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Mr Wickham had proved as constant as he was charming. In the weeks since their first meeting, Elizabeth had met with him nearly every day. As her mother had hoped, he called at Longbourn several times, and they had also met several times in Meryton.

Mrs Bennet had not hesitated to call him smitten, even madly in love with her. That was obviously nonsense, and premature to boot — and yet Elizabeth could not help thinking that he did seem more than commonly interested.

“You should press for a quick engagement,” her mother urged.

Elizabeth was not at all tempted to agree. Charming as the man was, she could not think of love until she might claim to truly understand his character, to find it as worthy as his manners. Nor could she imagine that Mr Wickham was truly in love with her — not yet.

One circumstance had greatly increased her respect and admiration for him.

Upon learning of Elizabeth’s legacy to come, he had not changed his behaviour in the slightest. Alone among all the men who had suddenly claimed to admire her since that fateful express had come to Longbourn, only Wickham seemed to value her for her own merits, not because she was in line to inherit a grand fortune.

One afternoon, a letter arrived for them from their Aunt Gardiner in London. Their father broke the seal, all of them hovering around to hear the news. “What does it say, Papa?” Lydia asked breathlessly.

“I can’t quite make it out —”

“May I, Papa?” Elizabeth asked, holding out her hand for the letter. She had become an expert in deciphering her aunt’s flowery hand.

Her father handed it over without hesitation, and Elizabeth began to read aloud.

∞∞∞

My dear family,

It is with great excitement that I write to you this afternoon.

Forgive me for the unusual shortness of my letter, but Mr Gardiner and I have come up with an idea that I hope will delight you as much as it does ourselves.

We would like to invite our eldest nieces, Jane and Elizabeth, to come to us for an extended visit.

Surely the girls would enjoy the diversions of Town for a time, while we would benefit from their assistance with the children. Their cousins miss them terribly.

We will provide all that is needed for their travel to and from Town. Please write as quickly as possible, as we should be most grateful to have them here by the first week of next month.

With love,

Aunt Gardiner

∞∞∞

“Elizabeth and Jane only?” Lydia whined. “Why can I not go? I have never been to Town!” she cried.

“It is terribly unfair, my dear,” their mother chimed in. Mrs Bennet snatched the letter from Elizabeth and read it all again, as though to be sure Elizabeth had read it correctly. “I do not see why my brother’s wife only invited Jane and Elizabeth. Why don’t we all go to Town?”

Elizabeth held her tongue, but privately thought that Lydia would be a nuisance for her aunt and uncle.

To control her amid all the excitement of London would be a prodigious task.

Their father rose from his chair and motioned for Jane and Elizabeth to follow him.

“I will speak with you two alone in the library, if you please.”

They followed their father down the hall, all the while hearing their mother and younger sisters bemoaning how unfair it was that their aunt and uncle had not invited all the girls.

Mary alone was quiet, for London held little to tempt her.

It was a relief to close the door of the study behind them, shutting out Lydia’s complaints and Kitty’s sobs.

Quiet at last. Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. Their father went to the window and sat in his favourite chair, steepling his hands under his chin. “Well, what do you think, girls? Will you go to London to visit your aunt?”

Jane looked as though she wanted to refuse, but did not quite know how.

“I am unsure if it is a good idea to leave at the moment, Papa. The roads can be so very treacherous —” She let her words trail off, but Elizabeth could guess the real reason she did not wish to leave at the moment.

Her relationship with Mr Bingley was blooming.

London was nothing compared to true love.

Elizabeth turned the idea over for a moment before answering.

“I think I should like to go, Papa. I am not so worried about the roads, and Uncle will send his private carriage, I presume?” She glanced at Jane.

“I own I am tempted by the amusements of London, and I should like to be a help to my aunt if I can.”

“I know she will be most grateful for the help, Lizzy. And I assume Mr Gardiner will send the carriage for you. He would not want you to take the public stage,” her father said.

He seemed rather downcast. Was he worried that she would like it so much that she would not want to return?

“And so you really would like to go, then?”

“Yes, Papa,” Elizabeth replied. Besides seeing her dear little cousins, it would give her a chance away from all the hubbub around her inheritance.

In London, she would be able to catch her breath, leaving behind the gentleman that hung around her like a thick fog only because she was soon to be very rich.

And it would give her some time to think about her budding relationship with Mr Wickham.

Did she even dare label it as a relationship?

Surely they could only be classified as good friends at the moment.

But she could not deny that it might turn into something more.

Only Elizabeth could not help but feel that things seemed to be moving too quickly. A little time away would be just the thing to reveal the depth — or lack thereof — of their feelings.

Her father sighed. Mr Bennet had never seen the allure of London. It was overcrowded and carried a stench that stung the eyes, as he always put it. He stood and shrugged. “Very well, I shall write back to them right away and let them know of your desire to come,” their father said.

When they left the library, Lydia and Kitty were waiting for them, ready to pounce. “I am going to London, but Jane will stay.”

This revelation caused no shortage of drama, but Elizabeth and Jane quickly disappeared from the scene, retreating to their bedroom to speak in confidence.

“I will be sad to travel to London without you, Jane. but I understand,” Elizabeth said with a knowing smile. “Who knows? Perhaps I will return to the news that you and Mr Bingley have become engaged.”

Her words had the desired effect, causing Jane’s cheeks to colour deeply. “I have no hopes to that end —”

“Perhaps you should. I can see that you care for him deeply. I believe he feels the same for you, Jane. You must not sell yourself short.”

Jane turned away. She stood and began pacing about at the end of the bed. “I cannot put my hopes in that yet, Lizzy. I must admit that I esteem him — that I very much like him —”

“Come now. You can say what you truly feel to me. I am your sister and your closest friend, am I not?” Elizabeth asked. “You are in love with him.”

Jane looked at her with a mixture of agony and ecstasy. “How can I say it before he has declared himself? Will I not ruin my chances?”

“I have never figured you for the superstitious type. But if it worries you that much, then I will desist. I can only say that I have every hope, even if you feel you cannot say the same, that I will soon be able to call Mr Bingley my brother.” She stood and went to her sister, grasping her hands and holding them close to her heart.

“It will give me the greatest pleasure to see you married and settled with such a man. And so close to home, as well.”

Jane blushed furiously but did not say another word about it. It was strange. Her sister rarely showed her true feelings, even to Elizabeth. But where Mr Bingley was concerned, it was growing more and more difficult for her quiet sister to conceal them.

Later that afternoon, almost like clockwork, Mr Wickham arrived for his visit. After everyone was settled with cups of tea and dainty cakes, she turned to Mr Wickham to tell him the news. Elizabeth was rather curious to gauge his reaction to her leaving Meryton.

“It is good that you have come to visit us this afternoon, Mr Wickham, for I am afraid there will be a brief interruption in our acquaintance before much longer. I am soon to be leaving Meryton for London, to visit my aunt and uncle.”

Elizabeth was soon taken aback, for he was far more shocked and dismayed than she would have expected.

“You are leaving? How very unfortunate. I had hoped to see you at the next assembly. Do you know we have never had the chance to dance?” He was so upset that she wondered if she was doing the right thing.

“I have heard how you dearly love to dance, from your sisters.”

“I do, at that.” Had she done the wrong thing? Mr Wickham was so very upset, and it was true they had not yet had the opportunity to dance together. The rest of the visit was rather subdued.

The next day was filled with preparations for her journey to London, for Elizabeth expected to be gone within the next few days, as soon as her uncle could send his carriage for her.

In the midst of getting ready to depart, there was another surprise. The maid came to her bedroom and announced that Mr Wickham had come to call.

Elizabeth glanced at the small clock on the mantel in surprise. “So early?” But that he would come at such a time was surely a compliment. At any rate, she would take it as such.

She hurriedly put her hair in order and went down to the drawing room to meet him.

Kitty and Lydia had been keeping him company, but when Elizabeth arrived, she shooed them away, leaving the door open to prevent any risk of impropriety.

“Is everything well, Mr Wickham?” she asked curiously.

“I hope that there is not a problem at the barracks?”