Georgiana turned away first, but then she took a deep breath and faced the man. “He told me. You must leave.”
The simple statement, though scarcely above a whisper, was enough. Elizabeth’s tone altered. “You have heard, sir.”
Wickham’s expression hardened. “You are very ready to take offence, Miss Elizabeth.”
“I am very ready,” she returned, “to protect my friends.”
A brief silence followed.
“I find I was mistaken in thinking you more guarded; the other day proved me wrong.”
Elizabeth did not answer. But it took all of her power to seem unaffected.
“I am quite offended that you threw away my friendship for Darcy’s. I did not take you for a fortune hunter.”
Georgiana gasped at that.
He smirked at Georgiana’s reaction, then his gaze lingered – travelling over Elizabeth with a deliberation that made its meaning unmistakable.
He stepped forward.
“Mr. Wickham!” Elizabeth stepped back, taking Georgiana with her.
A sound came from the house. Footsteps – quick, unhesitating.
Wickham heard it too. He cursed but then straightened.
Darcy appeared at the entrance to the path. Lydia was about to join the ladies in the back of the house, but when she saw Wickham there, she backed away just as Darcy was arriving. She alerted him.
He did not look at Wickham first. His attention went at once to his sister and then to Elizabeth. He saw enough. “Georgiana, Miss Elisabeth,” he said quietly. “Please, go inside. Hot tea is waiting.”
Georgiana, relieved, obeyed at once. Elizabeth turned as if to follow but stopped. After the briefest hesitation, she resumed her place a little behind Darcy, though not at a distance.
He became aware of it. For a moment, he lost the thread of what he meant to say. Then, with the slightest inclination of his head, he turned again to Wickham. “You will leave this place.”
Wickham smiled faintly. “You are very prompt, Darcy.”
“I am very decided.”
“So like you. You have come to ruin my fun.” He stepped closer. “You have been busy,” Wickham continued. “One cannot obtain so much as a pint of beer on credit now in town. As if someonehad warned them. Admit it, it was you. You just cannot leave me alone.”
Darcy did not answer immediately. “You mistake the consequence for the cause,” he said at last.
Wickham’s expression altered. “You interfere where you have no right.”
“I interfere,” Darcy replied, “where I see cause.” A pause. “You are trespassing. I suggest you leave. Now. And if you so much as address Miss Darcy or Miss Elizabeth, or any of the Bennet ladies in the future, you will not do so with impunity. You have tried my patience.”
“You cannot dictate whom I speak to.”
“Oh, but I can. The debts you left unsettled in Lambton remain within my power to pursue. I have not done so.”
The words were spoken quietly. But they did not lack force. Wickham paled.
“Do not oblige me,” Darcy continued, “to reconsider that decision.”
A longer silence followed.
Wickham looked from one to the other, then gave a slight bow. “You are determined, as ever, to make use of your advantages.”
