A Wife for Mr. Darcy

mind: the dance, the touch, looking into his eyes and seeing hope there, and resting her cheek against his. If only he had kissed her, the evening would have been perfect.
    When Lizzy turned on her back, she felt the crush of Jane’s letter beneath her, and since the candle by her bed still burned, she began to read it.
My Dear Sister ,
I hope you are enjoying your stay in Derbyshire and that it continues to be the ideal holiday for you. Although I regret writing anything that might take away from the pleasure of your visit, I must write of my concerns about Lydia. In her last two letters, she mentioned that a particular lieutenant was paying her a good deal of attention, someone she already knew from Meryton. She then wrote to Kitty to say that the officer’s first name began with a “G,” and when she next wrote, she indicated that his last initial was “W.” When I asked if the initials, G.W., belonged to Mr. Wickham, Kitty said that they did .
Lizzy, what possible reason can George Wickham have for paying so much attention to Lydia? We know her to be a silly girl, ill educated, and more importantly for Mr. Wickham, lacking a fortune .
I know Mr. Darcy gave you no specifics when he told you to be wary of anything Wickham had to say, but the implication was that he was not to be trusted. I spoke of my concerns to Papa, but he insists Lydia’s lack of fortune will protect her, especially since she is under the protection of the colonel. And I asked if such protection would protect her from a determined seducer, and, Lizzy, he actually laughed. He still sees Lydia as a child, and intellectually I agree with him. But physically, she is a woman. Papa did agree to write to the colonel to tell him he is sending Adam Hill to Brighton to escort Lydia home. But what if it is too late? If our father will not act, what can be done? Please write as soon as possible as I am greatly troubled by this news .
Love, Jane
    As soon as she had read the last word, Lizzy was on her feet searching for her dressing gown. She needed to know from Mr. Darcy what injury Wickham had caused his family because she was convinced that it had something to do with Georgiana. When she went into the hallway, she ran straight into Mercer.
    “Mr. Mercer, has Mr. Darcy retired for the night?” she asked in a quaking voice.
    “Not yet, miss, but he was about to. Is something wrong?”
    “Possibly. Would you please ask Mr. Darcy if I may speak with him?”
    When Mercer went into the study, he found his master had removed his jacket and taken off his neckcloth and was staring into a snifter of brandy, watching as the amber liquid lapped the sides of the glass. This was something he often did when he needed to think.
    “Are we ready, Mercer?”
    “Sir, Miss Elizabeth is in the foyer asking to speak to you. She is quite disturbed.”
    Darcy jumped to his feet, and with no regard to his appearance, he went into the foyer and found Elizabeth in a considerable state of anxiety.
    “Good grief, Elizabeth, what is wrong?” and he directed her to a sofa in the study. “Mercer, stay close.”
    “Mr. Darcy, I have had a letter from Jane concerning my youngest sister, Lydia, who has been visiting with Colonel Forster and his family in Brighton. Apparently, she has met Mr. Wickham there, and it appears that for the last couple of weeks he has been paying her quite a bit of attention. I remembered your warning to me about him, and after being in his company on a number of occasions, I had the impression that he is not to be believed or trusted. But I am hoping he is not a bad man, merely an exaggerator and a flirt. May I ask you to read Jane’s letter, so that you might reassure me that he has no designs on my sister?”
    Darcy took the letter, and it was as expected. To him, Wickham’s intent was clear: the seduction of Elizabeth’s youngest sister.
    “But why?” Lizzy asked, unable to hide the anguish in her voice.
    Darcy placed his hand on her cheek and, looking into her tear-filled eyes, explained the ugly truth. “It is because you believed me and not his lies, and this is his way of punishing you.” When Lizzy began to cry, he pulled her into his arms and rested his head upon hers. She fit perfectly, as he knew she would. He ran his fingers through her long dark curls and kissed the top of her head, trying to give her some comfort, but there was little else he could do at that moment.
    Taking her by the hand, he led her to the chair closest