Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World Read Online Free PDF

Elizabeth tried to keep those occasions to a
minimum; but, even so, she began quickly to chafe at her lack of freedom.
Finally she suggested to Mr. Darcy that there were some few preparations she
needed to make for their wedding, items she planned to purchase which she
wished to be a surprise to him on their wedding day. Although she was certain
anyone could have recognized this as a weak excuse, Darcy did not seem to
consider it a possibility, going so far as to appear pleased she was making
such an effort.
    So
it was he left her to herself for the afternoon. Feeling it incumbent upon her
to live up to her word, Elizabeth took a lingering ramble into Meryton. She
paused in each of her favourite shops, wondering when she would see these
familiar streets again.
    On
exiting the milliner's shop Elizabeth happened upon Mr. Wickham.
    Her
cheeks were immediately covered by the deepest blush at what he must think of
her. In accepting Mr. Darcy, she must seem mercenary at best and duplicitous at
worst. "Mr. Wickham," she murmured, dropping a curtsey while avoiding
his eyes.
    "This
is an unexpected pleasure, Miss Bennet." He sounded as warm and amiable as
ever. She risked a glance at him and saw no hint of disapproval.
    "I
understand I must congratulate you."
    "Thank
you, sir." Though his bearing reassured her, she was less comfortable with
what remained unspoken. "Although I hope you wish me well, I had not
thought you, of all people, would wish to congratulate me."
    An
expression of concern covered his brow. "My dear Miss Elizabeth, you
mistake me entirely. To me, Pemberley is the most beautiful place on earth, and
I cannot imagine you will be anything but happy as the mistress of it. It is
not something one could refuse."
    She
released her breath in relief at his respectful tone. Apparently he bore her no
ill will for her decision. Given his interest in Miss King, he must view her as
making the same compromises he himself had. She wished she could confide in him
her true feelings toward Mr. Darcy, but that was a secret she dared not share,
even with him. "I hope I shall like Pemberley."
    "If
you do not, I will be most surprised. I only wish I were so fortunate as to
have the opportunity to see it again myself some day."
    His
melancholy tone renewed her anger at Mr. Darcy, the cause of his exile. Without
considering how it might betray her true allegiances, she said, "I would
wish that for you as well."
    An
amiable smile graced his handsome features and he stepped slightly closer to
her. "You are most kind, Miss Bennet. Although Darcy and I have had our
disagreements, I cannot fault his taste. How can I blame him for making the
same choice I would have made, had I his opportunities?"
    Elizabeth
looked down, conscious of the compliment in his words, yet feeling somehow
disloyal for taking pleasure in it. Mr. Wickham must indeed sympathize with her
position if he was willing to push the boundaries of propriety thus far to
reassure her of his good will.
    He
must have known she dared not reply, since he added, "My only sorrow is
that your intended is unlikely to permit any further acquaintance between us.
In that way, your gain of Pemberley is my loss of a most pleasant
companion."
    "I
hope that will not be the case, though it is unlikely our paths will cross
after I leave Meryton."
    "Who
knows? Perhaps marriage will prove a moderating influence on Mr.
    Darcy.
But I see Denny coming for me, so I will say my farewells now in privacy."
Holding her eyes with his own, he took her hand and kissed it, his lips
lingering slightly longer than they should.
    "Mr.
Wickham," she murmured, uncomfortable with her awareness of him. She
should not be enjoying his attentions. Before she could be entangled in a conversation
with his fellow officers, she took her leave, her thoughts much in turmoil.

    Chapter 4

    Elizabeth's
meeting with Mr. Wickham preoccupied her on the walk back to Longbourn. It was
an unpleasant shock on her arrival to find Darcy