Page 56 of A Prudent Engagement

Mr. Darcy asked with some happiness in his tone, “Mr. Wickham is gone? Already? But how was this accomplished?”

Lydia looked at him with a flash of fury. “You did this! Only because you hate him.”

“I certainly do hate him, but I cannot credit myself with having done anything to remove him from the town. On the contrary, I have been racking my brains to think how I might accomplish such a matter without finding any satisfactory answer.”

“It’s not Mr. Darcy’s fault,” the very young Mrs. Forster agreed. “It was your uncle Mr. Gardiner. He told everyone that he had certain information that Wickham had inherited three thousand pounds a few years back. And then everyone went to Wickham to ask for payment of his debts. But there were so many who did so that it was discovered he owed far more than had generally been understood. And when Wickham found everyone demanding payment on the basis of this, he confessed to being penniless and that he would never be able to pay most of these debts. I believe he was still unhappy about Miss King’s uncle removing her just when she was on the verge of accepting his offer. And then the officers talked about excluding him from the mess, and there was some mention of having him tarred and feathered for having made such a pretence of being able to pay, and, well, this morning he was gone.”

Elizabeth grinned. Mr. Darcy also had a great air of satisfaction about him.

Lydia frowned. “Even if he was in debt, he was very handsome and charming.”

“Oh yes,” Mrs. Forster agreed, hugging Lydia. “But we must not say that. The officers, including my husband, are all set against him. I do not think they will ever reconcile with him after this. We must pretend to dislike him on their account.”

“Oh, I need not pretend,” Lydia replied airily. “If all the officers dislike him, I shall dislike him as well. I shall not be so out of fashion as that. But ’tis a pity. He was so handsome.”

After this Lydia and Kitty went off with Mrs. Forster, and Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, and Mary soon walked back to Longbourn.

When they reached the entrance to the house, Mary went in immediately. Perhaps she thought that her duties as a chaperon were now completed.

Finally having the privacy that Elizabeth had longed for since they set out, they stood by the door looking at each other.

Mr. Darcy bent to lightly kiss Elizabeth.

It was a quite delightful sensation.

He then said, “Your uncle is an excellent fellow. I had truly not imagined that honestly telling the world of my past kindnesses to Wickham could have ruined his position so quickly.”

“He is an excellent fellow,” Elizabeth agreed with a little fierceness to her.

Mr. Darcy looked at her with glowing eyes. “It increases my admiration of you when you prove correct on a point upon which we disagreed.”

He gave her another soft kiss.

“I love my uncle,” Elizabeth said, “and I value my connection to him.”

“Then I shall strive to value him as well,” Mr. Darcy promised. “And I see how that brings a smile to your face and smooths a line from your brow, so I have had my reward.”

Elizabeth took Mr. Darcy’s hand. She looked at him with a smile that she secretly hoped would make him kiss her again.

It was still impossible for her to say such a thing, even to the man she would marry.

Mr. Darcy happily obliged the unspoken request. He leaned close again and softly placed his lips upon hers. “It is impossible for me to feel anything but the utmost happiness when you look at me in such a way.”

“I wish you to always feel the utmost happiness,” Elizabeth said. “You deserve it.”

“How can a man loved by such a woman as you not be always happy?” he said with a buoyant grin.

Elizabeth felt cold again.

She could not say it. Not with certainty that it was true. And she had once more allowed him to make that assumption. She squeezed his hand again.

He kissed her, and though it felt delightful, it also filled her with guilt.

He deserved better.

It was ridiculous. It was like the guilt she occasionally felt about not having been there with her papa when he died.

She had agreed to marry Mr. Darcy. She liked him. She was determined to make him happy. What more could he wish for?