Mr. Darcy Falls on His Feet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Sophie Lynbrook

Author:Sophie Lynbrook [Lynbrook, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

Mr. Darcy felt awash with confidence. Everything was going well.

Elizabeth liked him, and their conversations were delightful. He was practically part of the family. He had done right by Bingley and Miss Bennet, who looked very likely to be engaged before long. He was looking forward to risking his dignity, though preferably not his head, on Oakham Mount.

He had also been friendly with callers at Longbourn, including a few of the officers, who had already taken advantage of being able to walk there. Thankfully Mr. Wickham had not been among them. Hopefully he wouldn’t show up for that evening either, but if he did, then Mr. Darcy could face that challenge too.

But as the time for the party drew near, he found himself anxious. When the officers arrived, he surveyed their faces in trepidation. And his heart sank upon spotting the person he least wanted to see of all the people in the world.

That was the beginning of Mr. Darcy doing a dance of evasion. Whichever way Wickham went in what appeared to be a rather pointed display of his popularity, Mr. Darcy went the opposite. And although he was trying not to be aloof, he found himself drifting more and more to the edges of the company.

Meanwhile Mr. Wickham was a shining star, full of gaiety and charm, surrounded by friends who laughed at his wit and young ladies who gazed at him with admiration.

Thankfully Elizabeth was not one of them. She barely spoke to him at all. That was one great comfort. And she did speak to Mr. Darcy. Quite a lot in fact.

As the evening wore on, he suspected that Wickham had been drinking heavily. His voice grew louder, his eyes glittered too much, and he was excessively animated. When some of the officers sat down to a game of cards it was under his encouragement that the stakes exceeded what was suitable to the occasion.

And when Mr. Darcy drew nearer to their table than he had intended, Mr. Wickham addressed him. “Will you be joining us, Darcy?”

“I thank you, no.”

He made to turn away, but Wickham spoke again, his voice all mockery.

“Too rich for your blood, is it? Gentlemen, you see before you one of the wealthiest men in England, but we lowly officers are playing too high for him. Darcy never did like to gamble. He does not have the heart for it. Nor does he know how to take pleasure in anything.”

“I am far from being one of the wealthiest men in England,” Mr. Darcy said. “And I take pleasure in a great many things. I often enjoy a game of cards with friends, and sometimes I play high when the circumstances are appropriate. But I am not ashamed to say that I do not care for the wasteful practice of gambling excessively.”

“I see that you share Lady Catherine’s opinion, Sir,” said a voice behind Mr. Darcy. Stepping forward, Mr. Collins addressed Mr. Wickham. “Although she is a lady of much wealth, we limit ourselves to sixpenny bets at Rosings Park.

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