Darcy’s expression did not alter, though something in it grew harder.
“When we returned to the others,” Elizabeth went on, “Lydia persisted once more. I answered for her. Mr. Wickham looked at me then in a manner I had not seen before.”
Mrs. Bennet, who had been listening with some curiosity, frowned.
“A manner? What manner?”
Elizabeth kept her eyes on Darcy. “Not a pleasant one.”
She paused a moment.
“He said I was very careful of my sister’s conduct.”
“And I replied,” she added, “that I was careful of my family.”
Darcy did not move.
“Then,” Elizabeth said, more quietly, “he lost command of himself for a moment. Not entirely – not enough that anyone in the street would have called it a scene – but enough.”
Jane folded her hands in her lap.
“He spoke in a lower voice,” she said. “Quite differently.”
Elizabeth nodded. “He told me to take care. He said I would do well not to involve myself further.”
There was a brief silence.
Mrs. Bennet gave a little start. “Well! That was an odd thing to say.”
“It was more than odd,” Jane said softly.
Elizabeth’s voice was steady, but quieter now.
“It was not merely displeasure. I had thought him vain, perhaps false, certainly resentful – but for the first time I thought him… dangerous.”
Darcy’s hand tightened slightly upon the edge of the table.
“Mr. Denny saw it too,” Elizabeth continued. “He stepped in at once and broke off the moment before it could go further.”
Jane looked at Darcy with calm seriousness.
“That is why I thought you ought to know,” Jane said.
For a moment, Darcy did not answer.
When he did, his voice was perfectly controlled – which, in him, was often the clearest sign of anger.
“You were right to tell me.”
“Mr. Darcy. Is this man dangerous? I do not know why Mr. Bennet thought it best not to let Lydia dance with him. Good gracious! I let him eat at my table. What is to be done?” Mrs. Bennet asked anxiously.
“Miss Bennet…” Darcy began.
“Mrs. Bennet,” Elizabeth corrected gently.
Darcy inclined his head. “Mrs. Bennet,” he said with composure, “I would not wish to alarm you unnecessarily.”
“Well, I am alarmed already!” she declared. “An officer speaking in that manner to my daughter in the street! I cannot imagine what possessed Mr. Bennet to tolerate him in the first place.”
