Later that night, after I had changed into my nightgown, Cassie came to my chamber. We took seats on my bed, and she directed her steely eyes at me. “How could you embarrass me like that, Lizzy? Mr. Darcy was not just any guest. You knew how much I admired him and wanted to make a good impression. You had no further obligation than to be polite to him.”
I recoiled at her low, venomous intonation. She had seldom been so furious with me.
“After the introduction, you could have moved away and allowed me to engage him in conversation. And if you could not manage that, you ought to have remained upstairs!”
“I am sorry. I did not mean to subvert your plans.” My arms encircled my bent legs, and I lowered my chin to my knees. “I had every intention of enduring the evening with grace. Before I entered the drawing-room, I had affected a cheerful demeanour. But once I stood before Mr. Darcy, thoughts of Lily consumed me. I pictured her in a stall at Springvale, dejected and wondering why she had not seen me, and my pretence shattered.”
“I have no doubt that Lily is well. My goodness, she is a horse, not a child!” Cassie clenched her teeth, scowling at me. “Your outrageous scene ruined everything!”
My sight averted, and a stinging sensation afflicted my eyes. That could not be true, could it? “I think you are exaggerating—the evening did not come to an end because I left the room. Besides, there is no reason to suppose my departure damaged Mr. Darcy’s opinion of you.”
“Nevertheless, your ill treatment insulted him. Up until that moment, he had been in a sanguine humour.”
I peeked at Cassie to find her still glaring at me.
“But once you left, he became grave and reserved. Despite my best efforts, I received naught but terse sentences from him for the remainder of the evening.”
At this, my gaze rose to meet hers. “Good Heavens, why do you persist in esteeming a man who is so easily affronted? Do you not think a defect in his character such as this will often result in unpleasantness?”
“Not at all.” Cassie stretched taller. “I do not expect you to understand this since you have never been to town and have not been exposed to the highest levels of society. A man of importance in the world such as he has every right to expect to be treated with respect at all times, but most especially as a guest in a gentleman’s home.”
With effort, I refrained from making an unladylike noise to deride her explanation. One did not need to set foot in London to know that thetoncomprised plenty of conceited people.
“I apologised to him on your behalf, but that is not sufficient.” She leaned closer, her expression pointed. “Promise me that at your first opportunity you will extend an apology to him for your conduct tonight.”
“Very well.” With any luck, I should not meet the man again for a long while.
Tuesday, 17 September
Springvale
Elizabeth
I handed Thea’s reins to a young, skinny stable boy. “I should like you to give her water and keep her tied nearby, for I shall not stay here long.”
“Aye, miss.”
“Is Tim in the stable building this morning?”
“Yes, ’e is.”
“Thank you.” I entered the large wooden structure and encountered the red-haired groom brushing a grey horse. “Good morning, Tim.”
He turned and lowered the currycomb. A smile raised his freckled cheeks. “Good morning, Miss Bennet.” Tim came towards me, and his comportment grew staid. “Are you ’ere to see Lily?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I’ll take you to ’er.” He led the way and stopped before one of the stalls. “Ah, she’s asleep.” Lily stood with her haunches towards the door, her head sagged, and one hind leg bent and relaxed.
“How has she been?” I used a softened tone.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “She is well, just a bit…droopy.” His brows inched up. “But she’ll be ’appy to see you.”
“Lily, it is me.”
Her ears perked up. She raised her head and spun round. With a soft nicker, she hied to me and pressed her nose into my shoulder.
My fingers traced down her forehead. “I missed you too, girl.” I removed the apple and carrot slices from my pocket and fed them to her one at a time. I glanced at Tim, who looked on. “As long as she is here, I shall try to come each morning at this time. But you need not be concerned that I shall remain too long. I should not want the…um…new owner to find me here.”
