Page 68 of Elizabeth and Caroline
Mr. Simmons was standing on the sidewalk, waiting for them. He led the way to the door. “I know you are all-fired to do this yourself, Mrs. Darcy, but if you’d let me speak to Virginia—that’s Mrs. Younge—it might go better. She and I did know each other. We’d have a cup of tea together sometimes in the afternoons. I have seen her here and there since she left the employ. I don’t agree with what she did,mind. Not defending it.”
Elizabeth glanced at Caroline, who shrugged at her. Elizabeth said, “Mr. Simmons, the situation we’re facing is more complicated than you may understand.”
“Yes, the boy who brought the letter told us about your sister,” said Mr. Simmons.
Of course the servants gossiped! Elizabeth felt her stomach sink. Why, this could all be halfway round London by this point.
“No, no, don’t you be worrying about it getting out,” said Mr. Simmons. “It looks bad on us servants to be working in a house that’s not in order. We will all keep it to ourselves. I will be sure to inquire about her as well, though, so do not worry yourself about that.”
“Well, I appreciate that,” said Elizabeth.
They did not knock on the door. Mr. Simmons simply opened it and they went inside. The door opened onto a staircase, climbing upwards into the house, and a small entryway, closed doors on each wall.
Mr. Simmons strode to the one farthest away and here he rapped on it.
The door opened, and a woman opened it. “Michael!” she cried. Then she spied Elizabeth and Caroline behind him. “What’s going on? Is this about Georgie?”
“Has he been here?” said Mr. Simmons.
The woman sighed.
“Ginny,” said Mr. Simmons, “if you keep protecting that man—”
“Come in,” said the woman, who Elizabeth thought must be Mrs. Younge. “Just you.” She glared at Elizabeth and Caroline. “I shan’t speak to either of them.”
Mr. Simmons glanced over his shoulder. “Just wait here for a bit, Mrs. Darcy. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Elizabeth was becoming very tired of having various men tell her that they would get to the bottom of this. She was about to exclaim that she demanded to be given entry to the room when she looked up the stairs and saw him.
Mr. Wickham himself was standing there, looking downat her. He was very still and very quiet, but his mouth curved into a smile at the sight of her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE DOOR DOWNSTAIRSshut behind Mr. Simmons.
Elizabeth marched over to the stairs.
Mr. Wickham held his ground.
Caroline came behind Elizabeth as they mounted the stairs, growing closer and closer to Mr. Wickham.
Just as they were about to close in on him, he abruptly turned and climbed the stairs ahead of them.
“What have you done?” Elizabeth said in a low voice. “Where is my sister? Where is Miss Darcy?”
Mr. Wickham laughed, not looking back as he alighted at the top of the stairs. “I didn’t expect it to be you who found me, I must say. Perhaps I should have. I haven’t stopped thinking of you since we met all those months ago.”
Elizabeth caught up to him. She seized him by the arm and made him turn to face her. “What have you done?”
His eyes danced. “Well, you’re here. It seems you likely have some idea what I’ve done.” He shook himself free of his grasp. He eyed Caroline. “This one. Is this your friend, the one you were so sure you’d match to Mr. Darcy before you decided to trick him into marrying you instead?”
“That is not what happened,” said Elizabeth.
“Yes, but she’s still your friend,” said Mr. Wickham, chuckling. “I knew it then, and I see it’s true now. You and I are alike.”
“We are most certainly not,” said Elizabeth.
Mr. Wickham turned and walked. He spoke without looking at them again. “Come along, then, if you will.”
