Page 39 of Compromise & Consequence
“You had it good, Wickham.” Richard refused to rise to the bait. “You had four thousand pounds in your pocket. You could have gone anywhere, and been anything you wanted, but you chose to be a gambler and degenerate womanizer. You have no one to blame but yourself.”
“Quit your sermonizing. What I do with my life is none of your business.”
“True, but I would like to know more about your latest adventure.”
“What adventure?”
“The one you cooked up with a gullible girl here in Meryton. I must admit, it was a good one. You almost got Darcy, but he figured it out in time.”
“I have not the faintest idea of what you are talking about.”
“Oh, come now, Wickham. I know you were skulking about the ball at Netherfield, biding your time.”
“You need to check your sources, old man. I was not even in Hertfordshire that night although I wish I had been. I would have paid money to see Darcy come to ruin and be forced to marry a country mushroom. Imagine the poor girl’s life, legshackled for eternity to Dour Darcy of Derbyshire.”
“What woman would not want to be married to my cousin? He is wealthy, somewhat handsome, and virile. What more could a girl ask for?”
“Do you truly believe your cousin will make her happy? I have heard that he is livid over the whole thing and you and I both know he will make her life absolutely miserable. He is rigid and unbending. I feel sorry for Miss Elizabeth.”
Richard quickly realized Wickham had no hand in the compromise, and it was an easy task to ascertain if he was telling the truth about not being in Hertfordshire the night of the ball. It seemed Miss Elizabeth, or rather, Mrs. Darcy had indeed tripped on the terrace and fallen into Darcy’s arms.
He returned to the colonel’s office and immediately noticed an older man. At one time he would have been handsome and fit. Indeed, he still was trim, but there were lines of worry around his mouth and his shoulders were bowed forward as though the weight of the world lay on them.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, might I introduce you to our local magistrate, Mr. Thomas Bennet of Longbourn.”
Hiding his surprise, Richard took Mr. Bennet’s hand in welcome and said, “I am very glad to meet you, sir. I understand congratulations are in order on the marriage of your second eldest to Mr. Darcy.”
Richard did this for one reason. He wished Mr. Bennet to know he had inside knowledge. If he was as intelligent as his niece, he’d seek more information from him. Information he would gladly share and set the man’s mind at ease. His only concern was that Mr. Bennet would lump him into the same clay mold as Darcy. The marriage settlement had been a travesty and grievous insult. He might not wish to speak with him at all.
“Thank you for that, sir. I am surprised a colonel in His Majesty’s army would have knowledge of a poor country squire’s daughter’s marriage.”
“England can be surprisingly small and you would be amazed at who we have in common.” Richard cut a glance toward Colonel Forster, who had a very confused look on his face. “Where do I sign so we can ship that useless piece of sheep dung to London?”
After he’d signed the documents, Mr. Bennet stopped him from leaving the room.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, the day is lengthening. Were you planning on traveling back to town?”
“I had thought of taking a room at the inn. I will set out at first light.”
“No need for that. We have a guest room, which has recently been aired out, and my wife sets a good table. I wish to offer you our hospitality and hear more about our common acquaintance.”
“Mr. Bennet, I must admit that when I met you, I had hoped you would extend some form of invitation. As it is, I saw a beautiful woman as I passed through your delightful village and if I gave you a description, you may be able to tell me where I can find her and lay my heart at her door.”
Mr. Bennet’s congeniality disappeared in an instant.
“If you are another skirt-chasing officer like the one locked up, you can find your own bed for the night, sir. I will not harbor a licentious cad beneath my roof.”
“You misunderstand me, Mr. Bennet. I was struck by her beauty and would only like an introduction. As you are from here, you may know who she is.”
“Was she tall and blonde with three duplicates walking eitherby her side or behind?”
Surprised once again, Richard replied, “Yes, she was.”
“Come for dinner and I will tell you who she is.”
Both men turned and said their farewells to Colonel Forster, and Richard followed Mr. Bennet’s carriage to a decent-sized manor. He stabled his horse, then went around to the front entrance where a butler greeted him and took him to Mr. Bennet’s library.
His whole impression of the manor and Mr. Bennet was one of genteel country living. They were nowhere near as wealthy as Darcy – few in England were – but there were priceless paintings on the wall and expensive bric-a-brac scattered about that almost screamed of quiet wealth. Even Mr. Bennet’s clothes were well-cut and well-tailored. He was not as impoverished as Darcy made him out to be.
