Love, Pride & Delicacy by Maree Apps

Author:Maree Apps [Apps, Maree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KLESS Press
Published: 2019-08-08T04:00:00+00:00

11

Darcy slipped his hat upon his head as he exited the tavern. He grew increasingly frustrated at his inability to locate Wickham. He could only hope Fitz and Bingley had greater success in their bid to locate the inn in which the Bennet sisters were residing during their stay in Brighton.

Being a holiday destination, Brighton boasted an exorbitant number of inns and taverns which further complicated the search for both parties. In addition, concerns for his sister’s safety while they were in Brighton weighed heavily on Darcy’s shoulders.

As Mrs Ainsley was unavailable and, given the situation that had arisen when he had entrusted her care to Mrs Younge in Ramsgate, he had been forced to leave Georgiana with only Miss Bingley as chaperone until he had time to arrange a suitable alternative.

The ladies had been given strict instruction to venture no further than the shops along the Steyne, but Darcy worried venturing even that far was too great a risk to their safety. And that was if he could trust them to abide his instruction, which he was not entirely convinced he could.

Darcy lifted his hat and readjusted it, so it was better positioned. Even his clothing vexed him today. Darcy was accustomed to the manner in which his personal valet dressed him. The help Fitz had secured was perfectly sufficient, but Darcy could not deny he did not feel himself.

He had to locate and deal with Wickham without delay. He did not know how much longer he could tolerate his own failure.

Darcy checked the time on his watch. It was already mid-afternoon. Was it any wonder his stomach protested? He had barely broken his fast that morning before setting out on his quest.

Whether he found Wickham at the next tavern or not, Darcy would have to stop for refreshment. The thought of wasted time irritated him further.

As he headed along the cobbled path, Darcy fumed to himself over what he had already discovered of Wickham’s behaviour in Brighton. The man had been banned from several of the more reputable taverns already. Hardly surprising in Darcy’s opinion, but the vehemence with which the tavern owners spoke of Wickham did surprise him. If he could say nothing else good of the man, Darcy could not argue Wickham’s charm.

Perhaps his latest failed engagement affected Wickham more than Darcy had imagined. Miss Mary King’s ten-thousand-pound inheritance would not have lasted long in the hands of Wickham, but Wickham was not a man to occupy his thoughts with concerns of the future when his present-day needs were being attended.

Of greater concern to Darcy were the rumours he had heard of Wickham’s gambling debts. It was not out of character for Wickham to gamble beyond his means. Nor was it out of character for him to avoid payment of his debts.

In the past, he had always displayed an element of cunning in his actions—ensuring those he gambled with did not identify his inability to meet his debts until it was too late and the militia with whom he travelled was decamped and moved to their next location.

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