Duty and Desire chapter 9: Injustice

I do not own Twilight or Pride and Prejudice.



I tore through the stables, dismounting Blackjack before he had even stopped. I threw the reins at the stable hand before running toward the house. I entered, quickly but quietly making my way to my chambers, and immediately went to work on a letter to Jasper.

Jasper,

I have not the time for pleasantries or anything of that nature. I apologize for the abruptness of this letter. I am well. Today I have encountered the last man I ever wanted to see on this earth: James Wickham. He has taken a post in the local militia; how he came by the funds to purchase such a commission is beyond me. I write to ask your advice. It is not necessary that you journey here, no matter the inducement that killing James would bring. I am concerned for the daughters here in Meryton, and would like to give them some warning; however, I will not compromise Alice with any specifics. So you can see my dilemma. I am sending this express; please respond as soon as possible.

Edward Masen

I sealed the letter and posted it express. It would arrive in London in just a few short hours. I hoped for an answer tomorrow. I needed to go in search of Emmett; he probably thought I had gone insane. I found him in the library; oddly enough, it seemed we were both in need of some sanctuary.

Emmett looked up as I entered the room.

“Edward! Would you mind telling me what the hell got into you this afternoon? I have never seen you so enraged.”

I drew deep breath. How was I to explain this without betraying Alice’s confidence?

“First, I need to apologize, Emmett. My behavior was abominably rude, and I hope I didn’t put you in an awkward position with Miss Swan. It was never my intention. I needed to remove myself from the situation before I harmed that man.”

My mind mocked me. You know full well what you wanted to do, and injury was furthest from your thoughts.

Emmett looked at me with a curious express, “No offense was taken, and they really didn’t notice you had left.”

I blew out a relived breath. “I suppose it is time for an explanation, then.”

I tried to gather my thoughts while Emmett waited patiently for me to begin.

“The man in question is James Wickham, and he is a blaggard and a cad of the lowest order. I, at one time, called him friend; we grew up as children. His father was my father’s steward. My experience with Wickham is long and painful. He gambles incessantly, running up debts with no plans to repay them. I have had to discharge his debt in Lambton twice now, something I will never do again. As well as a love of money, he has no compunction about taking the virtue of any willing young woman.”

Or unwilling, I thought bitterly.

I quickly pushed that thought away and continued.

“I wrote to Col Whitlock to ask his advice on the matter. Since Wickham is in the army, local militia or not, he is subject to their code of honor. I may be able to help the people of this town by warning them of the bastard’s true nature before it is too late.”

The thought of Isabella in that man’s clutches solidified my resolve. I would not fail her.

Emmett seemed to contemplate what I had said for a moment.

“Edward, I know something bad happened to Alice, and that you are fiercely protective of her. I also assume it has something to do with this James fellow. I don’t want any particulars, but know that I will support and help you in whatever way I can.”

I was speechless, not with Emmett’s ability to deduce the truth, but because of his discretion and tact in leaving a painful topic to rest.

“Thank you, Emmett; you have no conception of how your words have helped. I will await Jaspers letter, and then we can decide how to best deal with the predicament.”

“Well, Edward, in the mean time you can help me with my situation.”

I hesitated. “And what situation would that be, Emmett?”

“Tanya,” he replied.

That damn Harpy! I was in no mood to deal with her ridiculous antics.

“And what, pray tell, has she done now?”

He let out a loud booming laugh, but it was laced with bitterness and pain. “What hasn’t she done? I had several house maids quit this afternoon. Apparently they would rather starve than deal with her any longer. I am at a loss, Edward. I don’t know how to control her, and I am not yet willing to send her off.”

He put his face in his hands, defeated.

“Emmett, you know you are not responsible for her behavior or her actions. Your parents raised you both with impeccable manners. Whether or not she chooses to heed them has no bearing on you.”

His face still in his hands he sighed.

“Yes, Edward, it’s easy to look at a hard situation without emotion, except when you’re involved. I made a promise to keep her with me until either she, or I, married. I will not disregard my father’s final wish, no matter how much I want to.”

“I am sorry, friend. It will all work out in time.”

He looked up and smiled. “Yes, and in the meantime, I will just continue my practice of ignoring her. Who knows, perhaps in time I will be as good as you.”

We both laughed at the absurdity of his comment.

~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~

Edward,

I must confess, I was utterly astonished by your letter. I was, as you pointed out, very tempted to ride to Hertfordshire and end this once and for all. However, that would require an inquiry, and I will not allow Alice to be brought into question as the reason. Therefore, the only advice I can give is to seek out his commanding officer, and, without specifics, enlighten him to the fact one of his officers is a rogue. I have alerted the Major General, and while he was willing to look into the matter, he is otherwise occupied at the moment. In the meantime, I would emphasize James’ tendency to gamble and run up huge debts, which he does not honor, and the drunken debauchery of which I am sure he is already guilty of. I will not mention this to Alice, as she would be upset; please respond with word of how the meeting fares.

Col. Jasper Whitlock

I was unsurprised to receive Jasper’s letter early this morning, nor did the content shock me. I was right to ask him to stay; I had no interest in involving Jasper in this mess.

Having the confirmation I needed that seeking out Wickham's commanding officer was the right course of action, I now needed to inform Emmett and set up a meeting. I felt a bit of trepidation. What if he did nothing? Could I stand idly by and watch James roam free, unchecked?

No! I would not make that mistake again.

I found Emmett quickly and began explaining the situation.

“Emmett, have you met with the commanding officer of the regiment yet?”

“Yes; I am to dine with Col Black and his wife today, in fact.” He paused. “I was going to ask you to join me.”

Perfect! “I just received a letter from Jasper; he advises bringing it to the attention of James’ superior officer. My hope is that he will keep a more watchful eye on him. A court martial is not possible without substantial evidence.”

“Yes, but Edward, you need to understand that without evidence, he may just dismiss it as nothing.”

I let out a ragged breath, frustrated.

“I am not willing to say more than what I know of him when we were younger. If it is not enough, I will have to be satisfied that I tried.”

“No matter the outcome, Edward, I support you and will do everything I can to help.”

I smiled, and shook his hand.

“So, dinner then?” Emmett nodded. “Very well, I will see you in a few hours.”

~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~

I needed a few hours of peace, and decided to walk. The trees were loosing their green making way for the golden colors of fall. The air was crisp, but it felt refreshing. Time passed as I wandered aimlessly, lost in thought. I would not allow James to have any opportunity to hurt Isabella. I would do everything in my power to make sure that did not happen. I worried she would see too much, her eyes always seemed to tell me she knew something.

I was afraid she could see right through me.

The separation had done nothing to cool my longing for her, it had only increased it. Seeing her brought out so many different emotions. The ball was only a fortnight away, and I had every intention of dancing with Isabella. I would right the wrong I had done to her at the assembly. It would be an apology I am sure she would recognize and accept. Surely, she would see the significance in the gesture. I had yet to dance with any females here in Hertfordshire.

Suddenly, my senses were assaulted by a familiar sent.

Lavender, Isabella…

I closed my eyes, inhaling the wonderful fragrance, before stopping to find the source.

I heard the faint snap of a twig behind me.

I spun around to see Isabella quietly retreating in the opposite direction.

“Miss Isabella,” I called. I started to move in her direction. I had no idea what I would say to her, but my mind said, go to her.

She stopped and turned to face me; I was lost in her beautiful face. The more I was around her, the less willpower I possessed. My heart screamed for me to stop being such a fool. It was then I noticed a look of frustration and confusion on her face. Maybe she thought I was a stranger and did not want to be caught alone with a man she did not know.

Yes, that would explain her retreat.

“Sir,” she spoke quietly, “I did not see you there. I was on my way home, and do not want to detain you.”

She was so generous, did she not know how badly I wanted her to detain me?

“It is a pleasure to see you again, I have missed our debates. Netherfield has been dull without you.”

Wait did I just admit to missing her?

“Emmett misses your company and that of Miss Swan as well. I believe the loss was more than he expected.”

There, that should clear up any misspoken words.

Her look of confusion suddenly cleared and her eyes had a mischievous gleam.

Oh how I missed those looks, I groaned internally.

“Yes sir, but I believe there are those that could not wait for us to be gone.”

I smiled; she was obviously talking of the two shrews.

“Yes, well, they are hardly satisfied with anyone’s company but their own. I had a letter from my sister. I told her how much I enjoyed our debates; she was intrigued and would very much like to meet you someday.”

I froze, realizing what I had just said. OH lord, I groaned internally.

Isabella looked distressed, maybe even a bit frightened. Why would she be frightened? I needed to put her at ease, because I could not stand for her to be upset.

“It would, of course, be completely up to you Miss Isabella; I would never want you to be uncomfortable. I apologize.”

She nodded, her eyebrows still knitted in confusion, her beautiful lips in a slight frown. I wanted to kiss away her troubles. But alas, that would only cause more. I needed to get away before I made another embarrassing statement, or worse.

“I have an appointment with Emmett to dine at Col Black’s this evening. I must be heading back or I would offer to escort you myself.”

A terrifying thought suddenly struck me.

James was here and she was wandering around the woods by herself, alone!

I could not let her walk alone. Damn.

“Would allow me to walk you to Netherfield, where I can arrange for your transportation home?”

He face hardened. “Sir, I have been walking these woods since I was a girl. I believe I can find my way home.”

Stubborn!

“Miss Isabella, there are many dangers. Please, for my peace of mind; promise you will not go walking alone.” My eyes pled with her to understand.

She sighed, “My father says the same thing. Honestly, I am capable.”

I felt defeated, knowing she was not going to promise.

“Miss-” But she cut me off.

“I promise to be careful, is that enough?”

It appeared to be all she was willing to give; I grudgingly accepted.

“Thank you, yes.” I took her hand and brought it to my lips. Her hands were cold, why was she not wearing gloves? The sensation of her chilled skin against my lips was overwhelming. Her scent swirled in my head. I returned her hand before I did something I would regret.

“Good day, Miss Isabella.” I bowed, but before leaving, I added, “Be safe.”

I turned and hurried back to Netherfield.

~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~I~

The ride to Meryton seemed short; perhaps it was because my chaotic thoughts teetered from hope to utter dread. I was still reeling from my unexpected meeting with Isabella; I felt a need to make sure she was safe. How could I convey to Col Black the truth of what I said without betraying Alice’s confidence, but make sure Isabella would be safe? The two conflicting emotions warred with each other; my head ached from all the tension. James needed to be watched, yet I had no desire to cause bad blood between Emmett and the militia. Especially if they dismissed my warning.

We dismounted and were quickly shown into the house. Col Black and his wife were there to greet us. I was surprised by the man and, though I knew nothing of him, he seemed to stare at me with a look of utter displeasure. It made me feel uneasy.

Emmett spoke first.

“Thank you for the invitation to dine with you this evening, Colonel. May I introduce Mr. Masen of Pemberley in Derbyshire.”

He looked away from Emmett, slowly turning toward me; his eyes seemed to assess me as one would an opponent. This did not bode well for my plan.

Finally, he spoke, but it was measured and cautious.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Masen. I am sorry for the humbleness of my accommodations; alas, that is life. I am surprised a fine gentleman such as yourself would show any interest in a dinner with a man such as I.”

Ah, he was goading me. No doubt, the gossip in town gave him the impression I would snub him. Now I understood why the invitation was only addressed to Emmett.

“It is my pleasure, Colonel. My good friend is Col Whitlock, and I am familiar with the life and responsibilities placed on men in the military. They are not to be taken lightly, nor for granted.”

He seemed to thaw somewhat, and the mood lightened considerably. We sat down to dinner and the conversation flowed easily. Most revolved around more mundane topics, likely due to the fact his wife was present. I was still unsure how to breach the topic; I suppose it would have to wait until after dinner. Once dinner was complete the men retired for brandy, and we bid Mrs. Black goodnight.

Following Col Black into the Drawing room, we were each supplied with a glass of port.

“So, Mr. Masen, what is your opinion of the war?”

Well he doesn’t beat around the bush does he?

“I feel it is nothing short of a massacre and too many men are dying. The sooner Bonaparte is stopped the better. His countrymen need to be free of him as badly as we do. I find it distasteful that he is willing to send thousands of young untrained boys to their death merely to retain his power.”

Emmett was silent, and Col Black seemed to contemplate what I had said. I would not apologize for my words.

“Well spoken, Mr. Masen. I rarely come across a man who is not in uniform that speaks so passionately about matters concerning the war in France. Many choose to ignore it as an unfortunate affair they are glad to not soil their hands with. I am curious, though. Is this opinion in response to your friend, I wonder?”

Ah, smart fellow.

“Yes, he will have to go to France, unless the tide of this war turns, and soon.”

“Yes, I fear my militia will be going as well, even though it is local militia. They are pulling men from local militias and assigning them to the regulars faster than I can replace them.”

This piqued my curiosity.

“You have had men called into the regulars? How many?”

Black lit a cigar and took a long drag before turning to me.

“Roughly six of my men; I have only recently found replacements. And I fear another four will be called within the next six months. It is at my discretion, of course, who goes.”

This was my chance! If James was put in the regulars he would be gone from Hertfordshire, and possibly England. The idea left me feeling hopeful.

“Col. Black, I do have a matter of which I would like to discuss concerning one of your men.”

This seemed to catch his attention.

“One of my men, you say? Have you had a problem?”

“No, nothing recent, however I feel it incumbent upon me to warn you. James Wickham is not the man he appears.”

I continued quickly.

“James Wickham was a childhood friend until his habits of gambling and drunken debauchery made his company no longer desirable. I implore you to keep a watchful eye on him.”

I held my breath, the Col seemed to take an unbearable amount of time responding.

“I thank you for bringing your concerns to me. I do not know much of Mr. Wickham, but I will, as you say, keep a watchful eye on him. So far, his conduct has been nothing less than stellar. I am unsure what you hoped to accomplish by this.”

He seemed suspicious now; damn, this was not going the way I had hoped.

“I don’t want the people of Meryton to suffer the same way other towns have suffered in his wake. But as I said, a mindful eye is all I can ask.”

“Well, I will do what I can.”

I felt defeated. Nothing would be done.

The topic now closed, we returned to much safer topics. Emmett reiterated the invitation for the officers to attend the ball, which the Colonel gladly accepted.

I felt like I failed, and indeed I had. Black had as good as dismissed my pleas. I needed to make Isabella safe; I would not allow anything to harm her. We thanked him for dinner and returned home. I sought solitude, and paced the library relentlessly looking for a solution.

I had no answers, my best option had failed. There was nothing to be done. Wickham would slip through again. Though the damage he could inflict would be even harder to swallow.

The idea struck me so suddenly I stopped mid stride. I knew what I had to do.

I would confront the bastard myself.

I rode swiftly back to Meryton. James would get his warning, and it would come from me.

I knew where I could find him; James was anything if not predictable. I stopped outside the tavern, desperately trying to rein in my anger. I needed a clear head, and it would do me no good to lose my temper now.

Suddenly, a man stumbled drunkenly out into the night, the tavern owner yelling behind him.

“Don’t come back till ye can pay, you good for nothing lout.”

I looked at the drunken man. It was James.

Quietly, I jumped down from my horse and followed him as he staggered toward the alley beside the tavern.

He entered the alley and I quickly caught up with him. James turned suddenly to see who was following him.

“What do you want,” he slurred.

He was looking into the darkness, no doubt trying, but failing to see anyone. I stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight.

His eyes widened.

“I come bearing a warning, James.” My words were laced with malice.

James seemed to sober quickly.

“Edward? What are you doing here?” he stuttered.

He quickly recovered, throwing in a jibe. “Come to lower yourself to mingle with the common folk, have we?” he leered.

I’d had enough. I would not allow James to talk his way out of this.

I reached for the hilt of James’ sword, drawing the sharp object from its scabbard.

The sound pierced the air, chilling in its harshness. James knew I was deadly with a blade. It was one of those skills I excelled at.

I placed the tip of the blade to his throat, as a way to gain his full attention. His eyes were wide, and I could nearly smell the fear that emanated from him.

It gave me courage, the blood searing through my body.

“I am not going to kill you, James, no matter how much pleasure I would take from your death. I am here to tell you to stay away from the innocent women in this town. I will not have you ruin the reputations of young girls merely for your own sick pleasure.”

I was shocked by his response; he merely started laughing.

“That is rich coming from you, Masen. Since when did you care about anyone besides yourself? Why would you care what happens to some shopkeeper’s daughter, or even the ladies here? From what I have heard, you were very vocal in your disgust for a certain lady here, and made it clear you were not interested.”

His words stung, but I did not show it. I could never allow James to know my interest; it would put Isabella in danger.

“My good friend, Mr. McCarty, has leased an estate here, and as his friend I expect to visit him often. I have no desire to repeat this again James. I warn you, don’t make me finish what I should have done years ago.”

He mouth turned up in a taunting grin.

“We both know you will do no such thing, Edward. You would never risk Alice’s reputation that way, so don’t delude yourself into thinking you have me under your thumb. You may have been dealt a better hand in life, but I am my own man, and I answer to no one. Especially not to you.”

It was too easy; he had followed right where I had led him.

“Ah, James, but you do. You answer to your commanding officer, I believe, and it is in his power where you go.”

He grimaced and I knew I had struck a nerve.

“You wouldn’t dare! It would not take much for me to ruin your sister’s reputation, all it would take is a few well placed rumors,” he mocked

His taunt was too much. How dare he? Alice had done nothing but trust and care about this pathetic excuse of a man.

I was beyond reason.

With one swift stroke of the blade, I peirced the skin of his neck. It was superficial enough he would not die, but deep enough to leave a scar. I grabbed him by his bloody neck cloth.

“You will do no such thing. You know very well if that happens, neither I nor Jasper will have any reservations about hunting you down and killing you like the dog you are,” I snarled angrily.

He looked absolutely panicked; knowing he had pushed too far.

I’d had enough; I could no longer bear to be in his presence. I let him go and he fell to his knees sobbing, holding onto his bleeding neck.

“You will heed my warning, Wickham. Next time, I will not be so forgiving.”

I threw the sword down at his feet and walked away.