She assured him she was and accepted his proffered arm, following his lead to their seats. He and Mrs Gardiner chattered merrily ’til the curtain was raised, for which Elizabeth was vastly grateful, for she was too overcome with shame to speak.
Had she learnt nothing that she would wilfully misjudge one man simply to vindicate her opinion of another? Had she not yet learnt her opinion of the other was mistaken? Oh, Mr Darcy was still the proudest, most disagreeable man she had ever met, but he had not mistreated Mr Wickham. His efforts to separate Mr Bingley from Jane, however objectionable to her, had not been malicious. For how long could she continue to think ill of him without herself becoming guilty of conceit?
I am once again indisposed and cannot accompany you to the theatre this evening. Please accept my apologies for your disappointment.
Georgiana read the note aloud and looked up to gauge her companion’s response.
“It seems perfectly reasonable,” Mrs Annesley said. “A little terse perhaps, but if he is unwell, that is not to be wondered at.”
“He did not look particularly unwell this morning. Only distracted, as he usually is nowadays. I think he must still be angry with me.”
Mrs Annesley clicked her tongue. “Let us not begin that again. Your brother has told you the matter is closed.”
Georgiana knew better than to argue. The subject of her misadventure with George Wickham had been well and truly exhausted. “But if I have not upset him, what has? He has been ill-tempered since we returned from Ramsgate and he visited Netherfield.”
“It is not your place to question your brother’s conduct, Miss Darcy.”
Georgiana acceded with a nod, though she had already determinedto question Miss Bingley about events in Hertfordshire when next they met.
The intermission came, and Mr Gardiner was sent for refreshments. The ladies had not long been alone when an altercation erupted between two men a short way off.
“Let us move away,” Mrs Gardiner whispered.
Elizabeth would have done so directly had one of the men not caught her attention with the mention of a certain gentleman.
“…never known anybody so high in the instep as Mr Darcy. He is a sanctimonious prig!”
Elizabeth fixed her eyes on the clearly inebriated speaker, her lips pursed against all the things she should like to say but could not. True, she had accused Mr Darcy of worse, but she was well enough acquainted with him to have received an offer of marriage. She sincerely doubted this horrid little man had any such claim to intimacy.
“I never said he was not, Wrenshaw, but he did not cheat you,” the other man replied, and it seemed very much as though it was not the first time he had said it.
“How is it then that we parted with the same piece of land within two months of each other, and he made a fortune while I made naught but a fool of myself?”
“Because you are reckless with your money!”
“Piffle!” the man named Wrenshaw shouted, to the tittered delight of the growing crowd. “He took advantage of me. Do not be fooled by the stick up his bailey. No man can be that damned proper. I’ll wager he has a whore in every room at Pemberley!”
A squall of gasps flew up.
“Come away, Lizzy,” her aunt repeated, but she could not leave.
“Mr Darcy does not deserve this! He is not a bad man!”
“I confess I am surprised to hear you defend him.”
“I know, but I was very wrong about him.”
“Here we are!” Mr Gardiner announced behind them. Before either lady could do more than receive the drinks he had brought, he added, “Good gracious, is that you, Harding?” and walked directly to the pair of squabbling men. Within moments, he was gesturing forthem to join him. He introduced the quieter of the two men as a business acquaintance, Mr Harding, and the other as that gentleman’s friend, Mr Wrenshaw.
“And this is my lovely wife, Mrs Gardiner. She has spent a good deal of time in your part of the country actually, Mr Wrenshaw, in Lambton. And this is my niece, Miss?—”
“Lambton? In Derbyshire?” Mr Wrenshaw interrupted.
“Yes, between Pemberley and Yewbridge,” answered Mrs Gardiner.
“I know very well where it is, madam,” he replied curtly. To Mr Harding, he said, “It wasLambtonCrambourne wished to bypass with his blasted railway. And since Darcy would part with nary an inch ofhisestate, the arrogant swine bought half of mine and sold that to Crambourne instead! Now tell me he is not a swindling bleater!” His voice grew louder as he warmed to the topic, recalling the attention of all the eavesdroppers who had begun to lose interest.
Elizabeth’s vexation flared. “Upon my word, you have been very free with your opinion of that gentleman this evening, sir.”
