Elizabeth’s relationship with Mr. Darcy is progressing nicely. He calls almost daily, usually in the company of Mr. Bingley, but Elizabeth knows he is coming to see her and not because his friend needs support or instruction in the rules of courting.
A trip to Meryton with Jane and Lydia, however, threatens to destroy their budding romance when the newest member of the regiment assigned to the area captures Lydia’s attention.
Elizabeth is not impressed with Mr. Wickham. He is too forward and, though he seems the very picture of a polite gentleman, something about him is off-putting.
The appearance of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley changes the mood of everyone. Mr. Darcy knows Mr. Wickham and his unfriendly greeting dismays Elizabeth. What is there about the man that offends him? And why did he try to run Mr. Wickham over with his horse?
Lydia’s disobedience of her father’s command to remain at Longbourn sends Elizabeth and Jane to Meryton so they can retrieve their wayward sister and bring her home to be punished. What they find horrifies Elizabeth and threatens the feelings she has for Mr. Darcy.
Did he attack Mr. Wickham without cause as Lydia insists hysterically? And why is Mr. Darcy threatening to kill him the next time they meet? Is Mr. Darcy the monster Lydia claims, or was he justified in beating Mr. Wickham mercilessly?
For the first time since meeting Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth fears for her safety.
Mr. Darcy struggles to explain himself, knowing he faces a future without Elizabeth if he can’t convince her and Mr. Bennet his actions were commendable.
Furthermore, who is Emily and why is she imprisoned in Longbourn’s dungeon? Find the answers to these and many more questions in Miss Elizabeth Faces Wickham, part three in the Elizabeth Said, Darcy Said series from author Colin Rowland.
“I only wanted to look for my friends and visit the merchants,” she grumbled. “At this rate, we will never get there.”
“Yes, we will,” Elizabeth said with a sigh. “But you can’t run off by yourself to find Mr. Denny.”
“I said nothing about Mr. Denny,” Lydia answered with a glance toward Kitty, who gave her head a slight shake in response to the unspoken query.
“That might not be what you said, but it is what you intended,” Elizabeth replied. “I’m not stupid, and neither is Papa. Why do you think he wanted me and Jane to go with you? Neighbors bring him reports of you throwing yourself at the man and is worried you will do something you shouldn’t. We are here to keep you safe from the members of the militia and to keep them safe from you.”
READ MORE“What harm am I doing when I’m friendly to the officers?” Lydia said with a laugh, her eyes lighting up at the mention of the man Elizabeth assumed held her current romantic interest.
“I agree with showing kindness and welcoming them to Meryton,” she said, watching Lydia roll her eyes in derision as she spoke. The reaction did not surprise so much as annoyed her, as it showed the girl’s disinterest in anything Elizabeth said.
“The problem,” Elizabeth said, raising her voice and taking her sister by the arm to make her listen, “is in greeting them too warmly and how that looks to everyone in Meryton.”
“I am doing nothing wrong,” Lydia said, pulling at her arm to dislodge Elizabeth’s hand, but giving up when the grip tightened. “Everyone in town avoids those poor men, so I do my best to prove that some of us appreciate their presence. What sin am I committing by sharing a laugh and a few kind words? It is harmless fun, and they enjoy my company.”
“You are too young to be chasing after them.” Elizabeth emptied her lungs with one great sigh. The girl taxed her patience today, as she did whenever they spent more than a few minutes together. Lydia cared solely for herself; the wants and needs of others she commonly ignored unless they agreed with her own.
She was a child spoiled from birth by a lenient mother, and everyone in the family suffered the consequences.
“You are just jealous that they find me more interesting than you,” Lydia laughed, tossing her head dismissively. “I am going to be the first one of us to marry, and you will be a spinster with no one to love except my children whenever I favor you with a visit.”
“That may be,” Elizabeth said, “but I will not marry for convenience, or because I have no choice, which is going to be your lot in life if you don’t learn to exercise some self-control. And I will not chase after men living in tents on the edge of town.”
COLLAPSE
