Page 146 of Near Pemberley

Neither was noticed.

She crossed several streets, doubled back once as though from habit, and finally disappeared into one of the poorest quarters of Westminster.

Only then did she enter a narrow lodging house.

One of the men left a few coins with the proprietor, learning the names of his lodgers, and had Wickham identified.

The other rode as quickly as possible to find Darcy.

Within the hour, Fitzwilliam Darcy was on his way.

***

The room was little more than a garret above a public house. The air smelt of stale ale, damp wool, and smoke. A single window admitted only a reluctant light through grimy panes.

When the door opened, George Wickham looked up from the table with astonishing composure. Then his smile vanished.

“Darcy.”

He looked from Darcy to the two men behind him. “This is quite an entrance. I wondered why you had frightened Mrs. Younge half to death this morning. What can I do for you?”

Darcy gave his hat and walking stick to one of the men.

Wickham’s mouth twitched. He leant back in his chair with affected ease. “You have been looking for me? I thought they had given up, but then the search started again. I should have known it was you. You have gone to a remarkable amount of trouble.”

“I have.”

“To what end?”

Darcy let his eyes travel slowly around the miserable room.

“Now you come with me.”

Wickham laughed. “I do nothing of the sort.”

“You have little choice.”

“I always have a choice.”

Darcy removed several folded papers from his coat. “You owed money to more people than I would have thought.”

Wickham glanced at the papers and shrugged. “I have always enjoyed credit.”

“You no longer possess it.”

Darcy laid the receipts upon the table. “Every debt you contracted in Meryton has been purchased.”

For the first time, uncertainty crossed Wickham’s face. “You?”

“Yes.”

“You have bought them?” Wickham searched Darcy’s face for the familiar signs of hesitation or pity. He found neither. He glanced once toward the window.

“I have.”

Wickham stared. “You must have spent a fortune.”

“I considered it well spent.”