Mr. Darcy left for Fitzwilliam House soon after the doctor gave instructions for his sister’s care. Lottie had already seen to Miss Darcy’s comfort with the tea and broth. While Mr. Darcy promised to give his sister’s regards to the Bennets, Lottie quickly administered the draught the doctor had made and pulled up a chair to read until her mistress fell asleep.
“I will stay with her all through the night, sir. If she worsens, I will send for you.”
Mr. Darcy thanked the maid and quit his sister’s room. There was still much work to be done on his desk in the study but the draw of Elizabeth and her son was stronger than the pull of his duties. His work could wait until the morrow as he would certainly be home with Georgie ill upstairs.
As he stood at the door to his cousin’s townhome, his hand on the knocker, Mr. Darcy turned as a bright color in the fading light of the afternoon caught his eye.
The man strolling with a confident air in his direction was none other than Major George Wickham. He wore his red coat as though he had ever held honorable intentions.
Darcy was not fooled by the man’s appearance and attire. Any gentleman of good breeding could dress well and charm the young ladies he encountered.
But Wickham, he was rake and a scoundrel. A bounder of the worst sort. He stopped at Fitzwilliam House and gave a mocking bow to Mr. Darcy.
“Good evening, what a surprise to find you on Mrs. Fitzwilliam’s doorstep.” Wickham delivered this greeting without the least bit of surprise registering upon his face nor in his voice.
“I am welcome here and you are not. Move along and spare Elizabeth the embarrassment of fisticuffs at her home. You would never approach Fitzwilliam House if my cousin were still living.” Mr. Darcy’s voice was a growl and he moved to block the man’s way up the steps.
Major Wickham taunted Mr. Darcy. “But he is not, is he? And his widow welcomes me as her particular friend. With her son being the next Earl of Matlock, she will want for nothing and she may marry again for love. I aim to be the man she loves.”
Noticing the gloom surrounding them, and knowing not many would see their exchange, Mr. Darcy grabbed the calculating man by the collar of his fine, red coat and delivered a blow to his midsection.
Major Wickham would have doubled over but Mr. Darcy kept him upright. “I am no man of violence, Wickham, just as you are no man of honor. You may depend upon the fact that I am capable of great violence where you are concerned. Your commanding officer could easily be persuaded to send you far from London. I will see to it if you continue to trouble my family.”
Mr. Darcy released the man and shoved him into the street. Major Wickham placed his hands on his knees and caught his breath. He stood proudly after a moment and leered at Mr. Darcy. “You would do the same as your cousin when he found me in Meryton? Why not pay me to go away? A bit of the Darcy fortune would be sufficient to keep me from her side.”
Darcy stepped toward the major with his fists doubled. “Richard had you sent away? He was kind in his handling of the situation. You are fortunate he did not kill you when we found you with my sister in Ramsgate. Stay away from my family, Wickham. Your life will not be spared the next time.”
The door to Fitzwilliam House opened and Mr. Harley stepped out. “Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Fitzwilliam is expecting you. She awaits your arrival in the salon with Master Richard.”
The butler looked to Major Wickham with a cold stare. It was plain he did not welcome the man nor wish to speak to him.
Major Wickham smoothed his coat and gave a salute to the butler and Mr. Darcy. “Consider my offer, Darcy, if Mrs. Fitzwilliam and her son are so dear to you and yours.”
He turned and sauntered back down the street the way he had come. Mr. Darcy mounted the steps and clapped Mr. Harley on the back. “See that he is turned away whenever you might, Harley. He means to harm Mrs. Fitzwilliam and her family.”
The butler nodded and stepped aside so that Mr. Darcy might enter Fitzwilliam House. “I owe a great debt to this family, sir. You may depend upon me to do my best. Mrs. Fitzwilliam is quite fond of the man, though. Perhaps you might give her a strong warning against him?”
Mr. Darcy handed his hat and gloves to the man before removing his greatcoat. “I will speak to her again of my reservations regarding the major.”
Elizabeth rose from her seat and followed her son as he bounded toward Mr. Darcy. “Richard, you know the polite way to welcome company.”
The boy stopped short and looked back at Elizabeth. “Yes, Mother.”
He turned to Mr. Darcy and stood straight and remained perfectly still. “Good afternoon sir, how kind of you to call upon us this day.”
Mr. Darcy regulated his countenance for he so wished to smile at the boy. Instead he knelt and held out his hand. Young Richard shook it firmly. “I am most honored to visit you and your mother, kind sir.”
As the boy turned to guide him to his place on the sofa, Mr. Darcy gave in to the urge to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Well done, son,” he whispered as he followed his young host.
Elizabeth called for Nanny and sat again. “Now you must go with Nanny for Mr. Darcy and I must speak alone for a time. I will have Nanny bring you to him in the library when we have finished our business.”
The boy wanted to disagree with his mother but Mr. Darcy pulled a shiny coin from his pocket. “Keep this safe and when we are alone in the library, I will show you how to make it disappear into thin air. I saw a man perform such a trick on the Strand last year and he shared with me his secret.”
Young Richard took the coin and closed his small fist tight. Nanny came and he rushed to her side.
Elizabeth smiled at Mr. Darcy’s way with her son. “I am impressed by the way you manage him, William. If only I possessed such magical skill and exciting secrets.”
Mr. Darcy laughed. “It is only the way of boys and men, Elizabeth. We enjoy diversions of every kind but most especially those which defy logic, such as the lure of a beautiful lady.”
Elizabeth blushed and laughed at him. “And what lady have you been lured by of late? Is it Miss Bingley? A letter arrived from Jane just the other day and she mentioned the lady was eager to visit Miss Darcy and see you again.”
Mr. Darcy’s countenance became one of exaggerated horror. “I would not have said it is a wonderful thing my sister lies ill in her bed, but if it keeps Miss Bingley from my door I am happy for that.”
Elizabeth’s hand went to her heart. “Miss Darcy is ill? Why did you not send for me? I would sit with her so that she might have company.”
“No, no, Elizabeth, you must not. She would not like for anyone to become ill, especially not anyone from Fitzwilliam House. My doctor has seen to her and she is tended by her maid. There is nothing to fear. There is the promise of the ball to encourage her recovery.”
Elizabeth still worried. “If she has not improved in a day or so, I will come to her and bring an herbal remedy Jane and I learned from Mother. It truly does ease a terrible cold.”
Mr. Darcy grew serious at once. He did not wish to tell Elizabeth he had turned away Major Wickham from her doorstep but a warning was in order after such a close call. “I have had word that Major Wickham is returned to London. He is not to be trusted, Elizabeth.”
Instead of listening to his warning, Elizabeth held up a hand to stop his words. “Unless you are able to share with me the reason for your distrust of the man, I will not give up his friendship.”
Mr. Darcy breathed deeply to remain calm. “He grew up at Pemberley, the son of my father’s steward. I know him far better than I’d like and have spent a small fortune covering his debts and preventing the complete devastation of young ladies he uses and discards.”
He stopped short of telling her of his own sister’s perilous dealings with the scoundrel. If Georgiana wished to share the terrible scandal of her encounter with Wickham, it was her decision alone to make.
“But that was many years ago, when he was a young man. Certainly he is changed after all this time? I do not like to share details of private conversations, but he did say that you denied him the living your father intended. Perhaps that act compelled him to his rakish behavior?”
Mr. Darcy shook his head in frustration. “He is not changed, Elizabeth. He seeks the fortunes of the Fitzwilliam and Darcy families as he has always done. The living my father intended for him could never have supported his questionable character. I would have done a grave disservice to the flock at Kympton to settle a living upon him.”
Elizabeth thought for a moment. “I will watch and see what he is about, William. I am not so foolish as to think him less of a fortune hunter than any other dashing young man.”
Mr. Darcy stared at Elizabeth as though she were just that foolish. And she thought Wickham dashing?
“You have three sisters under your care and you would risk their reputations by continuing your friendship with this man? I will not allow Georgie to visit if you will not heed my warning. It is given with the utmost care for your family, Elizabeth.”
“I am certain my sisters will not be turned from their interest in the wealthier young men to be found in London. Besides, Major Wickham might only be here for a brief time before being sent away again. Do not worry, William. If he misbehaves, I shall simply turn him away.”
Exasperated by Elizabeth’s lack of understanding the dire nature of his warning, Mr. Darcy stood. “I would see Richard now if it pleases you. I find it much easier to crawl about the library floor and pretend to be a ravenous lion than to try and change the mind of a lady.”