In Want of a Wife: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Julia Middleton

Author:Julia Middleton [Middleton, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-05T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

That night, Elizabeth and Lady Lacey took a carriage back home from a dinner. Elizabeth had hoped Wickham would be there as the invitation had mentioned officers from the militia. She had been disappointed when he had not appeared.

“I hope you will not allow your spirits to be too downcast, Lizzy,” Lady Lacey chided gently. “Remember, you have only known Wickham for one evening. Do not allow him so much room in your heart when there are many other men for you to meet.”

“I thank you for the warning, but I do not allow him to take up room in my heart.” Elizabeth smiled at her cousin. “Do not fear, Aunt. I am not the sort to allow my heart be given away lightly. It takes quite a bit for me to fall in love. I simply enjoyed Mr Wickham’s company, and had looked forward to some more conversation.”

Lady Lacey nodded and leaned back against the sheep-lined carriage seat. “I am glad to hear it,” she said. “Mr Wickham is a pleasant enough fellow, but…”

Elizabeth looked at her sharply. “But what?” she asked quickly.

Lady Lacey pursed her lips. “I fear he is rather too charming,” she said.

Elizabeth relaxed and laughed heartily. “Too charming? Oh Aunt, I thought you were about to reveal some dreadful flaw I had overlooked. Instead, you say he has too much of a delightful quality. That is like saying a man can be too handsome.”

Lady Lacey raised a pencilled eyebrow. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, my dear, you will see that a man can be too much of that also. No, I mean merely to put you on your guard, my dear. Some men can be so charming that it can blind you to their other…less desirable qualities. I should not wish for that to happen to you.”

“Thank you for the warning,” said Elizabeth. “I do not see what other qualities Mr Wickham could be attempting to hide from me. He was utterly delightful. But you need not have any fear. I am not secretly hoping to marry the gentleman. I did not return home from the ball last night and write long, flowery passages in my journal about how I had met my future husband. Yes, I think Mr Wickham very handsome and very charming, but I am well aware how brief a time I have spent with him. For now, I am simply happy to enjoy his company.”

Lady Lacey nodded. “I am very glad to hear it,” she said. “I would not like you to get hurt, or send you home with a broken heart. Your father would kill me. And I just want to give you some of the benefit of my knowledge that Wickham reminds me strongly of the kind of man who likes to give delight in the short term, but cannot maintain it for very long.” She held up her hands as Elizabeth started to protest again. “I could be wrong, of course. I hope I am.

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