Page 150 of A Debt Inherited

“You will watch the St Albans road. If Harding sends anything, it will come that way.”

“And you?”

“I shall watch what comes from Longbourn.”

A silence followed.

“Fine,” Mr Wickham said. “We pursue your wishes today.”

His boots moved towards the outer door.

“Tomorrow,” he said, “I shall have mine.”

Elizabeth moved to the bolted door and pressed her ear to it. She waited until the second set of hoofbeats thinned beyond the yard.

She returned to the wall. “Mr Darcy?”

A breath came through the plaster before his voice did. “I am here.”

“Did you hear?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Mr Kerr means my father.”

A pause followed.

“Yes,” he said.

Her hand settled against the wall. “And Mr Wickham means your money.”

“Yes.”

“They are not friends.”

“No.”

“Then why does that not comfort me?”

“Because divided men may still do harm.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes. “Did they hurt you?”

“No,” he said. “It was only a slap.”

Elizabeth kept her hand against the plaster. “I begin to dislike that word exceedingly.”

“You are right to do so.”

“Are you still bound?”

“Yes.”

She heard a faint movement, then the chair creaked.

“Do not injure yourself,” she said.

“I shall endeavour to be discriminating.”