Free Wickham's Diary by Amanda Grange

the corner.’
    She gave me the address and then she left. I waited a few minutes and then I followed her and we resumed our happy friendship.

4th July 1799
    I went to the tailor’s today to order a new coat and then stopped at the jewellers to buy a diamond pin for my cravat. I had to go to the less fashionable establishments where I was not known, otherwise the shopkeepers would never have given me credit, but what do I care about such small matters now? All that was in the past. Before long I will have credit everywhere again, not only as a wealthy man, courtesy of his wife’s fortune, but also as a member of the Darcy family. What a wonderful thing fate is! Not only is it going to bring me a wealthy bride, it is going to make me Darcy’s relation. In a few weeks time, he will no longer be able to regard me as a servant; he will have to call me his brother-in-law!

12th July 1799
    I had a letter from Belle this morning. She and Georgiana are settled in Ramsgate. As they do not know anyone, there will be no danger of anyone seeing me paying my addresses and no one to interfere. Darcy has no plans to visit, being too busy with business at the moment, and so it is time for me to put my plan into action. I am looking forward to it. Revenge and riches! What more could a man want? The summer promises to be an interesting one.

15th July 1799
    A fine day, exactly the sort of day I wanted, with a smiling sea, a gentle breeze, a blue sky and white clouds floating across it. The poets themselves could not have designed a better day for my purposes.
    At eleven o’clock exactly I set out from my lodgings. At a quarter to twelve, I saw Belle walking along the promenade towards me with her charge. I was elated to see that Georgiana was even more beautiful than I expected. Her figure was light and pleasing, her complexion was clear, her eyes were dark and lovely and her hair was thick and lustrous.
    I carried on walking and we drew level and then I feigned a look of surprise and said, ‘Why, if it isn’t Georgiana! Or Miss Darcy I should say.’
    I turned the full force of my charm on her and she exclaimed, ‘George!’
    The delight in her voice went straight to my heart, or I should say, straight to my pocket.
    Belle, playing her part magnificently, said to Georgiana, ‘Do you know this gentleman, Miss Darcy?’
    ‘Oh, forgive me, Mrs Younge. Of course you do not know him, but yes, I do. I should not have spoken to him if we were not acquainted, I do assure you. This is…’
    ‘Mr George Wickham, at your service, ma’am,’ I said, making Belle a low bow. ‘An old friend of the Darcys.’
    ‘Oh!’ said Belle, her voice warming. ‘You are known to Mr Darcy?’
    ‘I am indeed.’
    ‘George grew up with Fitzwilliam,’ said Georgiana. Then she hesitated, as though remembering that recently we had not been friends.
    Belle took her opportunity, however, and said, ‘In that case, you must join us for dinner, Mr Wickham. If you are willing to take potluck we will be honoured to see you. Will we not, Miss Darcy?’
    ‘Oh, yes,’ said Georgiana, overcoming her brief anxiety. ‘Yes, we will. It is nice to see a familiar face.’
    ‘And a friendly face,’ I said to her. Then, turning to Belle, I said, ‘Thank you for the invitation. I would be delighted to accept.’
    ‘Then we will see you at six o’clock,’ she said.
    I bowed and walked on, returning to my lodgings by a circuitous route.
    It was not until a few hours later, at two o’clock, that I learned how Georgiana had reacted to our meeting; Belle, on pretence of ridding herself of a headache, had excused herself from her charge and once again taken a walk by the sea.
    ‘Where is Georgiana?’ I asked.
    ‘Practising the pianoforte. Have no fear. She will not discover us. She is very obedient and will not venture out of the house without my permission.’
    ‘You did well to seize the moment and invite me to dinner,’ I said. ‘I saw her wavering and I