Elizabeth Bennet's Deception: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Regina Jeffers Page B

glanced about the dingy room.
    “It is quite evident you require funds, Madam.”
    “Tell me why you seek Wickham,” the woman demanded, but there was a hint of a crack in her armor resting in Mrs. Younge’s tone.
    Darcy stood and assisted Elizabeth to her feet.
    “My business with Mr. Wickham is exactly that : M y business.” Darcy placed Elizabeth’s hand upon his arm. “Come, my dear. We must provide Mrs. Younge private time to consider her options.” To his adversary, he said, “I will call again on the morrow.”
    “No!” Mrs. Younge said with a start. “That is too soon. Nine of the clock on the second day,” she bargained.
    “I will not be pleased if you fail me,” Darcy  whispered in harsh warning, as he paused to tower over the woman. “And you know my nature when I am not pleased.”

Chapter Five
     
    “Do you believe Mrs. Younge will locate Mr. Wickham?” Elizabeth’s uncle asked as he poured Darcy a brandy. Darcy returned Elizabeth to the Gardiners’ home to encounter her uncle’s anxious impatience.
    It amused Darcy to observe Elizabeth drop her eyes and chin in response to Mr. Gardiner’s chastisement.
    “Lizzy, Edward Street is not a proper destination for a genteel bred lady,” Gardiner said in a stern voice. Darcy wondered how often Elizabeth felt remorse at her impetuosity: He was quite certain she was a precocious child. “At least you had the good sense to take a maid with you.”
    Elizabeth shot a quick glance in Darcy’s direction.
    “I cannot claim such foresight,” she admitted. “It was Mr. Darcy who commanded Gwenie to accompany us.”
    With Elizabeth’s apology, her uncle excused his niece before ushering Darcy into his study, but Darcy admitted, if only to himself, he missed Elizabeth Bennet’s company. Although he knew her somewhere in the house, it was not enough: Now that they renewed their association, Darcy wished her within reach.
    When they returned to the safety of his carriage, and he instructed Murray to place the Gardiner maid beside his coachman, Elizabeth hummed with excitement.
    “You were brilliant!” she declared in enthusiastic tones. “I am greatly grieved I ever criticized your manners, Mr. Darcy. I was proud to know you would act to protect my…” Elizabeth quickly realized she came close to saying “my sister.” In correction, she said, “To protect my reputation.”
    Darcy pretended not to notice Elizabeth’s blunder.
    “You approve of my inflexibility?” he teased.
    Elizabeth studied him before choosing her response.
    “I can acknowledge an appreciation for a bit of pompous glory upon extreme occasions, Sir, but I prefer the Mr. Darcy I see before me at this moment.”
    Darcy wished he held the right to catch her to him and kiss her senseless, but he would wait until this madness with Wickham came to an end, and then he would propose again and pray this time Elizabeth Bennet would agree.
    “Mr. Darcy?” Her uncle’s voice brought Darcy from his musings. “Is there reason to believe Mrs. Younge will lead us on a merry chase?”
    Darcy shook his head in denial.
    “The woman and Mr. Wickham are cut from the same cloth. Neither holds an allegiance to anything beyond the coins clutched within his palm. I made a few private inquiries regarding Mrs. Younge before I called upon your household this morning. The woman has four boarders, none of whom fit a description of Mr. Wickham; however, I received a report of a gentleman possessing Mr. Wickham’s countenance calling upon Mrs. Younge three days prior.”
    Gardiner’s eyebrow rose in admiration.
    “My niece made a wise choice in seeking your assistance, Sir.”
    A smile tugged at Darcy’s lips.
    “Despite her propensity for obstinacy, I never knew Miss Elizabeth to act without logic.”
    “I see.” Mr. Gardiner studied Darcy for several elongated moments, and Darcy had the feeling the man took his measure. “I should tell you that, I too, received information of Mr. Wickham.