Page 25 of To Go Against Her Heart
“I am glad that you are enjoying your time here.”
“Your sisters have generously shown us around the village this morning. I hope your parents are well and your cousin…” He hesitated.
“Mr. Collins,” Jane said, trying to join the conversation.
“Yes, Mr. Collins is well,” Wickham said.
“They are, sir.”
Just then, their aunt called Jane to help her with something, and Elizabeth sat alone with Wickham. In the same room, Lydia and Kitty were busy playing a game of cards with Captain Denny.
“Do you not wish to join their game?” she asked Wickham.
“I have a better way of engaging myself with you,” he declared, and something about how he uttered the words made Elizabeth uncomfortable.
“Every acquaintance I have made here has declared you to be among the most sensible women in Hertfordshire and remarkably attached to books.”
“I cannot agree to the former, Mr. Wickham. But I do prefer reading to anything else.”
“It is indeed a rare quality to find in a young woman, especially as beautiful as you,” he said, hoping to impress her. Elizabeth smiled, knowing there was only one way to make him discuss Darcy.
“I understand you are a native of Derbyshire. We had Mr. Bingley’s friend visit Hertfordshire quite recently, and I assume you are acquainted with Mr. Darcy,” she asked, making him startle.
“Yes, I am. How well do you know the gentleman?”
“Well, not much. I spent some days under the same roof with him at Netherfield Park. But I do not know much about him, except that he did not prefer our society, and it is not uncommon for someone who has spent much time in town to find Hertfordshire less exciting,” she said, hoping to get Wickham to talk. The slight hint she gave him about not liking Darcy immediately put Wickham at ease.
“That is not surprising for me; Mr. Darcy enjoys moving around with people of his status. It pains me to say this: knowing him since his childhood, his pride would never allow him to respect those he considers below him in wealth and status,” he said.
“You knew him quite well then.”
“I did; in fact, we grew up together. I owe my upbringing to the late Mr. Darcy, yet, unfortunately, that appears to be the sole reason the current master of Pemberley continues to harbor a grudge against me. Would you believe me if I were to declare that he had cunningly deprived me of my living at Kympton? All my life, I wanted to serve the Parish, and he refused my rightful living after his father died.”
“This is shocking indeed,” Elizabeth cried.
“It pains me to speak ill of a Darcy, but my childhood friend has ruined my life in more ways than one. I do not want to delve into the particulars, but I have lived a decent life even after everything he did to me; I can proudly say that I have earned my respect in society.”
“But why, sir? What could be the reason for him to treat you so?”
“Pure jealousy! His father always saw my talent and loved me for my honesty. Mr. Darcy could not endure his father’s affection for me. As you mentioned, I heard from several others in the village about how disrespectful he acted in every gathering, insulting everyone here. I hope he did not say anything rude to you,” he said with feeling.
“I hardly interacted with him, sir.”
“It is indeed surprising to understand Mr. Bingley’s friendship with him. I am certain he has been artfully deceived.”
“Mr. Bingley has been a welcome addition to our society here, and I understand he has no plans of returning to town soon,” she said, and Wickham finally understood that Elizabeth skillfully avoided giving her opinion about Darcy even after hearing his story.
He condemned himself for speaking so openly to her and wondered with some anxiety whether she had believed a word of his story. Jane and Mrs. Phillips joined them, and the conversation drifted to mundane topics. If at all, Wickham tried to gauge Elizabeth’s thoughts, he failed miserably as she acted unaffected by his disclosure. Whether she felt no concern for Darcy or his past, or whether she had never given credit to his story, remained a complete puzzle to Wickham. It was clear to him that his impulsive act of lying about his past association with Darcy to gain her favor was a grave mistake.
Elizabeth and her sisters left soon, and as she took leave, she noticed Wickham’s nervousness and smiled at him confidently.
And as she walked out of the house, Elizabeth had just one thought in her mind.
He is lying, and I wonder what the original story is.
Chapter 11
Day by day, Miss Bingley grew weary of Hertfordshire and of her brother’s eager attempts to gain the favor of everyone there.
