Mr. Darcy fears he might have damaged his budding love affair with Miss Elizabeth and ruined his chance for future happiness with the most exciting and intoxicating woman he has ever met.
The relationship had been coming along nicely, their regard and affection for each other growing with each passing day until Mr. Darcy came to the realization that what he once considered a close friendship had become all-encompassing love. He wants nothing more than to spend every moment of each day in her presence and is even growing fond of Mrs. Bennet!
For his part, Mr. Bingley is content with his pursuit of Miss Bennet and his plans to ask permission of her father to propose marriage.
All of that is threatened, however, when the men happen upon the sisters in Meryton, where they are visiting with Mr. Darcy’s nemesis, George Wickham, the man whose ill treatment almost destroyed Mr. Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, the year previous.
The repercussions of his curt dismissal of the man, coupled with his horse almost running Mr. Wickham down when he leaves worry him. Will Miss Elizabeth change her mind and refuse him permission to call on her as Mr. Bingley fears?
Mr. Darcy’s efforts to explain his actions seem to calm everyone’s anger, with the exception of Miss Lydia, who cannot find it within herself to forgive him. With her willingness to accept his grudging apology, Mr. Darcy’s hope for the future is restored.
However, an unfortunate incident in Meryton a day or so later concludes with Mr. Wickham lying on the ground and Mr. Darcy threatening his life. As Mr. Bingley pulls him away, Mr. Darcy discovers Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet watching, horrified at what has transpired.
Is this the end of Mr. Darcy’s promising courtship of Miss Elizabeth? If that happens, will Miss Bennet reject Mr. Bingley’s attention in sympathy with her sister?
And what of Miss Lydia? Will Mr. Wickham’s depraved plans for her come to fruition followed by his promised assault on Miss Elizabeth’s virtue?
The answers lie in Mr. Darcy Faces Wickham, part four in the Elizabeth Said, Darcy Said series from Colin Rowland. Get your copy today!
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Bingley gave him a smile and silence, so Darcy took another opportunity to study their surroundings. He appreciated the day’s beauty, although he scoffed at his friend’s remarks regarding it lasting through the past week or more. The sky contained few clouds to block the sunshine, and the breeze today could barely be felt, an unusual occurrence so far into autumn.
Trees closely bordered the road passing in front of the estate, their leaves mostly shed and lying on the ground. If not for the evergreens spaced growing amongst them, he knew the sight would depress him. Darcy did not enjoy the changing of the seasons, from summer, to autumn, and to winter. He much preferred warm days and sunny skies but realized how important the snow and rains of the winter and spring seasons were for the crops planted each year, especially on his own estate of Pemberley. Without the bountiful harvests that moisture provided, he would not be as wealthy as Mrs. Bennet claimed.
READ MORE“You need a little patience,” Bingley said, moving closer to avoid shouting over the sounds of the cows lowing in the pasture beside them. “I don’t reply to her comments about how easy we have it because we are so much wealthier than Mr. Bennet. She quickly finds something else to talk about and forgets about money for a few minutes.”
Darcy shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. “If she could carry on a conversation without telling me how she wishes she knew what it is like to be rich, I could share one with her, but she brings every sentence back to that exact same comment. At least it seems to me that she does. I could be mistaken, but I doubt it.”
With a laugh, Bingley placed his arm around Darcy’s shoulders and pulled him in for a quick embrace. “If you ask me, she is just a mother who wants to see her children marry well.”
“There’s no doubt about that,” Darcy sighed. “But it would be nice if she weren’t so obvious.”
“Just think,” Bingley said, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder and pushing hard enough to make him stumble, “we are probably an answer to her dreams. Next, she’ll be suggesting we bring our friends from London to meet her other three daughters. She might hope they will be taken by their beauty and decide to court.”
A shudder went through Darcy at the thought of introducing his friends to the rest of Miss Elizabeth’s sisters. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that,” he announced to Bingley’s clear amusement. “Can you imagine introducing Miss Lydia to Roger Bannister or Kevin Parsons? They’d disown us as friends and never speak to us again.”
“She isn’t that bad,” Bingley said with a chuckle. “She’s just high-spirited and enjoying her life.”
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