Chapter 7

Darcy entered the rented Meryton house, surveying everything as he went to make sure it was all in order. By the looks of his sister when she flew into his arms outside the door, all was well. "Careful, Georgiana. We must maintain some decorum while we are in the public eye." He set her away from him, but could not restrain a broad smile at her joyous greeting. "You look well."

"Oh, I have missed you, brother. Come in. Come in," she urged and pulled him by the coat sleeve into the house.

Mrs Younge was in the foyer. She greeted him with a curtsey. "Welcome to Meryton, sir."

"Thank you. I trust all has been well?"

"As well as can be expected," Mrs Younge replied, giving the words an emphasis that clearly showed there was more to be told. He glanced at Georgiana, then back at the older woman. He would have to ask her what she meant later.

"Come in and rest, and I shall order some tea," Georgiana said excitedly. She drew him down onto the settee and kept her hand clasped in his.

He gave her hand a light squeeze. "So, tell me, what has occupied your time in Hertfordshire these past days?"

"We went to the assembly on Friday evening," Georgiana replied, hanging her head. "I did not do so well, but we met a charming young woman, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and she was very kind to me. So far we have visited twice, and I have met two of her sisters: Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Mary Bennet. Mary Bennet plays the pianoforte rather well, and we have spoken of learning a four hand piece to showcase a ball this winter. If the host will allow us, of course."

Darcy smiled. "I am pleased to hear you are making friends."

"Well, yes and no," Georgiana went on. A spark of sadness showed in her eyes. "I am afraid I have turned most of Meryton against me, with my shy behaviour at the assembly. The eldest Bennet sisters are the only people who hold me in any sort of regard."

Darcy frowned, looking to Mrs Younge for an explanation. She was supposed to be helping his sister, guiding her as she navigated this very delicate time in her life. Mrs Younge only shrugged. "Meryton is a tightly knit community, Mr Darcy. I am sure we cannot expect to break in and be accepted all at once. It will take time."

He gave a tight-lipped smile. "Yes, well, I am sure all will be well in time."

She nodded coolly. "Certainly it will."

"You said the three eldest Bennet sisters have befriended you?" Darcy asked, turning to Georgiana. "How many sisters are there?"

Mrs Younge broke in before Georgiana could speak. "Five in all, sir," she said with a disapproving look. "And none with dowries to speak of. I believe Mr Bennet has only set aside a thousand pounds for each of his daughters." By the look in her eyes, he could see she had more to say.

Darcy raised a brow at this. Why had she felt the need to add that? "I see." He would need to get some clarity on the subject. "Georgiana, will you fetch me my valise? I have brought some sheet music from home and I should very much like to hear you play it for me."

Georgiana went reluctantly, but without argument. "Yes, of course." She kissed him on the cheek after rising and headed to the door. "And I shall speak to the housekeeper to make sure your chamber is ready."

When she had gone, he turned to Mrs Younge. "Now, what is this about the Bennets? I can see there is more than you would wish to say in Georgiana's presence."

"Indeed, you are right, sir. I am reluctant to speak ill of them around Miss Darcy, as they are the only friends she has made in our brief stay here. But I feel you must be apprised of everything before you meet them."

"Which is?"

"I believe Miss Elizabeth Darcy knows of your wealth — it can hardly be kept a secret when everyone seems to know of Miss Darcy's very handsome dowry — and she is angling to meet you." Mrs Younge looked down at her hands, then looked up at him again with a certain reluctance. "I cannot say for certain that that is her goal. But I do not wish to see Miss Darcy manoeuvred like that, only to gain your good graces."

"No, neither do I," he said, scowling. "So, you think this Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a fortune hunter?"

Mrs Younge splayed her hands before her and went on. "Perhaps she has heard of Miss Darcy's dowry and assumes she can get her claws into the elder brother to secure her future? It is a brilliant plan, really. Ingratiate herself with the younger sister and thereby raise her position in the eyes of the eligible older brother…" Mrs Younge said. Darcy frowned, disliking the cynicism with which she spoke. It was hardly the attitude he wished Georgiana to emulate. But how could he ignore Mrs Younge's report of what she had seen? After all, she had been the one at the assembly, not him.

Georgiana returned then, making it impossible to continue discussing the subject. "Here it is," she said, holding up the sheet music he had brought and went to the pianoforte. "Shall I play for you now, while we wait for the tea to be brought in?"

"Yes, please," Darcy replied. Mrs Younge excused herself, and he and Georgiana were left alone to enjoy the afternoon together. But all the while, Darcy could not help but think about Mrs Younge's words. He would have to see for himself if this Elizabeth Bennet was truly good company for his sister. He would allow no one to break Georgiana's trust by using her friendship for their own selfish ends.

∞∞∞

"Where have you been?" Mrs Younge snarled as he came to sit at the private little table where they had arranged to meet for their rendezvous. "I kept Georgiana from dancing with anyone at the assembly so that you would be the first man she danced with. Well, now you've made a fine mess of things."

Wickham had paused at the end of the table, listening to her as she hissed at him through the dark veil that covered her face. It would not do for her to be recognised with him, especially at such an establishment. "My battalion was delayed. It is not my fault that I was not there. Women really have no idea how duty works, do they?"

Mrs Younge baulked at this. "You talk to me about honour?" she asked with a derisive laugh. She leaned out from the cover of shadows that was afforded at the secluded table. "What we are engaged in has nothing to do with honour, Mr Wickham."

He wanted to lean across the table and throttle her. Instead, he held a finger to his lips, commanding silence. "Do not say my name in this establishment." He glanced over his shoulder at the barkeep. Did the old man remember him from the last time he had passed through this little hamlet? He had lost a fortune that night at the gambling tables but had bowed out before the debts could be paid. He was in uniform now, but there remained a risk the owner would recognise him no matter what kind of clothing he was in. "We must be careful not to use our real names when we meet like this. I would not want news to get back to Georgiana."

Mrs Younge merely laughed again, seeming maddeningly unconcerned. She took a sip of the sherry and made him wait a long while for a reply. "Miss Darcy knows nothing of our plot. I wonder if she will even have the faculties to understand what is being done behind her back when we resume our — relations." She said the last with almost a purr. Mrs Younge was indeed a dangerous cat.

"I do not care what you think she is capable of. You must listen to me, and do exactly as I say," Wickham said. This woman was infuriating. The sooner he could rid himself of her, the better. "What was so important that you said we had to meet?" He asked. He had only so long before he would be missed back at their temporary barracks.

"I simply wondered when you were going to show yourself in Meryton." She swirled her forefinger around the edge of the tiny glass cup. "And I've missed you. You know they rent rooms at this establishment, besides offering fine spirits."

Her eyes glittered with a lustiness that stirred his blood. But he had to stay focused. He gave a slight shake of his head. "No, thank you. Not until after Georgiana and I are securely wed."

"Shame," she said, then shrugged as if it made no difference. He suddenly wondered if she was having her desires fulfilled elsewhere while they were apart. The thought at once relieved and frustrated him. What if she got the idea in her head to go after Darcy herself, to cut him out as a middleman? The thought was infuriating.

"I told you we might be delayed. You should not have taken her to the assembly until you were sure that the militia had arrived in Meryton." Wickham said through clenched teeth. He balled his hands into fists. It would be a foolhardy risk to take, striking a woman in public, but she was walking a fine line.

"How should I know if the militia had arrived or not? You refused to write to me and tell me what was going on," Mrs Younge accused him. "Besides, it has worked to our advantage in a way. No one in Meryton will speak with her, save for the Bennets."

"Who are the Bennets?"

"One of the principal families of Meryton. The father is an old codger, a country gentleman with an entailed estate and five daughters." She let the last sink in for a moment. "I thought perhaps the second eldest would throw off our plans to keep Georgiana isolated. But I will soon take care of her. I have plans to convince Mr Darcy that she is after his fortune and only befriending his poor sister to that end."

"Brilliant," Mr Wickham said. "I want her to feel that she can trust no one but me. Is that understood?" He glanced over his shoulder again and caught the eye of the barkeep. He stopped wiping the well-oiled bar, cocking his head to the side as if a spark of recognition had lit in his mind. Wickham turned quickly away. "Have you started trying to convince Georgiana that her brother does not have her best interests at heart?"

Mrs Younge took a last sip from her glass and stood. She put the cloak's hood over her head, hiding most of her face in the shadowy folds. "Patience, my good sir. Patience. You must trust me to have all well in hand." She placed her hand on his shoulder, lingering there far longer than was appropriate. If they were seen by any who knew them, they would be done for. And Mrs Younge was not the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He had no intention of entering into any marriage that would not enrich him. "Write soon, my love," she whispered.

And as quick as the last hint of daylight disappearing over the horizon, she was gone.

Wickham shuddered, brushing off his shoulder where Mrs Younge's hand had rested. Then he got up and left the unsavoury establishment by the back door. Soon enough, he would be in Meryton, ready to enact his part of the plan.