While he resigned himself to this distressing truth, he realised his cousin had stopped walking and was glancing around at the ground. Fitzwilliam absently patted at his pockets, and Darcy walked back toward him. He was about to ask what was the matter before the raised voices distracted them both.
Mr Lockwood had stumbled back, and Wickham had raised himself unsteadily to his feet and was quarrelling with his second, his voice filled with rage. Darcy started when he heard his own name and observed Wickham wrench his second pistol from Mr Kenneth’s hand.
“Darcy, go to the devil!”
Time seemed suspended as Darcy watched Wickham raise his arm and pull the trigger. The next thing Darcy was aware of was the unyielding impact of the earth.
* * *
Late Tuesday,Jane and Elizabeth sat on the latter’s bed, where they had passed the chief of the evening in girlish conversation. Elizabeth was thankful for the distraction from fretting incessantly about Fitzwilliam, and it was good for Jane’s spirits too. She pulled a letter from Georgiana from her dressing table drawer and handed it to Jane with a playful grin.
“She included a drawing of Pemberley so that I might be familiar with my new home. My new sister thinks she does me a service, but all she has done is to frighten me.”
“How can you say that? It is a fine-looking house. Look at the ridge of high woody hills behind it and the stream swelling in the front. I think such a place will suit you well.”
“Look at the size of that large stone building.”
“Perhaps Miss Darcy does not have an eye for scale.” Seeing her sister’s incredulous gaze caused Jane to dissolve into a fit of giggles.
Elizabeth huffed and rolled her eyes as she fell backward onto the pillows. “We both know that is unlikely. I do not know how I shall ever become acquainted with all of Pemberley’s rooms. I shall have to tie myself to the housekeeper’s apron strings so I do not become lost.”
Jane had placed the Pemberley sketch aside and was now eyeing the one behind it. She peered at it and then blushed and set it aside so forcefully that it caught Elizabeth’s attention. “Georgiana was kind enough to include a sketch of her brother since I have no miniature keepsake of my own. She based it on a portrait of him at Pemberley that was drawn in his father’s lifetime. Do you not think it like?”
“No, Miss Darcy has done well; it is a striking resemblance.” Jane averted her gaze from the paper. “It is strange to see thatexpression of Darcy’s fixed on me as the viewer of the picture—that is all.”
“How do you mean?”
“She drew Darcy with a very arresting gaze, and he looks that way, with such a smile over his face, when he looks atyou.”
Elizabeth blushed at her sister’s words. She had become accustomed to the way he smiled at her when they were alone, a heartfelt expression that was openly affectionate. Elizabeth realised that his earnest gazes last autumn, in Kent, and sometimes even now were of fascination and desire; but she was surprised to learn that modest Jane discerned such a difference. Would she see that fond smile again if Darcy duelled Wickham?
“Lizzy,” Jane began, drawing Elizabeth from her contemplation of Darcy’s likeness. “What is the matter?”
“I must tell you what happened on Saturday. Mr Bingley has once again most painfully obtruded on our notice. I encountered him on my walk into Meryton. He is here to sell his lease to Netherfield.”
Jane made a quiet whimper. “He is here to show Netherfield and then leave forever? I could not stand to meet him as an indifferent acquaintance.”
“He was here to show Netherfield to the new family, and he intended to quit the neighbourhood immediately thereafter.” Jane exhaled and nodded resolutely. “There is more. Mr Bingley saw Darcy in Bath and said that he would meet Mr Wickham in an affair of honour.”
Jane shook her head, not understanding.
“Mr Bingley intimated Darcy had challenged Mr Wickham to a duel. And I have not heard from him in days, Jane.” She did not wish to think Fitzwilliam capable of such a thing but at the same time could not doubt that Wickham was a despicable man who would not act honourably.
“I cannot believe it, Lizzy! Darcy would never entertain such an idea.”
“At first I believed as you did, but Mr Wickham has seduced and cruelly deserted our poor sister. You must not forget his treatment of Georgiana, and he slandered Darcy’s reputation shamelessly. Perhaps if Mr Wickham adamantly defended his conduct, a challenge such as this was the only way Darcy could respond to Mr Wickham with his reputation and honour intact.”
“A duel is not necessary,” Jane said with a sigh.
Elizabeth replied, “I would censure it also, but Darcy would not have challenged Mr Wickham unless he felt he had no other recourse. They were to meet on Saturday, and I have not had a letter from him.” Her resolve to remain unaffected crumbled.
“My dear Lizzy.” Jane gathered Elizabeth in her arms. “Have you been thinking on this since Saturday? In the unlikely event such a meeting took place, both gentlemen would return unwounded. I can hardly credit Mr Wickham or Darcy wishing to injure one another.”
“Do you truly think so?” Elizabeth wished that to be true more than she believed it likely.
“Certainly! Darcy has had much on his mind. I would expect a letter from him any day now. I daresay Darcy himself will follow soon after his letter arrives.”
“Now you must think me silly.” Elizabeth wiped away a few tears. “You see how I ought to have told it all to you from the first. You have assured me there is no reason to worry for him, and instead I will think of how I must vex the man for causing me such a fright.” She tried to laugh.
