Page 94 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

She crossed the field with Sarah beside her and looked back when she reached the gate. Bennet had joined Darcy near the hedge while Thomas continued along the fence line, giving them what privacy he could. Darcy spoke first, and Bennet listened without interrupting, though Elizabeth could not read his expression from that distance.

Elizabeth entered the house through the kitchen, avoiding her mother. She removed her bonnet and went upstairs, but Kitty’s door was closed. No sound came from within.

In the schoolroom, Mary sat at the table copying a passage from a sermon. She glanced up as Elizabeth entered.

“You returned without Mr. Darcy.”

“He found Papa.”

Mary waited. Elizabeth moved to the window, where she could see the west field through the trees.

“He came to warn us about Mr. Wickham,” she said.

Mary laid down her pen. “For what reasons?”

“Reasons he considers sufficient and everyone else must accept without examination.”

“That sounds like Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth turned. Mary’s agreement was too quick to satisfy her.

“He says Wickham has debts in Meryton and used his name to get credit. He will not identify the tradesmen or give details because doing so might expose them.”

“Then his warning is difficult to judge.”

“Impossible.”

Mary considered this. “Not impossible, inadequate.”

“That is generous.”

“And precise.”

Elizabeth left the window. “He expects Papa to restrict Kitty because Mr. Wickham is dangerous, but he provides no proof that we can question and no source we can examine. What would you call that?”

“An unreasonable expectation.”

“Agreed.”

“But unreasonable expectations do not prove malice.”

Elizabeth looked at her. “I did not accuse him of malice.”

“You accused him of using rank in place of explanation.”

“He does.”

“That may be pride, not spite. His warning can be inadequate without being dishonest.”

Elizabeth felt the argument narrowing into one of Mary’s distinctions, correct enough to irritate her. “Mr. Darcy knows his accusation carries more weight than another man’s. People listen when he speaks, but when he refuses to offer any facts, Mr. Wickham faces the accusation while everyone else has to decide whether to believe it.”

Mary folded her hands over the open book. “Yes.”

The ready answer stopped Elizabeth.

Mary continued, “Mr. Darcy cannot expect belief without explanation. He should either provide enough evidence to support his warning or accept that people may doubt it.”

“That is what I told him.”