Page 97 of Roses from Pemberley
“Excellent!” said Lydia, clapping her hands together.
Darcy only stared at Wickham then looked at Elizabeth who was now also staring.
“I am afraid that will not be possible, Lydia,” she said in a clear, low voice.
“Whyever not, Lizzy?”
“Yes, why not, Miss Elizabeth?” asked Wickham with feigned curiosity. “Your betrothed did suggest that we could visit and he is a man of his word, are you not Darcy?”
“It is strange,” said Elizabeth, speaking for him, “that you now deem him honorable when it suits your purposes, but spoke ill of him when it did not.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you not tell me that he denied you the living his father had left to you? And did you not also tell me that you would never speak ill of him out of respect for his father? And did you not, as soon as he was out of the area, proceed to tell everyone else this story?”
“I did but…I considered the people here to be my good friends by then.”
“Well then, you should have told them the truth - that you were well-compensated for the living but were only refused it once you asked for it again. Did you not think that it was important to tell this to your friends?”
“I never lied to you,” said Wickham in a clipped voice.
“No, but you withheld facts that would have changed our opinion of you dramatically.”
“I do not have to sit here and be insulted. And besides which you are only saying these things in order to impress your wealthy soon-to-be husband. It seems to me that his wealth is what has driven you to agree to marry him.”
“That is a blatant falsehood!” cried Bingley, good friend that he was.
“Mr. Bingley is correct, Mr. Wickham,” said Elizabeth with a sweet smile, now turning her face towards Darcy. “I agreed to marry him because I love him.”
I love you and wish to marry you,thought Darcy besottedly.
“But can we not speak of something else?” asked Lydia.
“We can, Lydia,” said Elizabeth. “But you must not forget that it was you who brought up the subject of visiting Pemberley in the first place.”
“Yes, and I thought Mr. Darcy had agreed to it.”
Darcy was about to speak when Elizabeth forestalled him again.
“But you forget, Lydia, that I shall be the mistress of Pemberley. And as such I shall never allow your husband to set foot there. Naturally,youshall be allowed to visit.” Elizabeth’s expression grew somber as she added, “But not Mr. Wickham.”
“But how can you say that, Lizzy? We are family and you are turning your back on family!”
“Yes, Lydia, you are my sister. But my loyalty must now lie with my husband.”
Darcy hoped that Elizabeth would look at him so he could show her just how much he appreciated her. But she continued to keep her face averted, staring steadily at Lydia and Wickham. Jane changed the subject and everyone spoke of other matters. But Darcy was still in awe that this woman - his Elizabeth - had defended him against the person who had been the bane of his existence for as long as he could remember. He’d been about to allow Wickham into Pemberley and Elizabeth had actually stopped it with her unique mixture of sweetness and fortitude.
He sagged back in relief, and it was not till much later that she finally glanced at him and gave him a quick, almost apologetic, smile. The evening wore on and nothing else of any consequence occurred.
A few hours later, he stood in the entry hall with Elizabeth as Bingley awaited him in the carriage. Everyone else had gone upstairs but Darcy wished for a moment alone with her in order to thank her for what she had done.
“I apologise for their impudence,” she said quickly, before he could speak. “I know you have been tolerating their company over the last two days and I want you to know that I am most appreciative of it…”
“Elizabeth,” he said, interrupting.
“Yes?” she said softly, her head bent low.
“You do not need to apologise. In fact, it is I who should be thanking you.”
