“A few years later, the incumbent at Kympton died and Wickham wrote asking for the living, stating that my father had wished it expressly and he knew I would not want to deny his wishes. I reminded him of our agreement and that he had already received his payment, and he returned with such language as I cannot repeat to a lady, but I am sure his anger was in direct relation to his distressed circumstances.”

“Four thousand pounds! How could he have gone through such a sum on his own? No family to care for, no house to maintain. It is so hard to believe,” Elizabeth said.

“Wickham has never had trouble spending funds, and rarely on anything useful. He has left debt and ruin everywhere he has ever been.”

Elizabeth stared wide-eyed as Darcy continued. “I thought our paths would never cross again until last summer when he intruded upon my notice in a most grievous way. I had sent my sister to Ramsgate with her companion, a Mrs. Younge. We were sorely deceived in her character and while she had charge of my fifteen-year-old sister, she allowed Wickham access to her. He visited Ramsgate and came upon Georgiana supposedly by chance, but he and Mrs. Younge had conspired all along. He courted her, lied to her, made her believe he was in love with her and she with him, and planned to elope with her. If I had not arrived unexpectedly and surprised them, they would have succeeded with their plan. My sister would be bound for life to that blackguard and he would have her dowry of thirty thousand pounds.” He stopped talking but his body was rigid and his jaw worked, grinding his teeth painfully.

Elizabeth was exceedingly pale and felt a sick feeling in her stomach. A liar, a seducer, a man who did not pay his debts and attempted elopements with fifteen-year-old girls! This was the man she had called friend! The man whom she had just that morning been feeling guilty over abandoning. How could she have been so blind? He had flattered her and preferred her, and she had believed and endorsed him. She had slandered the good name of her own betrothed on the basis of that cur’s testimony. She was such a simpleton! Stupid girl! She had always prided herself on her character judgments, but clearly she was the one whose character should be examined.

She withdrew from Darcy’s arm and walked down to the water, her back to him. They had long passed anyone out enjoying the weather and the only people about were some small children chasing a crab several yards away.

Darcy let her alone for a few minutes before standing behind her and placing a hand on her shoulder. “Are you well, Elizabeth?”