The Bennet sisters and Mr. Collins went to Meryton for a party at their aunt’s house. When they arrived, they were happy to find out that Mr. Wickham had accepted the invitation and was already there.
Mr. Collins spent the first part of the evening talking to Mrs. Philips. He looked around the room and compared it to Lady Catherine’s home, Rosings. At first, Mrs. Philips didn't know how to react. But when he told her that one fireplace at Rosings cost eight hundred pounds, she was very impressed. She realized it was a great compliment to have her house compared to such a place.
Soon, the men joined the ladies. Mr. Wickham was clearly the most handsome and charming man in the room. Every woman looked at him, but he chose to sit next to Elizabeth. She found that he could make even a boring topic, like the rainy weather, feel interesting because he spoke so well.
While Mr. Collins played cards with Mrs. Philips, Wickham and Elizabeth sat together at another table. Elizabeth was dying to find out about his history with Mr. Darcy, but she was afraid to ask. Surprisingly, Wickham started the conversation himself. He asked how long Mr. Darcy had been staying at Netherfield.
"About a month," Elizabeth replied. "He is a very rich man, isn't he?"
"Yes," said Wickham. "He has a very large estate in Derbyshire. I have known his family since I was a child."
Elizabeth looked surprised. Wickham noticed her expression and continued, "You probably saw how cold we were to each other yesterday. Do you know him well?"
"I have spent four days in the same house as him," Elizabeth said warmly. "I think he is a very disagreeable man. Everyone in this area dislikes his pride."
Wickham shook his head. "The world is often blinded by his money and his high position. They see him only as he wants to be seen. I have no reason to be friendly with him. He has treated me very badly."
Elizabeth listened with great interest. Wickham explained that the late Mr. Darcy—the father—had been his best friend and godfather.
"He loved me and wanted to provide for me," Wickham said. "He left instructions that I should be given a good job as a priest in his parish. It was supposed to be my career. But when he died, the current Mr. Darcy gave the position to someone else."
"Good heavens!" Elizabeth cried. "How could he ignore his father's will?"
"He used a legal excuse," Wickham replied. "He told everyone that I was a bad person and did not deserve the job. But the truth is, he hated me. He was jealous because his father loved me so much. He couldn't stand to see me succeed."
Elizabeth was shocked. She already disliked Darcy, but now she thought he was truly cruel. Wickham went on to explain more about Darcy’s character. He said that Darcy’s pride sometimes made him act well—he was generous to the poor and a kind brother to his sister—but only because he wanted to keep his family’s reputation high.
"What is his sister like?" Elizabeth asked.
"She is very much like her brother," Wickham said. "Very, very proud. She is about sixteen now and lives in London."
Elizabeth then asked how someone as nice as Mr. Bingley could be friends with a man like Darcy.
"Mr. Darcy can be very pleasant when he wants to be," Wickham explained. "He is clever and can be a good companion to people who are as rich and important as he is."
Later in the evening, the card games ended, and Mr. Collins joined them. He began talking about Lady Catherine de Bourgh again. Wickham whispered to Elizabeth, asking if she knew that Lady Catherine was actually Mr. Darcy’s aunt.
"I had no idea!" Elizabeth said.
"It is believed," Wickham added, "that Mr. Darcy will one day marry Lady Catherine’s daughter. That way, they can join their two large estates together."
Elizabeth smiled to herself. She thought of Miss Bingley, who was trying so hard to marry Mr. Darcy. All her efforts were useless if he was already intended for someone else!
By the end of the party, Elizabeth’s head was full of Mr. Wickham and his story. On the way home, she wanted to talk to Jane about it, but she couldn't. Lydia wouldn't stop talking about her luck at cards, and Mr. Collins wouldn't stop describing the delicious food and the politeness of Mrs. Philips. Elizabeth sat in the dark carriage, thinking only of the charming Mr. Wickham and the injustice he had suffered.