Page 61 of One Night with Mr. Darcy
“Oh, that’s hardly fair,” said Charlotte.
Wickham turned on her. He pointed at her. “You.”
Charlotte beamed.
Wickham smiled at her.
Charlotte gasped.
Wickham chuckled. “Take me to Miss Darcy, Mrs. Collins. Now.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
BUT WHEN THEYarrived in the sitting room where Elizabeth had left Georgiana, it was empty.
Wickham walked around the place, touching the framed portraits on the walls, running his fingers over the back of the couches. Then he stopped. He turned to Charlotte. “Miss Lucas, why don’t you go and see if you can find Miss Darcy and bring her here. That way, Mrs. Collins and I can continue our conversation.”
“All right,” said Charlotte and scurried off before Elizabeth could say anything at all.
Elizabeth couldn’t say she minded Charlotte being gone. It was horrifying how easily and quickly Charlotte had fallen under this man’s spell. But she understood, actually. She had been half-under his spell herself. Even though she’d felt concerns about him, she’d talked herself out of them. No, if she hadn’t remembered what Mr. Darcy had told her about Mr. Wickham, she might still be under his spell, further under it. Elizabeth shuddered to think of it.
“Miss Lucas is a very interesting and desperate woman, isn’t she? I think she might do anything to be married.” Wickham shrugged at Elizabeth. “I might find a wife useful, of course. The right sort of wife. A wife of, let’s say, advanced age, would serve me well.”
“You really are abominable,” said Elizabeth.
“I am a survivor,” said Wickham. “I want things that society has determined I should not want, but I cannot help but want them. I do what I have to, therefore, to survive.”
Elizabeth blinked at him. “This is your excuse.”
“I’m a singular sort of man, Mrs. Collins. You likely wouldn’t understand. No one does.”
“Yes, poor, pitiful, misunderstood you.”
“Lots of men are given desires that society seems reasonable. But I was madethisway. I can only think God did it on purpose. He doesn’t make mistakes, does he?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. What a horrifying thing to say.
“I’m not forcing anyone into anything,” said Mr. Wickham with a shrug. “Two, she adores me. She begs for my attentions, and I only withhold them—”
“You withhold them so that she’ll beg,” said Elizabeth. “You make her think she’s being deprived of something, but it’s only abuse. You abuse her and all of them. You are—”
“Now, now, none of that.” Mr. Wickham sighed. He went over to the window and peered out. They were up on the second floor here. He stared out into the garden. “I’ll need your cooperation, you see, Mrs. Collins, and I might remind you that I have it within my power to ruin you. All anyone needs is to look at that child’s face. I rather think Fitzwilliam will be ruled by it as well.”
Elizabeth was horrified. This man, he had come into her house, been here less than an hour, had charmed Charlotte, had determined all her own weaknesses, and was now scheming on how he would control them all. “I don’t think so,” she said. “He… he will not allow you to continue hurting his sister just for the sake of my reputation.”
“His reputation, too,” said Mr. Wickham. He fumbled with the window catch and opened it up. “There. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, stalking across the lawn toward the house, footman trailing behind. Come over here and tell him to go away.”
“What?” said Elizabeth.
Wickham turned to her, beckoning. “Yes, here, Mrs. Collins. Right here. Thrust your head through this window and laugh and be gay, and ask him if he can go and run some errand for you.”
“He knows you’re here. I sent word with the footman. He won’t be put off.”
“Think of something,” said Mr. Wickham. “I can’t have him here right now. The situation is far too delicate, and anyway, I’ve never liked him.”
Elizabeth lurched across the room. “I cannot simply think of something, and I won’t lie to him anyway. I am not going to simply do your bidding because you will it so.”
Wickham glared at her. “You women, you’re all useless. Very well, I shall do it myself. I have to do everything myself.” He turned and leaned out the window. “Richard!… Yes, up here.”
