Wickham's Diary by Amanda Grange

will have clothes, jewels, a pianoforte, a horse, and a fine house to live in. And when Fitzwilliam sees how happy she is with me he will forgive me everything, particularly when the children come along, for then he will have nephews and nieces to strengthen the attachment between us. We will visit Pemberley at Christmas and Rosings at Easter and before very long, perhaps he will decide to do something for us and Georgiana and I will have an estate of our own.
    As I thought of Darcy I remembered him as a lonely figure, surrounded by friends and yet somehow out of their reach. I remembered him saying that he was looking for something. I wondered if he had found it. I had certainly found what I was looking for, a rich, beautiful, and well-connected wife. So at ease did I feel, so at peace with the world, that I hoped he had found what he was looking for, too.
    Georgiana finished her sonata and I congratulated her warmly. She smiled at my praise and Belle and I exchanged glances again. It would be easy to win her affections and make her agree to an elopement.
    I have a few weeks in which to woo her and then it will be off to Gretna Green and a wedding over the anvil.

16th July 1799
    The weather could not have been more perfect for our picnic. I hired a carriage for the first part of the journey, but when we reached the downs I helped the ladies out. Then, giving them each an arm, I escorted them to a beauty spot with the coach driver carrying the basket. I thanked him for his trouble, paid him handsomely, and then set about helping the ladies to all the choice delicacies contained in the hamper.
    Afterwards, Belle declared herself too tired to walk any further but said that we must not let that stop us, for she would enjoy watching us as much as she would have enjoyed walking with us.
    I gave Georgiana my arm and we set off.
    Luck was on my side. We had not been walking for more than five minutes when a sudden gust of wind blew her bonnet off and sent it tumbling down the hill. We both ran after it, just like children again, and did not see our danger until it was almost too late, for the downs fell away suddenly and Georgiana nearly ran over the edge. I caught her hand and pulled her back, dragging her into my arms. Our faces were inches apart and I felt her body melt into mine and I knew that she was attracted to me. I let her go, and I saw the reluctance in her eyes as she was forced to step away from me.
    ‘I am glad I found you again, Georgie,’ I said.
    ‘As am I,’ she whispered, overcome with confusion.
    ‘I am afraid your bonnet is lost,’ I said, as I watched the wind carry it out to sea. ‘But never fear, I will buy you another one.’
    ‘Oh, there is no need, I know you cannot afford it!’ she said.
    I smiled.
    ‘What, do you think I am a pauper?’
    ‘Fitzwilliam says that your pockets are always to let,’ she told me.
    ‘When I was a student then yes, I admit, I spent unwisely, but I am older and wiser now. Young men are apt to be foolish, but maturity cures the problem you know.’
    I gave her my arm and she hesitated.
    ‘Come now, we are old friends, are we not?’ I said.
    She smiled shyly and took my arm. I covered her hand with my own and she looked up at me, her eyes drawn to mine. I looked steadily into her eyes and then, when her eyelids began to droop and her head inclined towards me of its own will, I said, ‘We must go back.’
    She blushed and said, ‘Of course,’ and we walked back to Belle.
    Belle had seen everything and cast a triumphant glance at me.
    We had had the best of the weather. Clouds started to cover the sky and the breeze became colder. We gathered our things together and we went back to the carriage, just as it began to rain, and we were soon on our way back down to the town. I took my leave of the ladies and went to the milliners, where I bought the most beautiful bonnet in the window. And then I went to an out-of-the-way inn and entertained myself with a willing wench