Elizabeth Bennet's Deception: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Regina Jeffers Page B

particular one. Miss Bingley took note of how I studied Miss Elizabeth, while Mr. Wickham had fellows such as Captain Denny to keep him abreast of my actions at public gatherings in the neighborhood. It would seem quite possible for Mr. Wickham to realize my interest in the lady. We spent much of our youth together. I would expect Mr. Wickham could read me as easily I read him.” Darcy paused before adding, “If such was Wickham’s purpose, he sorely erred. Miss Lydia is inferior to her elder sisters. Moreover, I plan to propose to Miss Elizabeth when this matter is finalized.”
    Georgiana’s smile lit her countenance.
    “I knew you the better man.”
    “If I marry Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy cautioned, “Mr. Wickham’s ties to this family will never be severed.”
    “Pooh,” Georgiana declared. “Miss Elizabeth may keep her relationship with the future Mrs. Wickham without either of us accepting Mr. Wickham as part of the family.”
    “My thoughts exactly.”
    Georgiana called for Murray to serve the next course.
    “Now tell me more of Miss Elizabeth. I enjoyed your accounts of her while you were at Netherfield. I always desired a sister. Do you believe she will take to me? Our brief encounter in Lambton only served to pique my interest. Mr. Bingley praised the lady when we returned to his carriage.”
    Darcy laughed for the first time in weeks.
    “I thought this would be a difficult conversation, but you, my girl, made it exceedingly comfortable. You are growing into a extraordinary young lady. Our parents would be quite proud.”
    “None of your flattery, William. As a woman I want to know about what is important in life: the romance.” A girlish giggle followed, and with a like smile, Darcy relaxed into his tale.

Chapter Eight
     
    A fortnight passed since Elizabeth returned to Longbourn, and not a day went by that she did not pray Mr. Darcy would be good to his word and come for her.
    “It is too soon,” Elizabeth warned her foolish heart as she stared out upon the familiar pastures easily viewed from the bedchamber she shared with Jane. Her sister had gone below to greet Mr. Bingley. Although the family had yet to receive a confirmation of Lydia’s marriage, some three days after Elizabeth’s return to Longbourn, Uncle Gardiner sent an express to Mr. Bennet outlining the terms Uncle Edward and Mr. Darcy drafted as the settlement’s terms.
    Four days later, Elizabeth received a lengthy letter from her Aunt Margaret informing Elizabeth of the wedding details, as well as of Mr. Darcy’s departure for Derbyshire and of the gentleman’s promise to return for the wedding. Elizabeth was half tempted to beg her father to permit her return to the Gardiner’s household just so she might encounter Mr. Darcy again.
    “But what if once Mr. Darcy returned to Pemberley he realized the foolishness of aligning the Darcy family with his worst enemy?”
    The present unhappy state of her family rendered any other excuse for the lowness of Elizabeth’s spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore, could be fairly conjectured from that, though Elizabeth, who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was perfectly aware that, had she known nothing of Mr. Darcy, she could have borne the dread of Lydia’s infamy somewhat better. It would spare her, Elizabeth thought, one sleepless night out of two.
    Several days after her return, with Elizabeth’s encouragement, Mr. Bennet joined his daughters at tea . Only then did Elizabeth venture to express her sorrow for what he endured over the past several weeks.
    “Say nothing of that,” her father declared. “Who would suffer but myself? It was of my own doing, and I ought to feel it.''
    “You must not be too severe upon yourself,'' replied Elizabeth .
    “You may well warn me against such an evil. Human nature is so prone to fall into it! No, Lizzy , let me once in my life feel how much I was to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the