The Ashes of Longbourn (23 page)

             
The cottage door opened all the way and Wickham could be seen in the doorway.  “You are the one lying.  You never could accept your father’s love for me, and you did everything you could to hurt me out of your jealousy.  I should have inherited Pemberley, not you. It should be mine.  But I took your wife’s family from her, ruined her life.  That will always be a thorn in your side.  Because of you, because you cared for her, her family has had to suffer as she does.  Her life will not be long; she will die, just as the rest of them did.  I looked in the rooms that night.  I saw her father and mother sleeping in their rooms.  Her younger sisters were sleeping, until I smothered Lydia with her pillow.  That girl was vulgar, just like their mother.  I had wanted to eliminate her almost since the day I met her.  Kitty woke at the sound, but I strangled her.  The pious one, Mary, she was a pleasure to kill as well.  I slit her throat.  The door was locked to the bedchambers of your precious Elizabeth.  As Jane’s bed was empty, I assumed that she was in the room with Elizabeth. That was the only reason they were not killed before the fire was started.  Because of your interest in her during the Netherfield ball, I was planning to taste the delights of your dear Elizabeth before killing her.”

             
“You might have thought of it, but she is my wife, and the only one who tastes her delights is me, and believe me, she is worth savoring.”

             
“A crippled woman is supposed to be so delightful?  I cannot imagine, though, with your lack of success when it comes to the ladies, anything is better than nothing.”

             
“You are pitiful, Wickham.  You prefer to use a woman for what you wish, then on to the next. Having the love of a good woman and facing the rest of your life at her side is a blessing.  Thank you for being unsuccessful in taking her from me.  I will have the great pleasure of loving her for the rest of my life.”

             
Wickham’s fury grew by the moment.  “I will kill you and then kill that chit.  And once I have finished killing the two of you, I will take your sweet sister and taste her delights, before I take her dowry from her.  Pemberley will be mine, as it should be.  You can never beat me, Darcy.  It is time that you pay the price of challenging me.”

             
Smoke was beginning to grow at the back of the cottage.  Richard had given the order to set the small house on fire.  Darcy knew that if his words could not provoke Wickham out, there was no other means of doing so without causing harm to anyone else.  They meant to force Wickham out to escape the fire or he would die in the flames as he had forced others to do. 

             
Shouting came from inside the cottage.  “If you do not wish me to blow a hole that would most likely kill all of you, you had best start dousing the flames with water.  I have several kegs of gun powder in here.  It would kill you if it blows up.”

             
“Thank you for your words of caution, Wickham, but we are at a safe distance and will not be harmed.  It is you who will be killed.  Do us all a favor and remain inside the house.  Remain inside and die like the coward that you are.  You would hang if you came out, for murder and attempted murder.  Either way, you are already dead.  It only matters as to now or in a week from now.”

             
The flames grew, beginning to consume the building.  Smoke was pouring out of the front door, and the men could hear Wickham’s coughs coming from inside.  He finally stumbled out the door, falling to the ground just moments before the cottage blew with the tremendous power of the barrels of gun powder.

             
The men took cover, though the force of the explosion knocked Darcy and Richard to the ground.  It was several moments before the air cleared enough to allow them to see the remnants of the building.  But the body that had been on the ground beside the cottage was no longer there.  Frantic, Darcy shouted out to the men to search for Wickham.  He was afraid that Wickham had deceived them and escaped.  The first thought that went through Darcy’s mind was that if Wickham had gotten away, he would go after Elizabeth and Netherfield.

             
Suddenly, shouts could be heard from the base of the hill.  Darcy and Richard ran towards the soldiers who were grouped around something on the ground.  When they were close enough, it was plain to see that they were gathered around the body of a man.  Reaching out, Richard turned the body so that his face could be seen.  It was that of George Wickham.  The evil that had plagued so many lives for more than two decades had finally come to an end, as Wickham’s body was checked for any signs of life, only to have none found.  Richard pulled out his saber, using it to turn Wickham’s head from side to side, making certain that the scoundrel was not playing opossum.  Looking up at his father, who nodded his agreement, Richard raised his sword and plunged it into the space which should contain the heart that Wickham had so rarely used in his life.  Finding no reaction to this action, Richard was finally certain that George Wickham was truly and finally dead.

             
Darcy stood near Lord Matlock, watching his cousin stab the corpse to ensure the body was dead.  No movement or bleeding came from the stab wound, no breathing or beating of a heart was detected. It was over.  Wickham could harm no one ever again. He had been given a chance to surrender, but Wickham was a coward.  Then Darcy noticed his childhood friend’s arms.  They were covered in blood, from what appeared to be cuts on each.  Wickham had taken the coward’s way out and committed suicide. Even in death, the man took the easiest route.

             
Mr Phillips moved forward with the team of horses pulling a wagon.  The body was placed on the wagon bed, and covered with a dirty horse blanket.  “Take him to Mr Wagner, the undertaker.  I sent him word this morning that he would most likely be receiving a body.  He will bury him in the village cemetery.”

             
A nod of the head from Darcy gave his agreement.  Mr Gardiner stood with his brother in law as the body was loaded, shaking his head at the waste.  Wickham had destroyed his own life, as well as the lives of so many others.  The gifts that the man had been given in life, from Darcy’s own father, and what this man could have been, were all thrown away because of Wickham’s jealousy of Darcy, and his greed for money and things.  Now it was time to deal with the man who had falsely claimed to be a member of the Bennet family.

             
The men were silent as they returned to Netherfield.  Bingley and Richard kept a close watch over Darcy as he walked immediately towards the stairs and up them.  They knew where he was going; no words were needed to tell them that he wished to be with his wife.  And Elizabeth would tend to his pain. 

             
The rest of the men gathered in Bingley’s study.  Bingley walked directly to the sideboard and began to pour out the port that was waiting for them.  After everyone had had a drink, they went in search of their own loved ones to deal with the day’s events in their own way.

             
                                          ~~ ** ~~

             
Darcy made his way to his bedchamber to find it was empty. He was sure that Elizabeth would still be having her treatment; the time of day told him that she should be in this room.  He quickly made his way to the adjoining rooms, finding his wife had just entered her bathing tub.  Dismissing the staff, Darcy took off his clothing and slid into the tub behind Elizabeth.  Wrapping his arms around her, his lips sought refuge at the tender spot where her neck and shoulder combine.

             
Knowing he would speak when he was ready, Elizabeth allowed him his time, allowing him to find comfort in her as she had done with him.  Finally he spoke.  “It is over.”

             
“It may not be Christian, but I am pleased.  Even Jane spoke of wishing him dead, so that speaks of what a vile man he was.”

             
“Lizzy, some of the things he said, some of the things he claimed to have done…he was truly evil.”

             
“Do you wish to speak of what he said, my love?  You know you may speak openly.”

             
“He gloated over the night of the fire.  He said that he killed your sisters before starting the fire.  He planned to kill Jane and you, planned to have his way with you first. Your door was locked.  That is what saved you and Jane.  Your door was locked and he could not enter your room.”

             
“But how could it have been, for I never locked my doors? I remember opening the door and the flames knocking me backwards.  But the door was not locked when I opened it.  I did not need to unlock it.”

             
Darcy was confused by this bit of news.  Had Wickham lied about killing the younger sisters and trying to reach Jane and Elizabeth?  He heard Elizabeth’s voice call him back to her.

             
“Perhaps it was stuck and he thought it was locked.  That is possible.  What did he say about my sisters?  Do you think that they were dead when the fire started?  Part of me prays that they died quickly, without the pain that the fire would have brought.”

             
“I am not certain about your sisters, but I know what he said about wishing to defile you before killing you, well, it is something he would have liked.  He would have gained pleasure in knowing that my learning this would cause me further pain.  He claimed to realize my fondness for you at the Netherfield Ball.”

             
“I believe that the only ones who did not know of your fondness for me then were you and me.” Elizabeth chuckled.  “It is done, my love.  Nothing can change the fact that my parents and sisters are dead.  I no longer feel the blame for their deaths, as we learned that it was due to the fake Mr Collins and the secret of his identity, which caused Wickham to do as he did.  And I blame the woman who hired him as well.  But it will all soon be over, as our uncles and Richard plan to leave tomorrow for Rosings, do they not?  I cannot wait for it to all be over and we will be able to go on with our lives.”

             
“As I am not allowed to join them, I will have to find a way to keep myself occupied.  Do you have any suggestions?”  He said as he began kissing her neck.

             
“Let me think for a while before I can give you an…ahhh…answer.  Mmmm, that is so…oh my…yes, that feels…oh William.”

             
The rest of the family did not see either of the Darcys until dinner that evening.

             
                                          ~~ ** ~~

             
Jane joined Bingley in his study.  “Charles, I spoke with Lizzy while you and William were with the other men.  She asked me why we were waiting to marry.”

             
“I was wondering the same.” Bingley said.  “Forgive me, Jane, I promised that I would not pressure you for a decision as to when we should wed.”

             
“Lizzy told me that it was time to think of my own happiness.  She said that I have been thinking of everyone else, taking care of her, and forgetting to take care of myself.”

             
“Lizzy is an intelligent lady.  And I agree with her.” Bingley came to where Jane stood, looking out the window, and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back to his chest.  “I have stood aside and allowed you the freedom you needed to deal with all that had been laid at your feet.  Your sister is recovering, and she has her husband to be at her side.  The threats to our family are being dealt with.  And our family is here, with us.  It would be simple enough to have a small ceremony here.  You know I obtained a special license to marry; we can use it any day.  Perhaps next week, after everything at Rosings is handled.”

             
“Is now the proper time for us to be thinking of a wedding? Yes, Lizzy is better, and growing stronger, but she is still frail.  It could be many weeks to come before she is strong enough to leave Netherfield, and even then, she may wish to remain here for some time after she is stronger.  Our home was near here, our lives began here.  All we have known has been in this neighborhood.”

             
“Jane, I know that much has changed.  But I am sure that your family would support our decision to set a date and our marrying.  We have no need for a large, elaborate wedding.  Something small and intimate would be perfect.  And, before you comment about your being hostess and cannot leave our guests for even a day, I can send for Louisa and Hurst to come for the wedding.  They can remain for a day or two for us to travel to London for our wedding night.”

             
“I am not certain, Charles.  What if…?”

             
“No more what if’s.  Jane, we deserve to have some happiness for ourselves.  I want you to be my wife, to give you the life you deserve.  Let us be a little selfish and take some time for ourselves.”

             
Jane turned around to look him in the eyes.  “Very well, Mr Bingley, next week would be a perfect time for a wedding.  Perhaps on Thursday, so your sister and brother in law will have time to join us and I can have a new gown made.”

             
“That will be perfect, my love.” Bingley kissed Jane’s lips chastely.  “Absolutely perfect.”