“There should be little consequence,” said Darcy. “One cannot know everything about acquaintances.”
“Mr. Darcy,” said Miss Lydia, her tone far more diffident than he had ever heard. “Is it true? Is Mr. Wickham a debtor?”
“He is,” said Darcy, “and he owes far more than just the credit he received here. I saw this same pattern at Cambridge and Lambton, the town near my home.”
Miss Lydia appeared unable to respond, but Miss Elizabeth was not in similar straits.
“Mr. Wickham duped us all, Lydia,” said she, not unkindly. “We should all take care—we welcomed him to Meryton though we knew nothing about him.”
“Now you sound like Mary,” protested Miss Lydia, though it was halfhearted at best.
“Be that as it may,” replied Miss Elizabeth, “I believe it is time to return to Longbourn.”
“Shall we not escort you?” asked Bingley. He grinned and added: “I should like to visit if that is agreeable.”
Miss Elizabeth gave him a warm smile. “Of course, Mr. Bingley. I am certain my family would be happy to see you.”
“That is my cue to depart,” said Hurst, fixing his brother with a knowing look. “I shall take the carriage back to Netherfield and send it on to Longbourn to retrieve you.”
Hurst turned to Darcy, his expression positively sly. “Unless, of course, you have no wish to visit Longbourn, Darcy.”
“I have no objection,” replied Darcy, not taking the bait.
Thus decided, Hurst excused himself to return to the carriage, while Bingley and Darcy, together with the Bennet sisters, turned their steps to the road leading north and west.Miss Lydia glanced at Darcy before she hurried forward to walk with Bingley, Miss Kitty on his other side. Darcy did not think he intimidated her, but for the moment, she appeared eager to avoid him.
“Mr. Darcy,” said Miss Elizabeth when they had left the town, “I am curious about one thing.”
“And that is?” asked Darcy.
Miss Elizabeth watched him for a moment before responding. “You mentioned designs that resulted in ruined lives when you confronted him. Do you suggest he set his sights on me?”
It was a question that surprised Darcy, though he supposed it should not have. Miss Elizabeth was as quick as any woman he had ever met and not bereft of the ability to read between the lines. Darcy was uncertain he should answer, so instead he attempted an oblique answer.
“Where Wickham is concerned, I am always suspicious, Miss Elizabeth. I have no notion of his particular designs, but I know him well enough to perceive when he finds a woman agreeable.”
She considered this for a moment before responding. “To own the truth, I do not suppose he looked on me or my sisters with seduction in mind—we have seen him but little since Christmas when he focused on a young lady who had inherited a substantial dowry.”
“That may be true, Miss Elizabeth,” replied Darcy, his thoughts still on Wickham. “Do not suppose that Wickham is above dalliance, even while he is attempting to pay court to another woman. Even if he was innocent in that matter, his guilt is incontrovertible in other ways.”
“Were his debts that substantial?”
Darcy shook his head in disgust. “The colonel still has men investigating his activities, but they are even more substantial than the debts he left behind in Cambridge.”
“And it has only been two months,” said Miss Elizabeth. She smiled and nodded. “It appears your proof is efficacious, Mr. Darcy. My youngest sisters will struggle with it for a time, but I hope that I can see past a handsome face.”
“Without a doubt, Miss Elizabeth,” said Darcy, offering his arm, pleased when she accepted. “Wickham could not have hidden his true nature from you for long. But I am pleased I have had some small part in your early discovery of his ways.”
Miss Elizabeth nodded and changed the subject. They spent an agreeable time speaking of other, more interesting subjects until they arrived at Longbourn.
“WELL, MY DEAR,” SAIDGerald when he sat with Louisa after his return, “it appears you have been successful. If Caroline knew how devious you can be, she would quake in her boots with fear!”
“Nonsense, Gerald,” said Louisa, though she was no less than satisfied. “I have every expectation that Caroline would not even give any credence to the mere suggestion.”
“Yes, you are probably correct.” Gerald turned serious. “I have said it before, my dear, but I hope you know what you are doing. Bingley and I can handle Caroline if we must, but her voice is piercing and she may pull Netherfield down around us in her rage.”
“I am convinced it will be good for her,” said Louisa, unconcerned. “Her determination to capture Darcy has blinded her to anything other than her ambition.”
Gerald considered this. “Then you mean to reclaim her.”
