Darcy's Second Chance by P. A. Hill

Author:P. A. Hill [Hill, P. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-07-24T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Mrs. Bennet was the first to tell her husband the news from the dance and about Mr. Darcy’s change from months ago. “Mr. Bennet,” she said, I must say he was as much a gentleman as anyone there, and I am certain he has improved his standing amongst the locals. I saw him speaking with the other gentlemen and ladies present and he did not act haughty or above his company. He only danced with Lizzy and Jane and his sister but he was kind and respectful to all the ladies and complimented me about my looks and my dress. After Lydia’s fall he was most kind when he went to assist her. Oh, excuse me, I have not told you that Mr. Wickham was drunk and pulled Lydia onto the dance floor and when she pulled back he let her go and she fell back into the serving station and knocked it over.”

“What are you saying, Mrs. Bennet? I understood that Mr. Wickham had moved on to Brighton with his regiment.”

“Papa,” Elizabeth said, “he had gone to Brighton but Mr. Darcy suspects that Lord Elkton paid off Wickham’s creditors in Meryton as well as the merchant whose daughter Wickham fondled. Mr. Darcy also believes that Lord Elkton used his connections to allow Wickham to resign his commission with the militia.”

“Lizzy, it appears your friend has figured this all out, but this is all speculation and conjecture. There is no proof of anything. Perhaps Mr. Darcy would have been a renowned investigator in another life, but I doubt that he is correct in what he proposes and I cannot understand why you would believe a man that you hate. Mr. Wickham is very resourceful, but I want nothing to do with him or his friend, even if he is Lord Elkton, and I most certainly will not allow my daughters to go near either man. What do you suppose Wickham did for Lord Elkton in exchange for his money and his connections?”

“Papa, Wickham told the man that I was a likely candidate to be seduced. He knew that Mr. Darcy was my friend and once he saw that Miss Darcy and I were at the assembly together, Wickham probably suggested that both of us might be seduced. You know of Wickham’s past with Miss Darcy, but now Lord Elkton had two choices.”

“This is not to be believed.”

“Yes, papa, I overheard Wickham and Lord Elkton arguing and saying such things, but I was near the men and heard everything but I suspect others could not hear because of the music. Both men appeared to be drunk and soon Mr. Wickham was forcefully removed from the assembly and was taken sick before he could exit.”

“So has Mr. Darcy ran both men through? I should think that would be an acceptable retribution.”

“No papa, but Mr. Darcy spotted a reporter from The Times who writes all the gossip columns. I suspect he will not have any flattering things to say about either of these men.

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