“Not so much a change of heart as an expanded understanding.”
“Oh? And this came during your visit to Kent? As I recall, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is Mr. Darcy’s nephew—did she speak of the man sufficient to alter your perception of him?”
“What I learned about Mr. Wickham did not come from Lady Catherine.”
Mr. Bennet watched her. “If you mean to keep your secrets, I shall not press you, Lizzy, but I should like to hear them if you will share.”
Elizabeth weighed the benefits of telling her father what she knew. Mr. Bennet was better positioned to deal with Mr. Wickham than she was herself, but she also understood her father’s character and did not suppose he would act unless he considered it necessary. There was no reason to stay silent, so Elizabeth resolved to tell him. If nothing else, should Mr. Wickham retaliate, her father would have the knowledge to step in.
As there was no reason to speak of Georgiana Darcy, Elizabeth refrained from relating that business to her father, though she suggested that Mr. Wickham’s actions toward Mary King had not been his first attempt at gaining a fortune. Everything else she laid bare, from Mr. Wickham’s debts to his careless and even predatory behavior toward ladies. Mr. Bennet listened, his curiosity turning to concern the longer Elizabeth spoke. The sight gave her some comfort—she would never suspect her father of misunderstanding the danger; she only questioned his determination to do something about it.
“That is concerning, Lizzy,” replied Mr. Bennet, watching her closely. “The first point I wish to confirm is the veracity of this account. I suppose you must believe it, though that is a sharpdeparture from your former opinion. What makes you think that Mr. Darcy is more believable now when you considered him the worst of men only a few short months ago?”
It was, Elizabeth thought, not an unreasonable question. Had she been more temperate in her comments about Mr. Darcy, her father might have taken her account and her obvious belief without comment, trusting her judgment as he did. Now, however, there was no choice but to explain her reasons.
“The reason I believe Mr. Darcy,” said she, “is because there are holes in Mr. Wickham’s story that I never had the wit to see, and Mr. Darcy’s account fills those details.”
“Your wit is not in question, Elizabeth,” replied her father. “A skilled liar can portray himself in such a light that even the most discerning of us cannot detect falsehood. You mentioned details—what do you mean?”
“The business with the living,” replied Elizabeth. “Mr. Wickham said Mr. Darcy refused to honor his father’s wishes, but to the best of my knowledge, he has never attended a seminary to take orders. Then there is the business of Mr. Wickham claiming to revere Mr. Darcy’s father so much that he would never defame him while doing just that in relating the matter to me.”
“Yes, that makes sense,” agreed her father, considering her account.
“Furthermore,” said Elizabeth, “Mr. Wickham claimed that Georgiana Darcy is a proud and disagreeable creature. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy both told me that she is only shy. I have never made her acquaintance, but such a judgment against his patron’s daughter suggests a desire to criticize rather than an honest assessment.”
“You may be correct, though I would not use that as proof of Mr. Wickham’s worthlessness until you make her acquaintance.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I know, Papa. Yet I cannot but suppose that I made an error in judgment when I spoke warmly of Mr. Wickham and decried Mr. Darcy. The gentleman is not so terrible as I thought, and Mr. Wickham has shown himself to be a bounder. His behavior when I spoke to him showed obvious guilt—I have no doubt that Mr. Darcy told me the truth.”
“Very well, Lizzy,” replied Mr. Bennet. “Your judgment was never in question, just your perception.”
With a nod, Elizabeth fixed him with a frank look. “The question is, what should we do?”
Mr. Bennet’s responding expression was no less than knowing. “If I am not mistaken, Lizzy, I suspect you already have a plan to deal with Mr. Wickham.”
Disappointed though she was, his response was not unexpected. “Your assistance would be invaluable.”
“Hmm, perhaps it would be,” mused Mr. Bennet. “I wonder if that is wise. You and your sisters have nothing to offer such a man, your safety resting in the lack of the one thing he lusts after. Assailing Mr. Wickham’s reputation may provoke retaliation.”
“That does not mean he cannot cause damage,” chided Elizabeth, ignoring his comment about retribution. “What if he importunes Lydia? Kitty will not give him the time of day, but Lydia would offer no resistance.”
“Lizzy, your sister is not so senseless.” Mr. Bennet cocked his head to the side. “Why is Kitty in no danger?”
“Because she understood more than I expected when I spoke of Mr. Wickham. Kitty has agreed to watch Lydia and ensure nothing happens.”
Mr. Bennet chuckled, not bothering to hide his diversion. “Kitty might overestimate the influence she possesses. Lydia does not listen to me, let alone the sister she has led for years.”
“Kitty may surprise you, Papa,” replied Elizabeth.
“Be that as it may, I shall need to think about this before I decide what to do. In the meantime, I know you have something planned. Go ahead and show Mr. Wickham what awaits him. I have no doubt you will bring the consequences down on his head sufficient to render him sorry he ever lied to you.”
And with those words, Mr. Bennet arched his brow and retreated from the room, leaving Elizabeth annoyed that he had not agreed to act at once, and diverted at the same time. It appeared there was nothing to be done, so Elizabeth determined to proceed.
Chapter IV
Impatience clawed at Darcy’s heart as he waited for Bingley’s return.
It was not, he supposed, the desire to move against his nemesis that provoked his edginess, though he allowed that was a part of what he was feeling. More than that, it was the sense of paralysis, of waiting to move while the tension built, and beyond that, the concern that Wickham would slip away while he dithered.
