Chapter 14
As they sometimes did when there was no amusement to be enjoyed at Netherfield, Darcy and Ben ventured to Meryton that afternoon. When they stepped out of Ben’s favourite shop and onto the street, the little fellow’s attention was soon caught by the sight of some of his dearest acquaintances.
“Look, Da, my aunts are here in Meryton!”
“Where are they, Ben?”
“There!” he said, pointing the way. “Let us go over and greet them.” Before awaiting a reply, Ben raced ahead of Darcy.
When Ben reached his aunts, he observed that they were not alone, but rather there were two gentlemen in their party. Ben stared into the face of the taller of the two men. “I believe I have seen you before, sir. Have you ever been to Pemberley?”
The tall, handsome stranger’s face took on an air of amusement. “Indeed, I have. I spent the better part of my life at Pemberley.” He extended his hand and said, “Lieutenant George Wickham at your service.” Ben accepted the gentleman’s proffered hand. Wickham said, “And who might you be?”
Darcy approached the party without greeting anyone. “Come along, Ben.” Taking Ben by the hand, he led him away.
Ben’s countenance clouded with confusion. Once they were a fair distance away, he tugged on Darcy’s sleeve. “Da, did you not even recognise to whom I was speaking? It was the gentleman whose likeness is in your study. He called himself a lieutenant.”
“Ben, I am well aware of the identity of the man to whom you were speaking. You have a very good memory to recall having seen his likeness amongst the miniatures at home. However, you must also recall my telling you that the gentleman is no friend of mine. I would have you keep your distance from him.”
“He seems like a very nice gentleman. Why do you dislike him?”
“Ben, I trust you know better than to judge a book by its cover. I can think of no more fitting an illustration of that old adage than in the case of that gentleman. He is not at all as he seems.”
“My aunts were all delighted by him as well. You did not admonish either of them to keep their distance.”
Darcy’s stomach muscles tightened. He had indeed spoken to his own sister to stay away from George Wickham, for all the good it had done.
Even his own wife had been persuaded to think favourably of that reprobate.
Of course, he had also spoken to Geoffrey Collins, urging him to caution the younger girls. His efforts had been in vain.
His voice calm, Darcy said, “Ben, the fact is that I would have you keep your distance from strangers in general. You are very young and, by and large, very trusting, but you are also very vulnerable, and there are many disreputable people whose intentions are not always good.”
“But he is an officer. Are not all officers honourable and meant to protect everyone from harm? Colonel Fitzwilliam is very good. I have heard you say he is one of the best men you know.”
“Yes, well, the gentleman who just introduced himself to you is no Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Darcy’s displeasure over being in proximity with Wickham and his family’s growing admiration of that scoundrel would not be repressed.
He joined Elizabeth in her apartment later that evening.
Finally, they were at liberty to discuss the events of the day with no fear of being interrupted.
“I saw you in Meryton with Georgiana, today.”
“Oh, why did you not come and speak with us? I should have enjoyed your company. There is a little shop that I am eager for you to visit with me.”
“I saw the two of you speaking with George Wickham.” He crossed his arms. “Need I say more?”
Elizabeth arched her brow. “I suppose you had better if you wish for me to understand your purpose.”
“Ben and I were together. I had just escorted him away from that gentleman’s audience earlier and admonished him against any further association with Wickham. I thought I had made my sentiments known to you as well.”
“Mr. Darcy, Ben is a child, and if you mean to protect him from the likes of the villainous Mr. Wickham, that is your right; however, you cannot possibly expect me to heed your admonishments as easily as that, especially when my sisters were all standing there engaged in perfectly amiable discourse with the gentleman and his friend.”
“However, you were with my sister, and I expect you to do my bidding when it comes to protecting her.”
“Sir, you expect me to treat Georgiana as though she were a child. I will not be a party to it. Georgiana is not a child!”
“Why must you fight me on this? Your stance defies reason. Have you ever known me to be wrong about anything?”
“What a ridiculous thing to say in attempting to persuade me against my own purposes. Shall I defend myself by cataloguing your shortcomings?”
“My shortcomings?”
“Do you deny you like arranging things to suit your own convenience?”
“You sound like Geoffrey Collins!”
“In such a case as this, I know not whether to consider your assertion an insult or a compliment.”
When had this become a discussion of my faults? Darcy took her by the hand, led her to the sofa, and silently urged her to sit next to him. “Must we talk about this now?”
“What shall we talk about?”
“Must we talk at all? I rarely see you anymore, what with all the time you spend at Longbourn—not that I am complaining about your spending time with your father, for that is the purpose in our being here in Hertfordshire, it is just that I miss you terribly.”
“You might reconsider your stance and come with me to Longbourn upon occasion.”
“You know that I would much rather not.”
“Because of my brother, Geoffrey?”
“He and I have no use for each other. I imagine if I were to spend too much time at Longbourn, the two of us might come to blows. You would not want that.”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“Shall we make a pact, my love?”
“What are you proposing?”
“I propose that we do not spend another second talking about anyone who is not currently in this room, and focus solely upon each other—at least for the rest of the evening and well into the wee hours of the morning.”
She opened her mouth to fashion a protest, but he placed a silencing finger to her lips.
“Just the two of us,” he said, the titillating sensations of his lingering touch aiding him in his purposes. “I need you too.”
“Well,” said Elizabeth, leaning into his kiss. After a moment of relishing the ardent pleasures he bestowed, she sighed. “When you state your wishes so eloquently, how can I possibly refuse?”