CHAPTER TWO

"Thank you for coming out to speak with me," Wickham said to Darcy.

Elizabeth stayed out of sight, watching and listening to the two of them. She knew that Mr. Darcy had been quite awful to Mr. Wickham, and she had to admit she was curious to see if he would be more awful still or if he might make some conciliatory gesture towards his childhood friend. Certainly, after how badly Darcy had treated Wickham, Wickham was owed that.

"You were not barred from the assembly tonight," Darcy said in a tight voice. "If you have come to beg for acceptance, I will grant it, but I would ask that you stay clear of me. And I do think that it is rather late to be arriving at a ball. There is very little dancing left, I shouldn't wager."

"I have not come to gain entrance to your friend's little ball," said Wickham, chuckling softly. "Not by half, Darcy."

"I had thought you stayed away out of shame," said Darcy. "But now I see that I should have realized that you are not capable of such an emotion."

Hmm, thought Elizabeth. What does Wickham have to be ashamed of? Isn't it Darcy who should be ashamed?

"Indeed, I do not think I have anything to be ashamed of," said Wickham. "I have only been trying to secure for myself what is my right."

"Your right?" Darcy let out a harsh, disbelieving laugh. "How do you come to that conclusion?"

"Darcy, I was raised just as you were," said Wickham. "I was good enough to be your playmate. Your schoolmate. And yet, now, you want to look down on me as if I am lesser than you."

"You are lesser than me," said Darcy. "Not because of your birth, but because of your actions. You have consistently made poor choices, and if I were to keep enabling you to make more, you should learn nothing. No, I have done quite enough for you, and I shall do no more. I have only come out to speak to you to tell you that you are on your own. I won't listen to another sob story. The fact that you think you can plead from me after what you tried with my sister—"

"That was the deepest injustice of all," said Wickham. "You thought to stand in the way of true love, and who are you to say that—"

"Your only love is money," said Darcy. "And even that you don't love enough to learn how to manage properly."

Wickham shook his head. "Listen to me, you don't understand. For you, there is always more. Whatever mistakes you make, they are not of any consequence, because you have the vast Darcy estate behind you to fritter away—"

"Do you see me frittering?" Darcy's face was getting red. "I think this conversation is over. I don't know what it is you want from me, but you won't get it, and I don't think you should come inside after all. I think you should leave."

Elizabeth was a bit confused, although she thought that perhaps what Wickham may have been talking about when he referred to what was his right was perhaps the living that had been left to him. That Darcy could pretend that was not Wickham's right only proved what an odious man he truly was.

"Listen, I have something I'd like to show you," said Wickham. "If you'd accompany me to the carriage over there?" He gestured.

Elizabeth followed his hand to see that a carriage was standing on the drive, the driver in the seat, and the horses snorting and stamping in the cold.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Wickham, I think I have made myself clear—"

"Just for a moment," said Wickham. "Please, Darcy, it won't take long."

Darcy sighed. "If I go and look at this thing you wish to show me, will you then go away?"

"With all haste," said Wickham.

"All right, then." Darcy shook his head, looking perturbed. "I shall look, then."

"Thank you," said Wickham. He inclined his head. "After you."

Darcy hurried down the steps with Wickham on his heels. They approached the carriage, Darcy going first and Wickham coming behind him.

Darcy approached the carriage. "What is this I'm supposed to be looking at?"

"You can't see it?" said Wickham, who was pulling something out of his sleeve. "It's right in front of you."

Darcy stopped short, squinting. "I see nothing."

Wickham drew out a wooden club. He smirked, and then he brought the club down on the back of Darcy's head.

What? Elizabeth could hardly believe what she was seeing. She let out a noise of surprise.

Wickham turned at the sound.

At the same moment, Darcy crumpled to the ground, unconscious.


That's all for today! Again, you can pre-order the book on Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iBooks, or Google Play or you can buy the paperback. It'll be delivered to your ereader on the 30th in its entirety. The book is about 63,000 words and it's coming it at 250 paperback pages, for you information. Otherwise, I'll see you back here for the next installment.