∞∞∞
Dear Mr Wickham,
I thank you sincerely for the offer you so graciously made me, but I regret to inform you I find it impossible to accept. I apologise for the abruptness of this communication, but I am afraid our acquaintance is now at an end.
∞∞∞
Wickham stared at the letter in disbelief. Despite the careful phrasing, there was no difficulty in recognising the meaning: she was refusing his proposal, and in terms so harsh thatsomethingmust have happened. He had charmed her; he was sure of it. She should have been almost ready to accepthim and turn all that lovely money over to her new husband. It should have worked. He should not have received a refusal — especially not so cold and careful a refusal.
Whether by accident or design, the chit had kept her name and address out of the letter. He could not even use it for blackmail.
Wickham threw the note on top of the pile of his other letters, doing his best not to look at them. They were letters from creditors, one and all, and he did not much care to think about the tone of the latest ones. ‘Furious’ would be an understatement. He had thought he was on the verge of paying them all off, getting them off his back forever. Heshouldhave been on the verge of freedom — if only Elizabeth Bennet hadn’t turned unaccountably stubborn.
There were ways to deal with a stubborn woman, of course. She might still be susceptible to his charm. Having lost access to the Gardiner’s house, that would be made more difficult, but not impossible. He might make use of the masquerade ball to be held at the Soho assembly rooms, exactly the kind of romantic occasion that might make a woman lose her head. He could court her there, use every trick in the book to turn her stubborn ‘no’ into a ‘yes.’
And if that failed — well. It would be far from the first time a woman was compromised at a ball. Miss Bennet could either choose to marry him freely, or he would see to it that she had no choice.
For such a fortune as hers, he would do whatever he must.
Chapter 27
On an unseasonably cloudless day not long after Lady Beatrix’s invitation to tea, Colonel Fitzwilliam came to call at Gracechurch Street, asking if he might escort Elizabeth on a walk in Hyde Park. She readily agreed, for while Mrs Gardiner was out visiting, one of the Gardiner’s maids could accompany them as a chaperone.
“Thank you for agreeing to this impromptu outing, Miss Bennet. I trust you had a pleasant time at my mother’s house?” he asked.
She smiled and nodded. “Yes, it was most enjoyable. And I had a lovely time talking with your cousin, Miss Darcy.”
“Yes, I am glad she had someone nearer her own age to converse with. She is shy, but you could not hope to meet a dearer girl. I believe Darcy hopes she will make some good friends while she is in Town. It has been — err — difficult for her as of late.”
Elizabeth need not wonder about the incident to which he was referring. “She told me of some of her struggles. I hope she may think of me as a friend from now on.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s face lit up. “She would be most glad of the friendship, I can assure you. Indeed, when I saw her thatevening, she was still speaking of the tea and how she enjoyed your company immensely.”
Elizabeth was glad to hear it. They soon arrived at the park, and the maid trailed a few yards behind them as they walked, keeping a close watch. Colonel Fitzwilliam clasped his hands behind his back as they walked, seeming rather nervous. “I always love this walk,” he said. “It is especially nice, since you are here.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks warmed slightly. “It is a lovely day, isn’t it? At first, when I came to London, I was not sure I would like it. It can be quite loud and, well, not to mention the soot —”
They shared a laugh. “Yes, that is quite a lot to get used to. But there is so much to do. Have you enjoyed the theatre and the art showings?”
“I have,” she replied. “There is a great deal to occupy one’s time and mind.”
The colonel quieted for a moment, slowing his pace. He turned to her. “I hope I might be one of the things that has occupied your mind. You certainly do mine.”
He was flirting with her! That much was beyond a doubt — and even as Elizabeth felt a sudden shock of certainty and surprise, she thought she ought not to have been surprised at all. His attentions had been too pointed to mistake, with only the degree of seriousness left uncertain. And while she was flattered, she did not feel the spark that she should have.
“I — thank you,” Elizabeth said, hardly knowing how to respond. She gave a nervous laugh, and they continued walking. Something was wrong. Colonel Fitzwilliam ought to have been perfect for her. He was charming, intelligent, and handsome. He had lived an adventurous life, to be sure, serving in the regulars. He was a man of much conversation and information and wouldnever be boring. And then, of course, there were his familial connections. She did not much care about advancing her social standing, but as the younger son of an earl, he certainly enjoyed an elevated rank in society. She should have been thrilled that he was showing interest in her.
So why wasn’t she?
It was strange, but true. Elizabeth knew down to her bones that there could be nothing between them, not really. She saw him as a friend, she concluded, and that was all.
The reason was one she would have given much not to know. It was only too absurd. No matter what she did, she could not seem to stop thinking about Mr Darcy and his confession of love for her.
It was only too ridiculous. After rejecting his warnings and his love in the coldest manner, she now felt she was little short of falling in love with him. The respect she had come to have for his intelligence and his principles, the respect he had shown in return for hers — it was natural, perhaps, that her sentiments might change under such weighty persuasions, and only a shame that it was likely to bring her nothing but pain. It was surely too late for them. He could not possibly still love her after being pushed aside so harshly.
“Miss Bennet?”
She turned to him and snapped out of her reverie. “Ah, yes, Colonel? Forgive me, I drifted off for a moment.”
