Lydia had accidentally mentioned it while speaking—boasting, really—of the ceremony. Elizabeth had hidden her smile. It had proved to her that Mr Darcy had done as he said he would in Lambton and assisted her uncle in resolving the distressing situation. Mrs Bennet liked to act as though Mr Wickham had always intended to marry Lydia, but Elizabeth knew that was nonsense.
“I suppose someone who knows them both informed Mr Darcy of that man running off with a young lady. Mr Darcy is too good not to intervene and attempt to rectify the situation.”
“That would explain it.” Jane sounded a little disappointed. The reason why was apparent when she continued. “I thought perhaps it meant they were attempting to repair their friendship. They have known each other since boyhood, and it would be a comfort to know Lydia’s husband had such a gentleman as one of his connexions.”
It was all Elizabeth could do not to laugh at Jane’s notion. It was unthinkable that Mr Darcy would look upon Mr Wickham in any sort of amiable light. Fortunately, she was not called upon to comment; Jane posed another question.
“What did you and Mr Wickham talk of before they left? I saw him approach you on the lawn while I was speaking to Lydia.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes—not at Jane, but at Mr Wickham’s impudence. “He said that we were always good friends, which we were not—not after Mr Darcy told me the truth about him when I was staying with Charlotte—and that now we were more. I told him in no uncertain terms that I had only been polite because I was forced to be in his company, butwhen it was just the two of us I felt no such compunction and would just as soon forget his existence. I did not stay to hear whether he had any response. It was no more than he deserved. They are gone, I am walking with my favourite sister, and I wish to put them from my thoughts and remember only that which makes me happy.”
Jane patted her arm and said nothing further.
CHAPTER FIVE
True to Elizabeth’s prediction, three days later, Mrs Goulding told Mrs Philips, who told Mrs Bennet, that the housekeeper at Netherfield was preparing to receive Mr Bingley. Only one guest was spoken of, and Elizabeth was certain who it would be. She was so visibly happy that even Mary noticed and asked what had her in such a good mood. Elizabeth said it was the delightful weather, although it was nothing uncommon for the season.
On the nineteenth of September, almost six weeks after last seeing him, Mr Darcy was at Longbourn. Elizabeth could hardly take her eyes off him; at the same time, she wanted desperately to hide from him, given the embarrassing display her mother was making. Mrs Bennet was all solicitousness to Mr Bingley and praised Jane excessively. In contrast, she was all rudeness to Mr Darcy, sniffing and speaking coldly when required to address him. Elizabeth wanted to blurt out thathewas the one who had rescued her precious Lydia from a life ofinfamy and demand her mother treat him with the respect he deserved. Instead, knowing how much he would hate it, she took comfort in the steadiness of his gaze upon her, which seemed to say that nothing her mother did or said would alter his feelings for her.
The only thing that briefly distracted Elizabeth’s attention was Jane. Her sister had sworn she would be unaffected when meeting Mr Bingley again, but her red cheeks and evident unease showed that she was not. No doubt Mrs Bennet’s antics made her situation worse. A man who loved less would flee the scene, and Elizabeth gave Mr Bingley credit for remaining polite and not chuckling or rolling his eyes a single time in the face of so much provocation.
Mr Darcy and she managed only one short exchange before the gentlemen took their leave. They stood to the side while Mrs Bennet continued to speak to Mr Bingley.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. She hoped her simple expression of gratitude would be the last time either of them had to refer to the Wickhams.
He shook his head. “I believe I once told you I would do anything to make you happy. I expect no gratitude for it. Are you well? I know your return must have been…difficult, but I pray you have been able to put the entire affair out of your mind. It need not distress you any longer.”
Her heart swelled with love. “I am very wellnow.” She hoped he understood that it washispresence that made all the difference to her well-being. “And you, sir? I am certain the weeks we were apart were not entirely pleasurable for you.”
“That is all forgotten.”
His fingers lightly brushed her hand just as Mary approached them. Elizabeth savoured his brief touch andthought of him incessantly for the remainder of that day and all of the next, when they did not see each other—not that he had been far from her mind since their parting in Lambton. By fortune, the following morning they happened to meet in Meryton. Kitty had begged her sisters to visit the shops with her, and soon after they reached the town, Elizabeth saw Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley riding towards them.
She believed Mr Darcy noticed her at the same moment she did him; he smiled, and the sound of her sisters’ voices faded as she contemplated his fine form. A moment later, the two parties met. After the usual greetings, Mr Bingley, Jane, and Mary began to exchange pleasantries, leaving Elizabeth with Mr Darcy and Kitty, who was in an especially talkative mood.
“The weather is rather fine today, is it not? We have been particularly fortunate of late. It has hardly rained.” She chattered on, evidently not noticing that her companions had no opportunity to speak, let alone that they might want to be alone. “I am glad Meryton is such an easy walk from Longbourn.Ithink we have a good selection of shops here, and Lydia was always happy enough to come, but now that she has been to Brighton, she says Meryton is dull and hardly worth visiting!”
“She is permitted her opinion, and since she is not here, it need not bother us,” Elizabeth said. She doubted Mr Darcy wanted to listen to talk of Lydia, but catching her eye, he gave a slight shake of his head, which she understood meant she should not worry he was vexed. Yet, she sought some way to make her sister go and speak to the others.
“I suppose. Mr Darcy, what is the town near your estate like? My aunt Gardiner told us at Christmas that she lived there when she was a girl. Is it larger than Meryton?”
He glanced at Elizabeth, and she suspected he was puzzled. She still had not mentioned her time in Lambton. It was possible Mr Bingley had spoken of seeing her there, but if he had, it was not in Kitty’s presence.
“It is similar in size and variety of shops. I admit, I have not spent very much time there.”
Kitty sighed. “You are so fortunate you have been able to travel, Lizzy! I long to leave Longbourn. Anywhere would do. May I go to the haberdasher’s while Jane speaks to Mr Bingley?”
“You may, if Mary accompanies you.”
Kitty agreed and left them without a word. It did not look as though she asked Mary to go with her so much as took her arm to lead her away, but Elizabeth did not care. She was intent on taking advantage of her few minutes with Mr Darcy.
Lowering his voice, he said, “You have not told her you were lately in Lambton?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I hardly wished to speak of having enjoyed myself when I first returned, and keeping those memories to myself, as closely guarded, cherished possessions, has become a habit.”
His expression softened. “I am relieved it is not that recalling the visit displeases you.”
“I remember telling you how much I liked Derbyshire and how happy I was there. My opinion has not changed. Do you often have difficulty recollecting events that happened not two months ago?” She arched her brow in challenge. When he chuckled, she grinned.
