“Do not make yourself uneasy,” she assured him. “It is only that I have railed against your character at every opportunity since the moment I met you.” Her eyes fell, but not before he saw the mortification in them. “I wish my opinions had been more reasonable. After what he said today about disbelieving I would even want to leave home, I would like to explain my attachment to you before you speak to him. And would you not enjoy one more call without having to endure my mother’s raptures on your ten thousand a year or my father’s disbelief that we are devoted to one another?”
He thought of another call where he might find time alone to kiss her. “Another unchaperoned visit could be pleasant.”
They found Darcy’s horse in a clearing, and he offered to escort Elizabeth home.
“No, the hour is late, and I am already reluctant to part with you. You have a long ride to London, and it will be too long before I see you again. I would prefer you to take leave of me here, so I might say good-bye properly.”
His heart raced as she boldly placed her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was some time before Darcy mounted his horse to return to town.
ChapterSeven
Elizabeth did not admit their engagement to her family, but in the days after he left, she repeatedly explained to them that Darcy was neither an arrogant nor an unpleasant man, that she admired him, and that she had a marked preference for his company.
“Mamma, Mr Darcy will call with his sister after the officers leave Meryton,” she tried again when they were all together in the drawing room. “He has excellent understanding and principles. He and I enjoyed a great deal of unreserved conversation when he was last here.”
“I do not see how!” her mother cried. “He is rude and proud, but we must endure him for his friend’s sake.”
Mr Bennet turned a newspaper page without looking up. “I think our Lizzy enjoys the sport in drawing out a silent, taciturn, unsocial man.”
“No, Papa, I admire his taste and his abilities. When Mr Darcy returns, I hope you take the opportunity to know him.”
“The fools with whom you suffer to pass your time are of no interest to me.”
“He is the least foolish man I have ever met.” Elizabeth tried to keeper tone patient. “His mind is very well-informed, and his enjoyment of books is exceedingly great. I think if you took pains to get to know Mr Darcy, you would like him as much as I do.”
“I have not had as many opportunities to estimate the minute propensities of his mind, but if you think I shall enjoy provoking such a proud man to speak, I am happy to take on the challenge.”
She had imagined Darcy’s riding all the way from London would speak to his intentions toward her, but her parents did not understand her hints. Perhaps they had to see Darcy and her interact with one another before they would be willing and able to understand the depth of their attachment.
Even her sisters, save Jane, would not listen to Elizabeth’s approval of Darcy. Lydia could not spare time to think of anything but the enjoyments Brighton would offer, Kitty was too despondent over Lydia’s good fortune, and Mary preferred a book to any conversation with her sisters.
On the last day of the regiment’s remaining in Meryton, the officers dined at Longbourn, and Elizabeth saw Wickham for the final time. She found him sickening now that she knew what he was. She attempted to make it clear that his attentions annoyed her, but he would not withdraw them. After dinner, Wickham came upon her after Jane stepped away, and he sat by her and leant forward to block her view of the room.
“I see I find you alone, my dear friend.”
“My sister will return presently.” She tried to rise, but Wickham held out his hand and asked her to remain.
“We were always good friends, were we not?”
“Yes, I believe wewere.” Elizabeth was little disposed to part from him in good humour.
“And so we must remain. I shall miss our talks when we remove to Brighton. ’Tis a shame you cannot follow the regiment along with your sister.”
They looked together to see Lydia in boisterous conversation with several officers. Elizabeth turned back when Wickham rested his arm against her chair and leant closer. He seemed mildly amused as a smirk played across the features she once considered handsome.
“Tell me of the manner in which you passed your time visiting Mrs Collins at Hunsford. Was Lady Catherine not exactly as I described?” he asked.
“Yes, she was,” she admitted. “Her nephews, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy, spent three weeks at Rosings. Are you acquainted with the former?”
Wickham looked alarmed at the mention of the colonel, but after a moment’s recollection, he calmly replied that he had formerly seen him often and that he was a gentleman-like man. “But I do not care to speak of the colonel. I am more interested in hearing about Darcy.”
“I am surprised that you would take an interest in that man’s affairs, given your history.”
“You know so well my feelings toward Mr Darcy. At one time, I thought we were of a similar mind.”
“I do not think our opinions of everybody still coincide,” she said firmly to confirm what he must by now suspect. How could she ever have believed this man to be the model of all that was amiable and pleasing?
Wickham appraised her with a calculating countenance that could not hide his agitation. He bit his bottom lip and tapped his foot feverishly. Elizabeth attempted to see beyond him to determine whether Jane was on her way back, but he abruptly leant back into his chair and crossed his legs in front of her, his arm on the back of her chair and his legs preventing her from standing.
