Born to be a Heroine: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Christine Combe

Author:Christine Combe [Combe, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-05-02T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“Mr. Wickham!” cried Elizabeth, hoping that her step back did not make her appear to be retreating from him.

Though desperately she wished that she could.

He came up the steps at a lazy gait, a genial smile on his face. “Good evening, Miss Bennet,” he said with a slight bow. “My, do you look lovely. And your friend, as well.”

“Sir, what are you doing here?” Elizabeth asked. “Mr. Denny told us that you had been restricted to the camp until further notice—though sorry I was to hear it, as I cannot imagine why.”

“It was Darcy’s doing,” Wickham replied, his gaze flitting between her and Catherine. “He and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, visited the camp the other day and spread more of their mutual hate for me to Colonel Forster. I cannot imagine why he should have believed their lies.”

“Perhaps he means to protect you from them?” she suggested. “After all, even Denny has said you are universally liked.”

Wickham smiled again. “Denny is a capital fellow and a very good friend,” said he. His eyes once more shifted to Catherine. “Speaking of friends, will you not introduce me?”

“Oh, of course,” Elizabeth replied, and performed the introductions quickly.

“So this is the Miss Morland I have heard so much of since my coming to Hertfordshire?” said Wickham with a grin. “I am very pleased to meet you, madam. Miss Bennet’s sisters Kitty and Lydia have told me so much about you, I feel as if we are friends already.”

“I… I am obliged to you, sir,” replied Catherine in a halting voice.

Wickham then glanced toward the house. “To answer your question, Miss Bennet, I am come to see what all the fuss is about. My fellow soldiers have talked of little else these last few days but this ball I have been so meanly left out of. Rather unfair of Darcy, do not you think, to not put aside his enmity for one day and allow me as much enjoyment of an evening of pleasure as the rest of the regiment?”

“Most certainly,” Elizabeth replied, then turned in what she hoped was a casual manner toward Catherine and said, “Miss Morland, I think it best we return to the party, or your brother will come looking for you.”

“Not to mention the gentleman you spoke of earlier may come looking for you,” suggested Wickham. “Pray rest my worries and tell me you were not speaking of Darcy.”

Elizabeth forced a laugh. “Certainly not! You know I dislike him as much as you. We were talking of Mr. Bingley. My good friend here thinks he admires me, but I am sure she is wrong about him. Mr. Bingley’s fortune has been acquired through trade, you see, and if he is to be accepted by society he must distance himself from it as much as possible. I have an uncle who happily works in trade, though it is a respectable line, and as such it makes me an unsuitable candidate for his bride.”

“No doubt he would be poisoned against

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