wickham. You are coming with me.”

“Why should I leave? Is that not the purpose of your bringing that old woman around—that she might escort Lydia to her relatives in Cheapside or even Grosvenor Square to remain until our travel arrangements can be made?”

Darcy huffed. “Grosvenor Square? Do not be absurd! Besides, the young woman’s family knows nothing of any of this. The only thing they will know is that the two of you were married in Gretna Green, just as she had informed her friend. You shall make whatever excuse you wish in explaining your delay in returning to England.

“Mrs. Shaw will remain here with Miss Bennet, and you shall come with me. I have no intention of letting you out of my sight until the two of you exchange wedding vows, at which point, I hope never to see you again.”

Deep in thought in the carriage en route to his Grosvenor Square townhouse, Darcy would not be entirely satisfied with the way things unfolded. Ever since he first learned of what happened in Brighton, he was consumed with a single burning question.

He looked at his companion with disgust. “You care nothing about that young woman, or else you would not have treated her as little more than a whore. She has no fortune, nothing to recommend her. Why did you single her out for your malicious intentions?”

Wickham gave Darcy a sinister, cold-hearted stare. He studied his fingers and then glared at his former friend. He leaned forward in his seat. “Tell me this, Darcy … why not her?”

CHAPTER 16

A LITTLE MISTAKEN

Weeks later, Mrs. Bennet was sitting alone and feeling forlorn, for her Lydia had departed for Newcastle with her husband the prior day, when a loud disturbance in the hallway interrupted her reverie. An older woman with a haughty, noble mien stormed into the room with Mr. William Collins trailing close behind her, thus granting Mrs. Bennet the sole privilege of receiving her. The tall, heavy-looking young man was a mixture of contrition and excitement. He went directly to the lady of the house and bowed deeply. “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Bennet. I wish to acquaint you with my noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

Mrs. Bennet promptly stood and dropped a curtsy. “Oh! This is such an honour to receive you, your ladyship. Mr. Collins speaks exceedingly well of your benevolence.”

Her ladyship’s countenance contorted with disdain. “This is not a social call. I am here for a single purpose of which you can be at no loss to understand.”

“Why, I would have supposed you were in the vicinity, and you meant to convey word of how Mr. and Mrs. Collins are getting along. Yet, as Mr. Collins is here, I can only suppose that his wife, Charlotte, is visiting her family at Lucas Lodge. I suppose she thinks too highly of herself to call on Longbourn out of fear that she might be distracted with notions of all the many changes she wishes to make once my dear husband departs this earth. Wishing to ascertain the condition of the estate, you decided you would call on Longbourn for yourself.”

Lady Catherine’s mouth gaped. “Nothing in your ridiculous ramblings has anything to do with my purpose in being here. My nephew Fitzwilliam Darcy is foolish enough to suppose he is in love with your daughter Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I have come here to persuade the young lady to think better of my nephew’s scheme to offer his hand in marriage.”

Hearing only that which she wanted to hear, Mrs. Bennet’s face ignited with elation. “Mr. Darcy and Lizzy are to be married?” She placed her hand on her bosom. “Two daughters married to such handsome gentlemen! I shall go distracted. Oh! Wait until I share my happy news with all my friends and neighbours. Did you know that Mr. Darcy has ten thousand a year? My Lizzy will be so very rich, and she will have many fine carriages and such pin money. She will have no need for Lady Barrett’s fortune now. Oh! And she will put her other sisters in the path of many rich gentlemen.”