His tone and countenance were indignant. “Giggle? Me? Miss Elizabeth Bennet, I will have you know that a Darcy never giggles.” His face relaxed. “Well, except for Georgiana. When shewas quite young, I used to lift her and toss her high into the air. I think the first word she ever learned to utter was ‘more.’”
“My father did the same to all five of us. Not at the same time, of course.”
“Of course.” He swallowed brandy without being asked. “She has not been happy for many months. I told you why by the lake.”
“When I was unconscious?”
“Yes, I am afraid so.” He held out his hand for the flask and then took a long swig. “Did you happen to receive an introduction to George Wickham, an officer with the militia stationed in Meryton?”
“Not until after you and the Bingley family were gone. My younger sisters considered him to be a friend until he became betrothed to Miss Mary King. At that point, they seemed to lose interest in him. He no longer accompanied the other officers when they came to Longbourn.”
Mr. Darcy groaned as he adjusted the position of his leg.“Once I am back on my feet, I will contact Miss King’s family. Mr. Wickham is not to be trusted. He attempted to take advantage of my sister’s lack of guile to steal her dowry. I stopped the elopement, rescuing my sister from harm. Nevertheless, her trust in her judgment is damaged, seemingly beyond repair.”
“Poor Miss Darcy!” Elizabeth pressed her fingers to her lips. “Oh, no! Mary King’s uncle learned of an inheritance not one week after the militia’s arrival. Do you suppose Mr. Wickham is after her money instead of her?”
“I have no doubt.”
“This is terrible! She is an orphan with an uncle who is too busy to look out for her best interests. Who will protect her from Mr. Wickham?”
“I will.”
Mr. Darcy attempted to sit up. Elizabeth grabbed his shoulders, pulling him back until his head again rested on her lap.
“Mr. Darcy! You can write to my father soon enough. He will get the message to Miss King’s uncle. For now, you need to remain still so your wounds do not begin bleeding.”
He took a long swig from the flask. Shaking the container enough to gauge the amount of liquid remaining, he immediately took another drink.
“Thank you for wanting to protect Miss King. Sir, you must have been aware that Mr. Wickham was in Hertfordshire, or you would not have asked if I had been in his company. Why did you say nothing about his propensity for evil while you were there? My sisters are as important to me as yours is to you. Had he not engaged himself to Mary King, Kitty and Lydia especially would have been in danger.”
He dipped his chin, then whispered, “I should have said something.”
“Yes, you should. Ladies need protection.”
“I apologize.”
“For?”
His voice slurred with the effects of the brandy. “For not being the gentleman I was brought up to be. For insulting you and for not warning the citizens of Meryton how devious Wickham could be. For keeping you sitting on hard ground. For compromising you by having my head in your lap.” He snickered like a schoolboy before sobering. “For trying to forget you these past four months like Bingley tried to forget your sister and failing spectacularly. For all the other things I have done to alienate you and harm you, Elizabeth…Miss Bennet. I have so many regrets. Thus, I beg your forgiveness.”
The emotional impact of his words stunned her until the only thing to come out of her mouth was, “Forgiveness is granted.Now, rest, please, sir. It should not be much longer before your cousin returns.”
7
When he took another drink instead of closing his eyes, Elizabeth asked, “What did you mean when you said that Mr. Bingley tried to forget Jane? Does he still think of her? My sister called on Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley in London only to have them end any chance at friendship. Are you saying they did this without consulting their brother?”
Mr. Darcy rubbed his face with his free hand after pulling the glove off with his teeth.
He groaned, this time apparently not from discomfort. “Tell me plainly, did your sister hold Bingley in affection?”
“You have to ask?” Elizabeth was incensed. “She did everything within propriety’s restraints to show him how much she valued him. Yet, he walked away, exposing Jane to the censure of the world for her disappointed hopes. My sister was, and still is, crushed.”
Mr. Darcy tipped the container to his lips and drank until there was no more. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he tossed the flask aside. His voice was so quiet that she needed to lean closer to hear.
“For as much as you hated me after my insult to you, I fear you will loathe me even more when I tell you that I, along with Caroline Bingley, convinced Bingley that your sister was merely following the direction of your mother to attach herself to a wealthy man.”
Elizabeth yearned to pinch his ear lobe hard enough that he yelped. She would have, too, had he not already been so miserable.
“If I were not such a sympathetic soul, I would toss your head to the ground, hoping you would hit a rock hard enough to knock some sense into you. How could you not see Jane’s attachment? And how could you hurt Mr. Bingley like that? Shame on you, Mr. Darcy!”
