Chapter 24

B ingley's natural reaction was to try to pull away from Wickham. He stopped and froze in place as soon as he felt the blade of the knife pierce the skin of his neck causing a trickle of blood.

"Wickham! What the bloody hell are you about?" Bingley demanded while the whole of his body shook with fear.

"You are my ticket to freedom," Wickham growled. He too was petrified. Two soldiers stood at either door, each with his rifle trained on himself. Rather than back away, the men had only grinned and held their ground. "Move back or I will slit his throat," Wickham blustered.

Rather than any of the men move, there was a smattering of derisive laughter. A captain replaced one of the soldiers. He did not have a rifle, but he had a pistol in each hand, both of them pointed towards where Wickham sat. "Do you think it matters to us if you swing for two rather than one murder? Then again the militia may have you face a firing squad for desertion during a time of war, and of course there is the matter of the horse you stole."

Wickham began to sweat profusely. He could see no way out of his predicament. How did they know about old man Darcy? The Captain had said it would be two murders! They could not know…Wickham froze as it dawned on him. It was the turncoats Harris and Peters! They must have sold proof of his guilt to Darcy who set the hounds of hell after him. Why had he discounted them doing so after they had tried to extort Bingley for blunt ?

Before Wickham realised what was happening, the window behind him shattered and he was covered with shards of glass, as Bingley was to a lesser extent. In an instant the cold steel of a pistol's barrel was pushed against his head.

"Release the gent or I shoot ya," a Sergeant growled practically in Wickham's ear.

Thinking quickly Wickham understood if he moved the knife anywhere but to allow it to fall to the floor, he would be dead in an instant. On the other hand, if he was taken back to London to stand trial, he would threaten exposing his compromise of Georgiana Darcy to the world. The fact he had not done that was beside the point. Prig Darcy and the Fitzwilliams would not want a scandal and the Earl would use his influence to save Wickham.

He opened his palm and allowed the knife to fall. It did not make very much sound on the carpeted floor of the coach. "Release the man," came the order from the Captain at the door.

Wickham lifted his arms from Bingley. As soon as he was free Bingley fell onto the opposite bench in almost disbelief he had survived a close encounter with his mortality. He could feel the wetness on his neck where the knife had pressed against his flesh, but he cared not. He was free. Bingley watched as two soldiers roughly pulled Wickham from the cabin of the coach and threw him on the ground face first. A large man shackled Wickham's arms behind him and then the other two men pulled him to his feet.

"You know Mr. Bingley, if you play with a jackal you are prone to being bitten," the Captain said disdainfully.

"But I was a victim here…" Bingley closed his mouth as the officer glowered at him.

"Peters and Harris are under arrest in London, they informed us you found them with help from the man who almost slit your throat," the Captain spat. "Now it is up to the gentleman concerned whether or not charges for assault are brought against you."

"B-But I-I-I n-never t-touched h-h-him," Bingley stammered as he began to quake again.

"Do you think you are less culpable because you only paid the men to do your bidding? You are restricted to your house until a determination has been made," The Captain revealed. "You had better pray you were not complicit in the murder of Mr. Robert Darcy, because if you were, you will swing."

By the time the Captain had finished speaking, Bingley's pallor resembled a well bleached white sheet. The captain nodded to some men on horses who took up station around the coach. Another climbed up and sat on the box next to the coachman. The soldier nodded to the driver who put his team in motion to continue to his master's house. The contingent of eight soldiers rode either side of the carriage.

Bingley was so petrified at what could happen to him if Darcy brought charges against him, he had to fight not to soil himself. He did not want to think what would be if Wickham lied and claimed he was connected to the murder of Darcy's father.

As the conveyance was being escorted to Bingley's house, the Captain, his soldiers, and the Bow Street men who had been following the coach arrived and joined the men who had Wickham in custody.

Wickham had been feeling rather good about his chances once he made Darcy and his family understand the scandal he would unleash if they did not assist him. That was until he heard the two captains and the lead man from the Runners speaking next to the cart into which he had been hefted.

"There is no need to waste time with a trial and take this miscreant to London is there?" the newly arrived Captain suggested.

"True, not only did he desert, but while he was in uniform he attacked a knight, and then stole his horse. We have the authority to remove him to our encampment and to convene a court-martial in the next few days. He will face a firing squad. My men need some target practice and this bastard will suffice," the other Captain stated as if he was discussing the weather.

" NOOOO !" Wickham screeched. "It is my right to have a trial in London…" Before he could say more, Wickham was gagged.

"You are a deserter! You have no rights." The Captain who belonged to the Yorkshire Militia turned to the Bow Street man. "You have no objection to us dispensing military justice do you?"

"None at all," the Runner agreed.

"He was a disgrace to the uniform, so he will be dealt with by us," the Captain from London stated.

By now Wickham had soiled himself from fear and fainted dead away.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

"It is over!" Darcy exclaimed to his study as he read the express from the Colonel in command of the Yorkshire Militia. He read it again to make sure he had not misinterpreted anything.

4 December 1810

Yorkshire Militia Barracks

Outside of Scarborough

Mr. Darcy,

As you were made aware, former Lieutenant Wickham was arrested here recently. What you may not know was Captain Jones, from the militia headquarters in London, brought the evidence of the crimes Mr. Wickham committed while in uniform along with permission from General Watts for the man to be court-martialled here and if found guilty to carry out whatever sentence was deemed appropriate.

Even though he was not in uniform when Mr. Wickham was deemed to attempt to murder Mr. Bingley, which was witnessed by my Captain Wyman, that was added to his charges of desertion, horse thievery, and conduct unbecoming. We are sure that Mr. Bingley played no part in the murder of your father.

As you would expect, he was found guilty on all charges. He kept demanding you be summoned to see him, right up until he was shackled to the post and the firing squad carried out the sentence of death.

I trust this closes the saga of the late Mr. Wickham.

Please inform us if you choose to prefer charges of assault against Mr. Bingley. He is restricted to his house until you make your decision.

Yours,

Keith Richards, Colonel

It would not bring his father back, but Wickham had paid for his crimes. Now he needed to make a decision regarding Bingley. It was a pity Richard was not in Town or Darcy would have consulted with him to gain his opinion. As it was he decided he would call on Matlock House to speak to his uncle.

He was leaning towards having Bingley face justice. Not only had he employed men to attack and hurt him, but Bingley had turned to Darcy's worst enemy to find the men to carry out his dastardly plan. That was a double betrayal.

Thanks to the interrogation of Peters and Harris, Darcy too was certain beyond any doubt that Bingley was not in any way complicit in the murder of his father. They had confirmed Bingley not only did not participate in the conspiracy against his late father, but he had been completely unaware of it. If his uncle agreed, Darcy would push for transportation without the administering of any lashes. It was more than Bingley deserved, but banishment from England would be enough for Darcy.

Darcy knew he needed to call at the Hursts' house to apprise them of what was to occur once he had spoken to Uncle Reggie. To assure them that none of this redounded on the Hursts or Miss Bingley, Darcy would ask his uncle to keep Bingley's name off the lists of transportees which was sent to the newspapers. They were innocents so there was no reason to ruin them as well.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

When word reached the Spaniard from his men he had sent to Scarborough that Wickham had been arrested, tried, and executed by the militia, he was disappointed.

He did not mourn Wickham, or even the money he had been owed, all he missed was the opportunity to send the man to hell himself. It was done and there would be no profit in regrets. He reached for the vowels the late man had signed and consigned them to the fire.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

"I agree with the way you are to deal with Mr. Bingley," Lord Matlock stated once William had laid out his thoughts. "And yes, his name will not be sent to the papers. In fact on the order for transportation, he will be listed under a different name altogether."

"My intention is to call on his family in the morning," Darcy reported. "If you agree Uncle, I think the two men being held at Newgate should be transported."

Lord Matlock agreed that even though their testimony against Wickham had not been needed, Harris and Peters would be sent to New South Wales and not hung.

"When do you and Aunt depart London for Holder Heights?" Darcy enquired.

"We will not be in Staffordshire until after Christmastide," Lady Elaine revealed. "If you approve, Anna will accompany Charity to Bedford House in a sennight and travel with them into Staffordshire, unless you want her with you."

"I have no objection to Anna accompanying Lady Charity, but why will you and Uncle not be in attendance?" Darcy enquired.

"We are joining Richard in Hertfordshire," Lady Elaine explained. She saw her nephew's eyebrows knit in surprise, but he had the good sense not to make any derogatory comments.

"Will there be no Fitzwilliams at Holder Heights for the Christmas season?" Darcy questioned.

"Marie and Andrew will be attending as planned. In fact they are already almost there. They departed a few days ago so they could travel slowly thanks to Marie's heft as she increases," Lady Elaine averred.

"What is in Hertfordshire?" Darcy asked. He could not help himself regardless of the disapproval he saw in his aunt's and uncle's looks.

"Richard is," Lord Matlock responded with a clipped tone, "and we intend to meet the Bennets regardless of," the Earl looked at Darcy pointedly, "anyone's opinions." He kept looking at his nephew challenging him to disparage the Bennets. Seeing some of the residual improper pride and arrogance in his nephew, Lord Matlock understood Richard's request not to mention his courtship with Mary to William until he could do so in person.

There had been some changes in William, but there was still a long way to go. Afterall, Rome was not built in one day. All Matlock could do was hope his nephew would address the deficiencies in his behaviour before he put his foot in his mouth again. He prayed William would not be a simpleton and disparage Miss Mary to Richard. William would not enjoy the results of that confrontation if he ever provoked it .

Understanding that discretion was the better part of valour, Darcy held his peace on the subject and made no further comments and did not ask any more questions regarding his family members' choice of a location to celebrate Christmastide.

Soon he was on his way back to Darcy House to contemplate his not being there to judge things for himself and to begin to honour Miss Elizabeth with his suit.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The following day Richard received a couriered letter from his father informing him of Wickham's execution and William's decision regarding Bingley answering for his actions. He agreed with the way Bingley would be punished, he certainly had not deserved to go without paying a price for his perfidy.

His parents had mentioned William knew they would be at Netherfield Park rather than Holder Heights, but had not mentioned his cousin's reaction one way or the other. Not saying anything spoke volumes to Richard.

As long as William bit his tongue around him, and especially Mary and the rest of the Bennets, he would tolerate his company. Richard expected his cousin to be on his best behaviour the next time he was in the presence of Mary or any of her family. That reminded him that the soon-to-be Mrs. Collins—she would be that on the morrow in fact—had extended an invitation to Mary to visit her in Kent, and she had accepted. He had been impressed by the changes in Collins who had arrived the previous day and was being hosted at Longbourn. It was not only his own observations, but the changes for the better were enumerated in letters from the Curate, Mr. Travis, his Aunt Catherine, and Anne.

Richard intended to propose to his Mary on the return to Longbourn after the wedding breakfast, which would be celebrated at Lucas Lodge. Just as it seemed that a good woman would be the making of Collins, he was sure the same would be true of him if, as he suspected she would, Mary accepted his proposal on the morrow.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Darcy let the knocker fall on the Hursts' door at eleven on Friday morning. The butler showed him to the drawing room once he had relieved the visitor of his outerwear.

"Thank you all for receiving me," Darcy intoned after the required bows and curtsies had been dispensed with. "I am afraid the subject I need to relate is not a pleasant one."

"Please sit Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Hurst invited. "Would you like tea, or perhaps coffee?"

"Thank you, but no Mrs. Hurst, I had some coffee shortly before leaving my home." Darcy sat and told everything as it related to Bingley, the connection to Wickham, and the latter's murder of his father. He finished with the penalty Bingley would pay."

Miss Bingley wiped some tears away. "How far our brother fell," she bemoaned. "You are being most generous in the punishment being meted out to him, and he deserves that and more." Miss Bingley turned to her sister. "We too will be ruined, we must…"

"Excuse my interjection but…" Darcy explained not a word of Bingley's exile would be breathed in London and the steps he and his family were taking to protect the names of the Hursts and Miss Bingley. There was much relief expressed by the three residents. "Also, he has been stripped of his fortune, save one thousand pounds he will receive after serving his sentence. The money will not be forfeit, rather it will be managed by Hurst to be split between Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley." Darcy turned to Hurst, "I would suggest you have restrictions put in place on Miss Bingley's fortune like my father did on my sister's to thwart anyone who may prey on her to gain her money. "

"I will meet with my solicitor as soon as may be," Hurst stated, somewhat in a daze. He and his wife had just come into half of a rather large fortune.

Both Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley were flabbergasted. They had not considered what would happen to the Bingley fortune. For Miss Bingley she knew her vast wealth would attract more men, but she was resolved to choose someone for the right reasons.

By the time he took his leave, Darcy left behind three calmed, but far wealthier, people.