Page 68 of The Riches of a Life Well-Lived
W ith Mrs. Bennet urging them on, Darcy had only moments to exchange pleasantries with the three younger girls, and then he, Elizabeth, Miss Bennet, and Bingley quickly made their way out of the house. Before long, they had turned down the path towards the creek.
“I have been told that you are quite the walker, Miss Elizabeth, but I dare not embark on such a lengthy journey as the trip to Oakham Mount,” Bingley said with a grin.
Elizabeth laughed. “You may regret your decision, Mr. Bingley; the cold is better endured when one is moving.”
“I shall do my best to maintain a sufficient pace to keep us warm, Miss Bennet, even without a far-off destination,” Bingley told Miss Bennet. “Of course, if you do get cold, we may always return.”
Miss Bennet’s cheeks grew rosy. “Thank you.” She held his gaze. “I do not believe an early return will be necessary; I would rather stay in the cold with such warm-hearted company.”
Bingley grinned at her. “I may even take up winter strolls like Darcy with such an inducement.”
Darcy snorted. Bingley might enjoy sport, but walking for the sake of walking was too boring for his friend. Not to mention that Bingley hated being cold. “You would never last,” he said.
“That does not mean I would not make the attempt,” Bingley shot back. He looked over at Elizabeth. “I have heard that congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth said with a slight blush.
“Truly, I am thrilled for you both. Darcy would have been miserable if you had rejected him again.”
“I do not think that was ever truly a possibility,” Elizabeth said, her gaze holding Darcy’s.
He smiled. “According to Mrs. Engel, I was quite capable of bungling things. I am glad that I did not manage to do so this time.”
Elizabeth returned his smile. “Let us agree to disagree.”
“You do not wish to establish the particulars before agreeing to disagree?” Darcy asked, his eyes twinkling.
She chuckled. “As I recall, Mr. Bingley is not enthusiastic about debates, and as we are walking together, I would not wish to make him uncomfortable.”
“I thank you for your kind consideration, Miss Elizabeth,” Bingley said with a slight bow.
Miss Bennet chuckled. “I imagine you will be witness to a great many debates hereafter, Mr. Bingley. They are so accustomed to being without an audience that they often forget themselves.”
“Perhaps I shall learn to tolerate debates then,” Bingley said with a laugh. “Though I should prefer that they were not too numerous.”
“We shall do our best, Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth said.
Darcy shook his head. “Only when we are not in our own home.”
Elizabeth coloured. “When that time comes, I believe it would behoove us to show kindness to our guests.”
“Just as I said,” Miss Bennet said in a mock whisper.
Bingley laughed. “I believe you are quite correct, Miss Bennet.”
“We may argue the proper methods for treating guests at a later date, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said primly.
“Very well.”
“Speaking of treating guests, I am sorry that I may not entertain you ladies at Netherfield at the moment,” Bingley said. “I have been wishing to hold another ball before Christmas, but I do not know when or if my sister will return.”
“Oh, that is too bad,” Miss Bennet said with a slight frown. “She must be disappointed not to be able to join you.”
Bingley shrugged. “She prefers town.”
“Some people do not care for the country,” Miss Bennet said.
The talk moved on, Bingley appearing less and less attentive to the conversation. Plainly, he had wanted to introduce the topic of Miss Bingley’s visit to Miss Bennet but had failed to devise a subtle way to do so—or perhaps he had decided to wait for greater privacy.
And so, Darcy gradually increased their speed, drawing Elizabeth apart from the other two and engaging her in conversation.
“I missed you this morning,” William said, looking down at her.
Elizabeth smiled up at him, though the smile did not quite meet her eyes. “As I missed you.”
“I am sorry I could not warn you in advance that I was not coming,” he added awkwardly. “When I told Bingley that you had graciously agreed to be my wife, he wished to know when I had proposed and was quite put out that we have continued our morning rambles.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I suppose they are not exactly proper. We have, however, taken pains to appear as though we merely met on the path.” She sighed again. “Perhaps it is not the best example to set our sisters; I wonder if Lydia did the same thing with Mr. Wickham, or if they met more openly.”
William squeezed her hand. “He is no longer where he can reach her.”
“Yes, but does she even realise the danger that she put herself in? She seems so oblivious to the consequences of her actions!”
“She is unused to thinking of the consequences of her actions,” he corrected, “and I believe it was fear that caused her harshness yesterday. She is afraid of the mistake she almost made. Perhaps she is even afraid that she will lose your mother’s favour.” William grimaced. “I am more afraid that she will repeat her mistake simply to prove to all of us and to herself that she did not make one in the first place.”
Elizabeth came to an abrupt halt. “But—how can we keep her from doing that?”
“I do not know.” He hesitated. “Perhaps a similar path to the one I have been walking with Georgiana? Let Miss Lydia know that she was in the wrong and where she could have avoided the situation while also telling her that we recognise Wickham’s culpability? We might also continue encouraging her to consider how a worthy man will behave and what sort of man is worthy.”
Elizabeth groaned. “Mr.—William, you make it sound as though this will be a lifelong endeavour, that saving her from Mr. Wickham was only the very first step on a very long journey.”
“Was it not, my love? Mrs. Engel made it clear that the changes would have to come from within your sisters, not from external forces.”
“I suppose you are right. Lydia will not accept any help from me, though. She is still thoroughly put out with me for my part in the matter.”
William pulled her in for a quick embrace and then continued their walk. “Do you not think her vehemence shows an interest in you?”
Elizabeth raised one eyebrow.
“If she were indifferent to your opinion, would she not merely ignore you? Instead, she has attacked and belittled you—which, although I do not condone her behaviour, seems to indicate a marked notice of you.”
Elizabeth’s steps quickened. “Only because Mr. Wickham directed her attention at me.”
“That may be,” William agreed. “However, what Wickham meant for evil, you can use for good. If you give Miss Lydia extra attention in the next few weeks, I suspect the dividends will be beyond what we can imagine now.”
Elizabeth frowned. Spending time with a petulant Lydia sounded like a special kind of hell. And yet... perhaps William had shown her the way already. He had not tolerated Lydia’s bad behaviour, but neither had he shunned Lydia or heaped condemnation upon her. She could treat Lydia similarly, merely calmly pointing it out when Lydia attacked her or removing herself from the situation, while also continuing to pursue her sister. It was certainly worth a try.