Page 34 of Undone

Darcy said nothing for the length of several strides, weighing how much to say.

"When I asked to accompany you to Longbourn today," he said at length, "I was not entirely candid."

Bingley looked across at him. "What do you mean?"

"You believe I came only because Mr. Bennet had already paid us the civility of calling at Netherfield."

"Yes. And I expect you shall also accompany me to Lucas Lodge before Sir William's ball besides."

"Well... not entirely." Darcy slowed his horse a little until they rode abreast. "I allowed you to believe that was my only reason."

"Then that was not your only reason?"

"No." He drew a slow breath before continuing. "I wished also to see Miss Elizabeth."

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"

"Yes." Darcy kept his gaze upon the road ahead. "The truth is, I have been meeting Miss Elizabeth almost every morning these past three weeks. She has not come these last three mornings, and I wished to know that all was well."

Bingley looked at him in surprise. "I thought you met only when you apologised?"

"I did. I happened upon her again the following morning at Oakham Mount. She favours the place for walking, I for thinking, and so we continued to meet there."

"Almost every morning?"

"Very nearly."

"And you have contrived to keep this entirely to yourself?"

"I had reasons."

Bingley regarded him for a moment. "Darcy..."

"We walk together, Bingley," Darcy said, understanding perfectly the direction of his friend's thoughts. "Nothing more. There has been no contrivance in it. We were simply two people who found themselves upon the same path each morning and, by degrees, fell into conversation. There has been nothing improper in it."

"And yet you have told no one."

"No. I would not willingly have drawn attention to an attachment I had every intention of keeping private, at least for the present. Not after what I told you before."

Bingley sighed but said nothing further.

"We became friends, Bingley. Quite unexpectedly." Darcy continued, his gaze returning to the road ahead. "She has shown me a kindness and understanding I had no expectation of finding here. I esteem her more highly than I ought."

"Well." Bingley studied him for a moment. "That is rather better news than your countenance led me to expect. Five minutes ago, you scarcely looked at her. What happened?"

"I saw her walking with him."

"With whom?"

"George Wickham."

Bingley frowned. "Who is George Wickham?"

"The fair-haired officer Miss Elizabeth walked beside."

"Oh." Bingley's brow knitted for a moment. "I confess I thought I recognised something in his face, though I could not have said from where."

"You saw him at my father's burial, if you looked closely enough at the time. I do not wonder you failed to place him after five years and a uniform he did not then wear." Darcy's gaze remained fixed upon the road before them. "George Wickham. My father's steward's son. We were raised very nearly as brothers."