“I do not counsel you to take responsibility for him, Mr. Darcy,” replied she, “but surely some warning would not go amiss. If left unfettered, Mr. Wickham might affect the merchants’ ability to support their families or ruin some unsuspecting girl. There are even gentlewomen in this neighborhood who may be taken in by his manners.”
As it happened, Darcy could think of several ladies who were Wickham’s natural prey, Misses Kitty and Lydia Bennet foremost among their number. The prospect was not palatable, but Darcy also did not wish to involve himself in Wickham’s life again. To avoid the subject, he elected not to respond.
“One thing I noticed today that was rather curious, Darcy,” said Bingley.
“And that is?” prompted Darcy.
“Why, that you stood and spoke with Miss Elizabeth charmingly and nary a hint of argument.” Bingley grinned. “As Irecall, just about every exchange between you devolves to some measure of misunderstanding or quarreling.”
Darcy frowned. “Of what do you speak? I can recall no quarrels between us.”
“Oh?” asked Bingley, his tone that of lazy disbelief. “What of your discussion of accomplishments? Then there were your other exchanges when she stayed here. What of your obvious argument during your dance at the ball—I cannot say what it was, but your manner was adversarial.”
“Were those not debates?” asked Darcy, ignoring Bingley’s last point. “The very soul of discussion is to state your opinions and defend your position. Miss Elizabeth is not deficient at this.”
“Not at all,” agreed Mrs. Hurst. “She is as quick as any woman I have ever met.”
“Which is part of the reason that Caroline dislikes her so,” said Hurst. “That and Darcy’s obvious interest in her.”
Darcy was uncomfortable with the way this discussion was proceeding, but he did not know how to say what he felt. It was fortunate for him that another proved perceptive and spoke in his stead.
“You need not speak, Mr. Darcy,” said Mrs. Hurst. “Though she will not confess it, no one here has any illusions about your interest in my sister.”
Bingley snorted. “That much cannot be contradicted. Caroline will remain confident that you will offer for her until the ink is dry on the marriage register.”
“I apologize to you all,” said Darcy, feeling a little shamefaced. “Miss Bingley may consider herself the obvious candidate to become mistress of Pemberley, but I shall not offer for her.”
“Yes, we understand that,” said Hurst.
“If I had made it clear, perhaps she would move on rather than wasting her time.”
“It would not have made a difference, Darcy,” said Hurst. “She is too committed to her delusion.”
“I must concur,” said Mrs. Hurst.
Darcy studied her. “I must own to some confusion, Mrs. Hurst. Miss Bingley has made her opposition to your brother’s suit clear and will not be happy if she learns you returned first.”
Mrs. Hurst smiled. “I have been guilty of indulging my sister, Mr. Darcy, but I do not concern myself for her displeasure. Caroline must learn that she does not control all our decisions—I have allowed her to continue unchecked for too long.”
“That is my role,” said Bingley, shaking his head.
“Perhaps,” said Mrs. Hurst. “But I have some culpability in Caroline’s behavior.”
She shrugged. “Besides, all I have done is allow my brother to choose for himself. I have not pushed him at Miss Bennet.”
“Do you suppose she will appreciate the distinction?” asked Hurst.
“Mayhap she will not. But she must accept it nonetheless.”
That was the end of weighty discussions. Mrs. Hurst went to the pianoforte to play for a time, while Bingley poked at the fireplace, paced the room, appearing as if he had nothing to do. Darcy recalled Bingley saying there was no more awful object than Darcy on a Sunday afternoon with nothing to do, but he expected he had found something worse—a lovesick Bingley after a visit with the object of his affections.
Darcy did not make this observation, for his mind was engaged in another direction. The conversation with Miss Elizabeth today had been the easiest one he could remember, even better than their debates, and Darcy had enjoyed those. Mrs. Hurst’s assertion that Wickham was a danger to the neighborhood was not something Darcy had misunderstood, nor did he think the danger was insignificant. Had Darcy thought that Miss Elizabeth would fall to his lying tongue he mightfeel some concern. The danger to the youngest Miss Bennets, however, gave him pause, for the ruination of one of them would also bring about Miss Elizabeth’s ruination.
Darcy was not certain what he would do, but the thought of dealing with Wickham forever had occurred to him. Perhaps Mrs. Hurst was correct, but Darcy was not ready to move now; better to wait and choose his course when he had considered every angle.
LOUISA HURST WAS CERTAINMr. Darcy was now considering Mr. Wickham in the context of potential danger to Miss Elizabeth. The question was whether he would choose to act.
Though she had no notion that Miss Elizabeth would allow Mr. Wickham to corrupt her, Louisa did not know enough about him to predict his behavior, and that worried her. Since her return to Hertfordshire, Louisa had grown to esteem the eldest Bennet sisters, and she had no desire to see them ruined by the actions of a libertine. There were several ways the man could affect them that did not involve direct action against either of them.
