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The name reached Elizabeth before she had looked fully at the gentleman. She felt Jane's arm move slightly against hers; Jane had noticed nothing, but Elizabeth's fingers had tightened around her glove. A young man in a well-cut uniform bowed with easy grace. His face was handsome, his manner open, and his smile suggested that he found it a pleasure to meet every person set before him.

"Miss Bennet," Wickham said. "I am fortunate indeed. I had heard there were several charming Miss Bennets in the neighbourhood."

"Four of them are my cousins," Elizabeth answered. "You must take care not to confuse us."

"An error I should regret exceedingly," Wickham said. "Although I suspect I should remember you without difficulty."

Lydia laughed at the compliment. Elizabeth did not. She had heard Georgiana describe a man who made every young lady feel singularly understood, and now she heard that same practiced ease directed toward herself. Knowledge did not make the charm disappear; it merely showed her how deliberately it was employed.

"You must make Miss Lydia's acquaintance as thoroughly as you make mine," she said. "She will be offended if any visitor neglects her opinion upon the regiment."

Lydia was more than willing to take up the challenge. Wickham bowed to her, but his attention soon returned to Elizabeth.

"I understand you have been staying with the Earl of Matlock," he said. "That must be a most agreeable connection."

"I have lived with his family for some years," Elizabeth answered.

"Indeed? Then you may be acquainted with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Derbyshire."

Elizabeth looked at him. Until that moment his conversation might have been ordinary gallantry. Now she could see him measuring the effect of his question.

"Very well acquainted," she said. "We are engaged to be married."

For less than the space of a heartbeat Wickham's expression changed. Surprise came first, then a calculation so swift that she might have missed it had she not been watching. His smile returned, but it had lost its ease.

"You have my warm congratulations," he said. "Mr. Darcy and I were known to each other in our youth. I hope he enjoys good health."

"He does, thank you."

Denny was called away to a table of cards. Wickham lingered as if wishing to say more, but Mrs. Phillips summoned Elizabeth to greet a neighbour. She excused herself without regret. Across the crowded room she saw Darcy entering beside Bingley, the latter already looking about for Jane.

Darcy's eyes found Elizabeth first, as they so often did. She saw his expression ease when he recognized her, and the small pleasure of it was interrupted when he glanced over her shoulder. Wickham stood not ten paces away. Darcy halted. His face closed so thoroughly that Elizabeth thought of Georgiana's account of him at Ramsgate: the silence, the careful questions, the grief he had concealed in order not to frighten his sister.

Wickham bowed from across the room. Darcy returned the acknowledgment with the barest civility and came to Elizabeth.

"I had not expected you so soon," she said, allowing him the ordinary words as they both recovered their composure.

"Bingley completed his business with uncommon speed." Darcy offered his arm. His hand was steady, but when Elizabeth rested her fingers upon his sleeve she felt how rigidly he held himself. "Have you been here long?"

"Long enough to renew several acquaintances." She waited until they had moved away from the card tables. "I have met Mr. Wickham."

He stopped beside a window. "Has he troubled you?"

"No more than he could contrive in a room full of people. He was curious about our acquaintance. I told him of our engagement."

Darcy looked at her with sudden concern. "I am sorry you should have been obliged to speak to him."

"You need not apologize for another gentleman's conduct," she said softly. "But I should like to understand what danger, if any, he presents here. Kitty and Lydia are greatly taken with the officers."

Darcy glanced toward the younger girls, who were listening to an account of regimental life and laughing at every convenient point. "We cannot speak of it here. I shall tell you what I know when we have a quieter moment."

She nodded. She would not force a confidence from him before a room full of strangers. Instead she asked whether he wished to meet the new rector, who was attempting to explain a point of whist to Mary. Darcy permitted her to lead him away, though she could feel the effort it cost him to remain agreeable.

Later Lydia came to Elizabeth flushed with excitement. "Mr. Wickham has been telling us how badly an old friend used him. He says a gentleman promised him a valuable living and then withheld it. Fancy being so cruel!"

Elizabeth went cold. "Did he name the gentleman?"

"Not plainly. But I think he meant Mr. Darcy. He said someone very rich could be as unjust as anyone else." Lydia lowered her voice, delighted by the secrecy. "He asked if you were really to marry Mr. Darcy. I said of course, and that you had always been terribly clever about making people do as you wished."