Page 68 of Knowing Mr. Darcy
Jane let out a high pitched noise and reached out for her sister. They clasped hands and turned in a circle, both laughing. “I’m so pleased for you, Lizzy.”
“Thank you, I think it is going to be something lovely, in the end, but I haven’t any certainty of it. It all seems so very strange.”
“But I wish you could be happy forme.”
“But Mr. Darcy says that Mr. Wickham did it for his sister’s fortune.”
“But Mr. Wickham says they were in love.”
“Yes, well, very convenient, isn’t it? Being in love with someone with that much money. And Mr. Darcy says he has always been interested in money, only money.”
“Well, that’s easy for Mr. Darcy to say. He has never had to worry about money in his life!”
“True,” said Elizabeth. “But I worried that Mr. Darcy had actually denied Mr. Wickham that living, and he says he gave him money. Did Wickham tell you that?”
“Well… we have not discussed it in some time.”
“Ask him aboutthat.”
“Oh, does it matter?” said Jane. “Maybe hewasonly motivated by money before, Lizzy. Going after Miss King seems to indicate that. But he’s had a change of heart, and he’s worried he will lose it if he doesn’t act. This is why he’s insisting we elope. Because he worries if we wait, he will go back to that way of thinking. But the fact he wants to elope at all, it means that he values me more than money. PerhapsI’m the first thing he’s ever valued in that way.”
Elizabeth let go of Jane’s hands, considering this. Could that be right? Was it possible that Wickham had been hitherto only concerned with money, but that—when it came to her sister—it was true love?
“You think I’m wrong,” said Jane. “You think that I am thinking too well of him. You think that I think too well of everyone.”
“I…” Elizabeth let out a breath. “I suppose I must admit that I am not making the most prudent of decisions these days, not when it comes to men. Mr. Darcy and I…” She could not even finish. How to explain the way she’d allowed him to kiss her, the way she’d pressed her body into his, wanton, the way she’d opened her mouth and accepted the fiery tingle of his tongue. “I cannot cast a stone, Jane. I am not without sin. But Mr. Wickham… something about Mr. Wickham worries me.”
“Well, what is it?”
“I don’t know exactly. I think he’s a liar, I suppose. He has been caught in lies, Jane. You are not taking that into consideration.”
“You mean, his story has been contradicted by Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy is definitely telling the truth?” Jane raised her eyebrows.
Elizabeth furrowed her brow. “Well, I suppose Mr. Darcy could be lying.” He’d said the things about Wickham before she’d thrown herself at him, after all. He’d not been assured of her at that point. Perhaps a man might lie to secure a woman. It was not out of the realm of possibility. It didn’t seem like him, though, she didn’t think. On the other hand, when it came to Mr. Darcy, her judgment was impaired.
“You see?” Jane put her hands on her hips.
“It’s something else,” said Elizabeth. “Something about that story with Miss Darcy. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
“I think it’s tragic. I think his rejection by her, after he had allowed himself to finally love her—”
“I think she was too young.”
Jane was quiet.
“It’s only that a girl thatage, Jane, you remember what it’s like to be that age. Why, when I was but twelve, I used to imagine some man, some older man, far too old, being interested in me, and I thought it would mean that I was sophisticated and worldly and mature. But I never considered what it would say about a man like that, you know? Why would a man so much older want a girl that much younger?”
“He didn’t start it,” said Jane. “She did.”
“We have met her,” said Elizabeth. “She barely says three words in mixed company. This is the girl who was the ‘aggressor’?”
“I am also shy around people I don’t know,” said Jane. “But amongst others—”
“You, Jane, would also never be the ‘aggressor’ in a romantic relationship!” Elizabeth protested. “I don’t know any girl of proper upbringing who would, especially not with a man with whom there is such disparity in their social stations. He was the son of her family’sservant. I don’t… I can’t see that happening in any other way than his being the one who wanted it, and his taking advantage of her.”
Jane shook her head. “You don’t know George very well, Elizabeth.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, when have you decided to call him by his firstname?”
