At that moment, Miss de Bourgh turned her head, and she caught sight of Elizabeth, as evidenced by the sudden surprise on her pale features. This had the fortunate effect of deciding Elizabeth’s course, for she could not walk away now when to do so was not only rude but might come with heavy consequences. Her path decided, Elizabeth stepped forward, nodding her greeting.
“Miss de Bourgh,” said she, stepping forward and offering a shallow curtsey. “It is a surprise to see you here near my home.”
“Miss Elizabeth,” said the woman.
Elizabeth waited for her to speak again, and when she detected that complete lack of intention to converse, moved to break the silence that had again sprung up between them. “How do you do? And how is your lady mother?”
“I am well,” said Miss de Bourgh. That was all she meant to say, for she closed her mouth firmly. Then, however, she seemed to think better of it, offering a curt: “Mama is well, so far as I know.”
“Is she nearby?” asked Elizabeth, feigning ignorance of the situation. “I should like to greet her if she is.”
“My mother is at Rosings,” was Miss de Bourgh’s curt reply.
“Is she?” asked Elizabeth with a frown she did not need to affect. “That is quite confusing, Miss de Bourgh, for I had thought you traveled with her. Are you traveling alone? Perhaps to your uncle or your cousin’s estate?”
“I am not alone.”
Again, Elizabeth experienced the frustration of her taciturnity, for it seemed she was determined to require Elizabeth to work for every morsel that passed her lips.
“Then you travel with a trusted retainer?”
This appeared to pierce her reticence, for she turned an open glare on Elizabeth. “I cannot see why it is any business of yours,Miss Elizabeth.”
“No, I suppose it is not,” said Elizabeth. “Yet, I cannot but wonder at your appearance in all this state, given what I know of your relationship with your mother. If I appear to be prying, I apologize, for I do not mean you to take my curiosity in such a manner. However, I am concerned, as your appearance is worrying.”
Miss de Bourgh regarded her for several long moments unspeaking, and Elizabeth thought she might order her away. What she could do if she did so Elizabeth could not say, for she had no right to attempt to physically detain her, to say nothing of what Wickham would say when he returned. Her evasiveness Elizabeth now took to mean Miss de Bourghwasinvolved with Mr. Wickham, for it was more than her usual reserve. Should she speak of what Mr. Darcy had told her about the libertine?
“I understand,” said the woman, her voice nearly a whisper. “If I am truthful, I wonder what I am doing here myself.”
More than she had expected to hear, relief settled on Elizabeth, for she suspected she needed only a little more coaxing to induce her to be explicit. Donning an encouraging smile, Elizabeth edged in a little closer, taking hold of the open door, nodding with encouragement.
“If you would like, I am willing to listen and provide you with my opinion.”
Though Miss de Bourgh regarded her for several long moments, Elizabeth thought there was no doubt of her capitulation.
“The reason I am here,” said Miss de Bourgh at length, “is because I am eloping with a Mr. George Wickham. Mr. Wickham thought it best to throw off pursuit by going through this hamlet, and I understand he has some acquaintances here. He means to call in a few favors.”
Again, feeling no need to feign alarm, Elizabeth steppedforward and entered the carriage closing the door behind her. Mr. Wickham had not appeared, and the driver was nowhere to be found, yet Elizabeth did not fancy anyone overhearing what she needed to convey to her companion.
“That is shocking, Miss de Bourgh. I hope you do not think I am officious if I advise you, in the strongest terms possible, to think twice of such a mad plan as this.”
The woman regarded her, head tilted slightly to one side. “Please explain.”
“Mr. Wickham is no stranger to me, Miss de Bourgh,” said Elizabeth. “Until recently, he was a member of the regiment stationed in Meryton.”
“This much he informed me,” replied Miss de Bourgh, “though he said nothing of your presence.”
“No, I cannot imagine it was anything to him,” said Elizabeth. “I shall not sport with your impatience by relating anything of his behavior here, for it is not germane to the subject at hand. My disquiet, beyond the impropriety of such elopements, concerns what I know of Mr. Wickham’s character. He is not a good man, and for that, I offer the testimony of your cousin, Mr. Darcy.”
Miss de Bourgh watched her for a moment, then offered a slow nod. “Darcy has not been explicit, but he has commented on Mr. Wickham several times over the years. Fitzwilliam quite despises him, or so I understand.”
“And with good reason,” averred Elizabeth.
“What do you know on the subject?” demanded Miss de Bourgh.
“Only what Mr. Darcy informed me himself,” said Elizabeth. “Mr. Wickham games and accumulates debts and has a less than savory history with ladies. He did not speak openly of such matters, but what he inferred was enough to put me on my guard.”
“Why would he share such things with you, of all people?”
