The question was what she was to do about it. Mr. Wickham, by Miss Elizabeth’s testimony and Louisa’s observation, was not much in society of late, engaged as he was in pursuing the other woman whose dowry had caught his eye. Though he might not be a danger to the Bennets now, Louisa knew that could change in an instant; such a man might take an opportunity if it presented itself. She could not predict the future, after all.
Inducing Mr. Darcy to act was the trick, and Louisa thought she knew the best way to go about doing that. It would require some subtlety, but she thought she could do it. Mr. Darcy did not know that Mr. Wickham was not in society much, but ifshe handled it properly, he would never know. The benefits of removing such a societal leech as Mr. Wickham could not be underestimated. All she needed was the right time to act.
THOUGH IT SHOULD HAVEbeen a surprise, Mr. Darcy approaching her when next they met was not. In the moment, Elizabeth could not understand why Mr. Darcy always seemed to find her more agreeable than anyone else, but she did not question his preference for her company. Therewasa precedent—after all, he had danced with her alone among the local ladies at Mr. Bingley’s ball.
Their conversation on that occasion was not memorable. Interspersed with comments about the neighborhood, little doings at Longbourn or Netherfield, Mr. Darcy made a few observations about Mr. Bingley, while Elizabeth spoke a little about Jane. What he thought of the situation was not apparent, but he was at least resigned to it. After Jane had told her about Mr. Darcy’s opposition on the grounds of Jane’s supposed disinterest, resignation was perhaps the best Elizabeth could hope for.
As they spoke, Elizabeth watched Mr. Darcy and remembered Mr. Wickham, how the mere mention of the man was enough to annoy him. Then she thought of Mr. Wickham’s assertions, Jane’s contention that they could not judge the matter until Mr. Darcy shared his side of the tale. It was natural, therefore, that Elizabeth would wish to provoke Mr. Darcy to speak on the subject.
“The officers seem to be much in evidence,” observed Mr. Darcy, glancing about.
There was not precisely a sea of red coats in the room, but several of those gentlemen were about that evening as they wereat nearly every function in the neighborhood since the previous October.
“Yes,” replied Elizabeth. “One cannot go anywhere in the vicinity and not meet with at least several officers.”
Mr. Darcy nodded, sipping from the cup he held in his hand. A burst of laughter from another corner of the room drew their attention—Kitty, Lydia, Maria Lucas, and a few other young ladies were holding court with several officers and were, as was their wont, laughing with a little too much abandon.
“I beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth,” said the gentleman, turning to her, “but I do not see Miss Lucas here. Is something amiss?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Nothing is amiss, Mr. Darcy. Charlotte is no longer Miss Lucas—she is now Mrs. Collins and lives with her husband in Kent.”
This seemed to take the gentleman by surprise, though he recovered at once. “I beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth,” said he, his cadence slow as if considering, “but now that I think on it, Mr. Collins’s attention at my friend’s ball was not on your friend.”
The thought of Charlotte and her new position as the wife to her father’s silly cousin still brought a hint of melancholy to Elizabeth’s breast, but she shook away the sensation. Charlotte had chosen that life for reasons that were important to her—Elizabeth’s agreement was not required, and she would not lament her friend’s current situation as wife to such a man as Mr. Collins, little though Elizabeth could have imagined herself in Charlotte’s place.
“You are not incorrect, Mr. Darcy. When Mr. Collins learned I had no interest in the position he was offering, he turned his attention to her.”
Mr. Darcy regarded her, sensing that she was not telling him all. Elizabeth was not, of course, though she had no objection torelating the story to him should he wish. It seemed the answer was not so important that Mr. Darcy thought it necessary to pursue the subject. Instead, his thoughts proceeded in another direction more aligned to Elizabeth’s current interest.
“I also do not see Wickham among the company.”
“The officers do not all attend every function, Mr. Darcy. I do not know how the colonel ensures all his officers attend a fair number of events, but only a few attend all but the most important events.”
“Such as Bingley’s ball,” said Mr. Darcy with an absence of thought.
“Yes, exactly,” replied Elizabeth. Then, choosing her words with care, Elizabeth ventured: “You prefer not to attend the same events as Mr. Wickham.”
Mr. Darcy turned to regard her. “I do not associate with Wickham, Miss Elizabeth, but I do not need to avoid him.”
The old anger rose like a ghost in her breast, but she suppressed it with far more ease than the last time the subject of Mr. Wickham arose between them. Instead, Elizabeth considered how best to proceed.
“Once, you informed me that Mr. Wickham has difficulty keeping the friends that he makes,” said Elizabeth, deciding on more directness and less accusation. “But you said nothing of the reason for this deficiency.”
The way the gentleman studied her, Elizabeth wondered if he meant to be severe with her. Then he turned away, gazing at nothing in moody silence.
“I suppose it is not surprising that you remain curious about my history with Wickham, for I was not explicit.”
“No, you were not,” agreed Elizabeth. “Someone I trust reminded me that I have heard only Mr. Wickham’s side of your dispute.”
Mr. Darcy sighed and gave his head a rueful shake. “Yes, I should have expected it. Wickham has no qualms at all about sharing his tale of woe wherever he goes. Can I assume he spoke of the family living in Kympton?”
“The existence of it, yes,” replied Elizabeth. “He did not mention the name, but he told me of your father’s wishes and claimed you refused to honor them.”
“Always, just enough truth to paint me the blackest of villains,” murmured Mr. Darcy.
“Then there was no such bequest?” Elizabeth colored. “I offer my apologies, Mr. Darcy—I should not demand an explanation.”
“It is quite all right,” replied the gentleman. “Can I suppose you believed him?”
