“Four thousand pounds! I do hope he made his fortune with such a sum!” Elizabeth looked up at Darcy in surprise. “Paired with even a position as a lowly clerk, the interest on four thousand ought to keep a man from penury. And if he chose to use it to pursue the law, he should do even better.”
“One would think so,” Darcy said as they continued down the path. “But when the incumbent of the living in question passed three years later, George returned. The study of the law had been, he assured me, very unprofitable; he asked me to fulfil my father’s wish and distinguish him with the living. I cannot lie, the idea of entrusting him with the souls of the good people of Kympton, and exposing the young girls of the parish to him made me bilious. I refused him in no uncertainterms, and after abusing me terribly to my face, he left Pemberley. How he lived since then, I know not. Last summer, he attempted to impose himself on my poor sister at Ramsgate. Everywhere he goes, he tells his tale of woe to gain sympathy amongst good people, attempting to sow doubt about my honour. None of them ever think to ask themselves why a perfect stranger would tell such a tale, but he never hesitates to degrade my good name all over England.”
Elizabeth paused for a moment on the path. Something about his tale seemed oddly familiar. She could not put her finger on it.Darcy… Kympton… Pemberley… Godfather… George… Where have I heard all of this before?
“Are you well, Miss Elizabeth? I had no wish to upset you. I only wanted to tell you that I, too, have had friends that betrayed my trust.” Darcy looked down at her in concern as Elizabeth stared into space, attempting to order her thoughts.
Ramsgate… A man of honour could not have doubted the intent...Elizabeth thought. “I feel like I have heard all of this before. George… George… Wait! Is the man in the militia?”
“George Wickham? In the militia? I am sorry, but George Wickham is not synonymous with work,” Darcy laughed.
“Thatishim! Lieutenant George Wickham from Derbyshire!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I met him in Meryton late last summer. He had just joined his friends in the regiment. He told me that story, but yes, he did make you sound like a villain. He named you as well, but I did not like him for speaking ill of your sister when she or her guardians were not present to defend her, and so I put the entire conversation from my mind.”
“What did he say? What did he say about Georgiana?” Darcy turned and grasped her hand in distress.
“Only that she was arrogant like her brother, and very, very proud. He claimed you had ruined her with spoiling, I think. It was nothing terribly bad, and quite obviously all falsehoods, but having four sisters of my own, I thought it ungentlemanly to discuss a young girl in the absence of her family. He left a number of debts with the merchants when the militia left the county. Poor Mr Wolcott, the tailor, nearlywent bankrupt from the expense of Lieutenant Wickham’s uniform and other requirements.”
“He must have been desperate after the last time we saw him, to join the militia,” Darcy mused to himself. “My cousin is away at the front, but I believe I know a friend of his that can check in on Wickham for me, and ensure that he is not bankrupting the merchants of whatever village the regiment has moved onto. I will look into reimbursing the tradesmen in Meryton as well. I suppose I must do something about him. I own enough of his debts, and soon, I am certain I will own even more.”
“How strange. You are connected to the friend that harmed me through your aunt, and I am acquainted with the friend who harmed you. What an odd coincidence,” Elizabeth marveled.
“It does strain credulity,” Darcy agreed. “It is a smaller world than we think.”
Miss Caroline Bingleywas in the garden when Elizabeth and Jane parted from her brother and his friend. Charles went inside a moment after the ladies, while Mr Darcy wandered about the roses a little longer, apparently deep in thought.
“What do you like about her?” Caroline asked out loud as he passed by her deep in his musings without even realising that she was there.
“Miss Bingley!” Darcy jumped nearly out of his skin at this. He looked around wildly to see if they were alone.
“Oh please. I thought we established last summer that I will not be compromising you, Mr Darcy.” Caroline smirked. “You said you hoped we might one day become friends, and I agree. So, in the spirit of friendship, I was wondering why you like her.”
Darcy considered carefully for a moment. “She is everything a gentlewoman ought to be,” he answered. At Caroline’s raised brow, he continued. “Miss Elizabeth has the kindness and ability to see the struggles of others and put them at ease with grace and compassion.She is good humoured and lively. Like your brother, she brings me out of my awkwardness. With a single arch of her brow and a well considered word she puts the impertinent in their place, or gives courage to those who need it. She is intelligent and improves her mind by extensive reading, both for edification and for pleasure. She is also fiercely loyal to those she cares for. So far, I have not found any reason not to consider her utterly delightful.”
Caroline nodded in awe, her mouth an ‘o’ of surprise as he bowed, took his leave of her, and returned to the house.
CHAPTER 34
Elizabeth was not looking forward to the afternoon activity, which was an archery tournament. She never participated in such competitions at home because she was terrible at the sport. Jane, of course, was a competent archer, and looked like perfection doing it. Mary could, at least, distinguish herself, but Elizabeth’s skill was abysmal.
The household traipsed down to the lakeside, where many of the outdoor activities were held. The canopies were close enough to catch the breeze from the water, but far enough for the guests to steer clear of the intensely territorial Barnaby. The guests relaxed under the lovely white canopies to watch the play of the others, and enjoyed the afternoon meal. There was a practice course set up as well as the official archery course, complete with drawings of Napoleon to be used as targets. A copy of Wordsworth was to be the prize of the ladies. A fine pocket knife was to be the prize for the men.
Darcy took Elizabeth to the practice course, for she had confessed to him her dread of the afternoon. Elizabeth was looking forward to some competent instruction, for Mr Bennet’s approach had been to let his daughters figure the sport out for themselves, and she alwaysfelt extremely awkward. Darcy mistakenly decided to use the opportunity to be romantic, before the others came over to join them.
When Elizabeth demonstrated her technique, Darcy came forward and said, “You are too shaky, you must be confident.” As he stopped close behind her, he raised his hands and directed first one of her arms, then another, embracing her as he did so. Then bent his mouth down by her ear to whisper into it, and just as he began to instruct her, she panicked.
This was not helping her confidence at all! Elizabeth suddenly felt as if she could not breathe and spun away, releasing the arrow in the wrong direction, burying it in a tree thirty feet from her intended target. Though the others had missed what led to Elizabeth’s abysmal shot, all of their attention was on them now.
“I apologise. That was poorly timed, and not well thought out by me.” Darcy stepped back from Elizabeth, putting his hands up. “Will you forgive me?”
“I seem to be doing a great deal of forgiving so far, Mr Darcy.” Elizabeth somehow managed to look down her nose at him even though he was nearly thirteen inches taller than her. “I do hope it will not become a habit.”
“Oh dear. Poor Lizzy does not enjoy archery. I wish the other ladies and gentlemen had not goaded her into agreeing to compete last night,” Jane fretted under the canopy by Miss Crawford and Miss Bertram.
“I believe she has been distracted by my friend,” Mr Bingley observed. “Darcy underestimates his effect on the ladies.”
“Well, that is no way to learn to shoot, and Mr Darcy ought not advise if he is not going to take the matter seriously,” announced Miss Bingley as she moved in the couple’s direction. “We take our very lives in our hands, allowing Mr Darcy to instruct such dangerous activities.”
“Mr Darcy, whatever have you done to poor Miss Eliza?” Miss Bingley said as she approached them. “Away with you, before you get someone killed.” Then, when Darcy protested, she insisted. “I was firstin archery every year at Lady Tomlinson’s Academy for Young Ladies. Off you go, now.”
