At that moment, her aunt appeared at the edge of the foyer. Mr Wickham bowed to her. “Mrs Gardiner, I had hoped to invite Miss Bennet out for an ice at Gunter’s Tea Shop. I wonder if you might be willing to act as chaperone?” he asked.
Mrs Gardiner glanced briefly at Elizabeth, but answered readily enough. “Of course,” she replied. “Eloise, go and tell your father that Lizzy and I are stepping out for a little while. If you will give us a moment, we shall retrieve our bonnets.”
Elizabeth followed her aunt at her silent bidding. They hurried up the stairs together. When they had made it past the landing and out of earshot, her aunt pulled her close. “Are you sure you have carefully considered this, Lizzy?”
“Considered what? Going to a tea shop to have an ice?” Elizabeth smiled. “I am very fond of ice.”
“You know that is not what I mean.” They stopped in front of Elizabeth’s door, and she pressed her hand. “I think he means to deepen the connection, Lizzy. Be certain of what you want.”
Her aunt turned and walked toward her own room. Elizabeth could not help the coil of nervousness that wound around her belly. There the warning was again, even though her aunt had said little since her first warning when they met Mr Wickham. Bile began rising in her throat, but she shook her head and went to the window, taking several deep breaths.
She hurried over to her dressing table and retrieved her hat and gloves when a knock sounded at her door. Her aunt called to her from the hall. “It will not do to keep him waiting, my dear.”
Elizabeth slipped out of the room after putting on her hat. She pulled her gloves on as they walked to the foyer.
The carriage ride to Gunter’s was pleasant enough, save for the dark cloud that had settled over her at her aunt’s warning. When they arrived, Mrs Gardiner opted to be seated a couple of tables away, where she could still watch while giving them a modicum of privacy.
The tea house was busy, likely preventing any accusations of impropriety even had Mrs Gardiner not accompanied them. Even so, Elizabeth was glad that her aunt only sat a few yardsaway, enjoying a cup of tea that Mr Wickham had graciously purchased for her.
“It is a beautiful day, is it not?” He sighed and looked out the window as they waited for their ices to be delivered. “On such a day, it seemed almost as though anything is possible.” He beamed at her, then leaned forward. “Miss Bennet, I must confess, I am undone by your beauty.” He took her hand and pressed it passionately.
Elizabeth took her hand away, feeling several pairs of eyes on her. Though the affectionate gesture was pleasing, it was rather too much for so public a place. “Indeed? I agree that the sunshine makes it feel as if there are limitless possibilities. Do you refer to anything in particular?”
Mr Wickham licked his lips, then took her hand again. “I do. Miss Bennet, I should like to ask you something very important.” He smiled, pausing for a moment. “It can come as no surprise to you what I am about to ask.”
Elizabeth’s heart fluttered, then began to race. “Indeed, Mr Wickham, I am at a total loss —”
He chuckled, effectively cutting her off. “Then I have shielded my feelings better than I thought. Miss Bennet,” he began again. “I have been unable to think of anyone else — nay, anything else — since first we met. Since I first laid eyes on you, heard you laugh, and saw how gracefully you danced, I have been captivated. From that moment on, you have only confirmed what my heart knew that night — that I would forever love you, that you must be the woman I made my wife.”
He halted, clearing his throat. All the while, Elizabeth had felt a sense of dread settling over her. She was not ready for this, especially given the revelations that Mr Darcy had so recentlybrought forward. At first, she had been determined not to listen to them. Now she was frantic for more time.
His smile seemed genuine enough, with the hint of tears pooling in his eyes. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would you do me the greatest honour and become my wife?”
Elizabeth glanced over at her aunt, who, she could see, was watching like a hawk. Her aunt set down her cup, which had been suspended near her lips as the scene unfolded. Mrs Gardiner did not look displeased. Nor did she look pleased, only concerned.
“My love?” Mr Wickham said, calling her back to the present.
The endearment was like a bucket of cold water poured over her head. “I am flattered, Mr Wickham, and gratified to the extreme, I assure you. But I am afraid I am not yet ready to take that step.”
Mr Wickham’s face fell, but he let go of her hand gently, giving her a weak smile. “I see. You think I seek marriage too soon after meeting?” He nodded, but did not allow her to answer. “It stands to reason. Ours has been a brief acquaintance.”
Yet her hesitation was not only caused by the brevity of time for which they had known each other. Though she enjoyed his company, she could not seem to picture being his wife. Elizabeth wondered if Mr Darcy’s comments were poisoning her thoughts, making her unjustly suspicious of Mr Wickham. The possibility could not be dismissed.
Yet if she was honest with herself, Elizabeth did not think it was only the charges Mr Darcy laid against him that made her hesitate. She had always found Mr Wickham charming, but marriage? No, it was too soon between them — and Elizabethwas uncertain that the time would ever come. Perhaps it was only friendly affection she had felt all along.
He shook his head good-naturedly and leaned closer to her. “If it is the opinion of others from Meryton that troubles you, I can suggest an alternative.”
Elizabeth was taken aback. “Alternative? Alternative to what, pray tell?” Her heart began to thunder in her chest. She could not begin to guess what his suggestion might be.
She held her breath as he leaned forward, lowering his voice. “I confess, I have never seen the validity of having the banns read, jotting down settlements and waiting for all the pomp of ceremonies uttered by dithering old men.” He glanced over his right shoulder to where her aunt sat, as though worried Mrs Gardiner might overhear. Of course, with the din of chatter around them, her aunt would not be able to hear a word of what was said between them. “We could simply elope. You are of age, and I am certainly of an age to know my mind.” He paused and looked deeply into her eyes. “I want you.”
For a moment, Elizabeth could not move, could hardly even breathe. The scandalous suggestion could be nothing less than a confirmation of the warnings Mr Darcy had given her. Perhaps Mr Wickham was only a desperate fortune hunter, after all. Was it possible he had never cared for her, only for her inheritance?
“I can see I’ve shocked you. You must forgive me for making such a foolish jest. Of course, I was not seriously suggesting that we elope. But I am quite serious about marriage, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth did not believe he had been jesting in the slightest. “Are you certain, Mr Wickham? You seemed quite serious when you made the suggestion.”
Mr Wickham put a hand over his heart, looking hurt. “I would never suggest something like that — not to an upstanding young woman of good family. I was only trying to give some much-needed levity to our discussion. And while I apologise if I’ve done wrong, I am offended that you would think that I was serious. Indeed, I am surprised that a virtuous young woman such as yourself could have thought me to be speaking in earnest. We shall say nothing more about it.”
