Page 72 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

“You trusted Mr. Darcy? But not Mr. Wickham?”

“It is early, I know, but Mr. Wickham was too forward on Bond Street, Miss.”

“Was he?” Elizabeth knew she was blushing as she recalled Mr. Wickham’s attention and his kiss on her hand.

“I think you know he was, Miss. You have been out in society enough by now to know a gentleman should not have held onto your hand for so long when you only just met.”

“I was distracted, but I suppose you are correct.”

Matthew seemed to relax at her admission. They had reached the carriage but continued their conversation.

“Is that all? Did you find any issues with his behavior today?”

“No, Miss. He’s very friendly, but that don’t mean he’s bad. Only be wary, Miss, as you are with all your suitors.”

“All my suitors!” Elizabeth laughed.

“You know there be many who show interest, Miss, even if you don’t like them so much,” Dinah put in her observations.

“You two do know how to make a girl blush.”

“What were you asking about the menagerie, Miss?”

Matthew recalled her to what had been bothering her.

“It seemed…I may remember wrong, but…no. Mr. Darcy loves his home. His estate, his county, the countryside. Mr. Wickham spoke of that same place as though it was nothing but a grand house. He passed his childhood there. I know Mr. Darcy grew up as the heir to the estate, and Mr. Wickham’s father was a servant, but as children, would they not have had similar feelings about their home? I loved Longbourn as a child even knowing I could not stay there.”

“You think Mr. Wickham seemed not to appreciate the gift he’d been given to live there?” Matthew asked.

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, I think that may be it. Or perhaps I am judging him too harshly. Likely his views have changed over the years, as he has lived more of his life in London and he has his own estate now. I will ask him about his estate when next he calls, and I am sure I will find he loves it as much as I love Longbourn.”

Matthew nodded, but she could not tell whether he agreed with her. He helped her and Dinah into the carriage, climbed up beside the coachman, and they were off.

Mr. Wickham began to call every day, and conversation between him and Elizabeth became mostly easy by his second call. On that morning, he asked her to go for a ride in his gig, but after her discussion with Matthew, Elizabeth was wary of being alone with him so soon and suggested they instead meet for a walk the next day at St. James’s or The Green Park, after she worked at the Foundling Hospital. He chose The Green Park and then praised her charitable endeavors and showed interest in the stories she told of teaching the children.

Most impressive to Elizabeth was the way he spoke about his estate in Cheshire. He was clearly passionate about his work with his horses. He had far more animals than she would have guessed a small estate would have, but he was growing a successful breeding enterprise. When she told him how she loved to ride but could no longer engage in the exercise, he promised he would surprise her one day with two horses they could take out together.

“If you could make it three, I should be most happy to accept.” She glanced at Matthew, who nodded slightly. She was not sure whether he could ride, but he either could or would find someone else he trusted to join her. When she looked back to Mr. Wickam, she thought his eyes had narrowed and a slight grimace had overtaken his mouth, but the expression was so quickly gone she must have imagined it.

Mr. Wickham was already waiting for her when she arrived at The Green Park on Thursday, and he helped her down from the carriage before Matthew could. He pulled her arm through his and set off. As the day was cold and a bit windy, she did not object to his shared warmth. Elizabeth looked at his amiable face and did not give Matthew or Dinah another thought for several minutes. If she had considered them, she would have known they followed at a discreet distance from which they would keep her safe.

They had not walked far when Mr. Wickham paused at the edge of the path and held her gloved hand in his. She was bemused at his behavior and felt a flutter of nervous discomfort until she realized he was inspecting her charm bracelet.

“I have not seen this before. Was it a Christmas gift?”

“It is fifteen years’ worth of birthday gifts, actually.” She sighed as she looked at it. It held so many memories, which she had revisited when she had pulled it out of her small jewelry box the evening before. “On my first birthday, my uncle gave me this diamond, because I was a precious gift to him after my parents died. On my second birthday, he gave me this tree, because even then, I loved to be outside close to the trees. He would take me for walks and show me all the trees at his estate.”

“This horse must symbolize your love for riding.” Mr. Wickham’s finger grazed her wrist at the edge of her glove as he found the horse charm, and Elizabeth gasped lightly and nodded.

He was not looking at her, though. He held the tiny diamond between his thumb and forefinger, his other hand still holding her hand up close to her eye level.

“This cut glass is a fine gift for a baby, but now you are a woman and deserve real diamonds.” He released her hand and looked into her eyes as he removed a small velvet pouch from his coat pocket. From it, he withdrew a stunning silver hair comb encrusted with a row of diamonds. She was too stunned to say anything before he had stepped even closer and was pushing back her bonnet and placing the comb in her hair. The scent of cloves and a heavy musk engulfed her, and her nose twitched. She took a step back as soon as he removed his hands from her hair.

“Mr. Wickham, I cannot accept such a fine gift from you.” She reached up to remove the comb, but he held her wrist before she could, so she lowered it and clasped her hands behind her back, remembering again Matthew’s caution about the man’s familiarity.

“We may not have courted for long, but you have already lodged yourself deeply into my heart. You were in my every thought while we were parted all those weeks. I will not propose yet, and I can see you need more time, but you must know of my feelings for you. You are everything I have always wished for in a wife.”

Elizabeth could think of nothing to say at such a bold declaration. It was true they had a strong connection. She had come to admire him as she had seen his passion for his horse breeding and his estate. He had also told her about his father in a way that showed his deep honor for him, despite his low rank. Mr. Wickham spoke of his mother with great love, as well. He showed all the signs of being a good, hardworking man she could trust.