Read Mr. Darcy's Promise for Free Online Page B

time we get there.”
    “Agreed.” He let out his breath. She was teasing him. That was a good sign. He must warn her about Wickham! “There is something I would like to talk to you about.”
    Oh no, not another man asking probing questions that I do not want to answer! She looked saucily at him and laughed. “This sounds a serious matter!”
    Although he loved to hear her laugh, he was not in a laughing mood. “I will get right to the point, a Mr. Wickham . . . he is in town?”
    “Yes, he is an officer stationed here; he mentioned that he knew Georgiana and yourself.”
    He blurted out, “He is not to be trusted. You must avoid his attentions at all costs!”
    “Mr. Darcy, it is not for you to decide who I am to be acquainted with. Is there a reason you have taken a dislike to him?”
    He stopped walking and in doing so, so did she. She looked at him in that taunting look that said “defy me.” Could he reveal Georgiana’s near elopement with Wickham at Ramsgate? How much should she know? Would Georgiana appreciate him telling her new friend about her falling for such a mercenary man? All that man had wanted was her thirty-thousand pounds! He had not cared for Georgiana at all! Then he remembered Georgiana in her distress yesterday and how much it reminded him of that near-elopement. He still did not know the cause because Georgiana was still keeping to her room. “I must ask you a question first. Yesterday Georgiana came home from Longbourn prematurely and very tearful. Do you know what happened?”
    Elizabeth had been so taken back by Wickham’s presence that she hadn’t had time to think about how suddenly Georgiana had left. “It was rather odd now what you mention it. I thought she was just being shy with strangers. No sooner had Lydia and Kitty came home that she left! I hardly had time to introduce her to . . .”
    “So it was your sisters after all! I should have known.” He started walking quickly again, torn between poor Georgiana and his dear Elizabeth. He hadn’t taken but a few steps when suddenly he realized Elizabeth had not started walking also and he turned around to face her. She had her hands on her hips and her jaw was set. He knew that look. She had it in a more subtle form after every snide comment Miss Bingley made about the Bennet relations. Remembering “Oh your uncle is in trade, that must be nice,” then that look. “Oh they live in Cheapside; at least they are in London,” then that look. He was going to get it for sure. He reminded himself that her family’s poor manners meant little to him now that he knew of his feelings for her. It was a new conviction, just days old, but he needed to be better about accepting her family for who they were. He recommitted himself to look past her poor relations and lack of connections. “Miss Elizabeth, I am sorry I interrupted you. Forgive me for what I said, I have just been so worried . . . wait, who did you introduce Georgiana to?”
    “Mr. Darcy, you are unbelievable! You mock me and my family, are mortified by any public interaction with them, nearly throw me into the carriage to avoid any other humiliating occurrences, and you think you can just apologize? I think not! Now give me my book, NOW!” She reached for her book and snatched it away but in doing so her bookmark fell out. It was a white crocheted bookmark that Jane had made for her two years ago. She reached down for it at the same time Mr. Darcy did, but he was quicker.
    “Your bookmark, Miss Elizabeth. But please, do not take my thoughtlessness as any sign that you should not head my warnings about Wickham .” The way he said that bastard’s name was more like a curse. He recalled himself and stiffened. “Pardon me, Miss Bennet. I truly apologize for any offense I may have caused you.”
    She was taken aback by this level of disdain from even Mr. Darcy. Was there really some reason to be careful around Mr. Wickham besides Darcy’s pride? What had he said? “He is