Page 47 of Bitterness of Spirit

“No. I can see the matter is of great importance to you, but your spirit sounded so bitter when you accused her of jeopardising my life for her selfishness, that I wonder you proposed to her at all. Your disdain seemed stronger than your affection—if it exists.”

Darcy fought for the last remnants of calmness. “Mr. Wilson, you had the insolence to enter my house and insult my character, then judge my feelings and my reasons regarding a most private and important decision. I would never accept such impertinence from anyone else, and I shall not debate this subject any further. But I do admit that I was hasty and unfair in accusing Miss Elizabeth, and perhaps my accusations came from a bitterness of spirit, as you claimed. I am tired, and my mind is not clear enough to continue such a discussion with reasonable composure.”

“Would you rather stop now and resume our conversation tomorrow? It is late, and we both are in a precarious state of mind.”

“May I ask where you live, Mr. Wilson?”

“One street away from you,” the guest replied, much to Darcy’s puzzlement.

“Then I assume the time you spent abroad was quite successful.”

The answer came quickly and in a mocking tone. “If you count only the financial aspects—very much so. I actually intended to purchase a house here, but I could not find one to my liking for sale.”

Darcy was reluctant to give it complete credit, but the man’s self-sufficiency and forthrightness spoke of his confidence in his words.

“And…Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet?” Darcy finally inquired. He did not miss the mischievous smile on his guest’s face.

“My sister, with her entire family, is staying with me. There was a fire in a house on Gracechurch Street several days ago, and although nobody was hurt, there are still disturbing signs of the accident.”

“I see…” His mind was filled with only one thought. Elizabeth was in his vicinity, and there might be other opportunities to meet her again. And she did not send Mr. Wilson to him, nor had she said anything ill of him recently.

“Mr. Wilson, would you rather leave, or should I ask for more coffee?” Darcy asked.

The answer came after a short hesitation. “Some fresh coffee would be lovely. And something to eat.”

***

Another half an hour passed, while servants brought more coffee and several dishes of food.

“So, may I dare clarify this? You proposed to Miss Elizabeth, and she refused you? A country girl, the daughter of a gentleman from Hertfordshire with a small estate was offered the hand of an eligible young man, and she rejected it?”

Darcy did not miss the jest and he was not in the slightest amused. “Yes. During that proposal, I discovered what you have already told me: that my behaviour, which I thought to be clearly in her favour, was interpreted as cold and disdainful.”

“Well, young man, perhaps you have to adjust your manners.”

“I hope you do not intend to educate me, sir,” Darcy responded coldly.

“Not at all, I assure you. However, you must admit that something was wrong in your manners since you made such a poor general impression. We have been talking for only a short while, and I can safely say that the negative accounts I heard about you are not true.”

“I cannot deny that my manners need improvement. I do not possess the talent of making myself agreeable with strangers. I try to behave honourably, and I speak the truth—but nothing more.”

“Darcy, you do not take the trouble of making yourself likeable because you have never needed to do so. I bet that young ladies compete to gain your attention, no matter how haughty you behave. They are interested more in your situation as a future husband than in your character. I would also bet that you never in your life imagined you might propose to a lady and be rejected.”

Darcy glared at him then moved to the window. “This conversation has become awkward. It is appalling that I should discuss such a delicate matter with anyone, even less with a complete stranger.”

“I agree. But should we not clarify this once and for all? I am in possession of a secret that I never should have discovered. Since I have, would it be best to ignore it or to settle it?”

“What is there to settle? Miss Elizabeth would surely be angry if she were aware of this discussion. But she cannot be angrier with me than she already is, nor can she have a lower opinion on me than she already has—so there is not much danger on this side.”

“Of that, I cannot testify since she did not say a word about you.”

“Well, what could she have said in the presence of her sister and friend?”

“Did I understand correctly that you wrote her a letter? I know I am not allowed to inquire further, but we have already passed the edge of decorum in this discussion. And my only excuse is that I am concerned for both Miss Elizabeth’s and your wellbeing.”

“Speaking about the letter is the least improper thing that we have discussed,” Darcy admitted. “I wrote it because I wished to provide enough information to avoid having the Darcy name polluted. I thought I deserved to at least defend myself and offer an explanation for my behaviour, just as Miss Elizabeth deserved to know the truth about a matter in which she had been deceived.”

“I hope you succeeded. I heard there was a friend of yours, a fellow named Bingley, who made a positive impression on the Bennets. Do you have news of him?”