A Fortunate Compromise (Sweet Standalone Pride and Prejudice Variations #6)

Chapter 20

Darcy frowned upon seeing Elizabeth’s distraught expression. Normally so cheerful and self-possessed, she seemed almost at the point of fainting. He offered her his arm, and they walked some paces away from the nearest passer-by to gain a little privacy. When Darcy felt confident that they had escaped any listening ears, he could wait no longer to express his concern. “Are you well, Miss Elizabeth? Do you need to sit down?”

“No, thank you. I am perfectly well.” Elizabeth said. Darcy looked at her in concern. Was there not the slightest tremble in her voice? “I have just had a most unpleasant encounter with Mr Wickham.”

For a moment, Darcy was afraid his anger was too great to control. It took an effort to speak gently. “He dared to accost you in the public street?” he asked. Though any number of threats against Wickham crowded his tongue, Darcy kept them back. He did not wish to frighten her. “Where is he?”

Elizabeth placed a gentle hand on his arm. “He did not touch me. It was what he revealed as he spoke to me that has affected me so.” She looked around the bustling street, concern etching her face. “Will you take me home?” she asked.

A strong protectiveness overwhelmed him, coupled to pride that she would trust him enough to ask it of him. He tucked her hand safely in the crook of his arm, and they set off. At the edge of town, Elizabeth suddenly stopped short. “How foolish of me! I cannot leave. Not yet. I came to town with Jane! I had almost forgotten, with everything that happened with Mr Wickham,” she said despairingly.

“Let us find her,” Darcy said. “Miss Bennet can walk home with us if she likes. And if she has other errands to run, we will send a carriage for her. Mine, if your father’s is not available.”

Miss Elizabeth nodded. Her face had turned deathly pale, and he worried all the more about what Mr Wickham had wrought. But he could not press her while there were so many people about.

They soon found Miss Bennet at the apothecary, buying supplies for the stillroom. She immediately left her purchases and came outside when Darcy told her of the situation. Outside the shop door, Miss Bennet spoke with Elizabeth in hushed tones for a moment before it was decided that she would accompany them home. Once out of the village and on the country lane, Miss Bennet trailed several paces behind them. Though she explained herself by saying she wished to walk more slowly, it was evident she intended to give them the chance to speak privately. Darcy would have liked to thank her for it, though he said nothing. Acknowledging the courtesy would only have embarrassed them all.

“Are you able to share what happened, Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy prompted gently. He did not want to cause her any more upset than she had already endured. However, he also knew Wickham and how slippery he could be. If he had done anything to harm Elizabeth, Wickham would soon find himself in a world of trouble.

“I am,” Elizabeth replied. She still clung to his arm, and he was grateful once again that her trust in him had grown since they had first become betrothed. “As I am sure you ascertained, I was walking in the town. I had no real intention of purchasing anything, but I thought I would go to the milliner’s shop. Derbyshire is so much colder than Hertfordshire, I shall need a warmer bonnet if — well. In any case, I was on my way there when Mr Wickham came up beside me and started a conversation. Believe me, I did not encourage him.”

“I can well believe that, Miss Elizabeth.”

“I certainly hope so. I do not want you to think that I want anything to do with the man, not after what you told me he did to poor Miss Darcy!” She was growing angry now, and the shaking of her hands dwindled as it gave her strength. “Though I tried to extricate myself from him, my coldness did not seem to repulse him. I went into the milliner’s shop as I had intended, but he followed me there.” She shook her head. “I am ashamed and disgusted to say that I believe he tried to flirt with me. And then he said something very odd.”

“And what was that?” Darcy asked. With an effort, he kept his voice calm and even. Though if Mr Wickham had been before him at that moment, even the knowledge that violence was brutish and ungentlemanly could not have kept him from striking the man.

“He said he was sorry that I had been forced to dance the first dance with Mr Collins the night of the Netherfield ball. I went over it again and again in my mind. There is little chance that anyone would have mentioned that detail. Gossip has been entirely consumed with the compromise between you and I. In comparison to such a thing, who would mention or even remember that I had opened the night dancing with my cousin? The only way he would have known such a thing is if he himself were in attendance at the ball.”

Darcy took several moments to let this news sink in. It must have seemed like ages to Elizabeth, but she kept her peace. “I see. It presents a mystery, does it not?” he asked. He did not recall ever seeing Mr Wickham that night. Indeed, it had been a relief not to see him, since a blanket invitation had been sent to the whole of the militia stationed near Meryton. It was certainly possible that he could have snuck into the party and remained out of sight. Darcy could very well have missed him, especially if he had slipped into the ball after he and the Bingleys had joined their guests in the ballroom. But why?

“It is possible that he was there, after all. But it begs the question, why would he hide away when he would have been such a sought-after partner for the ladies?” Darcy mused. “He has ingratiated himself with several of Meryton’s leading families, I believe.”

“That is true. However, that is not what came to mind first, Mr Darcy. I wonder: could it have been Mr Wickham who laid the trap for us in the library? What other reason would there be for him to conceal that he had come to the Netherfield ball?” She shook her head again as if she, too, were trying to make sense of it all. “I know it sounds far-fetched, but I can think of no other explanation for Mr Wickham’s actions.”

Darcy nodded, murmuring in agreement as he thought on it more. “I can see where you would think that. It is easy to believe he would try to plan something so underhanded and cruel. However, I cannot seem to think of a motive.” Darcy stopped and took Elizabeth’s hands in his. Behind them, Miss Bennet stopped walking to maintain the distance between them, allowing them what little privacy they might have. “I cannot see why he would want you to become engaged to me. From what I have seen, he seemed quite taken with you. Surely it would be more likely that he would have wished to marry you himself.”

“That, I can readily explain. I have no dowry worth speaking of, Mr Darcy, which I am sure my father has already told you. Surely Mr Wickham could not afford to marry a woman with a mere thousand pounds. And yet it is stranger still that he might wish to make you marry me. Why? He certainly would not do it to ensure our happiness, and there seems to be no financial gain in the equation for him.” Elizabeth looked away, turned, and glanced in Miss Bennet’s direction. She gave her sister a smile and a nod, and Darcy could feel some of the tension leech out of Elizabeth as she returned her sister’s smile. He again tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and they continued down the lane. “All I know is that he seems bent on convincing me to break off our engagement. Perhaps he wants to use that to his advantage somehow?”

Darcy hummed thoughtfully under his breath. “I cannot see how it would help Mr Wickham if you were to break off the engagement.”

“Mr Wickham may be the only one who knows that. Perhaps we should go to my father and see if there might be a way that we can catch Mr Wickham out. We will need proof if we are to clear our names, and the man in question is the only one who might be able to supply us with that.” Elizabeth walked on. The spring had returned to her step, and he was glad of it.

Darcy heartily agreed. “Yes, we will speak with him as soon as we get to Longbourn. I am sure we can come up with a plan to find out the truth once and for all.”