One of the things I love about writing is playing with the characters. It is simple enough to take out frustrations, or pushing the characters further than Jane Austen did. What about not only pushing them to be far more evil than originally, but what about making the character softer, gentler, or even explain why the character was the way they are?
The new story I am working on takes Wickham far worse than most of us would wish to even think. I must warn you, this story has violence, including sexual assault of a secondary character. If this could trigger someone, I beg your forgiveness. It does not go into detail, it is only known that it happened and what came from the sexual assault. Though it is something we would wish never happened in the world, it is a horrifying crime which happened throughout the centuries. During the 1800’s, women were the property of the men in their families. Father, brother, uncle, even a cousin, could make the decisions of what was to happen to the females in their lives. Unfortunately, that was something that happened for generations prior, and even in the generations after the time frame of Pride and Prejudice. My mother, grandmothers, great grandmothers, all of them legally had no rights, men controlled what the females could or couldn’t do.
When it came to sexual assault/rape, the females were the ones to take the blame for what happened. They must have led the men with wrong desires, pushing men beyond rational thinking. The arts and allurements perceived to have been used on the men, taking the men to the point that rational feeling could not exist. Having worked in law enforcement, having taken photos of females who have been assaulted and searching crime scenes to find other forms of evidence, I understand that we are still seeing this belief. The woman must have been wearing daring and seductive clothing. She might have tricked the men to have forget himself. In recent years, I can remember the governor of Texas saying there would be no need for abortions for females who have been raped or in cases of incest. Why would the governor make such a claim? He claimed that Texas (which at the time the top, having the highest rate of rape and incest in the nation) would take care of ALL perpetrators. For some odd reason, I doubt very much that ALL perpetrators were apprehended. When I worked for the police, the estimate was less than 30% of all sexual assault, rape, and incest cases are even reported. Hundreds of years later, and we are still no closer to eliminating such behavior.
On that note, here is the first 2 chapters of what I am referring to as Wickham’s murders. still trying to come up with a better title, it will come to me some time as I write.
Chapter 1
Fitzwilliam Darcy was in his study, working on the stack of correspondence. He had been away from his home, aiding his sister to escape from an elopement to a despicable blackguard. The man in which had perpetrated taking Georgiana Darcy from the house which had been leased for his sister and her companion, was a man who was well known to Darcy’s family. What Darcy wished for was to see his “old friend” being run through by a cousin of the Darcy siblings, a colonel in his majesty’s regulars. If Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam had been available, he would have taken the scoundrel’s life without a second thought.
It had been only five months since the attempted elopement, five months in which Wickham had attempted to steal away the younger Darcy, Five months in which Georgiana Darcy suffered, from the wounds the reprobate had inflicted on her, when he learned that her thirty thousand pounds could not be released without my brother, the colonel, and their family’s solicitor signing their contract, to protect her from every dandy attempting to take her fortune.
The beating she took was horrifying. To tell the truth, Darcy had been unable to recognize his dear sister. Her face had been struck so often that it swelled to the point her eyes could not open and there were cuts and bruising. But the beating also included the worst. Fortunately, in the months that followed, the seed which had begun to grow inside Georgiana did not grow farther than two months.
He had hired a nurse to tend to his sister, seeing to her injuries, both visible and not. There had been some improvements, though Georgiana was extremely skittish of being around others, including her family.
At a knock on his study door, Darcy called out for the person to enter.
The butler of Darcy House, Jerome Codsworth, opened the door. “Mr Darcy, a Mr Kingsbury is here to see you.”
“Ah, yes, show him in.”
A moment passed until the investigator was shown into the room. After each man bowed and an offer of a repast, Mr Kingsbury began.
“Mr Darcy, I have discovered the blackguard’s location. He has been found near the area of Meryton, in Hertfordshire. You will never guess where the man has joined the militia, which are billeted near the market village.”
Darcy stood immediately. He called for his butler, instructing him to send word to Matlock House, where his cousin was staying during a leave from his military duties. The gentleman then sent for the housekeeper, instructing her to have his valet pack and to have his carriage prepared.
Turning his attention back to the investigator. “I thank you, Kingsbury.” Darcy spoke as he turned his attention to retrieving items from his desk. One item was a bag containing the funds which were promised to the man. “I believe this should cover your fees.”
“Thanks be to ye as well. If I might, would you allow me to join you and the colonel? Your cousin might have told you, Wickham has also been a blight on my family. My cousin’s daughter, and she…she…”
“You are welcome to join us. Hopefully this will be the last day in the life of George Wickham.”
Darcy continued to gather what he would require on the trip. Funds, pistols, documents which contained the proof of the debts Wickham owed. If they could not have the miscreant for the assaults he had made against the females of England, they could have Wickham taken to Marshalsea on his debts. This would give them time to have the heartless man transported to the penal colony.
As the gentleman finish gathering his items, the loud sound of footsteps came in a hurry towards the study. Not surprising, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam was rushing inside.
“Is it true? Have you found him?”
Kingsbury nodded his head. “He is in the militia staying at Meryton, in Hertfordshire.”
“How soon are we leaving?” the colonel looked at his cousin’s preparations, noting that it would not take much longer to leave.
“As soon as the carriage comes around. I sent for Fletcher to have some items packed. Kingsbury will be coming with us.”
The investigator nodded. “I always have a change of clothes with me. My horse is waiting around back.”
Richard could appreciate the man’s statement. “My batman is preparing mine clothes as well. He will be here momentarily. It is part of the military life, you must be prepared to be on the move at all times.”
In less than half an hour, the men boarded the Darcy carriage and were off towards Hertfordshire. Darcy’s most recent carriage was unknown to his childhood friend, and there was no identifiable crest on the doors. During the trip decisions were made as to how to take Wickham before he fled, as he would do if he saw either of the cousins.
The journey was not long, only four hours, and they had arrived. Kingsbury stepped out of the carriage, as Wickham would not know him. Receiving the location to find the militia camp, Kingsbury motioned to the carriage to follow him as he walked to the edge of the village. The camp had set up near the village, with most of the men sleeping in tents while the colonel and his men took rooms at the nearby inn. Kingsbury was directed to the colonel’s tent, where the men were coming in and out, as if they were preparing battle.
Darcy and Richard joined Kingsbury as he entered the tent. “Might we speak with Colonel Forester?” The investigator requested of the superior officer’s aide.
Once the men were in the temporary office of the colonel, the man looked up at them.
Richard, who was not dressed in his uniform, stepped forward. “Colonel Forester, I am Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam of his majesty’s mounted army. This is my cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy, and Mr Kingsbury who was hired to find one man, who we have been led to believe is in your unit.”
The men exchanged bows. Forester was curious as to the officer the men were looking for. “Of who do you wish find?”
“His name is George Wickham. We were told that he has purchased the rank of lieutenant.” Darcy stated.
“I am afraid we are all looking to find Wickham. He has disappeared, after causing great harm to one of local gentlemen.”
“What sort of harm?” Richard asked.
Just then, one of the officers hurried into the tent. “Sir, I have just returned from Longbourn.”
All the men turned towards the young man. Forester held a grim feeling of what his officer had to tell them. “What is the news?”
“Miss Lydia is dead, and Miss Elizabeth has been injured. The apothecary, Mr Jones, says that it would be best if she was taken to London for treatment.”
Chapter 2
“Murder and assaulting gentlewomen. Never have I had such an officer be so vile. It is fortunate for him that he has fled, or I would have run him through myself. How does such a man exist?”
Darcy was devastated at the news. Two more victims of George Wickham. “What can you tell us of the assaults?”
“This morning, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and her youngest sister, Miss Lydia Bennet, left their father’s estate to walk to Meryton, where their aunt, Mrs Phillips, lives. They were bringing some food, as Mrs Phillips has been ill and the Bennet sisters were bringing her baked goods and some jam. Longbourn, their father’s estate, is near two miles from Meryton. When the sisters did not return, Mr Bennet set out on horseback. He found the basket which his daughters had been carrying. It had been tossed on the road, with the jam bottle broken. The gentleman hurried to the village, and after speaking with Mrs Phillips’s housekeeper, knew that his daughter had not arrived at their aunt’s home. It was then that Mr Bennet raised the alarm, calling for anyone who could aid in searching for the girls. It was near half of an hour before they were located. Miss Lydia had been strangled with a neck cloth. She had been…violated. Her sister, Miss Elizabeth, was in a bad way, with a cut on the left side of her head, which we believe happened when she struck a rock. There were other injuries, cuts and bruises. But there was something about Miss Elizabeth. She sat eerily still, her eyes focused at nothing, blood all over her head, yet it was as if she could not hear or see us. In her hand, she held a pocket watch with an unusual fob on it. My men identified it as belonging to Lieutenant Wickham. Another thing is, Miss Elizabeth had blood on her finger tips. It appeared as if she had scratched someone and the blood was from the wounds of the suspect. Two of her fingernails had been torn, as if she had been in a terrible struggle.”
The young officer nodded his head. “I was one of the men who found Miss Elizabeth. Not a sight I ever wish to see again. The look of terror in her eyes was like nothing I have seen before.”
“What happened to Wickham?” Richard asked.
“I sees him when he come inna the camp. He had been on guard duty, yet he had disappeared. When I saw him, he had some scratches on his face and his uniform was a right mess. Even had a pocket was torn. Says he took a tumble.”
“Does anyone know when he left or where he was going?” Darcy was devastated by the knowledge that Wickham had escaped.
“When Mr Bennet came to the camp to ask for aid, everything became chaotic.” The colonel stated. “We were sending out men in different directions. No one remembers seeing Wickham since.”
“Could I see the pocket watch?” Darcy had a feeling he would recognize it and the fob.”
The watch was removed from the drawer of the colonel’s desk. When the items were held out for the men to see, Richard nearly gasped.
“That is my uncle’s watch and fob. The ones that went missing after Uncle Darcy’s death.”
Darcy nodded his head. “When we had the funeral in Derbyshire, someone broke into our family’s townhouse in London. I went to London less than two weeks after the funeral and made an inventory of what was missing. My father kept the watch and fob in London, as he only wore it on special occasions. It had been a gift from my mother, and he deemed it too precious to wear daily. Father did not wish for it to be damaged.”
“How would Wickham know about these items? Had he been at the townhouse previously?” Colonel Forester inquired.
“George Wickham is the son of my late father’s steward. I have known the man for the majority of my life. His father was a good and caring man who did his job and beyond. My father was grateful for his loyalty to our estate in Derbyshire, and he accepted the role as godfather to George. It has been several years since I have seen him, though I have been cleaning up his messes all over England. Recently he has caused great harm to our family, and I learned he was here in your unit. We came here today to call in his markers and have him transported to Marshalsea.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam added to his cousin’s words. “Unfortunately, Wickham has run out on his debts everywhere he goes. My cousin has been generous enough to purchase his debts and has enough to put Wickham in Marshalsea or have him transported. That is not including the many females Wickham has ruined. Several of his natural children have been found homes due to Darcy being a responsible gentleman.”
“Colonel, could someone show us to the Bennet estate? I wish to offer any assistance I can to them.” Darcy suggested. Handing his card to the colonel. “If anything else comes to light, please send word to me in London. You will most likely you will discover debts amongst the local shopkeepers. They may contact me as well.”
“You will likely find some of the young ladies in the area have been seduced into believing themselves in love with the rouge, and find themselves in a difficult situation. If they learn they are in a delicate state, have them contact my cousin. He has found homes for several of Wickham’s natural children.”
Colonel Forester took the card and placed it in his pocket. He then addressed his officer. “Lieutenant Anderson, would you please escort these gentlemen to Longbourn. When you get there, inform Mr Bennet I will come to speak with him as soon as I speak with the rest of the unit. It is time I learn everything about Wickham and his debts.”
Anderson nodded his head and led the men out of the camp. He climbed on top of the carriage, directing the driver to Longbourn.
Thank you for reading. Take a deep breath and then something to aid bringing you some comfort (fav food, drink, cozy blanket, even a sweet dog or cat to give loves). Take care and I pray that this sort of horrifying crimes never touch your family.
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