One Winter's Eve by Leenie Brown

Author:Leenie Brown [Brown, Leenie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leenie B Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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from Evelina by Fanny Burney ↵

Chapter 9

Richard entered Colonel Forester’s drawing room with Darcy at his heels. He was uncertain where this conversation was going to lead, but he was determined that it should end with Georgiana, as well as Lydia Bennet, being free from the danger that Wickham posed to them. He did not expect to see one of those ladies sitting in the Forester’s drawing room with her sister Kitty at her side.

“Colonel,” Richard greeted. “Mrs. Forester, Miss Lydia, Miss Kitty.”

“We are a popular house this evening, are we not?” Colonel Forester said with a chuckle. “My wife has invited a couple of her dearest friends for dinner.” He rose from his seat and motioned toward the door. “I assume you are here on some business and not in pursuit of gossip.”

Richard smiled. “That would be correct.”

“We will be in my office, my dear,” he said to his wife, a pretty young lady of not many more years than Georgiana if her looks were a good thing by which to make such an assumption.

Richard hoped that, with Colonel Forester’s having so recently married and to such a young lady with friends who were in danger from Wickham, their conference would go well.

“What can I do for you, Colonel?” Forester asked as he walked behind his desk and lifted a decanter of port in an offer to the gentlemen.

Richard nodded his acceptance as he took a seat before Forester’s desk. “I have come to speak to you about one of your men.”

Forester placed a glass before Darcy and turned to fill one for Richard. “Let me guess. Would it be Lieutenant Wickham?”

“Indeed, it would be.”

Forester placed a glass before Richard, then procured one for himself. Settling into his chair, he sighed. “What has he done?”

Richard took a sip of his drink and pondered the rather annoyed tone with which the question was asked. “Has he been difficult?”

“Not in his training or duties, but I would appreciate it if he would refrain from flirting with my wife — although, I must admit he has not singled her out. It is more just his way, I suppose.”

The port in Richard’s glass swirled as he turned his glass in his hand. “He is more than a flirt,” Richard said. “And I would watch him around my wife if I had one with whom he was overly friendly.”

Forester’s brows rose as his lips pursed and interest shone in his eyes. “Go on.”

Richard glanced at Darcy. “No lady, married or unmarried, rich or poor, is safe from his proclivities. He is as free with his charm as he is with his money at a card table, and he manages both very ill. There are several children born on the wrong side of the blanket who bear a resemblance to him.”

“Indeed?”

Richard nodded. “Darcy and I have known him for years. He has been given money and wasted it on licentious living, and there is a maid in Darcy’s employ who is the mother to one of Wickham’s offspring — not that he cares to know or support the child or its mother.

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