Page 73 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

“There. See how quick you return to it?”

Darcy drew a breath, then stopped. He had accepted fault and defended it in the same exchange.

Elizabeth softened at his struggle. “You do not have to agree with me.”

“I know.”

“Or approve of Longbourn.”

“I know that as well.”

“What is bothering you?”

“Another man used my words to diminish you, and I made it easy for him.”

The noise of the street seemed to recede, though the carts still passed and voices continued around them.

Elizabeth studied him for several seconds. “That is better than the first attempt.”

“It needed correction.”

“So did Mr. Wickham’s.”

“He will not correct it.”

“No,” she said. “I doubt he will.”

Bingley returned his attention to them. “Then we must.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “A public denial will only give the story another week of life.”

“What do you propose?”

“Nothing. Let Meryton tire of it.”

Darcy disliked the answer because it required her to bear what he could not repair.

Elizabeth saw his objection. “You cannot command every opinion into obedience, Mr. Darcy.”

“No.”

“Then this may prove useful practice.”

She curtsied and returned to her aunt’s house.

Bingley waited until the door closed. “She defended you.”

“She defended the truth.”

“That distinction comforts you?”

“No.”

Darcy turned back toward the street. Wickham had made the truth uglier, but Darcy created its sharpest edge.

Chapter 19

DARCY FOUND BINGLEY in the breakfast room with a letter open beside his plate and no attention left for either the letter or the food.