Lydia Wickham's Northern Peril: Darcy & Wickham's Rapprochement: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

An unspeakable threat faces Lydia Wickham. The stakes are high, the odds seemingly insurmountable. Not yet eighteen, Lydia is accused of forgery, a hanging offence.

All the injustices of the 18th-century legal system are stacked against her.
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A letter from York advising that Lydia is in prison charged with forging the will of Fanny Roberts, a rich society widow, causes Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley and Mr Davers, Caroline’s new husband, to drop everything and make haste to York. Forgery is a capital offence. The four of them set about making enquiries and chasing down the witnesses to the will.

They face a formidable task. Lydia’s accuser, Nicholas Parrish an evil criminal from Newcastle, will stop at nothing to realise his ends and inherit Fanny’s estate himself. His cut-throat methods quickly become painfully obvious.

Soon, George Wickham and other family members have also arrived in the social capital of the North. Wickham has his own ideas how to defeat Parrish’s prosecution. Darcy is forced to deflect Wickham’s immediate impulses with an ill-advised joint escapade, then pursue him to Newcastle with a view to stopping him before it is too late.

High action and dramatic scenes follow as the ticking clock summons the trial ever closer.

EXCERPT

CHAPTER 16 ‒ Thursday 18th July 1799

“It needs some thought. Perhaps you and I can meet in here later today or tomorrow and talk again. I beg that you will excuse me. In the hour before dinner, I must visit Lydia and start to gently educate her on the evils Parrish is capable of.”

Wickham bowed and turned to leave. Darcy’s next words called him back.

“Well, at least you are here.”

“Of course I am here. Why would I not come here?” Wickham’s tone was level despite Darcy’s barbed comment.

Darcy shrugged and said somewhat unkindly, “I cannot but be reminded that barely a year ago your principal aim was not to marry Lydia at all but to further your ambitions to make a match with a wealthy woman. This prosecution could result in your freedom to pursue just that course once again.”

“Darcy, Lydia is my wife before God until the natural end of our days.”

Darcy laughed rather harshly. “You make as though you are a reformed character. I wish I could believe it.”

“I would point out that you did not know Fanny Roberts. She was a wonderful woman. I admired her greatly. I believe that it was her ardent desire for Lydia and me to live in her house and bring up our children there. I fervently hope to be able to honour her wishes. Perhaps even take holy orders, her other fancy.”

Wickham turned again and stalked out of the room. Darcy watched and shook his head, unconvinced, wondering what untruths Fanny had been told to have included in her will the aspiration that Wickham would become a clergyman.
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A book with all the pathos of the tragic tale of ‘Tess of the d'Urbervilles’

Lydia’s situation is no less nail-biting than Wickham’s last-minute reprieve in P D James’s ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’

A book which explores the terrible consequences of the 18th-century Bloody Code

A family faced with a deadly threat

Written by a retired solicitor in a classic, easy-to-read, literary style, a Pride & Prejudice sequel bringing Jane Austen’s characters vividly to life.
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Readers said:

…an engrossing mystery about a forged will…

…a jolly good mystery…

…I found the plot completely plausible, with pace and plenty of action…

…An intelligent and well-thought-out plot that draws you in…
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Have Darcy & Co done enough to ensure that Lydia survives to flirt another day? Read ‘Lydia Wickham’s Northern Peril’ to experience the highs and lows of an 18th-century criminal investigation and trial.