Page 14 of Elizabeth and Caroline
“I was prevented from it,” said Mr. Wickham. “I suppose you can guess by whom.”
She started. “Mr. Darcy?”
Mr. Wickham nodded.
“But why?”
“Oh, I cannot say,” said Mr. Wickham, shaking his head. “I really cannot. He does not speak to me, you know, and I have tried. Of course, when I found out he had given that living to someone else, the one that was meant for me, I went to speak to him. He wouldn’t see me. He never sees me, never speaks to me. Why, you saw him, how he was walking over towards you until he saw me? Then he stopped and he wouldn’t come an inch closer. Did you see that?”
“So, he never explained himself?”
“I’ve been left to speculate,” said Mr. Wickham. He opened his mouth, no doubt to give his own speculations, but Elizabeth cut in.
“There must be some legal recourse. If you were meant for that living, and the late Darcy had decreed it so—”
“It was not written down anywhere, nothing official,” said Mr. Wickham, shaking his head. “No, I have looked into such things and found it impossible.”
“Oh,” she said, wondering if Mr. Wickham had expectedsomething that had never been guaranteed, then.
“I hate to say it, but I think it must be jealousy,” said Mr. Wickham.
“Jealousy?” This surprised her.
“Oh, yes. I was quite close to his father, as I say. And his father, I must admit, could be hard on him, but not in a cruel way, you see? It was out of love. However, I think that he interpreted my closeness to his father as taking something from him. I think he was determined that I should never take anything from him again, if you want to know the truth. He will give me nothing and he would like me to suffer. I think he sees it as some kind of vengeance.”
“Oh, my,” said Elizabeth, wondering about that. What sort of person was this Mr. Darcy? Would Caroline be safe with him?
“Yes,” said Mr. Wickham. “Yes, he’s not to be trifled with, and he is the worst sort of person, the kind who holds quite a grudge.”
“Well, this is all very good information to know,” she said softly.
“Why? Do you have some business with Mr. Darcy?”
“Well, I mentioned that I have a friend who is enamored with him, I think? I am bound to try to make that a match. She wants me to help her get him to marry her.”
“A marriage scheme?” said Wickham. “Is that the sort of person you are, Miss Bennet? I am a bit surprised at that.”
“A scheme,” she sighed. “Well, we call it matchmaking, which makes it sound as if it’s something sweet, something girlish, rather a game. But the truth is, I think we’re rather good at it, and I’m not sure it’s any of those things.”
“Your friend ought to steer clear of Mr. Darcy.”
“Likely, but she will not,” said Elizabeth. “Nothing you have said to me this evening would sway her, I fear. She will be just as determined no matter what.”
“You know, I think there may be an expected betrothal for Darcy. Your friend might not like to know that.”
“He’s engaged?” said Elizabeth. “Truly?”
“Oh, well, there is a tendency within this family not towrite anything down,” said Wickham. “It’s not a formal, legal engagement, but it is expected. He is to be united with his cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh.”
Elizabeth started. “He is the cousin of Miss de Bourgh, is that so? So that means Lady Catherine is his aunt?”
“Yes, on his mother’s side.”
“What a strange and small world it is,” said Elizabeth, sighing. “Everyone tangled up with everyone else. I am being pursued by Mr. Collins, who is Lady Catherine’s rector and also the heir to the entail of my family’s estate. He wishes to marry me.” She sighed.
“Oh, you don’t wish to marry him, I take it?”
“It is not to my credit to admit such a thing.”
