“Furthermore,” said the colonel, “I seriously doubt that Miss Bennet is not going to marry anyone at all, ever. I think she simply doesn’t wish to marryyou, and it is likely because Wickham has told her some dreadful stories about you, and you have simply allowed this to go on. Why, she could be, even now, already engaged to be married to that man.”
I swallowed. “That cannot be.”
Someone called my name.
I turned around, and there was James Bennet, coming down the street, leading his horse. He waved at me. “It is you. I had thought you were back in London, but here you are.”
“Here I am,” I said. I nodded at the colonel. “This is my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. Colonel Fitzwilliam, may I present Mr. James Bennet.”
“Oh, so this is Mr. Bennet,” said Richard.
“You’ve been talking about me?” said Mr. Bennet, looking a bit concerned.
“Not really about you,” I said. “It has been more about your sister, actually.” I did not wish him to worry that I was spilling his secrets, after all.
“Oh,” said Mr. Bennet, rather surprised by that. “I did not think you thought much of my sister.”
I cleared my throat.
“My cousin is not skilled at conversation or at knowing what to reveal and what not to reveal,” said Richard, glaring at me. “I hesitate to understand how it is he functions in society when I am not present.”
“I do not need you to function, Richard,” I muttered.
“At any rate,” said the colonel to Mr. Bennet, “it is good to make your acquaintance, sir, and I assure you everything I have heard about you has been quite positive.”
Mr. Bennet regarded both of us with a wary gaze. He opened his mouth to say something and then stopped, letting out a breath of annoyance. “Oh, it’s Wickham,” he muttered.
We all turned to see that Mr. Wickham was coming across the street.
All of us stiffened, and I was appalled, truly horrified, that he would have the gall to approach both myself and my cousin.
“Well, now, this is a surprise,” said Mr. Wickham. “It’s Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam on the streets of Meryton of all places. I cannot expect the purpose of your visit is anything todo with me, can I? Surely, you have some other business here. Surely, I am too insignificant to be of any notice to men like yourselves.”
Oh, so the wretch was worried about his own skin, then. He was frightened of the colonel, was he not? Me, no, I posed no risk to him, but the colonel gave him pause. A sour feeling rose in the pit of my stomach.
“Our business here is our own,” said the colonel in a very clipped voice. “I shall thank you to mind yours.”
“Well, I see,” said Mr. Wickham, “it is as difficult as ever for the colonel to have anything even resembling courtesy. Well, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Never fear, since you find my company so repugnant, I shall remove myself from your presence.” He tipped his hat to Mr. Bennet. “Mr. Bennet, always a pleasure. Pray excuse me.”
“Mr. Wickham,” said Mr. Bennet, furrowing his brow.
Mr. Wickham walked back across the street, shaking his head.
Mr. Bennet spoke, “He is not the least bit complimentary about you, Mr. Darcy, but I have heard almost all of it secondhand, through my sister. Wickham keeps his womanish gossip amongst the women, you see.”
I turned to him. “But you do not seem to have the same good opinion of him as your sister does?”
Mr. Bennet shrugged. “I don’t know. Perhaps I should not share with you anything at all. I have a feeling you know more of my private business than I should like you to know.”
“What private business?” said the colonel.
Mr. Bennet looked me over. “If you will excuse me.”
“Certainly, Mr. Bennet,” I said, shaking my head.
He paused. “Where are you staying? You are not at Netherfield, of course.”
I told him and he nodded. He knew the house, and had not realized it was owned by the Matlock family. He took his leave of us and went off.
