Page 60 of One Night with Mr. Darcy
“Charlotte, this man is a… he is abominable,” said Elizabeth.
“I’d believe him, too, if I were you,” said Mr. Wickham with a shrug.
“It’s not only him I’ve spoken to,” said Elizabeth. “Miss Darcy has explained a number of things to me.”
“Yes, she’s…” Mr. Wickham made a rueful face. “It’s a girlish sort of obsession she’s always had with me. I may not have discouraged it enough when she was younger. I thought it harmless, I suppose.” He bowed his head. “Perhaps I was a bit flattered. I know that does me no credit. She was a girl, and I a grown man. Even so, she was so high and I so low. My father is their steward, did you know that?”
Elizabeth folded her arms over her chest. “If you think I’m going to fall for this, you’re mistaken.”
“You have every reason to be that way,” said Wickham, nodding. “Yes, Darcy believes his sister, and I see why he would. And she is very, very disturbed. I had thought that I could reach her, could pray the madness out of her. I thought, I’ll take this to God. But she is getting worse. She has these ideas, and she is not eating, and she—the other day—she tried to take off her dress in front of me, which—” He got to his feet. “I came here because I realize that I must address this. I had hoped that a bit of distance between her and me would ease things, but then she sent me a letter, and I knew I had to act.”
“You are a liar, sir,” said Elizabeth. “I know you are a skilled liar.”
“Lizzy!” said Charlotte.
“No, no,” said Wickham to her. “It’s only rational she’d say that. I don’t mind.” He put a hand to his chest. “You do not offend me, madam.”
“Oh, well, perhaps I should,” said Elizabeth. “I think you’ll need to leave.”
“You can’t turn him out!” said Charlotte. “That’s inhospitable.”
At this moment, the housemaid-cum-nurse appeared in the doorway with Willie clinging to her hand.
At the sight of Elizabeth, Willie let go of his nurse and took off running for Elizabeth. “Mama, Mama, Mama!” cried Willie, a little smile all over tiny face.
Elizabeth picked him up. “Willie, darling, Mama is busy at this moment.” She took him back to the nurse. “I need another hour.”
“Of course, ma’am,” said the housemaid.
Elizabeth tried to hand him over.
Willie struggled. “No, no, no!” he shrieked.
“I’m sorry, little man, but I cannot at this moment,” Elizabeth said, firmly.
The housemaid collected him, wriggling limbs and all, and she disappeared.
The smile on Wickham’s face told the whole story.
Elizabeth swallowed.
“I’ll be staying, I think,” said Mr. Wickham. “Shan’t I? It’d be a shame to point out who that boy resembles. I wondered why Darcy came like a shot for Lady Catherine’s funeral, why he collected Two. I thought it was because he wanted to get her away from me, but now I see. Now, I see.”
“What does he see?” said Charlotte.
“Think of all the people I could tell,” said Mr. Wickham. “Think how many people in the nearby villages would be interested to know what sort of woman has inherited Rosings!”
Elizabeth’s stomach twisted.
“And I want to see her,” said Wickham.
“No,” said Elizabeth.
“She wrote me a letter and she wants me here,” he said.
“You’ve dropped the ruse that she’s mad, I see.”
He laughed. “She needs me. I am the closest thing she has to salvation. I intercede on her behalf to our Lord and Savior. I could intercede for you. Clearly, you need the help, flagrantly flaunting your infidelity to your husband as if you aren’t even ashamed.”
