A Perilous Match

Chapter 21

H aving parted with Jane, who decided to give Elizabeth time alone with Fitzwilliam to discuss the matter regarding Mr Wickham, Elizabeth made her way into the drawing-room. To her surprise, she found Phillip seated beside Georgiana and her husband, engaging in cheerful conversation.

“My dearest cousin,” Phillip exclaimed upon spotting her. Rising, he bowed and took her hand, pressing his lips lightly upon it. Elizabeth was grateful for her gloves, as she would have disliked the sensation of his lips on her bare skin. She could not decide whether her scrutiny of him was justified, or if she was being unduly critical.

“How are you?” he enquired, gesturing for her to sit beside Fitzwilliam, who smiled and briefly placed his hand atop hers. The tender gesture, which would have disconcerted her only weeks ago, now brought her a quiet pleasure.

“I am well,” Elizabeth replied. “My sister and I took in the countryside earlier. I was surprised to come upon a good acquaintance of yours,” she added, immediately regretting her words as she recalled Georgiana’s presence.

Phillip shifted slightly, crossing one leg over the other, and looked at her.

“An acquaintance of mine, you say? Do you speak of George? Oh, George,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Can you believe it, William? He has the audacity to call on me to tell me he was in Ashburn, as though we were still companions. Elizabeth, I do hope you did not put too much stock in his words.”

“It is not up to me to interpret his words, only that he said he was on his way to meet you, and that you would be waiting—which to me, suggested a prior arrangement,” she said, repeating what she’d been told.

Georgiana, who had been quietly observing, shifted uncomfortably, clutching at the material of her light dress. Elizabeth chided herself for bringing up the matter in front of her. She noticed the way Fitzwilliam’s approving gaze had suddenly turned to one of mild disapproval, which chilled her. She had come to value his opinion greatly, and she very much wanted him to think well of her. And yet, here she was, perhaps ruining any progress they had made.

“Elizabeth,” Fitzwilliam said gently, “you must know that anything George Wickham says should be taken with a grain of salt.”

“A pound of salt, more like,” Phillip added with a chuckle. “It is true, I was once quite close to the young man. Indeed, at Cambridge, we were the best of friends. But I soon discovered his true nature and have kept my distance since. Certain events made that necessary, as we all know. However, I have found with people like Wickham, it is sometimes best to maintain a civil connection.” He glanced at Georgiana.

“I do not know why you would want any connection with a man like him,” Georgiana said, narrowing her eyes. “After everything he has done.”

“You know the saying, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,” Phillip replied, giving Georgiana a light elbow as though she were still a little girl.

“I see,” Elizabeth said, though she was surprised she was only now hearing of this.

“Well,” Phillip said, rising and smoothing down his pantaloons, “I must take my leave. I shall see you tomorrow for the shooting, I saw a number of pheasants earlier?” He pointed an index finger at Fitzwilliam.

At the mention of shooting, Elizabeth instantly tensed, but her husband had already risen to shake his cousin’s hand. “Phillip, I wouldn’t have thought I would need to remind a gentleman like yourself that pheasant season is still weeks away. Though we do have rather a lot of rabbits.”

“Indeed there are. Well, I shall show you the best hunting grounds so you may be prepared when the hunting season starts—I am intimately familiar with the estate, after all.”

“I really wish you would have agreed to take a guest room. I feel dreadful knowing you are staying in an inn in town,” Fitzwilliam said.

Phillip shook his head. “No, we must ensure the tenants and servants know that you are master of Ashburn now, not me. They saw far more of me over the years, so we must make it clear to whom they now answer.” He bowed to Elizabeth and then to Georgiana before taking his leave.

Fitzwilliam walked him to the door, and Elizabeth took the opportunity to turn to Georgiana.

“I do apologise, did not mean to make you uncomfortable, I was simply taken by surprise that your cousin would claim a friendship with a man like Mr Wickham.”

“He does not know how truly wicked he is,” Georgiana replied quietly. “Very few people know of my shame. But it is true, Phillip and George Wickham were once quite close, though they no longer are.”

“I sense you are not partial to him,” Georgiana observed keenly. “Given our conversation in London.”

Elizabeth straightened. She had not realised her antipathy towards Phillip was so easily detected.

“It is not that I dislike him,” she replied, choosing her words carefully. “I do not know him well enough to say one way or the other. He strikes me as somewhat secretive, perhaps even…”

“Wary?” Georgiana finished for her. “For he is. But that is just Phillip. He has always been like that. He is a fine gentleman once you get to know him—you will see.”

With that, Fitzwilliam returned to the room, and the conversation shifted to other topics. Yet, as he spoke of the following day’s hunting trip with his cousin, Elizabeth could not shake a sense of unease.