Wickham saw them at once and stepped forward with his usual easy grace. “Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Lydia, Miss Kitty,” he said, bowing. “What a fortunate meeting.”
Mr. Denny greeted them warmly, and the party soon fell into conversation.
Lydia was animated as ever. “You must walk with us,” she insisted. “We are only just come into town.”
“Lydia, we are to the milliner’s.” Elizabeth reminded her.
“You go ahead. We shall wait for you here.”
The officers readily complied, and for a few minutes the conversation proceeded in great cheerfulness. Lydia laughed freely, Kitty listened with admiration, and Wickham spoke with his customary charm.
Elizabeth reluctantly left the group, but when Jane followed, she asked her to stay with the group. When she returned, Mr. Wickham turned his attention to her.
“Have you recovered from the ball?” he said lightly. “Everybody is still talking about it.”
Elizabeth returned the remark with polite composure. “It was certainly a great event.”
He studied her expression. “I hope I can still count you among my friends, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Indeed?” Elizabeth replied calmly. “I would have thought friends tell the truth to each other.”
Wickham made as though to speak – to recover the ground he had lost – but Elizabeth stopped him.
“Mr. Wickham, I do not wish to hear any explanation from you. I listened once before, and you used that opportunity very ill. We are not friends, and after your behaviour at the ball, I cannot think any further acquaintance proper. Pray do not compel me to repeat what I have already said.”
Wickham’s expression altered almost imperceptibly. For a moment, it seemed he would persist, but something in Elizabeth’s manner convinced him otherwise. His smile returned, though it lacked its former ease.
“You are uncommonly decided this morning, Miss Elizabeth.”
“I prefer to be cautious,” she replied.
Lydia, who had been watching them with growing curiosity, now clapped her hands together.
“Well! Now that everything is settled, you must all walk with us,” she cried. “We are going back to Longbourn soon enough, and I declare it would be vastly entertaining to be escorted by half the regiment.”
Kitty laughed and nodded eagerly. “Yes, do come!”
Elizabeth did not answer at once. Instead, she gently drew Lydia a few steps aside. “Lydia,” she said quietly, “you must not ask it.”
“Why ever not?” Lydia replied, astonished.
“You remember Papa’s opinion.”
Lydia tossed her head impatiently. “Oh! Papa says a great many things.”
Elizabeth’s voice remained calm but firm. “He did not think it proper that you dance with Mr. Wickham the other evening. Ifhe thought that imprudent, how do you suppose he would like you to be escorted home by him today?”
Lydia frowned. “But there are others with him.”
“That does not alter the matter.”
Lydia glanced back toward the officers, where Wickham stood speaking with Jane and Mr. Denny.
“Well,” she said reluctantly, “it would have been very diverting.”
Elizabeth smiled slightly. “I do not doubt it.”
They returned to the others.
