Page 99 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

“But Mama’s lace,” Lydia protested.

“Jane will choose it.”

Jane paid for the ribbon and lace while Elizabeth guided Kitty toward the door. Mrs. Philips remained behind, torn between accompanying her nieces and hearing the conclusion of the quarrel. Curiosity won.

Outside, Kitty pulled her arm free.

“You embarrassed me.”

“No, you embarrassed yourself.”

“I defended someone who was not here to do it.”

“You spoke of his private affairs before a shop full of people.”

“They were already speaking of them.”

“That did not require you to prove he confided in you.”

Kitty’s anger faltered. She watched the street as if Wickham might appear and resolve the matter by smiling at it.

Lydia came out with Jane. “What did he tell you? You never said anything about money from Pemberley.”

“It is not from Pemberley.”

“You said it was.”

“I said Mr. Darcy kept what ought to have been his.”

Elizabeth studied her sister. “What did Mr. Wickham tell you?”

Kitty hesitated. “That there was a provision for him which Mr. Darcy prevented him from receiving.”

“That is what he told all of us.”

“He said Mr. Darcy began turning his father against him before the old gentleman died. Mr. Darcy knew his father intended the living for him and made certain he never received it.”

Jane frowned. “How could he have done that?”

“He did not explain.”

Elizabeth remembered Wickham’s first account. He had described the elder Mr. Darcy’s affection as unwavering. The injustice, as he told it then, occurred after his godfather’s death, when Darcy refused to honor an intention already fixed. There had been no suggestion that the elder man turned against Wickham while he lived.

“When did Mr. Wickham tell you this?” she asked.

Kitty’s eyes moved from Elizabeth to Jane. “At the last assembly.”

Lydia laughed. “After you followed him into the passage.”

“It was not improper. The door was open.”

“That was not my question.”

“He said he trusted me because I understood him better than others did.”

Lydia gave a sharp laugh. “He says that because you agree with everything.”

Kitty rounded on her. “You are jealous.”