Page 66 of Penned By Mr Darcy
Darcy nodded once, jaw tightening.
“Then we face him together.”
She blinked.
“You mean to come?”
“I will not allow you to confront him alone. I know him too well. He is not merely cruel—he is clever. Manipulative. And now that he’s desperate, he’s dangerous.”
Elizabeth stepped closer, heart pounding. “If he sees you, he might flee. And then he’ll strike elsewhere—when no one expects it.”
“Then we must strike first.”
A pause.
“I have proof,” he said. “Letters from his debtors. Names. Amounts. Promises broken. I have written to Colonel Forster already—Wickham’s discharge is imminent. It appears that I am not the first to raise concerns about his behaviour. That is what I have been occupied with these past few days. I ought to have come to you, or sent word but…Bingley said that you were distraught. I had to set things right before I saw you again. That is my fault; I took liberties. I was careless.”
“You did nothing that I did not consent to,” Elizabeth whispered. “You have truly done all this to assure my safety?”
“I’ve done nothing compared to what I should have done,” his voice was low. “For Georgiana. And now for you.”
She met his eyes.
“And what of Georgiana? He told me he would write to your aunt, or to the scandal sheets. What if he does not speak of us, but of her?”
“If Wickham tries to sully her reputation,” Darcy said, “I will stop at nothing to ruin him. I will see him sent to Australia, I will see a noose around his neck, I no longer care.”
Elizabeth’s throat tightened.
“I’m sorry. I think I made him angrier. I spoke with such revulsion…I wanted him to feel it, to know that he did not scare me. But I am scared, Mr Darcy.”
Darcy took a step closer.
“I will keep you safe, Miss Elizabeth. I swear it.”
A long silence hung between them.
“Mr Darcy, I…”
There was a knock at the door. Both sprung apart.
“Sir,” the butler said. “A Mr Wickham is here to see you.”
With one concerned glance towards her, Darcy instructed the butler to see Mr Wickham to the library. Elizabeth wondered what the rest of the house would make of this unusual visitor. She stepped forward and peered around the door, but could not see Jane. She hoped only that she had not gone too far, for she was not sure what would happen next. She took some solace that, now, they had privacy for whatever was to occur.
Mr Darcy moved closer to her, staring down at her from his great height. She met his gaze without hesitation.
“If you wish to leave, Miss Elizabeth, now is your chance.”
“No. I will not run from him.”
He looked at her, and for the briefest of moments he held out his hand to her. She did not pause before taking it in hers, her heart racing as he squeezed her hand gently.
“Thank you,” he whispered, letting go of her hand. "You do not need to be here, Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said quietly. His hands were clasped tightly behind his back. "I am certain that I can handle this alone—"
"No,” she said, her voice firm. "I have as much a part in this as you do. It is my name he tarnishes. My family’s future he plays games with. I do not appreciate having others act on my behalf."
He studied her face for a moment, then nodded once.
