Page 69 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

She remained long enough to ask after her uncle, then left before another visitor could arrive and improve the tale again.

Outside the shop near the corner, she saw Wickham speaking with Denny. He noticed her before she could decide whether to cross the street.

“Miss Elizabeth.” He bowed. “You look as though Meryton has tried your patience.”

“Meryton has been repeating a story.”

His expression changed by no more than a breath. “Then I fear Meryton has found its chief occupation.”

“A story about Mr. Darcy and a broken gate.”

Denny glanced between them. “I promised Carter I would meet him.” He touched his hat and left.

Wickham watched him go. “I did not expect a private remark to travel so far.”

“You made the remark to Kitty.”

“She asked why Darcy concerned himself with your sheep.”

“And you answered with words he never used.”

Wickham’s face held regret without surrender. “I spoke of the man I know.”

“You spoke of an encounter you did not witness.”

“I know how he regards those beneath his station.”

Elizabeth felt the force of the claim because she had made it herself. Darcy had dismissed her at the assembly and judged her family. In the lane he saw neglect where she saw a task that required doing. Wickham had built his story from facts Elizabeth could not deny.

“He helped me,” she said.

“I do not doubt it. Mr. Darcy is generous when it suits him. That does not prevent him from thinking himself above those he assists.”

“That is convenient.”

“For him?”

“For you. Whatever he does confirms your opinion.”

Wickham’s smile faded. “You think I was unfair to him.”

“I think you told Kitty that he judged me from an incident you did not see.”

“I believed you had reached that conclusion yourself.”

She had reached a conclusion, though not the one he spread. Darcy judged Longbourn’s management and assumed she should not have had to do the work. Wickham changed concern into contempt and omission into proof.

“I should not have spoken of it,” he said. “For that, I ask your pardon.”

Elizabeth’s mouth tightened at the narrowness of the apology. “You should correct Kitty.”

“I will speak to her.”

“And to anyone else who heard it from you.”

His gaze rested on her face. “You ask me to defend Darcy.”

“No, I ask you to correct yourself.”