There You Were: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Michelle Ray

Author:Michelle Ray [Ray, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quills & Quartos Publishing
Published: 2021-06-13T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

James and I followed Georgiana as she ran past the stalls towards the town’s permanent buildings. The crowd thinned and, as we approached the back of the milliner’s, we all stopped short. Mr Darcy was squared off against Mr Wickham, who was accompanied by…Lady Lydia! Both Mr Wickham and Lady Lydia were in travel clothes, and I noticed a satchel on the ground near her feet.

I could not see Mr Darcy’s face, but his shoulders were tense and his hands balled into fists. Mr Wickham, on the other hand, appeared more relaxed with one hand pressed against the wall of the shop. His other hand was on Lady Lydia’s shoulder.

“Lydia!” James called out, his voice barely containing his rage.

Mr Darcy spun around and once he spotted her, ordered Georgiana to return to the group. Gone was the civility and caution he typically used with his sister, replaced by a panic and fury I had never seen. She scurried off, glancing back once at the man who had nearly ruined her life.

“Lydia,” James repeated, and what was left of the colour in her face drained away.

Mr Wickham leaned in and said something in her ear that made her blush.

Mr Darcy’s nails bit into the palms of his hands, as if willing himself not to strike Mr Wickham. “Wickham, I shall ask once again: what business have you with my cousin?”

Mr Wickham merely glared in response and James, with a jerk of his head, motioned for Mr Darcy to step aside. Eyes ablaze, Mr Darcy stormed to where I stood.

Lady Lydia shifted, causing Mr Wickham’s hand to fall to his side. “W-well, we—you see, we are— He came to find me because he wishes to m-marry me.”

My eyes darted from James and Mr Darcy to Mr Wickham, who—to my astonishment—returned his hand to her shoulder.

James’s jaw clenched. “Are our parents aware that you are here?”

She shook her head. “You know they do not approve of such events, nor of our mixing with those not in our circle.”

“Let me return you home,” James said, his fierce gaze fixed on Mr Wickham.

No one moved.

“Lydia, come along!” When she did not move, James stepped toward her, hand outstretched.

Mr Wickham slapped James’s hand away. Everyone froze, and in that moment I became aware of the distant sounds of drums and laughter.

James bared his teeth. “Remove your hands from my sister at once.”

Whereas the rest of us were balled nerves and tense muscles, Mr Wickham appeared relaxed, leaning back on his heels. I could not tell if his calm was feigned or if he was truly unconcerned, sure he would win this argument and whisk Lady Lydia away as he desired. As if speaking of the weather, he said, “Lydia shall depart with me.”

“An elopement?” Mr Darcy bellowed, stepping to James’s side. “You attempted that once! You would bring another lady into disrepute?”

Lady Lydia jutted her chin at us, seemingly emboldened. “Wickham told me all about playing at eloping with Georgiana. What a laugh! He promised to marry me the moment we reach London.

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