Page 87 of Knowing Mr. Darcy

“Yes,” said Jane.

And so they did.

Jane went first, recounting every moment of everything that had happened to her, and Elizabeth stopped to inquire about when she had realized what Mr. Wickham intended and what it was like walking along through the streets of London and how she happened to end up in the Bingleys’ neighborhood.

“Just a coincidence!” protested Jane. “I had no notion where I was going at all.”

“And you recognized it primarily from my descriptions,” said Elizabeth, who had honestly not been there very often, really. Mr. Bingley had often come to collect her from Gracechurch Street, not invited her there. She had called upon Caroline a few times, however.

“I may have recognized the street name when walking,” admitted Jane. “I did recall the address. I was so tired at that point, Lizzy. I knew it was wrong to go there, but I managedto convince myself that it wouldn’t be if I went in the servants’ entrance.”

“Well, it seems to have worked out for you,” said Elizabeth. “That is, unless you despise him.”

“You would have married him,” said Jane.

“He seems your knight in shining armor, now. He never seemed so willing to hate someone for me,” said Elizabeth. “The way he seethes at Wickham. The way they both do, I suppose.”

“Of course the colonel has other reasons,” said Jane. “Whereas Charles is only doing it because of me.”

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “Oh, it’s Charles, is it?”

“I have no desire to take your castoffs, Lizzy, but I seem to be left with nothing but your castoffs. And as it happens, I always liked him a little.”

“What?”

Jane covered her face with her hands. “Well, I couldn’t tell you that!”

“You certainly could have,” said Elizabeth.

Jane uncovered her face. “No, you were going to marry him. There was no reason to say anything. I found him handsome that night at Meryton, at the ball. It was only that. And then I told myself to stop finding him handsome, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.”

“So, it is him, then,” said Elizabeth.

“Oh, yes, of course,” said Jane. “The colonel doesn’t even like me, I don’t think. I am stringing him along to punish him for asking for my hand at all.”

“Oh, indeed!” Elizabeth nodded fiercely. “He wields his proposals like weapons, does he not?”

“Yes, quite,” said Jane.

“Of course, while you are punishing him, it means you are also punishingCharles.”

Jane laughed. “I may have developed a bit of an evil streak during all of this, I think. And, oh, Lizzy, don’t hate me, but if you have never been fought over by two men, I highly recommend it. It is ever such fun.”

Elizabeth snorted. “I don’t know about that.”

“I know I cannot keep it up forever, but mayn’t I keep it up just a little longer?”

“I think you may do whatever you wish,” said Elizabeth. “It seems we’ve both uncovered our evil streaks.”

“Why, what do you mean?”

Elizabeth cringed. “You’ll be horrified.”

“What?” said Jane. “Are you also in league to kill Wickham?”

Elizabeth laughed. “No, of course not. It’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad,” said Jane. “How bad is it?”