Page 30 of Until My Last Breath

Father and daughter exchanged quick glances, but they had no otheroption now than to clarify everything to the colonel.

“Well,” Mr Bennet began uncomfortably. “During the time Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley were in Hertfordshire, the militia came to camp there, and we had the opportunity to make a new acquaintance with someone that I believe is also known to you, as he hails from the northern area of Derbyshire. A Mr Wickham? He became a regular visitor in our house, and on one occasion he told Elizabeth how… well, how your cousin had denied him something Mr Darcy’s father have left him on his testament. This was quite shocking for everyone—”

“Mr Bennet, I am sorry for interrupting you. But before you go any further, I need to defend my cousin and unmask Wickham’s lies.” Richard’s tone was grave.

Asking for their discretion, Richard disclosed of all of the facts as they really occurred, alarming not just Mr Bennet, but especially Jane, as she knew her sister’s dislike for Mr Darcy was partially based on Mr Wickham’s accounts.

“Now that you mention it, Colonel,” Mr Bennet said thoughtfully, “I can tell you that I found Mr Wickham’s behaviour quite extraordinary. He waited until Mr Darcy had gone from the neighbourhood to spread his story. Now it all makes sense,” he murmured, lost in his thoughts. “I heard reports that some of the shop owners were quite angry with Mr Wickham for not paying them in time. Apparently, Mr Wickham left town, and the militia, without honouring his debts. Of course, I did not give it too much attention, but now it all makes sense. I wonder…”

Richard looked back to Jane, and she shrugged without saying anything.

“Mr Bennet, is there something else?”

“Oh, yes, sorry. Yes, yes, quite extraordinary indeed,” Mr Bennet continued. “Colonel, now I can see that some of the reports from my fellow companions in the village also make sense. They told me, not long ago, that Mr Wickham had left the militia, fleeing from some of his own comrades after a card game. Apparently, accordingly to Lieutenant Denny, one of the men had sworn to kill Wickham, after punching him in the face,if he had not paid the money by the end of the month. And that was… February. We have not seen Mr Wickham since then. I must admit, I had forgotten all about it.”

Richard frowned. “You said he had his life threatened by one of his fellows before fleeing from Meryton? That is very interesting indeed.”

After a few minutes of silence, Richard and Mr Bennet looked at each other, and frowned at the same time.

“Colonel,” Jane called, bringing her hand to her chest. “Do you think it could be possible that Mr Wickham is in some way… involved in this kidnap?”

Mr Bennet and Richard exchanged glances again, nodding. They had already considered that possibility.

“Well,” Jane said, “at least we know he would not hurt Elizabeth; they were friends for some time. He would not, would he?”

Richard scowled, averting his eyes from her. “I am sorry, Miss Bennet, but I would not count on it. Wickham is a not a murderer, but I know he would be capable of anything else, especially considering the company he can arrange. If he believes his life is in danger, he would not spare any sordid method to obtain what he needs. After he left Lampton, we started hearing horrible stories about his gambling habit, and some ladies… mistreatments. I am very sorry.”

The despair that his words brought, not just to Jane but also to her father, squeezed his heart, but he could not feed them with empty hopes.

Yet, not everything was hopeless; a thought crossed his mind. “Miss Bennet, Mr Bennet,” Richard said, standing up and looking directly at Jane. “Please have courage. If Wickham is somehow involved in this, perhaps it could make things easier for us. I believe I have a way to locate him. I will do everything in my power to find them. You have my word. For now, it is time for me to leave. I will write to my father straight away and ask him to notify the London Magistrates’ Court. After all, being the son of an earl must be useful for something.”

“Oh, is your father an earl, Colonel?” Mr Bennet asked surprised.

“Yes, Mr Bennet. My father is the Earl of Matlock. I am confidentthat after being informed of all the details, he will use all his connections to help us. He has important friends in the upper hierarchy of the Magistrates’ Court, Parliament and the army. I bid you a good afternoon and please, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns. Goodbye.”

~ ♥ ~

Elizabeth slept in the chair. It had not been her intention, but she was more tired than she imagined. After hours valiantly fighting the growing fever Darcy developed, she was not thinking anymore; just carrying wetted towels from one side to the other as in a trance, until she had finally collapsed.

In that moment, the door opened again. Dr Hayford entered the room and was taken aback by Elizabeth’s appearance. She was still wearing the same dirty clothes of earlier; her hair was down and her face pale, and dark circles surrounded her eyes.

“Good God, Mrs Smith,” Dr Hayford said in alarm. “What do you think you are doing? If you faint, who is going to look after your husband? I demand you stop everything immediately and look after yourself.”

If she was not so tired, she would be amused by the doctor’s concern for her appearance, when her entire condition was so much worse.

Brown, as it seemed, had again anticipated the situation, entering the room with a trunk in his hands. “I am so sorry.” His voice could have deceived even her, had she not witnessed with her own eyes what that wicked man was capable of. “I forgot to bring your trunk upstairs before, Mrs Smith,” he said, putting the trunk on the floor, looking at her.

Elizabeth understood that he was expecting her to approach him. When she was close enough, he said, “Don’t make yourself too comfortable. I’ve arranged some clothes for you and for him.” He gave her body a disgusted look. “Go to the next room and make yourself presentable.”

Opening the trunk, Elizabeth found some old gowns. She got oneclosest to her size and did as he said. The room behind the small door was a kind of dressing/pot room. There was some lukewarm water in a bowl. She assumed there must be a servant’s entrance somewhere, as she did not recall anyone entering the room to bring the water.

She remembered Brown’s eyes examining her before and locked the door; a shiver ran down her spine. Disgusting man. She removed her dirty dress and washed herself. While she was drying, a knock on the door startled her.

“Mrs Smith,” came the voice of the doctor, “we are going to wash your husband and redress him with clean clothes.”

The mere thought of being forced to help them to completely undress and wash Mr Darcy filled her with panic; she would not be able to cope with that. She closed her eyes and prayed.

“But we need some of the towels that are in there,” the doctor added.

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