The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery (55 page)

Edward, as he had sat in the mud and the blood of Waterloo, had considered the years when Georgiana had been most vulnerable. Had his intimate feelings for her originated when he had held a weeping fifteen-year-old in his embrace? He would acknowledge that only in her presence had he ever experienced the feeling of finally being cleansed of the harsh smell of blood, which constantly plagued him. When he had returned to Derbyshire this past Christmas, a vibrant young woman had met him at Pemberley's door, and he was lost to her perfection. He would not permit Wickham's baseness to destroy all she had become.

As he reached the still-open door, he heard her say, “Where is Edward?”

“Here,” he announced as he stepped across the stoop. Out of his eye's corner, he noticed the slumped over form of Lieutenant Wickham stir to life. He also observed how Darcy and Elizabeth retreated from the figure on the cot. There in all her glory sat the woman he loved more than life. He gazed upon the countenance he had feared never to see again, and desire reared its head. “Georgie,” he murmured before crossing the room in three long strides.

He dropped to his knees before her. “Thank God,” he said on a rasp, his happiness complete in that moment. He pulled her toward him until he heard Elizabeth caution, “Careful.” Edward froze. He cupped Georgiana's chin in his large palm. “Are you injured?”

“Badly bruised,” she admitted.

“Her ankle.” Again, Mrs. Darcy's voice cut through the pure bliss of looking upon his wife's countenance.

Edward raised Georgiana's skirt carefully. “What have we here?” He examined the makeshift dressing carefully. “Is this device of your making, Mrs. Darcy?” he asked over his shoulder.

Elizabeth's pure joy played through her words. “While you and Mr. Darcy were skulking about the countryside, our Georgiana devised her own rescue. All I did was to provide a tightening of the strips about her ankle. Our girl has been quite ingenious.”

Edward kissed Georgiana's temple before lowering her skirt. “I always knew my wife possessed more than just a beautiful countenance.” He tenderly caressed her chin.

Darcy playfully whispered in Elizabeth's ear, “A gentleman never skulks,” before saying, “We are both blessed with remarkable women. Yet, neither should have encountered Lieutenant Wickham on her own,” he chastised.

“In my defense,” Georgiana said tartly from Edward's side, “I did not chose to greet Lieutenant Wickham under any circumstance, and, especially, not such a dire one.”

“And although I perhaps stumbled into a hornet's nest, at least, I brought Delilah with me,” his wife countered.

Darcy rose in amusement. “Where is Delilah?”

“Here.” Georgiana grinned widely as she uncovered the pistol hidden in her gown's folds.

Edward chortled. “Delilah is a pearl-handled pistol? Where is Sampson?” he asked with an all-knowing smirk.

“In my boot,” Darcy confessed. He supported Wickham to the stool Elizabeth shoved his way. “If you move a hair, I will shoot you in both knees,” he threatened.

Edward stood. “If you can tolerate it, I would return you to Alpin Hall tonight,” he said to Georgiana. “I will not rest easily until you have been seen by a physician.”

“I cannot descend the hill,” Georgiana said softly.

“You may do so in your husband's arms,” Edward assured. “And if I fail, you have a brother who would attempt to walk on water to save you.”

“You will not fail,” Georgiana assured. “You have never failed me.”

Darcy strategized, “We will place the women in the gig with Mr. Jacks. Elizabeth, you will assure that Georgiana's ankle sustains no further injury. We are perhaps an hour from Alpin, but at night, it will take longer.”

Wickham stirred. “And what of me? Can I hope that you will turn your head and permit me to find my own way?” he said with his last stand of defiance.

“It is not likely that you will ever be free of me,” Darcy snapped. “As I am to never know the pleasure of our relationship's end.” He took the pistol from Georgiana's grasp and returned it to his wife. “Keep it close,” he ordered. “As for you, Sir,” he directed his comments to Wickham, “you will return with us to Alpin until I decide your fate.”

“Do you expect me to walk behind the gig?” Wickham sarcastically asked. “It is not likely that the carriage will hold four passengers, and I cannot imagine that either you or the Major General will wish to share your seat with me.”

Edward snarled, “I would not share a cup of tea with the likes of you.”

Elizabeth asked softly, “With your injury, are you capable of riding a horse, Lieutenant?”

“What injury?” Darcy asked suspiciously.

Elizabeth slid her hand into her husband's. “I wrapped Lieutenant Wickham's ribs. He was thrown from his horse.”

Darcy's brow knitted. “
You
treated the lieutenant's injury?”

Elizabeth moved closer. “I could hardly permit Georgiana to do so.” She allowed the importance of what she said to soften Darcy's irritation. He nodded his understanding. They would speak more of this in private.

“Pardon me for interrupting these tender exchanges, but the issue of whether I can ride remains on the table,” he said with renewed contempt. “
If
I possessed a horse, I could stay ahorse,” he declared.

Elizabeth doused the fire with the bucket of water. “We should send supplies to restock this but and ben,” she told Darcy. “If our sister had not found bread and fresh water, she would not have survived this ordeal, and the place requires new linen and furnishings. A future traveler will sing our praises.”

“I will see to it.” His wife clearly had a secret she kept from them all. Her tone was a familiar one. It spoke of some mischief she would practice, and he suspected that Lieutenant Wickham was about to receive a lesson in the magnificence of Elizabeth Darcy.

Wrapping Georgiana in the cottage's thin blankets, Edward carefully lifted her into his arms. “Madam Wife.” He teasingly nuzzled her cheek. “You are as light as a feather.”

Georgiana snaked her arms about her husband's neck. “Let us see if you say the same thing when we reach the gig.”

“I assure you that I will feel nothing but elation.”

Elizabeth cleared her throat. “If everyone is prepared, then let us see to Georgiana's safety.”

“There is still the matter of a horse for me.” Wickham grudgingly rose to his feet when Darcy prodded him with the toe of his boot.

Elizabeth smiled deviously. “Then I suspect the horse upon which you arrived will have to do.”

Wickham blustered, “Do you mean there has been a horse at my disposal all along, and you said nothing? ”

“Did I not mention the possibility of a horse earlier? I suppose I should have made a point of it when you declared that you wished to depart before Mr. Darcy's arrival.” With that, she led the way from the room.

Wickham stumbled after her. “How dare you?” he stormed. “You planned for your husband to have his revenge on me!”

Elizabeth spoke over her shoulder as she began her descent. “Actually, I wished for Georgiana to face her nightmares. My sister proved herself self-sufficient by first withstanding these terrible conditions and then by confronting a man who treated her poorly. Now, there will be no second-guessing on her part. The fact that my husband will earn a similar opportunity is an added benefit.”

“Deceitful,” Wickham grumbled as he watched her move gingerly on the loose footing.

“Exquisite,” Darcy corrected from behind him. “I could have told you from the beginning that you were not equal to the lady. I am just thankful that Mrs. Darcy overlooks the fact that neither am I.” Darcy gestured to where Elizabeth ran the last few feet to the bottom of the hill. “You are next, Cousin. Take your time. I will close up the cottage when you are at the bottom.”

Edward started forward. “We will be waiting at the gig, Darcy.”

Wickham asked with a wintry smile, “What will be my sentence, Darcy? What will be the end to this madness?”

“Personally, I would prefer to be rid of you forever; and with what you did to Mr. Joseph, I am inclined to turn you over to the local magistrate,” Darcy said ruefully.

Accusingly, Wickham said, “You will demand your pound of flesh?”

Darcy motioned Wickham toward the hill. “Perhaps.” He watched the man sidestep his way to the waiting horses. What
had Elizabeth meant by Georgiana finally knowing freedom from Lieutenant Wickham's hold? And how would he ever achieve such independence? As much as he wanted to never lay eyes on George Wickham again, Darcy knew he would ultimately protect Elizabeth's sister from shame. He would devise another solution besides turning the man over to the authorities. Sighing with resignation, he doused the lantern and closed the cottage's door. As he followed the others, he did not want to consider the concessions he would make; he preferred to imagine Lieutenant Wickham on the receiving end of several forms of torture about which he had once read in a book on medieval warfare.

“There we are, Mrs. Fitzwilliam.” Edward lifted Georgiana to the gig's seat. Elizabeth and Mr. Jacks watched Wickham's and Darcy's descents. “Still light as a feather.” He tucked the blanket in closer around her for warmth. “I will ask Mrs. Jordan to make her most decadent meals to put some healthy weight on my wife's limbs.” He kissed the tip of Georgiana's nose. “Thank God, you will lie once more in my embrace.”

Georgiana ignored his intimate comment. She knew she should wait until they were alone, but she had kept her secret for too long. Speaking of it would make the child's existence real. “So, you think your wife too slender?” She traced Edward's lips with her fingertips.

He kissed her palm. “You are perfection in my eyes, but you have not had a proper meal for nearly a fortnight.”

“Then I shall eat for two,” she said enigmatically.

Edward's eyes remained locked on hers. “Now, that you have returned to my arms, I shan't be neglectful of my duties, including enjoying good English fare. I suspect we both could do with a bountiful repast.”

Georgiana smiled brightly. “Even once you have sated your appetite, I shall still eat for two.”

She watched as her words registered in his consciousness. Her husband's eyes grew in surprise. “Tell me it is true, Georgie. We are to be parents?”

“It is true,” she said softly. “I hope the news pleases you.”

“Pleases me?” he rasped. He crawled higher on the gig's frame to cover her mouth with his. “My God. You are unequaled. How have I ever lived without you?”

“You have not,” she said matter-of-factly. “And neither have I lived without you. Only when we are together is life perfect.”

“I love you, Mrs. Fitzwilliam,” he whispered as his lips touched hers again.

Georgiana's face lit with happiness. “And I you.”

“You will permit me to tell Darcy?” Edward said mischievously. “I will relish your brother's reaction.”

“Trust me. I have no desire to speak those words to Fitzwilliam.”

When the others approached, Edward edged away from her. “I will tell him when we return to Alpin. Then I will lock us in my chamber until your brother's rancor cools.”

Georgiana giggled, “That may take several weeks.”

Edward laughed easily. “I am willing to suffer your brother's acrimony if it calls for us to seek shelter together, Georgie.”

She protested, “You think Fitzwilliam will truly not approve?”

Edward whispered, “The man will adore his nephew or niece, but he will not be happy with the image of how you became enceinte.”