“That was . . . precipitous.”
“Indeed, it was. I must assume that Lady Catherine gave him instructions to return as an engaged man—you know how Lady Catherine feels about unmarried men.”
“As we have both been subjected to her ladyship’s feelings on the subject every spring, I suspect you know as well as I do.”
Fitzwilliam snorted, but he did not belabor the point. “What willyou do? If you wish to return to London, there is no reason for you to stay.Unlessyou mean to make amends to Miss Elizabeth.”
After considering the question for a moment, Darcy ventured: “Bingley is to go to the north—if I wish to avoid his sister, Netherfield is an excellent place to do so, for she hates the neighborhood and will not return willingly.”
“She might if she thought her webs were in danger of unraveling.”
As Darcy recalled, Miss Bingley had some notion of his interest in Miss Elizabeth—if she knew he was here, Darcy suspected his cousin was correct. Fortunately, he thought he could trust in Bingley’s silence in this instance, especially as Darcy had given no indication of wishing to stay any longer than he must.
“I am uncertain it is wise.”
Fitzwilliam did not speak—instead, he waited for Darcy to clarify.
“Bingley had some interest in a young woman in the neighborhood, a woman his sister considered unsuitable. When we returned to London, she persuaded him against pursuing her.”
The light of understanding lit Fitzwilliam’s eyes. “Tell me, Darcy—did you have something to do with Bingley’s decision not to return?”
“I gave nothing more than my opinion of her indifference,” said Darcy. “The lady in question is the daughter of a local country gentleman, so from that perspective, she is an eligible match. For Bingley to advance in London society, he must marry a woman who has some presence in town.”
Though he regarded Darcy for several moments, in the end, Fitzwilliam did not press the matter further. “I am aware of that situation, Cousin. Let me only say that matters have altered on that score. Should you stay any longer, you will learn why.”
“Perhaps I may stay for a few days,” said Darcy, trying to tell himself that the pull of Miss Elizabeth’s allure wasnotthe reason for his decision.
Fitzwilliam nodded. “Then I hope you are ready to make amends.”
Not trusting himself to speak, Darcy agreed and allowed the subject to rest.
Chapter VI
Confusion was Elizabeth’s constant companion in the days after Colonel Fitzwilliam had unmasked Mr. Wickham as a scoundrel. Foremost in Elizabeth’s mind was how Mr. Wickham had deceived her with such apparent ease despite her firm conviction that she was an excellent judge of character.
“Girls,” said Mr. Bennet the night they returned from Lucas Lodge and before he would allow them to retire, “it appears we have learned something of great importance to us all.”
“I am not certain I believe it,” muttered Lydia. “Mr. Wickham has never betrayed so much as a hint of ill behavior.”
“Your belief is irrelevant,” replied Mr. Bennet, though he was not unkind. “Tomorrow, the colonel will investigate Mr. Wickham’s activities in Meryton, and we shall learn at least part of the truth.”
Mr. Bennet paused to consider what he wished to say. “Itispossible that Mr. Wickham has not had enough time to incur enough debt to provoke Colonel Forster to act, but that means nothing. Regardless of what he finds, we shall not associate with Mr. Wickham anymore.”
As might be expected, the youngest girls began to protest, but Mr. Bennet held up a hand for silence—they quieted, but with evident reluctance.
“Girls, you will obey me in this, or I will curtail your participation in society and your ability to go to Meryton.”
Mr. Bennet paused, regarding each in turn. “It matters little if Colonel Forster finds any debts. The salient point is that we have been warned about a man who has not behaved as he should—I will not risk your safety or the reputation of this family when we have the testimony of such a man as Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
So stern was Mr. Bennet’s tone that even his wife did not protest his edict. Elizabeth could not be certain, but she thought Mrs. Bennet’s eyes were open to the possibility of her daughters becoming unmarriageable. As Mrs. Bennet’s purpose in life was to marry them to men who could support them—and herself—she would treat any threat to that ambition as anathema. Elizabeth was not certain she completely understood the threat Mr. Wickham posed, but she would do nothing to gainsay her father.
As it happened, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s arrival the following morning and the news he brought rendered the point moot.
“Wickham’s debts are now an established fact,” said the colonel the following morning as he sat with them. “I shall not publish the amount, but it is substantial, especially for a man who has been in town for only a month.”
“Less than that,” ventured Elizabeth, still shocked by how it had all come about. “Mr. Wickham was away on business for much of that time. He came to town a week before the ball, left the day before, and has only been in Meryton for brief periods since.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam offered her a curt nod. “I do not care to speculate what business took him to London, but it is fortunate he was not here, or the damage may have been worse. I have pledged myself for those debts— now that I have some control over him, I mean to make use of that leverage.
