Heated Moments…

Summary: Whickam's first stay at Permberly after the Darcy's marriage…obviously uninvited and as tricky as ever. Of actions and reactions that will lead to high tensions and quite a few heated moments in the Darcy household.

Apart of the Pride and Prejudice Moments Series:

Unspoken Moments

Missing Moments

Drunken Moments

Heated Moments

It's actually not a series since all of them could be read individually, but they all have a similar feel to them and there are a few references to the other stories. The only reason I called it a series was because I thought it would look clever with the linking titles.

References: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin and the P&P sequels by Linda Berdoll (a fairly credible piece of work).

Lydia rushed into the kitchen with hardly suppressed, and as of yet, unknown enthusiasm. Wickham's nerves flared, but with practiced precision he was able to squash down the utter disgust at what was legally made his wife and instead put on a face of earnest inquiry.

Not even waiting for her husband to voice his question Lydia went on to say, "Yes apparently Jane has finally had her child!"

Using yet another practiced skill, Wickham resisted the urge to roll his eyes. However, Wickham, though unsatisfied with his being tied down in marriage, did at least know his wife (if only from the fact that they lived together) and he knew with certainty that his wife didn't give two pence about such things as children when concerning her sisters. That is unless there was some form of gossip or visitation on her sisters' large estates to be had. All Wickham had to do was wait for his wife to throw down her pretense to suspense and allow her stupid girlishness to overcome the wish for surprise and just tell.

Sure enough Lydia soon twittered away, practically skipping about the room in excitement.

"As you recall my husband, Jane invited us to visit as soon as she had her first child."

Wickham, rather annoyed and impatient, simply said, "Yes, go on, go on."

Lydia smiled conspiratorially. "Well, it just so happens that Jane had given birth about a month early…"

Wickham wondered idly if Lydia was overjoyed at the prospect that Jane's child had not survived after all and that she was once again in the race to first produce an heir.

"…and in consequence Jane was caught unaware and instead gave birth in Pemberly where she had been visiting for the last time before her ultimate confinement! Just think my dear husband. A chance to visit Pemberly at last! Pemberly!"

Wickham was stunned at the odd twists of fates, but of course no less eager to take advantage of it. When Darcy had first arrived at the door of he and his wife's hiding place in London demanding that he be responsible for any and all wedding expenses, including Wickham's various debts, George Wickham had been baffled. He had owed the grudgingly given handouts to the fact that Darcy, being the noble fool he was, did not wish for another scandal to occur due to the close relation with his sister. But no, that had not been the reason. Within the month Elizabeth and Darcy were engaged. Wickham had been cheated. Had he known an inkling of Darcy's true intent he would have been able to profit much more profoundly than he already had, including perhaps a much more generous living than he had now. It took many nights of drinking to get over his bad humor. Elizabeth was the first one to spark his interest and she was indeed very beautiful, but what had he missed that Darcy was able to find that had possessed him to marry Elizabeth Bennet despite her considerably lower status? He ground his teeth at the thought, but Lydia's expectant face suddenly brought him out of his dark thoughts and he realized that he had made no further comment on the news.

"Uh, is it a boy or girl?" he asked, supposing it an appropriate question.

"Lord if I know. I hardly even read the first line. 'Tis not like it matters, for we shall be leaving at once!"

"Excellent," he responded absently, relieved that she left immediately to pack.

As the carriage bounced about noisily and Lydia's incessant chatter melted into the background of his mind, Wickham continued to ponder the missing charm or allurement of Elizabeth Bennet that had so snagged the ever aloof Darcy because in Wickham's virulent mind it was inconceivable that Darcy had married Elizabeth for love.