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Elizabeth frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
“Lizzy, you never forgave Mr. Darcy for slighting you at the Meryton Assembly or disparaging our family during his proposal. Therefore, it makes sense that any man who slights you reminds you of Mr. Darcy and, unconsciously, you despise him.”
Even though Elizabeth had confessed to Jane about Mr. Darcy’s horrid proposal at Hunsford she was too embarrassed by her own prejudices to reveal the letter he had put in her hands explaining his actions towards Mr. Wickham and his advice to Mr. Bingley regarding wedding Jane. Perhaps now was the time to be truthful with her sister.
“I-I do not despise Mr. Darcy. After all, he is merely a product of his upbringing.”
“Then why do you get so upset whenever his name is mentioned?”
“I do no such thing!”
“You are upset right now!” At Elizabeth’s befuddled look, Jane added, “I have always believed that you were most hurt by learning he had married his cousin so soon after you refused him.”
“That is not true!” Elizabeth lied. “If anything, his marriage proved I was right to refuse him. If he had any feelings for me, evidently, they were fleeting.”
“You do know that out of concern for you, David always meets him alone in London instead of inviting him to Netherfield? And Mr. Darcy has never once complained.”
“I never meant for David to neglect his friendship with the man.”
“Now, Lizzy. David and I have long since forgiven Mr. Darcy. After all, he apologised to me for interfering with my relationship with Mr. Bingley and, in hindsight, I am glad that he did. Moreover, his heart was in the right place when he spoke to David about waiting until his finances were settled before marrying me. We hold no ill feelings for the man, and I wish you would not either.”
Elizabeth threw up her hands. “I could not care less if Mr. Darcy and David are best friends, or if he is invited to your homes. I just do not wish to be present if he is.”
“Now I am completely befuddled. If you do not despise Mr. Darcy, why is it you do not wish to be in his company?”
Jane’s question cut straight to the heart of the matter, and tears rushed to Elizabeth’s eyes. Dropping her face in her hands, she said, “Oh, Jane, I am ashamed to face him. He warned me about Wickham whilst I was in Kent, but I kept silent once I returned to Meryton. I reasoned that since Wickham had already left Hertfordshire, there was no need to admit how entirely wrong I was about him.” Elizabeth’s eyes dropped to her feet. “Do you not see? My pride kept me silent. I should have told father … all of you, what Wickham was, but I did not. That makes me completely responsible for Lydia’s ruin, and Mr. Darcy knows it.”
Jane reached for her hand. “That is nonsense. The truth is that Papa should have checked Lydia’s and Kitty’s behaviour long before then. Someone with so little common sense should never have been allowed to travel to Brighton with the regiment.”
“Nonetheless …”
“Hush!” Jane cried. “I do not want to hear you say that ever again. I believe that with any luck, by the time Mary and Kitty reach their majority, few will recall Lydia’s foolishness, and all my sisters will have opportunities to marry well.”
“I pray you are correct.”
Suddenly David Morgan walked into the room holding Alice, whose blonde hair and blue eyes matched Jane’s exactly.
“Lizzy!” he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear as he strode across the floor to hand his daughter to her mother so that he might greet his sister.
“I was just thinking about you,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it. As we discussed the last time you were here, I shall be off to Derbyshire soon to inspect Morgan Manor. And, since my estate is only fifteen miles east of Sheffield, before I return I intend to meet Mr. Bromberg at his shop to enquire about selling your jewellery. If we strike a bargain, do you wish me to stop at Lambton on my way home to pay Mrs. Potter anything on the bakery?”
“I certainly do!” Elizabeth said enthusiastically. “That is why I am here. Lady Cargile gifted me with yet another piece of jewellery.” Elizabeth pulled the velvet case out of the small bag and opened it again. “The countess insisted on giving it to me now, since she and I may not be together on my birthday. I am hopeful it alone may bring enough at least for the deposit.”
“It is exquisite,” Jane interjected.
“My heavens!” Morgan responded the second he caught sight of it. “If I am any judge of jewellery that piece could fetch several thousand pounds.”
“I thought so, too,” Elizabeth replied.
“I hope Lady Cargile provided you another letter, witnessed by her solicitor, stating that the necklace is a gift,” Lord Morgan said. “It is so much more expensive than the other pieces that I would hate for you to be accused of stealing it should the lady in question die and her heirs notice it missing.”
“She did. I just need you to retrieve all the witnessed letters once you have shown them to the jeweller, so that I might have them for evidence, if needs be,” Elizabeth declared. “Now, I simply must know. Am I correct in thinking the steward you are considering hiring for Morgan Manor has already inspected the estate and considers it worth preserving?”
“He has and he does. Moreover, Darcy was impressed enough that he said I should use the funds I inherited from my mother to begin refurbishing the manor.”
Puzzled at the mention of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth said, “Why would Mr. Darcy have any say regarding your estate?”
Realising he had erred by mentioning Darcy, Lord Morgan glanced to Jane. Seeing her wince when their eyes met, he decided to tell part of the truth. “Darcy has always been a good friend and mentor to me. I accrued little knowledge about running an estate from my father, and there is no one with greater knowledge regarding estates than he. Naturally, I always seek his opinion.”
