Page 114 of Near Pemberley

It did not escape Darcy that she did not mention herself.

After a moment, she added, “I do not think we shall ever have a clean slate there again.”

Darcy said nothing. But the words settled somewhere in his mind and remained there.

They walked a little farther.

At length, Elizabeth sighed. “When I first entered the morning room, I scarcely recognised her.”

Darcy looked at her.

“She has changed.”

“Yes.”

Elizabeth glanced back towards the conservatory windows, where the others were faintly visible through the glass. “She is trying so hard to be brave.”

Neither spoke as they turned around in the small space.

“I do not think I understood it fully until I saw her.” Elizabeth shook her head. “Lydia was never thoughtful. Never cautious. She rushed headlong into everything. But she was always happy.” The last word seemed to pain her. “Now…”

Darcy said nothing.

“I warned my father. I urged him not to let her go to Brighton. I can just imagine her, totally separated from her sisters, her parents… no good counsel… He did not listen to me.”

Darcy seemed as if wanting to say something but then thought better of it.

Elizabeth did not notice; she added, “She apologised to me.”

His eyes widened slightly.

Elizabeth laughed softly. “I never thought I should live to see the day.” The amusement faded almost at once. “That is what makes me angry.”

She stopped walking.

“My family was good to him. I was good to him…” She stomped her foot. “This makes me so-so angry… not merely that he deceived her, not merely that he abandoned her.” Her voice hardened. “He has taken something from her.”

Darcy’s hand curled. He followed her gaze towards the conservatory. He tried to comfort her. “Perhaps it will return.”

“Perhaps.” But she did not sound convinced.

“The extraordinary thing is that now everyone claims they always knew Mr. Wickham’s character.”

Darcy glanced at her.

She laughed without humour. “It is true. Since his disappearance, I have heard the most astonishing stories. Merchants who trusted him with credit now declare they never believed a word he said. Tradesmen suddenly remember unpaid accounts. People who praised him now speak as though they detected his villainy from the first moment.”

“That is generally how society operates.”

“I know.” She kicked lightly at a pebble. “It does not make it less irritating.” Then her expression darkened. “I almost wish I had been born a man.”

Darcy raised an eyebrow. “That is a dangerous statement.”

“I mean it.” She turned towards him. “Mr. Wickham deserves consequences. Not merely for Lydia. For all of it.”

The force of her feeling surprised even herself. “He leaves ruin behind him and simply moves on. Another town. Another creditor. Another foolish girl.”

She shook her head. “Previously, at least there was the money incentive, which one can comprehend, not that it is much better, but with Lydia? She has no money, and he must have known that. We are not a rich family.” She looked up at the sky. “He still did it. He ruined a girl, abandoned a girl because the opportunity presented itself, for his own amusement.”