“As you said—he lied to me about Miss Darcy. I have seen the truth of her character with my own eyes. So why should I believe his words when he says you denied him a living and ruined all his future prospects?”
He swallowed a rather long draught of his wine, savoring the bouquet and working his mouth before answering. “What if I told you there was some truth in his words?”
I let my eyebrows lift. “All the best lies have at their core a kernel of truth.”
He sighed and twirled his glass, his eyes fixing on its rosy depths. “My fatherdidintend a living for him. This is a fact. What Mr. Wickham probably did not tell you is how he swore off his intent to take orders and received three thousand pounds in ready money instead. Then, he squandered it all in intemperate living. Once he had impoverished himself, he asked for the living to be restored to him, which I refused. In response, he turned vicious. He tried to seduce my sister, nearly convincing her to elope. His aim was her dowry of thirty thousand pounds.”
I gasped, hand flying to my mouth. Mr. Darcy gave a bitter laugh.
“You are right to be shocked. That was only last summer, and Georgiana was but fifteen—an innocent lamb led to slaughter by that wolf in sheep’s clothing. Thankfully, I intervened in time.” He moved closer, voice low and urgent. “So you see, his tale of woe is naught but a tapestry of lies. I pray you, do not judge me solely on his account.”
My cheeks burned with shame. How quick I had been to condemn this man on such flimsy evidence. And how long it had taken me to see through the falsehoods! The truth had been before my eyes all along—the secretive way Mr. Wickham had slandered Mr. Darcy, making sure my ears alone heard it. And the way Miss Darcy had spoken of that “mistake” her brother had saved her from. It was all there. And I had been blind until this night. “I had not imagined it could be anything so vile! Poor Miss Darcy.”
“You see now why I asked you to spend time with her. She needs people who would be gentle with her—who would help her confidence to grow once more.”
I shook my head. “I am not worthy of such a task.”
“You are one of the few who is.”
“But why me? I have no connection to her, and I treated you abominably. I ought to be asking your forgiveness, not be entrusted with something so delicate!”
Mr. Darcy stepped forward and grasped my hand. “There is nothing to forgive. Wickham is a practiced liar. You did not see through him at first becauseyouare an honest person, and it would never occur to you that someone could act thus.”
I stared at his hand on mine, my breath snared in my throat at his touch. “Mr.… Mr. Darcy, you do me too much credit. I only wanted to ask why you did not set the matter straight in Meryton when I first challenged you with what I was told.” I swallowed and raised my eyes to his. “And now I know.”
He flexed his arm, pulling me a little closer. “What do you know?”
“The reason you said nothing to defend yourself. Because you were protecting someone else.”
His hand fell from mine. “Yes. That, and I was too angry to speak reasonably. Knowing thatyourswere the ears he had tickled with his lies… I’m afraid I quite lost my temper. But now, I shall ask you a question, Miss Elizabeth.”
I swallowed. “Yes?”
Mr. Darcy turned to pace, staring at the floor as he worked out his thoughts. “Miss Lucas. What is wrong with her?”
I stared at him, stunned. How could he know about Charlotte’s illness?
He stopped pacing to gaze at me, his expression somber. “Forgive my forwardness, but her condition has visibly deteriorated in the last weeks. And I could not help noticing your efforts to… procure a kiss for her under the mistletoe.”
Humiliation flooded me. He had seen my pitifully desperate attempts at matchmaking? Oh, laws. Who else had noticed? Oh, I was the clumsiest romantic alive!
“Charlotte…” I gulped. “She has not long to live. Her last wish is for one little taste of romance and excitement before... before…” I broke off, tears pricking my eyes.
Darcy’s face softened. “I am sorry to hear that. But why does this duty fall to you?”
“Because no one else will do it! Her family did not even notice she was unwell. And gentlemen see only her lack of astonishing beauty and fashion. They see the effects of her illness, not the warm and wonderful woman beneath it!”
“And you see yourself as her champion,” he said gently.
I lifted my chin. “I am her friend. I made her a promise. And so far, I have not been able to keep it.”
“Why would you promise something that is not in your power to give? Its execution depends on others.”
”Iknowthat,“ I shot back. “But I had no idea that every gentleman in London was a prude!”
He chuckled. “Hardly. You have yet to meet the other sort, perhaps. Which is not something you ought to regret.”
“Or I have simply not been bold enough in asking.” I fluttered my lashes and smiled at him.
