His cousin ignored the chai
r Darcy indicated but grabbed its back hard enough that his knuckles turned white. “Just now. I only stopped at the Gardiners before coming here.”
Darcy’s eyebrows rose. Richard had not taken the time to return to his own house? There was a problem with Elizabeth! He felt as if a hand were squeezing his lungs, making breathing difficult. “What has occurred? Is Elizabeth ill?”
“No, thank God, nothing like that.” Richard sighed, running his hand over his jaw. “It is Wickham.”
Anger surged through Darcy. He believed he had managed to banish the blackguard from their lives. Had he somehow imposed himself on Elizabeth? Darcy’s hands itched to wring Wickham’s neck.
“Wickham has run off with Elizabeth’s youngest sister, Lydia.” Richard’s tone was bitter. “She was visiting a friend at Brighton, where Wickham’s regiment was stationed. They escaped under cover of darkness—three days ago. Mr. Bennet is here; he believes they are in London, but he and Mr. Gardiner have been unable to locate her. I returned as soon as I received word.”
The enormity of Fitzwilliam’s words washed over Darcy. What Elizabeth must be suffering with such scandal having befallen her family! If only he could be at the house on Gracechurch Street to comfort her. But it was not his place. He could not so much as touch her hand.
Why had the Gardiners not notified Darcy of the matter immediately? But, no, they had no reason to believe he had particular interest in Wickham or assisting Elizabeth. Damn the need for discretion!
And damn Wickham! Richard raised an eyebrow, and Darcy realized he had spoken the words aloud.
“Indeed,” Richard agreed. “I knew I would regret not shooting him after Ramsgate.”
“You would regret Newgate as well.” But his cousin waved thoughts of imprisonment away.
“Tell me everything.” Darcy gestured Richard to a seat and poured some of his best French brandy for his cousin, who accepted it gratefully. Then he obtained another brandy for himself, noting that the level in the decanter was getting low. A broken heart was expensive.
After seating himself, Darcy swirled the caramel colored liquid in his glass. “Poor Elizabeth. She does not deserve such scandal.”
Richard regarded Darcy strangely, and only then did he recognize he had used her Christian name. He set the brandy down on the desk and said the first thing that came to mind. “Is she very distressed?”
Richard’s free hand clenched into a fist. “Yes, very.” He frowned at Darcy. Did he suspect something? Feigning a nonchalance he did not feel, Darcy sipped the brandy but barely tasted the liquid on his tongue. Richard continued. “She is concerned about the family’s loss of reputation. She even offered to release me from the engagement.”
How like Elizabeth! Darcy was ashamed at his surge of hope.
“Naturally, I declined.”
Darcy nodded. “I would never let her go either.” Richard frowned again, and Darcy cursed his loose tongue.
Darcy needed to divert the other man’s attention. “What has been done to recover them?” he asked.
Richard shook his head and leaned forward in his chair. “I know not. Elizabeth’s father and uncle were out when I called. They were traced as far as London, and we have no reason to think they have left. Lydia appears to believe Wickham would marry her, but we know his character too well—he would need monetary inducement.”
Darcy nodded a grim assent.
Full of restless energy, Richard pushed away from the chair and prowled about the room like a caged animal. Finally, he stopped at the window and gazed out at the street. “I hoped you might know of some of his old acquaintances in London, someone he might contact.”
“I have some ideas.”
“Good.” Richard regarded Darcy intently. “If you give me those names, I—”
“No.”
His cousin blinked in surprise. “I beg your pardon?”
“I will not give you the names. The fault is mine, so must the remedy be.”
Richard sighed in exasperation. “The fault is Wickham’s.”
“If I had not been so hesitant to lay out my private business before the world, he could not have imposed himself on an innocent girl like Miss Lydia.”
Richard rolled his eyes. “You take too much on yourself.”