Page 19 of Darcy's Guarded Heart
“Lizzy?” Thomas called.
“Yes, I spoke to him. He would have rather not seen his conversation interrupted but he mostly spoke of the brother, not the sister. He naturally had little good to say about Mr Darcy, although I wonder if perhaps there isn’t some truth in what he said.”
“You would believe him?” Thomas asked, eyebrows arched.
“It is not that I believe everything he has said, but some of what he said rings true when it comes to Mr Darcy.”
Thomas crossed his arms and watched her carefully. She felt a heat rising under her collar beneath his scrutiny. Thomas had a way of looking right through her, correcting her prejudices without even speaking.
“It is true,” she said, “that I have an antipathy towards Mr Darcy. He was rude to me at the assembly, and as you know, I overheard him speaking ill of Jane, Mother, and all of Meryton. Therefore, is it any wonder that when Mr Wickham tells me thatMr Darcy once stole his living from him and generally acted arrogant and haughty, I would believe him?”
Thomas dropped his arms. “It is not at all difficult to believe. I do not think very highly of him either, but I doubt Mr Darcy is as bad as all that. In fact, Mr Bingley spoke of him as a trusted older brother earlier.”
“Mr Bingley appears gentle-minded,” Elizabeth conceded. “Like Jane, he sees the best in everyone, perhaps to a fault.”
“And a gentle-minded man would not regard a cruel-minded one as his dearest friend. All I am saying is, reserve your judgement. I will be able to tell you more soon about Mr Darcy, for Mr Bingley has invited me to go shooting with the two of them tomorrow.”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “With both of them?”
“Well, yes. Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy were going to explore his estate, and I mentioned my familiarity with it, seeing how Mr Morris has allowed Mr Bennet and me to shoot there over the years. So Bingley invited me, and for luncheon afterwards.”
“He is fond of you,” she remarked.
“And I am fond of him. He is genuinely pleasant and does not seem to be at all bothered by my being nothing but a gentleman’s ward.”
“Unlike some other attendees at today’s gathering,” she said, glancing at Mr Darcy, who stood alongside Miss Bingley, deep in conversation. The sight of the two of them talking made her feel a little ill because she knew nothing good could come of it.
“Mr Darcy will yet change his mind. After all, most of Meryton has come to accept me over the years. I am invited tonight, am I not?” Thomas said with a smile.
“You are, but the Lucases are kind people, no matter what Mother likes to say. I am not certain the same can be said for Mr Darcy,” she replied.
Thomas shrugged. “Even if he is unkind, what does it matter? He will be here for a few months, and then both he and his sister will be gone from our lives. If Mr Bingley purchases Netherfield Park, we may see them on occasion, but it will be rare and far between.”
She could not argue with this; still, in the back of her mind, she continued to worry. What if Mr Darcy attempted to interfere with Jane’s blossoming friendship with Mr Bingley? What if Miss Bingley did? Did Thomas give the man too much of the benefit of the doubt?
***
“Thomas has always had good judgement,” her father said later that evening as Elizabeth sat in his study. The hour was late, as they had returned near midnight, but her father was still awake in his study.
He could be found here at all hours, night and day, for this was the place he felt happiest, among his books and treasures.
She knew he’d be awake when they returned, for the little light he kept on in the window still flickered. She smiled to herself upon seeing it, knowing it was his signal for her to enter his study and tell him about the evening.
And there had been much to tell. She spared her father no detail, telling him all about the dance, the food—but most of all about the Darcys and Mr Wickham.
She concluded her tale with her conversation with Thomas.
“I know he is a good judge of character, but I cannot help but feel that in this case Mr Wickham might be right,” Elizabeth said, unable to believe she was even saying such things.
“Mr Wickham has proven himself to be a charming fellow, but not a righteous one. I spoke to Mr King not long ago, and he attempted to lure the poor girl away from her family. When confronted, he claimed to act out of passion, but Mr King doubts it is so. The motivation was financial; we know this.”
“Perhaps. Likely, yes. But then, many act out of such motivations. Mr Darcy would accuse Jane of being interested in Mr Bingley purely for finances.”
Her father raised his hands and placed them flat on the desk.
“I will not argue the point with you, for you are right. Mr Darcy is not entirely wrong to worry either. Your dear Mama is certainly more interested in Mr Bingley’s fortune than in his character. However, I do take exception with anyone thinking our dear Jane capable of deception.”
“She would never deceive anyone. She adores Mr Bingley, and after tonight even more so. She has received her invitation to tea this night from Miss Bingley. Reluctantly, as I was issued.”
