Page 34 of The Engagement at Longbourn

“He persuaded Georgiana that he loved her. They intended to elope.”

“Oh.”

“I arrived the day before they meant to leave.” Darcy’s voice remained controlled, but the hand resting on the ledger had gone white at the knuckles. “She told me everything. Wickham’s object was revenge upon me and access to her thirty thousand pounds.”

Elizabeth felt ill. She remembered laughing with Wickham. Believing him. Repeating his story to Jane with confidence. “I was wrong,” she whispered.

Darcy looked at her. “He told me you denied him the living your father intended for him.”

“I expected he had.”

“And I believed him.”

A pause.

“Why?” Darcy asked. The question was not accusatory.

That made it worse.

Elizabeth drew a breath. “Because he was agreeable and you were not.”

Darcy flinched, almost imperceptibly.

She continued before courage failed. “Because his story confirmed what I had already decided about you. You insulted me at the assembly. You seemed proud. I found it pleasant to believe the worst of you.”

Darcy looked down. “I am sorry.”

He was silent.

Elizabeth said, “You have every right to be angry.”

“I am not angry with you.”

“You should be.”

“No.” He lifted his eyes. “Wickham is skilled at presenting himself well. You had no reason to know his history. And I gave you little reason to think well of me.”

“That does not excuse my eagerness.”

“No.”

Elizabeth blinked.

Darcy’s mouth moved faintly. “You told me you preferred honesty.”

“I did.”

“I am attempting it.”

She laughed softly. Then her expression sobered. “You do not want Georgiana here because Wickham is nearby.”

“Yes.”

“Would he approach her?”

“If he saw advantage in it.”

Elizabeth looked into the fire. “You cannot keep her away forever.”