“When I return to London, I shall inform Bingley of your sister’s location, and if he wishes to see her and she chooses to accept his overtures, they can decide their future themselves.”
“Will you interfere if theydowish to see more of each other?”
“Madam, I assure you I am finished meddling in the lives of others.” They walked on in companionable silence until Darcy continued. “Miss Elizabeth, may I ask if your estimation of me has improved since you have been here?”
“I admit that I disliked you when you were in Hertfordshire, and I assumed I would continue to do so. Now, I see you as far more considerate and forthcoming than the gentleman I met in Meryton. We have had many meaningful conversationswithout sarcasm or condescension.” Was she smiling because her feelings for him had changed? “Now we have established I have misjudged you, and you me—how shall we move forward from here?”
“If we acknowledge our feelings, it might help. May I go first?”
She hesitated before agreeing.He is so tall, so handsome, and more intelligent than my father. Have I developed a tendre for MrDarcy?
“I treasure the time we spend together. You are unaware of how exquisite you are, as well as being the most intelligent woman I have ever met.”
She was suddenly unsure of the emotions he aroused, and she spoke timidly. “I never knew you saw me thus. You are always staring at me—as if to find fault—andI distinctly remember you never came to my defence against Miss Bingley’s cruel remarks.”
“You misunderstood my staring—rather than searching for flaws, I could not take my eyes from you. I dared not defend you to Miss Bingley, lest she discover my admiration for you. You donotwant to be the object of that viper’s displeasure.”
“I am astonished at your revelations.”He said he admires me, but I must not allow myself to lose my heart to him. I must be realistic. He will marry someone from within his own sphere.“I hardly know what to say. I enjoy our conversations, and our taste in books and music is quite similar.” She dared not say more for risk of being hurt.“So yes, I would like to consider you…my friend.”
“Your friend?” Did he sound disappointed? “Friendship is a good start. Is there anything else you wish to know?”
Elizabeth hesitated. Dare she enquire about the story widely circulated back home? “George Wickham informed everyone he encountered in Meryton of a rather disturbing story about your shared history.”
Before she could continue, MrDarcy stepped away from her. She saw fury written across his face. “Wickham!” He spat the name as though it were poison. “What hasheto do with anything?”
Elizabeth started at his powerful reaction, but then rested her hand on his sleeve. “These past weeks, I have come to know you better, and I am convinced everything he said was a lie."
He closed his eyes before he took a deep breath. “There are many good reasons for your misgivings. What sordid tale is that scoundrel spreading now?”
“He claimed that after your father died, you refused to give him the living promised to him, supposedly out of jealousy and spite.”
“We grew up together and my late father was indeed fond of him and intended that he should enter the church, granting him a valuable living. But Wickham had no wish to be a clergyman. Instead, he asked for the money that living would have been worth, and I gave it to him. He squandered the entire sum within a few years. Not long after I refused his plea for more money, he attempted a far more serious offence. Last August, he persuaded my sister—she was then fifteen—to elope. His aim was her fortune. Mercifully, I discovered the scheme before it could take place. For the sake of my sister’s reputation, you understand why I never speak of this. But I assure you, Wickham’s conduct has been consistently selfish and dishonourable.”
She gasped and held her hand to her heart. “And I had thought he told the truth.” How MrDarcy’s behaviour must have been affected by his former friend’s betrayals. It was no wonder the man she met in Meryton was wary of befriending new people—Wickham had once been so close to him but did nothing but betray MrDarcy’s goodwill. “You must be terribly disappointed with the degenerate life he chose—after all, you were his friend, and your father supported Wickham’s education.” She shook herhead. “What a practised liar—and what a fool I was to believe him.”
“Sadly, you are but one of many deceived by that snake. I am certainly disgusted by what has become of him—but nothing he does now surprises me.”
“Regardless of how we hope the people we care about would behave, it is out of our hands. I cannot count the number of times I have admonished my sister Lydia for her behaviour, but she dismisses my advice and does whatever she wishes. It is frustrating—she is so young and vulnerable, it frightens me to think of where her unseemly words and actions might lead.”
“I can well understand your fears for your sister. I own all of Wickham’s debts from Lambton and London, and it should not be long until he is sent to Marshalsea for what I hope is a very long time. In debtor’s prison, he will be unable to take advantage of any innocent young women. Until he is taken into custody, who in Meryton could convince the shopkeepers to stop allowing him credit? Wickham has never repaid a debt in his whole sorry life.”
“They would believe Sir William Lucas. He was a fellow merchant before the king knighted him.”
“I shall send him an express today.”
“Thank you, sir.”
They resumed their stroll, but MrDarcy clutched his hands behind his back.
How strange that I wish he would offer me his arm again.
“What more would you care to know about me?” He raised his brows at her.
“Will you tell me why you insulted me the first time you saw me? At the assembly, I heard you say I was not handsome enough to tempt you.”
He took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair. “Good God, Miss Elizabeth. I beg your forgiveness. I…wouldgive anything to erase such arrogance but I was not myself that night. When I insulted you, I had not yet looked at you, had not yet seen your beautiful face and sparkling eyes before I uttered those ill-conceived words. My goal was to simply silence my friend. Believe me when I say, I find you so much more than tolerable. You are the loveliest woman of my acquaintance.”
She was discomposed by his flattery and looked away. Did MrDarcy truly think of her that way? What could he mean by saying something kind? Had he ever apologized for his insult before?
