Page 35 of Missing

"William, dear, Mr. Wickham was only taking his leave," said Elizabeth, a little nervous to see her husband so enraged.

"Elizabeth, do not lie to your husband. You know our conversation was only beginning," Wickham added with a mischievous smile. He delighted in seeing Dalton out of control and Elizabeth attempting to calm her foolish husband.

"Elizabeth, please go to the carriage and wait for me there.

I shall come as soon as I have settled a few matters with this man," William said, on the verge of losing control.

He felt inclined to tear Wickham to pieces when he heard him speak so familiarly to his wife, but he was aware that they were in a public place, and Wickham wished to provoke him.

"Please, do not take long, my dear." Seeing William so serious, Elizabeth preferred not to contradict him and went to the carriage, praying that things would not worsen. She hoped her husband would be brief, that he would not lose control nor do something he would later regret.

"Dalton, I must congratulate you on persuading the lovely Elizabeth to marry you…" Wickham could not finish, for William seized him by the cravat and threatened him.

"Do not ever refer to my wife in those terms again. She is Mrs. Dalton to you," William said furiously. But when he noticed that some people were watching them, he preferred to release that scoundrel. He would not draw further attention.

Wickham straightened his cravat and jacket and said mockingly, "Dalton, I shall give you some advice, and I hope you remember it so you do not suffer such problems again.

When a man marries a woman as pretty and amiable as Elizabeth, he must learn not to be so jealous, for other men will always admire her.

Whether you like it or not, many will seek to seduce her and—"

"Do not say another word, or I—"

"I know, you will strike me or kill me. But I do not fear your threats. Do you think you are the first jealous husband who ever threatened me?"

"I heard clearly that my wife told you to let her go, and I saw how you disturbed her. Do not attempt to imply that she conversed with you as a friend, for we both know that is a lie."

"And why so much jealousy then, Dalton? For your information, we were good friends in Hertfordshire.

Though I think we were attracted, we both understood that nothing was possible between us, given our respective financial situations.

I hope you are not so insecure a husband as to think anyone might steal your wife's affection.

Or perhaps you are one of those men who marry virgins and do not know how to please a woman.

Maybe you fear Elizabeth will discover in another man what you cannot give her.

If that is the case, do not worry, for as soon as she tires of you, I shall be willing to show her true pleasure.

You know, Dalton, I was her first love!" said Wickham.

Before William could react, he ran and leapt into a carriage.

William took a deep breath to collect his thoughts, but could not calm himself. He entered the carriage, sat opposite Elizabeth, and ordered the driver to go home. He was still furious and preferred to remain silent for several minutes.

Elizabeth watched him, uncertain what to do. After almost five minutes, she decided to break the silence.

"I was with Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley having tea when that man appeared. They had to leave, and I came outside to wait for the carriage. He followed and ignored me when I told him I did not wish to speak to him. William, I do not know why—"

"Is it true that you were good friends in Hertfordshire?"

"What?"

"My question was clear. Can you please answer?"

"No, we were never friends, only acquaintances, and we conversed civilly," Elizabeth explained. Yet she remembered that at one time she had thought Mr. Wickham handsome and agreeable, though nothing more.

"Although I admit he once seemed a pleasant man, I suppose it was because I did not know him well."

"I see," William said, taking a deep breath and keeping silent for the rest of the journey. The thought that Elizabeth had once spoken kindly to that scoundrel, or had harboured even the slightest admiration for him, filled him with a jealousy he could scarcely master.

To calm her husband, Elizabeth began to tell him all she had done with Georgiana. "After much deliberation, Georgiana bought some beautiful gloves, although they were very expensive. But she is the daughter of a wealthy gentleman, and she can buy what she likes."

"And you, what did you buy?" William asked, still unsettled.

"Nothing."

"Why?"

"Because I do not need anything."

"I see. I came to find you because I wished to take you to a jeweller's and buy you a set of ornaments. But I suppose we must return another day."

"A set of jewellery? William, I do not need anything. Your mother gave me many gifts when I prepared my trousseau. Please, my dear, I do not want you to spend—"

"Why does it trouble you so much that I wish to buy you a present? Is it because my money comes from trade, or because you think my gifts are not good enough for you?" William asked, then immediately regretted it. "I am sorry; I did not mean—"

"William, I do not want anything because I do not need anything. Is that so difficult to understand?" Elizabeth asked, her voice breaking as tears fell.

Fortunately, they arrived home at that moment. Elizabeth immediately left the carriage, entered the house, and ran to her room. William locked himself in his study and asked not to be disturbed, claiming he had much work.

Violet was still at the Gardiners' and did not witness what had transpired. William drank several glasses of brandy to calm his frustration. He was both sad and furious without knowing why. He first tried to sleep in his room, but could not.

Later, regretting his conduct, he went to his wife's room. Yet Elizabeth received him with coldness, and although they slept in the same bed that night, they neither kissed, embraced, nor made love.

Elizabeth was wounded by her husband's attitude and fell asleep in tears.

For his part, William endured several nightmares in which he again saw strangers who spoke to him of things he could not understand.

◆◆◆

Jane was a little weary, for she and her husband had attended several social engagements in the past days and had stayed out very late.

She loved that Mr. Bingley was such a gregarious person, yet sometimes she longed to remain at home with him and enjoy his company.

Matters were not so different at home either, for her sisters-in-law allowed them little privacy to speak of themselves or their future life together.

They only enjoyed true privacy when shut within their own chambers.

Mr. Bingley, too, was tired and would gladly have remained in bed with his wife that morning and taken breakfast there.

But he had promised to show Jane all the charms of the city and how delightful her life with him would be.

In recent weeks, as he participated actively in London society, Mr. Bingley had not failed to observe how his angelic wife drew envious glances from women and admiration from men.

Even though his sisters continually endeavoured to convince him of her inferiority, he was well aware that his beautiful wife was the daughter of a gentleman and socially superior to himself. He feared losing her love and respect.

"Finally, you are here; we were about to begin breakfast without you," Louisa retorted. Mr. Hurst was hungry, and he was unbearable when left unfed.

"We are so sorry, but we returned late last night and overslept," Mr. Bingley excused himself.

They all sat at the table and began to eat while conversing.

Louisa described several friendly families she had met at the Shaws' the evening before, and how they had played cards until late.

Charles related that, at the Morgans', after dinner, Mrs. Morgan played the piano and everyone danced until the small hours.

But the conversation became more pointed when Caroline began her recital.

"Charles, yesterday I spoke with Mr. Spencer, your old Cambridge classmate, and he told me that Mr. Randall is no longer your solicitor.

As he recommended him, he cannot comprehend why you dismissed his services. Can you explain what has happened?"

Charles grew nervous as he saw everyone look at him, eager for his reply. He did what was easiest, transferring responsibility to another. "I terminated the contract with his firm because Dalton recommended it."

"And why would you heed that man? I cannot believe he presumed to intervene in your affairs. Besides, Charles, how can you value the opinion of a tradesman above that of a Baron's grandson?"

"Caroline is correct, Charles. You must not allow that man to meddle in your affairs, still less to dictate your every decision," Louisa added.

"Dalton is a good tradesman, and he is intelligent.

I am certain he knows more of business than useless Peter Spencer," Mr. Hurst said bluntly, while helping himself to another slice of ham.

Part of his own financial security depended on Charles, so he was anxious that Caroline and Louisa refrain from meddling in delicate matters they did not understand.

Without question, they knew how to spend money but not how to preserve it.

"Henry, how dare you speak so of a gentleman like Mr. Spencer?" Caroline said indignantly.

"Henry, you should not have called Mr. Spencer useless," Louisa added, attempting to soothe the quarrel.

Charles chose not to say anything further and continued eating, for he detested conflict. But Caroline continued for several minutes, inveighing against her brother's irresponsibility and Mr. Hurst's folly in supporting him in such horrible decisions.

"Charles, I hope you will resolve the matter with Mr. Randall at once," Caroline concluded indignantly.