A Midsummer Night's Carol: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Kate Speck

Author:Kate Speck [Speck, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2022-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Darcy fell into his bed in exhaustion still wearing his clothes and only moved as his valet pulled and tugged to help him undress. It had been week of searching for Wickham in the slums of London and tracking down every pub with the name Knight M–something, but it had been fruitless after inspecting the buildings near them to see if he recognised the view from the window in his dream and the rascal was nowhere to be found. His investigator had been unable to locate Mrs. Younge as she was likely using an alias now and Darcy was losing hope that perhaps Wickham had been repaid already and left town after abandoning Lydia Bennet in ruination. There were only a few more places left to search and he knew not what to do if he were unsuccessful and feared how much Elizabeth would hate him.

Wilkins helped him climb into the warm bath and Darcy was drifting into sleep when he startled himself awake and frightened the valet when he exclaimed, “Blasted!”

“Are you all right, sir?” Wilkins asked as he gathered the robe to help his master out of the tub.

“Yes, yes;” Darcy hastily answered. “I had a dream of sorts for the minute that I dozed off. I saw myself at the place I need to find and have been wrong about the name. Why did I not remember it earlier? I want to dress to go out immediately.”

The valet scowled, “But it is nearly two in the morning now, sir. The sun will rise soon and you have not slept in twenty hours, Mr. Darcy. Could your business not wait until morning?”

Darcy rubbed his face, “Yes, I suppose I should rest for a few hours. I am of no use if I cannot keep my eyes open. Wake me at seven and remember this for me, Wilkins. ‘King’s Mark’ - remember that name for me. King’s Mark. Do not let me forget, although I doubt I will now.”

“Yes, sir. Let us get you to bed now.” His valet expertly prepared the young master to rest and quickly blew out the candle and left the room.

Darcy turned to his side where he imagined Elizabeth next to him again and whispered, “I will find him for you, Lizbet. You will not cry ever again if I can do something to prevent it,” and closed his eyes to fall into deep sleep without another thought.

~*~

Early next morning, Darcy stood on the street where he could see a faded sign that was the same as he had seen in the dream and prepared himself for the worst. The pub had been called ‘Knight’s Mark’ some decades ago but no one had known it by that name since changing it to ‘King’s Mark’ and a newer sign was hanging a few yards above since the owner had neglected to take down the old, worn-out signboard. Looking at the building across and the window on the second floor, Darcy knew that Wickham’s lodging had been in that exact room and prayed that he was still there with Lydia.

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