married his cousin, where he would have to see her with another man at family occasions? She might not like him, but it was another matter to deliberately make him unhappy. After misjudging and hurting him by believing Wickham’s lies, was she now to end up coming between two men who had such a long history of friendship? That was an idea she did not care for in the slightest. Yet why should she be forced to refuse an excellent offer just because it might hurt Darcy? Annoying, aggravating man!
She snapped the forgotten book shut and put it aside. It was unfair that a fluke of the weather should have placed her in such an impossible situation. As one who disliked having her choices dictated to her, she would have preferred to believe that the gentlemen overstated the risk to her reputation, but argue as she might, in her heart she knew they were correct. If it were only the two gentlemen and Lady Catherine who knew of her situation, it could have been covered up, but Maria Lucas could not keep a secret if her life depended on it, and it was beyond reasonable expectation that Mr. Collins would remain silent on a matter such as this. Between the two of them, word would reach Meryton that Mr. Darcy had spent two nights alone with her, and that would be the end of her respectability.
Now she wished she had not come upstairs so early. After being trapped indoors all day by the inclement weather, she needed some fresh air, to walk, to move, but instead she was trapped by her own device, with only her thoughts for company. In the end, the best solution she could find was to wrap a shawl over her dress, open the casement window a few inches, and sit beside it with an unopened book in her hand.
***
Despite his sudden sense of foreboding, Darcy had somehow managed to respond appropriately when Elizabeth had said goodnight to them at a ridiculously early hour. He had thought things had gone rather well at dinner. He had managed for once to participate in a conversation with her instead of sitting silently and watching her laugh with Richard. She had even praised his efforts and defended him to his cousin when he had despaired of ever hearing a positive word from her, but then she had excused herself at the first possible moment. Had he once again misread her?
Becoming aware that his cousin was eyeing him oddly, Darcy crossed to the sidebar and poured out two generous helpings from the decanter. “It barely deserves to be called brandy, but it serves the purpose.” He offered one to Richard.
Richard raised his glass in a silent toast. Taking a careful sip, he made a wry face. “I have drunk worse, but it is not up to your usual standards, that much is certain.”
“I doubt I could ever become accustomed to rough brandy and ill-fitting clothes. I have developed a far greater appreciation for both my valet and my tailor in these last few days. I could not live like this.” Darcy swirled the brandy in his glass, more out of habit than any hope of a pleasant aroma. “In that way, I will be grateful to reach Rosings Park.” He would not mind, though, a delay of another day or two to accustom Elizabeth to his company before having to inform her of the announcement of their engagement.
“I plan to return there tomorrow by the same route I took here. Do you think Miss Bennet would be able to make the ride?”
Darcy’s body grew warm at the recollection of holding Elizabeth in his arms as they rode together, her curves resting against his thigh, but that was not what Richard meant. “An hour, perhaps two, on a good road would be the most one could ask of her. I expect with a few lessons she could be quite competent on horseback, but there is not even a decent sidesaddle here.”
“Not everyone is as fond of riding as you are.”
Somehow Richard’s comment sounded critical to Darcy’s ears. “I know that. It is a useful skill, that is all I meant.”
“When do you plan to
She snapped the forgotten book shut and put it aside. It was unfair that a fluke of the weather should have placed her in such an impossible situation. As one who disliked having her choices dictated to her, she would have preferred to believe that the gentlemen overstated the risk to her reputation, but argue as she might, in her heart she knew they were correct. If it were only the two gentlemen and Lady Catherine who knew of her situation, it could have been covered up, but Maria Lucas could not keep a secret if her life depended on it, and it was beyond reasonable expectation that Mr. Collins would remain silent on a matter such as this. Between the two of them, word would reach Meryton that Mr. Darcy had spent two nights alone with her, and that would be the end of her respectability.
Now she wished she had not come upstairs so early. After being trapped indoors all day by the inclement weather, she needed some fresh air, to walk, to move, but instead she was trapped by her own device, with only her thoughts for company. In the end, the best solution she could find was to wrap a shawl over her dress, open the casement window a few inches, and sit beside it with an unopened book in her hand.
***
Despite his sudden sense of foreboding, Darcy had somehow managed to respond appropriately when Elizabeth had said goodnight to them at a ridiculously early hour. He had thought things had gone rather well at dinner. He had managed for once to participate in a conversation with her instead of sitting silently and watching her laugh with Richard. She had even praised his efforts and defended him to his cousin when he had despaired of ever hearing a positive word from her, but then she had excused herself at the first possible moment. Had he once again misread her?
Becoming aware that his cousin was eyeing him oddly, Darcy crossed to the sidebar and poured out two generous helpings from the decanter. “It barely deserves to be called brandy, but it serves the purpose.” He offered one to Richard.
Richard raised his glass in a silent toast. Taking a careful sip, he made a wry face. “I have drunk worse, but it is not up to your usual standards, that much is certain.”
“I doubt I could ever become accustomed to rough brandy and ill-fitting clothes. I have developed a far greater appreciation for both my valet and my tailor in these last few days. I could not live like this.” Darcy swirled the brandy in his glass, more out of habit than any hope of a pleasant aroma. “In that way, I will be grateful to reach Rosings Park.” He would not mind, though, a delay of another day or two to accustom Elizabeth to his company before having to inform her of the announcement of their engagement.
“I plan to return there tomorrow by the same route I took here. Do you think Miss Bennet would be able to make the ride?”
Darcy’s body grew warm at the recollection of holding Elizabeth in his arms as they rode together, her curves resting against his thigh, but that was not what Richard meant. “An hour, perhaps two, on a good road would be the most one could ask of her. I expect with a few lessons she could be quite competent on horseback, but there is not even a decent sidesaddle here.”
“Not everyone is as fond of riding as you are.”
Somehow Richard’s comment sounded critical to Darcy’s ears. “I know that. It is a useful skill, that is all I meant.”
“When do you plan to
Similar Books
