The ball had been lovely and the entire Bennet family practically floated home (aside from Mr Bennet, who was far too sensible to float). Elizabeth had managed to put Mr Darcy from her mind and dance with more amenable partners - although the person that she most wanted to dance with was not in attendance. She wondered again what could have kept Mr Wickham.
She did not have to wait long for an answer. The Bennet girls attended a dinner at their Aunt and Uncle Philips' house in Meryton. The Philips had also invited several of the officers to dine with them, much to Lydia and Kitty's glee. One of those officers was Mr Wickham. Elizabeth was nearly as giddy as her sisters, although she hid it much better than they.
"Miss Elizabeth! What an exquisite pleasure to see you once again!"
Elizabeth felt her cheeks turn the same colour that they were after a brisk walk. "Mr Wickham, I did not know that you would be present tonight."
"I thought I quite owed it to you after my absence at the Netherfield ball."
"Certainly, sir, you do not owe me anything, although I did notice that you were not there."
He smiled at her. "Is there anything more wonderful in life than to be missed by a pretty girl? Know that if the situation were different, I would have requested a scandalous number of dances from you."
"Scandalous! Well, perhaps it was best that you were not there. May I enquire as to the situation that delayed you?"
"I was being vague when I said 'situation'. To speak plainly, there was a person there who has done me grievously badly."
"No! Who is this person?"
"Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. Have you been introduced?"
"I have - I danced with him last night." Elizabeth was not particularly surprised to learn the name of the man. Clearly her first impression of him had been correct. "In what way has he wronged you?"
"It is a sad story of an honourable man's last desire thwarted. Mr Darcy and I have known each other since childhood. My father was Mr Darcy's father's steward, and the elder Mr Darcy was my godfather. The younger Mr Darcy and I came up together. I was a favourite of his father and Darcy and I were quite like brothers."
Elizabeth was enthralled by this story, but propriety stopped the many questions she had. She stayed silent in the hope that Mr Wickham would answer those questions as he talked.
"The late Mr Darcy had always planned to give me the best living he had available. I was raised for the church and I had never imagined my life anywhere else. However, after Mr Darcy's death, the younger Mr Darcy gave away the living that was to be mine to another man.
Elizabeth could stay silent no longer. "But how could he ignore his father's will?"
"I am afraid that the promise the late Mr Darcy gave to me was of the informal sort. However, I took both the man and the son to be gentlemen and assumed that I would receive my due."
"How horrible, that he denied you your living!"
"I am exceedingly lucky that Denny told me of the opportunity here in the militia. A military life is not what I had planned, but it is a far cry better than being destitute."
"I am so angry on your behalf!" said Elizabeth. "I know now that Mr Darcy is deceitful in addition to being proud. How I wish more people knew how ill he used you!"
"What is done is done, and I have made my peace. And one lovely thing has come of it. If I had entered the church, I might never have met you."
Elizabeth blushed once again. She seemed to be making a habit of it every time she was around Mr Wickham.
Jane wore a worried look when Elizabeth told her what she had learnt from Mr Wickham.
"I cannot reconcile what you are telling me with the Mr Darcy I know."
"I do not understand how you feel that a man as unpleasant as Darcy is incapable of such behaviour."
"I just do not believe that anyone who is as close to dear Mr Bingley as Mr Darcy is could behave so poorly."
"Do you doubt Mr Wickham?" Elizabeth asked.
"He has given me no reason to do so."
"Dear Jane. Were we all to be as generous in spirit as you. It is clear that both of them cannot be thought of highly."
"Still, I would rather hear Mr Darcy's side of things before making judgement."
"I cannot imagine what he could possibly say to acquit himself, but as I love you more dearly than anyone, I will speak no more of the subject."
Elizabeth kept her word - at least for a time.
Mr Collins returned to Hunsford, with the intention of returning in a month to marry Mary. This provided enough time for the banns to be read and for the Bennets to prepare, but it was so busy that Elizabeth had little time to consider the situation between Mr Wickham and Mr Darcy.
Mr Bingley once again opened his house to the Bennet family and their guests for the wedding breakfast. Elizabeth knew that Mr Bingley was kind by nature, but she suspected that he also did not mind the opportunity to spend time with Jane. They were still getting along wonderfully, and Elizabeth suspected that she was not alone in anticipating another engagement any day.
The day of the wedding arrived quickly. Mary was being bossier than normal and Elizabeth knew it was just her way of working through the nerves. Mary was dressed in her finest and escorted by her family to the church. Elizabeth suspected that there had never been two people who took a ceremony more seriously than Mary and Mr Collins. They solemnly intoned their parts as required, and soon they were wed.
Elizabeth had tears of joy in her eyes, which Mr Collins took in the wrong way. He took her aside and said, "dear Cousin Elizabeth, I know that you are thinking of what might have been. I certainly never intended to get your hopes up only to dash them. I wish for you to find someone who makes you as happy as my bride does me." He beamed at Mary from across the courtyard.
It was his wedding day; who was she, on this of all days, to deny him his mistaken pride? Elizabeth simply nodded and told him she would not marry until she felt a love as strong as he and Mary did, "even if it might make me a spinster." With that she made her escape, dabbing her eyes until she was well away from him. At least he would remain a decent trip away most of the time. The man really was so foolish.
The wedding breakfast was the first time that Elizabeth had seen Mr Darcy since the engagement ball. What is more, she was seated directly next to him. Miss Bingley had returned, but she was seated further down the other side of the table. Elizabeth considered ignoring Darcy, but she did not want to be rude at such a happy occasion. Mr Darcy, for his part, was as stiff and formal as ever. Halfway through the second course Elizabeth could restrain herself no longer and spoke.
"I met someone of your acquaintance in the village recently. A man who knows you from your youth."
"I cannot imagine of whom you speak, Miss Elizabeth."
"To hear him tell, you two know each other quite well - or you did, once. His name is Wickham."
At the mention of Wickham's name, the colour drained from Darcy's face, which Elizabeth took as a further confirmation of his guilt. It took Darcy but a moment to compose himself.
"Mr Wickham is good at making new friends. Whether he is able to keep them is another thing entirely."
"It seems that you have no value for his friendship, after you used him so poorly!" responded Elizabeth. "Taking away his living. That poor man."
Darcy uttered a humourless laugh. "Oh, is that the way of it by his telling?"
"Do you have any defence?"
"You will think of me what you will, so there is no point in continuing this conversation."
And they sat in silence, each angry for a different reason, until the breakfast was over.
