“Perhaps it is,” replied Mr. Darcy.
“After dinner, I thought we were on the way to becoming firm friends,” Elizabeth insisted.
“I am certain Georgiana appreciates your efforts; she does not make friends easily.”
“Yes, I believe I understand that facet of her character.”
Mr. Darcy nodded, but he fell silent, a hint of severity coming over his features. While he studied her, Elizabeth puton her bravest face, determined to show him that he was not intimidating her with his scrutiny. A moment later, he spoke.
“When we arrived, I noticed you speaking with Wickham.”
“I was,” said Elizabeth, no apology in her tone. “Mr. Wickham approached me when he entered the room. As this is my mother’s sitting-room, it would be churlish to refuse to speak with a visitor.”
Mr. Darcy gave no indication of his feelings on the subject. “And did you find the conversation pleasing?”
“Less pleasing the longer it continued.”
The way Mr. Darcy nodded, Elizabeth was certain she had verified something—perhaps his observations. Then his manner turned direct.
“If you will excuse me, Miss Elizabeth, I am curious. When I first saw you with Wickham, I was concerned that you disregarded my warning about him.”
“Warning?” demanded Elizabeth, incredulous. “What warning do you call it, Mr. Darcy? To the best of my recollection, you insinuated that Mr. Wickham lacked the ability to retain friends.”
“Is that not enough?”
Elizabeth regarded him, wondering if he was truly this deficient or just blind. “If you have something specific to say about Mr. Wickham, then I invite you to say it. Such a nebulous comment is wholly insufficient to put me on my guard.”
“Should you not be wary of a new acquaintance?”
“I am always wary,” Elizabeth shot back. “To this point, Mr. Wickham’s behavior has not revealed him to be false—I know no harm of him.”
“It is always thus with Wickham,” replied Mr. Darcy. “He feigns gentlemanly comportment until he builds trust, then he reverts to form.”
“And what form is that, Mr. Darcy?”
“I have no wish to enumerate the specifics of Wickham’s faults, Miss Elizabeth. Suffice to say that Wickham does what he wishes and cares little for the consequences he evades.”
By now, Elizabeth was becoming frustrated. “I cannot understand the reason for your silence, Mr. Darcy. If Mr. Wickham is a man we should not trust, should you not tell me openly and without disguise?”
“Would you believe me if I did?”
It was a challenge, nothing less, and one that forced Elizabeth to face her own biases. If Mr. Darcy had said something about Mr. Wickham only a few days before, as he had during the ball at Netherfield, Elizabeth would have pushed it aside as untruth, revenge against a childhood companion now thrown aside. Elizabeth was wiser now, she hoped, and had learned to question Mr. Wickham.
“Even if I were inclined to caution, do you not suppose you should relate what you know? If those you warn do not choose to heed your counsel, that is their choice, is it not?”
“Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy with exaggerated patience, “Wickham is not a welcome subject to anyone in my family. During our dance at Netherfield, I offered what I could, based on my experiences with him.”
“What am I to think?” replied Elizabeth, frustrated. “Mr. Wickham told me that you have thrown off a childhood friend against your father’s wishes. Though it is now clear to me that Mr. Wickham’s behavior is not without error, your father wished to ensure his support, and you acted to withhold that support. If you can offer another interpretation, please illuminate my understanding.”
Mr. Darcy’s mien became positively forbidding. “It would be prudent to refrain from speaking of a situation you knownothingabout, Miss Elizabeth. If my warning about Wickham’s friendships was not enough, let me say it clearly and withoutdisguise. He is a bounder. If you give him even a hint of an opportunity, you will one day regret it.”
“And yet, you have not told me why he is so bad.”
“That is information I shall not share.” Mr. Darcy’s eyes raked over her with contempt. “As you said, you are free to reject my counsel if you choose. Do not act shocked when he reveals his true self.”
“At this point,” said Elizabeth, her anger loosening her tongue, “nothing could surprise me, not stories of libertines, false friends, or men who interfere with their friends’ affairs for nothing more than pride and caprice.”
“Just as I am not surprised by those who attempt to push their family’s interests ahead of any other concern.”
