Chuckling she moved to accept the volume, the space between them diminished. “Itwouldseem. Twice in two meetings show rather poorly in my favour. Though I trust you will not hold this one against me, for there was a great stack of books on a rather small table, and a mouse scurrying across a thin slipper is, however fond one may or may not be of mice, rather startling. I fear I backed into the pile and sent a shower of books in mine and that mouse’s wake.”
“A mouse?” he chuckled as he recalled their first conversation. “You spoke of mice before. What did you say, ‘that family can leave one feeling as a mouse in a maze?’ Not word for word perhaps, though certainly close.”
“I did. How odd,” she remarked, her head shaking as she turned her gaze downward. “Hopefully, in this instance, we find no more mice.”
“Are you not fond of them?”
“I do enjoy them,outside. They have their home, I have mine, and apart from meeting in the middle, I prefer no close relationship.”
“Would you prefer to vacate the room whilst I gather the remaining books?”
“No,” she smiled as she knelt on the floor. “We are already acquainted now. Should I see her again I will do my best to maintain that acquaintance without insulting her. No sounds of dismay or throwing of books.”
Joining her on the floor Darcy sought to keep his eyes on his task rather than her face, the steeper pitch of her right brow and the brightness of her eyes which displayed a million thoughts within unduly distracting.
“It is a she then?” he questioned as his gaze cut toward her, a smile forming as she nodded.
“Indeed. Only a female would be so bold. We are, after all, a rather daring lot.”
Placing the stack he had gathered on a nearby table, Darcy searched for any which may have bounced under a piece of furniture, one burgundy tome having done just that.
“I quite agree,” Darcy’s muffled voice answered as he lay with his face pressed to the base of the wood, arm stretched underneath as he felt for the elusive tome. “My mother did not hide from any challenge, and I know many men who did not dare cross her. Ah, there you are,” he triumphed as his fingers clasped around the rogue title.
“May I be of assistance?” the staid, deep tone of a man asked behind him.
Peering over his shoulder from his place on the floor, Darcy met the butler’s eyes. “I believe I have it well in hand.”
“It is merely that Miss Elizabeth’s sisters were concerned; peculiar noises you see. However, I suppose since you claim all is well, I shall inform them of such, if Miss Elizabeth agrees?”
“I do, Mr. Lombart,” Elizabeth smiled, the butler’s bright, crinkled eyes betraying his own amusement. “And assure them I shall be in momentarily.”
“Very well, Miss,” he answered before departing with a spring in his step, the room silent as they observed the empty doorway.
“I suppose I ought to reassure my sisters with my presence,” she chuckled as she set another book on a nearby stack. “Will you be missed as well?”
Laughing as he stood, Darcy set down the book he had retrieved before brushing his clothes. “Most likely. Lady Charmane did not wish me to go, you see, so I may well have begun our stay here in her bad graces. Returning to the drawing room may yet ease her ire. What do you think?”
Coming to his side, she lifted a brow, “From the little I have learnt of her since arriving, I fear returning may only be the beginning of your recompense. Still, the company of my sisters is lively, and you may find solace in such amusements.”
“If you are there, Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” he said as he held out his arm, “that will be solace enough.”
Chapter 12
Staffordshire, England – 1812 – Day 1
Changing for supper, Elizabeth’s gaze kept flitting toward the door, then the mantle clock. The brief conversation below having enlivened her in ways that little beside a walk or work might.
Mr. Darcy certainly confirmed her past assumptions of his person,Elizabeth thought as she pinned a rogue hair in place.Intelligent, handsome… a true gentleman. Then, she had wondered if he would improve upon a second meeting, now she had her answer. He had improved. And the character of the men with him did nothing to hurt his case; for their intelligence, good humour, and politeness must only reflect well on him.
Not that she held interest in him,she warned herself with a shake of the head, her wide eyes staring back at her from the mirror.A husband would separate her from her sisters, but a friend outside of her family and neighbors? That would be a welcome change. So what if the man in question proved handsome and kind? She and he might still be friends.
Yes. She could keep her heart well enough; her life held activity and family and work, and there would be no room for more. Surely?
Turning toward the door at the ringing of the gong, Elizabeth’s heart began to pound; the three weeks ahead looming as large as they were thrilling.
“Lizzy,” Mary’s muffled voice called through the door. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I can be,” Elizabeth remarked softly before exiting the room and beginning her way down the long, dark halls with her sisters.
