CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Mr. Darcy Goes to Meryton
Darcy had avoided Meryton since the accident for practical reasons.
The road was uneven. Crowds around the shops made a cane inconvenient.
And, if he were honest, he disliked being stared at.
By February everyone had heard so many versions of his fall that he suspected some people would be disappointed to see he possessed both legs.
Elizabeth challenged him on a Wednesday.
"I require ribbon."
Darcy looked up from his letter.
"I am sure Longbourn owns ribbon."
"Wedding ribbon."
"Is it different?"
"Completely."
"How?"
"It is purchased while engaged."
He gave her a look.
She smiled. "Come to Meryton with me."
Darcy's first instinct was refusal.
She saw it.
"You can walk that far from the carriage."
"I know."
"Then what is it?"
He looked at the letter in his hand.
"Nothing."
Elizabeth waited.
He sighed. "People stare."
Her expression softened at once. "Yes."
"I dislike it."
"Most people do."
"You appear to enjoy attention."
"Only when I control why I am receiving it."
Darcy considered that.
Elizabeth said, "We may go early. Fewer people."
"You need not arrange the world around my discomfort."
"I am not. I dislike crowds when purchasing ribbon too."
He almost smiled. "Liar."
"Occasionally."
They went.
Meryton stared. Not rudely, for the most part. But heads turned. Conversations paused. A child whispered loudly, "That's the gentleman who broke his leg." The child's mother went crimson.
Darcy looked down at the boy. "Yes."
The boy's eyes widened. "Did the bone come out?"
"Samuel!" his mother cried.
Darcy considered the question gravely. "Briefly."
The boy looked delighted and horrified.
Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek. When they moved on, she whispered, "You have made his year."
"He asked a direct question."
"You could have spared his mother."
"Why?"
Elizabeth laughed. At the haberdasher's, Mr. King came from behind the counter personally.
"Mr. Darcy. Miss Bennet. An honour."
Darcy knew the man had been among Wickham's creditors.
"Mr. King."
There was an awkward pause.
Then the shopkeeper said, "I hope your health improves, sir."
"It has. Thank you."
Elizabeth moved toward the ribbons. Darcy remained near the counter.
"I understand you lost money because of Wickham."
Mr. King's expression tightened. "Some. Colonel Forster recovered part from his pay before the... before the end."
"If there are debts connected specifically to Pemberley business or representations Wickham made in my family's name, send them to my solicitor."
Mr. King looked startled. "Sir, I would not ask—"
"I am not offering to pay his personal bills."
"No, sir."
"But if he used my father's name or claimed credit through Pemberley, I would know."
The shopkeeper nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Elizabeth looked over from the ribbons.
Darcy joined her.
She held up blue silk. "Jane."
"Yes."
A green ribbon. "Me."
"Obviously."
"Why obviously?"
"You wear green often."
Elizabeth blinked.
Darcy reached for a darker shade. "This one."
She stared at him.
"What?"
"You have an opinion on ribbon."
"I have eyes."
"Three months at Longbourn have changed you beyond recognition."
He ignored her.
Outside, they encountered Sir William Lucas. "Mr. Darcy! Delighted, delighted. And Miss Eliza. Such felicity! I hope we shall soon see you both at Lucas Lodge before Derbyshire steals you from us."
Before his accident, Darcy might have replied with a bow and minimal words.
Now he said, "Thank you, Sir William. We would be pleased to come."
Elizabeth looked at him.
Sir William beamed. "Capital! I shall tell Lady Lucas. Such a pleasure to see a young couple—" He continued for several minutes.
Darcy listened.
Afterward Elizabeth said, "That cost you something."
"Only time."
"You used to guard it as if each minute were inherited land."
Darcy looked down the street.
"Sir William was always kind to me. Even when I gave him very little encouragement."
"Yes."
"Courtesy is not surrender."
Elizabeth smiled.
"Another revelation?"
"Do not gloat."
"I would never."
He offered his arm.
She took it. Meryton stared a little less on the walk back to the carriage. Or perhaps Darcy cared less.