Then Anne turned on her heel and marched from the sitting-room, not heeding Elizabeth’s urgent call in the slightest. Elizabeth glanced at Jane, and together, they followed on her heels, determined to put themselves between their new friend and the libertine. Mrs. Bennet remained, seeming unable to move so great was her shock.
“He will not fight, for Mr. Wickham is naught but a coward.”
The words, delivered in so cold a tone, reminded Elizabeth of exactlywhowas this woman’s mother. Had Lady Catherine heard her daughter speak so, she would undoubtedly have felt pride in her progeny, so implacable and noble was Anne’s statement. Mr. Wickham, it appeared, disregarded what she said, for instead of anger or contempt, he beamed at her as if she had just declared her everlasting devotion to him.
“Anne, my sweet,” said he, honey dripping from his tone, “how lovely it is to see you. I am humbled by your trust. You should thank the Bennets for their hospitality, for we must depart at once. There are many more miles we must travel today.”
Anne’s responding smile was a thin, shriveled sort of thing, and it should have told Mr. Wickham all he needed to know about his influence over her. “Yes, the Bennets’ hospitality is without equal. I cannot thank them enough, for I learned certain facts I had not known, facts that prevented me from making the greatest of mistakes.”
A little of Wickham’s smile diminished, but he gamely forcedit to remain where it was. “Facts? I am confused, Anne. Unless Darcy has made his usual attempt to defame me and poison the Bennets against me.”
“Then you deny you are a debtor. You reject any suggestion that you are a grasping, mercenary degenerate. You suggest you are not a womanizer. And what of your attempt to secure a young woman’s fortune for your own?”
Wickham regarded her with no little shock. “Whatever can you mean?”
“I am certain you know exactly what I mean, Mr. Wickham,” replied Anne. “Your attempt to deceive me is at an end, for I shall no longer believe anything you say. It would be best if you departed, for I will go no further with you. When I call Darcy and Fitzwilliam here, you had best not be anywhere nearby.”
Anne laughed, a mocking repudiation. “Perhaps you should run for Bristol—the Americasmaybe far enough to save you from Fitzwilliam’s wrath, but only if he does not catch you before you board the ship.”
Mr. Wickham’s genial attitude transformed into an ugly scowl. “This is all amusing, little Miss de Bourgh, but you have forgotten one insignificant point.”
“Oh?” asked Anne. “Please enlighten me—what exactly have I forgotten?”
“That you are now ruined by a full day of traveling with me. If you do not come with me, you will be a laughingstock in society. Once I share the tale, your family will be shamed and despised. None of you will be welcome in society.”
Anne laughed again, this time full of amusement rather than scorn. “You truly are an amusing specimen, Mr. Wickham. And you have done me the singular favor of proving exactly what sort of man you are.”
“He also seems to exhibit an exaggerated sense of the influence he wields,” said Elizabeth, stepping into the breach tosupport her friend. “The notion that the son of a steward could provoke the shunning of an earl and his family is laughable.”
“Perhaps I may not affecthisstanding,” retorted Mr. Wickham, glaring at Elizabeth, “but I can see mousy little Anne de Bourgh, a woman who has never even had a season, despised in society.
“Come, Anne,” said Wickham, apparently trying for geniality again, “I am not repulsive or ill-favored. We may forge an excellent life together. Let us go away, and we may discuss this business that has risen between us.”
“Pretty words following ugliness,” said Anne. “For the record, Mr. Wickham, I have no interest in leaving with you now and no intention of ever putting myself in your power again. It is better to be shunned and despised than to endure a lifetime tied to a lout such as you.”
With those words, Anne turned on her heel and marched back into the house. Mr. Wickham watched her, a murderous fury blazing in his eyes, but the men contracting the barrier before the house prevented him from any thought of following. Elizabeth thought to go inside, but she would not do so before she gave this man a piece of her mind.
“Your schemes are at an end, Mr. Wickham. You would do well to depart. I ensured that Anne understands the truth—you will never achieve your designs.”
“This is a merry bit of folly,” said Mr. Wickham, though it appeared he did not appreciate the joke. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who lapped up every word I spoke like a dog, now believes Darcy as if a chorus of angels echoed his words. How can you account for this change of heart?”
“I used the wits with which I was born, Mr. Wickham. Your tales were amusing, but they contained more than a few holes which became apparent when I considered them.”
“Oh, so it had nothing to do with Darcy’s riches?” The mansneered his contempt. “It is no less than typical, I suppose. Frankly, I give you no greater chance of capturing Darcy’s wealth than all the others who attempted it.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “It is clear you believe what you say. It also proves you know nothing of me.”
“Enough of this talk,” said Mr. Bennet. “Lizzy, you had best return to the house. Wickham, you will leave my property at once, for I will say nothing more to you.”
Elizabeth might have done what her father asked, but a loud and feminine voice hailed them at that moment, and Kitty and Lydia appeared, Mary trailing behind. They all appeared winded, as if they had run the entire distance from Meryton, but winded or not, it appeared Lydia was not at all pleased with Mr. Wickham.
She approached at a run, hard eyes focused on Mr. Wickham, but before she could get near to him, Mr. Bennet stepped forward and intercepted her.
“Lydia,” said he, taking control of his startled daughter, “return to the house at once.”
“But Papa!” tried Lydia.
Mr. Bennet was implacable. “No, Lydia, you will do what you are told. I know not of what this man is capable, but I will give him no opportunity to use one of you as a hostage. Join Lizzy now!”
