Elizabeth could not help herself. She flinched away, dropping the bonnet in her hands. Mrs Greene swooped in and picked it up, giving her a look that mingled reproach and concern.
“Forgive me,” Elizabeth said, her voice a little uneven. “That was terribly careless of me, Mrs Greene. I should not wish to treat so pretty a bonnet with disrespect.”
“Not to worry, Miss Elizabeth. It has not come to any harm,” Mrs Greene said readily.
“I thank you, that is very kind,” Elizabeth replied. Now that she took a moment to notice her surroundings, she saw several pairs of eyes watching her. And several more hands covering people’s mouths as they whispered. No doubt the rumours were flying. What was Miss Elizabeth Bennet doing talking so intimately to a man who was not her fiancé?
Panic began to settle in. She had to extricate herself from the situation before her reputation suffered even more, before Mr Darcy found out. Surely he would not believe her innocent in Mr Wickham’s games a second time. “If you will excuse me, Mr Wickham, I have some shopping to do.”
“Allow me to accompany you. I have missed our walks, and I should very much like to renew our acquaintance.” Mr Wickham gave her a little bow. “I should be honoured to be at your service, in fact. Honoured, and quite delighted.”
Elizabeth drew in a deep, even breath. “I thank you, Mr Wickham, but I must decline,” she said firmly. “Good day, sir.” She curtsied, making it very clear that their conversation was at an end.
Even Mr Wickham could not ignore so direct a dismissal. “Ah, yes, I see.” He bowed slightly and tried to take her hand. Elizabeth quickly clasped it behind her back. He straightened, giving his most charming smile. “Good day, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you again soon.”
Elizabeth watched him leave, then turned and exchanged a knowing glance with Mrs Greene.
The older woman shook her head. “He is very charming, but I cannot like such persistence,” the older woman said.
“Nor I,” Elizabeth said. “Thank you for being so attentive.” She knew the woman would know what she meant. Gathering up the ribbons she had meant to purchase, Elizabeth paid Mrs Greene and swiftly left the shop, her heart pounding. She must find Jane as quickly as possible and get home. It frustrated her to no end to realise that she was no longer safe to walk in her beloved village alone, without the threat of being harassed by Mr Wickham. The sooner the militia moved on, the better for them all.
Yet Mr Wickham’s odious presence had not flustered her half so much as his words. She replayed the conversation over and over again, wondering if she could have misinterpreted what his words meant. But what other meaning could she take from them? It was not impossible that someone might have spoken of her first dance with Mr Collins, and yet Elizabeth found it distinctly unlikely. Yet if he had not been told of it by someone present, Mr Wickham had lied about being at the ball.
And not only lied, but deliberately concealed his presence.
She quickened her step, eager to find Jane and return home as quickly as possible. The mud from the rain that morning had made the street nearly impossible to traverse without slipping. She looked down for a moment, delicately lifting her skirt’s hem to keep it from the mud.
In her haste, she nearly ran unseeing into a broad, masculine chest, only just stopping in time.
Elizabeth gasped in astonishment. “Forgive me, sir. I did not mean — ” She stumbled back in her haste, half blinded by embarrassment.
The muddy street was almost her undoing. As Elizabeth stepped back, her foot nearly slid out from under her. The man put a hand on her elbow to steady her and keep her from falling in the nick of time. “Miss Elizabeth? Are you well?” he asked.
She knew that voice. Her head snapped up, and she was face to face with none other than Mr Darcy! Elizabeth drew in a quick breath. Had he seen her with Mr Wickham again?
But there was no sign of anger on his features. “Oh, Mr Darcy!” she exclaimed. “I am so glad you are here.”
Chapter 20
Darcy frowned upon seeing Elizabeth’s distraught expression. Normally so cheerful and self-possessed, she seemed almost at the point of fainting. He offered her his arm, and they walked some paces away from the nearest passer-by to gain a little privacy. When Darcy felt confident that they had escaped any listening ears, he could wait no longer to express his concern. “Are you well, Miss Elizabeth? Do you need to sit down?”
“No, thank you. I am perfectly well.” Elizabeth said. Darcy looked at her in concern. Was there not the slightest tremble in her voice? “I have just had a most unpleasant encounter with Mr Wickham.”
For a moment, Darcy was afraid his anger was too great to control. It took an effort to speak gently. “He dared to accost you in the public street?” he asked. Though any number of threats against Wickham crowded his tongue, Darcy kept them back. He did not wish to frighten her. “Where is he?”
Elizabeth placed a gentle hand on his arm. “He did not touch me. It was what he revealed as he spoke to me that has affected me so.” She looked around the bustling street, concern etching her face. “Will you take me home?” she asked.
A strong protectiveness overwhelmed him, coupled to pride that she would trust him enough to ask it of him. He tucked her hand safely in the crook of his arm, and they set off. At the edge of town, Elizabeth suddenly stopped short. “How foolish of me! I cannot leave. Not yet. I came to town with Jane! I had almost forgotten, with everything that happened with Mr Wickham,” she said despairingly.
“Let us find her,” Darcy said. “Miss Bennet can walk home with us if she likes. And if she has other errands to run, we will send a carriage for her. Mine, if your father’s is not available.”
Miss Elizabeth nodded. Her face had turned deathly pale, and he worried all the more about what Mr Wickham had wrought. But he could not press her while there were so many people about.
They soon found Miss Bennet at the apothecary, buying supplies for the stillroom. She immediately left her purchases and came outside when Darcy told her of the situation. Outside the shop door, Miss Bennet spoke with Elizabeth in hushed tones for a moment before it was decided that she would accompany them home. Once out of the village and on the country lane, Miss Bennet trailed several paces behind them. Though she explained herself by saying she wished to walk more slowly, it was evident she intended to give them the chance to speak privately. Darcy would have liked to thank her for it, though he said nothing. Acknowledging the courtesy would only have embarrassed them all.
“Are you able to share what happened, Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy prompted gently. He did not want to cause her any more upset than she had already endured. However, he also knew Wickham and how slippery he could be. If he had done anything to harm Elizabeth, Wickham would soon find himself in a world of trouble.
“I am,” Elizabeth replied. She still clung to his arm, and he was grateful once again that her trust in him had grown since they had first become betrothed. “As I am sure you ascertained, I was walking in the town. I had no real intention of purchasing anything, but I thought I would go to the milliner’s shop. Derbyshire is so much colder than Hertfordshire, I shall need a warmer bonnet if — well. In any case, I was on my way there when Mr Wickham came up beside me and started a conversation. Believe me, I did not encourage him.”
