Page 37 of The Engagement at Longbourn

He returned to the page.

Kitty said, “Perhaps by not buying things he cannot afford.”

Lydia stared at her sister. “Whose side are you on?”

“The bootmaker’s, if he made the boots.”

Mary nodded solemnly. “Debt is often the offspring of vanity and want of discipline.”

Lydia groaned. “Oh, Mary.”

Mrs. Bennet entered carrying a basket of mending. “What is all this?”

“Colonel Forster has confined Wickham!”

“Has he? Why?”

“Debts!”

Mrs. Bennet sat down. “Then he must pay them.”

Lydia looked betrayed. “Mama!”

“What? Do you think merchants feed their children on charming smiles? Your uncle was in trade. A bill unpaid is money taken from someone else’s household.”

Darcy lowered his book.

Mrs. Bennet noticed. “You look surprised, Mr. Darcy.”

“I am considering your point.”

“It is not a difficult one.”

Elizabeth put a hand over her mouth. Darcy’s eyes flicked to her.

He was smiling.

Lydia flounced toward the window. “Everyone is against him.”

Darcy’s smile vanished.

Elizabeth saw it.

Lydia did not.

That evening, Lydia received a folded note through the kitchen maid. She hid it in her bodice before anyone saw.

It was from George Wickham.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Letters in a Locked Drawer

Georgiana Darcy’s letters began formally.

Dear Miss Elizabeth Bennet,

My brother has written that you were the person who found him after his accident. I do not know how to thank you for what you did. I am told he has been a very difficult patient, though Colonel Fitzwilliam says this is not new...