Page 53 of The Widower of Pemberley

Mr. Wickham smiled at hearing this, and she gained a sense that some tension left his frame. “No extended shopping for wedding clothes? No chance to enjoy the season of courtship and its great joys and little inconveniences? And no chance to enjoy the envy of all your friends at your good fortune? Hurrying a woman to the altar in such a rushed manner is very much like Darcy.”

What did he mean?

“My father is exceedingly ill,” Elizabeth replied, “and his current condition would have made it impossible for me to take great joy in the season of courtship.”

“I heard something of that. An attack of apoplexy. Terrible thing. A series of them took my own old man off. Has Darcy ever mentioned him to you?”

“I do not believe so.”

“Never my name? He never talked about his father’s steward, old Wickham, or dear George his childhood friend?”

“No,” Elizabeth replied, all interest. “Your father was the steward to Mr. Darcy’s father?”

“Yes, and I was his godson. Old Mr. Darcy was my dearest friend, and after he died, I remained amongst the family as Lady Anne delighted in my company. I could make her laugh and smile when her son’s restrained manners never could.”

“What was Mrs. Darcy like?” Elizabeth asked, unable to contain her curiosity to hear something about her predecessor.

“A lovely woman, beyond any compare. Lively, clever, quick, with an easy turn for laughter and an ability to make any room brighter. I sobbed the day she died— But you cannot wish to hear the woman whose position you will replace praised so much. Poor, poor Mrs. Darcy!”

Elizabeth frowned. “And Mr. Darcy’s mother?”

“A great woman, always dignified, always kind, always willing to condescend to be my dear friend.” Mr. Wickham hummed. “And when will Darcy return from town? I must judge him ill for leaving you alone at such a time. For shame.”

Feeling quite annoyed on behalf of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth replied, “He is attending to matters necessary before our marriage. The chief part of his business is the acquisition of the licence, and having the draft settlement written. It would be an odd woman indeed who complained about the eagerness of the man that she will marry to settle those matters. And Miss Darcy visits me every day.”

“Miss Darcy is also present in Hertfordshire? And allowed to mingle in society? Georgiana. Does my dear Georgiana ever mention me? Does she ever mention poor George?”

That triggered a memory for Elizabeth. “Your name has been mentioned by her once or twice.”

Georgiana had been unhappy that a George had been thrown from the house suddenly. It had happened at nearly the same time that Mrs. Darcy had been locked in her rooms…

Dear Georgiana perhaps lacked the suspicion, or maybe the private knowledge, to combine such facts in the obvious manner.But Elizabeth’s mind quickly formed a suspicion regardingwhyprecisely he had been sent away.

As Mr. Wickham continued to speak, Elizabeth drew away from him. An antipathy towards Mr. Darcy was evident in much that the officer had said.

“I devoted hours to Miss Darcy’s entertainment,” Mr. Wickham continued, “and the years I spent in the company of her and Lady Anne were amongst the happiest in my life. I do not like to speak of the previous Mrs. Darcy. But poor Mary! She has been forgotten by him so soon. I cannot think of them all without grief.”

“I assure you,” Elizabeth said, “that Mr. Darcy still thinks a great deal of the first Mrs. Darcy. He has not forgotten her. But he must marry again.”

“It must be odd to step into the place of such a grand woman as the previous Mrs. Darcy. You cannot like to think that your husband loved another woman before you. But Darcy has no ability to comfort others.Hetakes no delight in softness or feminine weakness.Hemakes few allowances for error. I would be anxious to marry such a man if I were you.”

Elizabeth had a temptation to simply walk away from the conversation.

“I apologise, Miss Elizabeth.” Mr. Wickham made calming gestures. “I see that I offended you. It is only—Mrs. Darcy was dear to me, and she was treated abominably by your future husband. I spoke in her defence. That I took her side is the principal reason why I was banished from Pemberley. It will be different with you, I am sure. Darcy is a most changeable man.”

“That does not matchmyimage of him.”

“Have you heard anything about how Mrs. Darcy died?”

“Yes, there are many rumours.” Elizabeth forced a smile.

“Be careful. It would be an unwise thing to offend him. He can be a tyrant of the worst sort.”

Elizabeth stood. “This conversation has enlightened me enormously. Mr. Darcy will be delighted to hear that a friend of such long standing is present in the neighbourhood. I shall certainly inform him when I see him.”

She curtsied to Mr. Wickham, and he smiled back at her, though his expression was pale.

Despite the delight that Kitty and Lydia took in their chances to speak with the handsome officer during the night, and their envy of Elizabeth getting the first opportunity to converse with him, Elizabeth hoped to see nothing more of the man.