Wickham smiled, with the ease he so often used to captivate those of the fairer sex. Miss Elizabeth was the hinge upon which it all turned. If he played his cards right, he might even manage to benefit from the acquaintance.
WHEN MR. WICKHAM ENTEREDthe room and turned his attention on Elizabeth, she was pleased to see him, but not for the reason Wickham supposed. Since meeting Miss Darcy and her epiphany about the girl’s character, she had wanted to learn why Mr. Wickham had branded her as proud and above her company. This was the perfect opportunity to provoke him to speak and hopefully learn the piece of the puzzle she was missing.
“It pleases me to visit you, Miss Elizabeth. I hope you have been well.”
“Very well, sir,” replied Elizabeth.
She considered what she might say to turn Mr. Wickham’s attention to Miss Darcy, then decided against leading him. Given Mr. Wickham’s eagerness to speak of Mr. Darcy, she thought he would raise the subject himself.
“We were most distressed to learn of your absence from the ball at Netherfield.”
“And I was sorry to have missed it,” replied Wickham. “It was the cruelest chance that drew me to London when I would rather have danced with you.”
“That is unfortunate,” murmured Elizabeth, not certain what to make of his response. “If you will excuse me, Mr. Denny said something that suggested it was not pure chance that prevented your attendance.”
Mr. Wickham paused for a moment as if considering, then gave her a smile that appeared a little shamefaced. “I apologize, Miss Elizabeth, for I should not have attempted to mislead. You are correct—I did not miss the ball by chance. As you understand something of the situation between Darcy and me, you must also apprehend that we should keep a careful distance between us.”
“Then you did not attend because you wished to stay away from Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth, trying to understand.
A flash crossed his face, a measure of displeasure or anger she was not certain she even saw, given how quickly it disappeared. “No, Miss Elizabeth, I have no reason to fear Darcy—my behavior has been above reproach. If Darcy wishes to avoid me, then he can go. I mentioned this at your aunt’s party, if you recall.”
“Yet you did not attend the ball.”
It was a perfectly reasonable assertion, though it appeared to perturb Mr. Wickham.
“The reason I did not attend was that I thought it better to refrain, not from any fear of Darcy. Relations are so poorbetween us that unpleasant scenes might arise if we were in the same room.”
The assertion was plausible, but the image of Mr. Darcy riding away when confronted with the sight of Mr. Wickham on Meryton’s streets flashed through Elizabeth’s mind. If Mr. Wickham was so concerned about clashing with Mr. Darcy, why did Mr. Darcy choose avoidance over confrontation? For that matter, Mr. Darcy had not taken the opportunity to speak of Mr. Wickham even when Elizabeth had given it to him. Instead, he had delivered that cryptic comment about Mr. Wickham’s inability to keep his friends, refusing to say anything further.
They continued to speak for several moments thereafter about unrelated subjects, but Elizabeth’s attention was divided. Mr. Wickham did not seem to notice, for he was as engaging as ever, making jests several times, speaking with his usual verve. In time, however, Elizabeth began to see a pattern. Many of Mr. Wickham’s stories included Mr. Darcy in some way, or he referenced the man in passing. According to Mr. Wickham, he was the controlled, careful man, while he often portrayed Mr. Darcy as hapless or completely senseless.
Finally, when Mr. Wickham made some slight remark about Mr. Darcy’s family, Elizabeth seized on the chance to bring up what she wished to discuss.
“Oh yes, of course,” said Elizabeth as if she had just remembered something. “Since you are acquainted with Mr. Darcy, you must also be acquainted with all his family.”
“Yes, if you recall, I have spoken something of them,” was Mr. Wickham’s smooth reply. “I never had much contact with Lady Anne Darcy, for she did not approve of her husband sponsoring me—Lady Annewasthe daughter of an earl, after all.”
“That is what I understand,” said Elizabeth.
Mr. Wickham nodded, as if pleased she remembered. “Mr. Darcy the elder was an excellent man and more particularly fond of me. Of the current Darcy family, the only other member is Miss Georgiana Darcy, the current master’s younger sister.”
“Then you do not know that Miss Darcy is currently in residence at Netherfield Park.”
“Yes, Ihaveheard that,” agreed the officer.
Elizabeth waited for a moment, and when he did not speak, she filled the silence. “I have only met her once, but she seemed a sweet girl.”
Mr. Wickham fell silent, as if pensive. “Miss Darcy was pleasing as a child and quite shy, but she gained confidence when she became a young lady. She is nothing like that now, for she has developed a measure of haughtiness that is not exactly pleasing.”
Now Elizabeth looked on the man with asperity. “You have my apologies, Mr. Wickham, but I can see nothing of such tendencies in Miss Darcy. In fact, her shyness persists to this day.”
Face falling, Mr. Wickham appeared morose. Then he sighed and attempted a smile.
“That is unfortunate, Miss Elizabeth. I apologize, but I had no intention to mislead. If Georgiana is not haughty, then the other explanation is likely.”
Confused, Elizabeth exclaimed: “Whatever do you mean?”
Though silent for several moments, Mr. Wickham appeared to make a decision. “I apologize, Miss Elizabeth, but I would not speak without due consideration.”
