Reaching for Elizabeth’s hand, he wrapped his fingers around hers, squeezing to communicate that she could depend on him and his protection. He despised disguise, but he felt in his bones that this was the right course, theonlycourse. To do anything less would lead to disgrace and ostracism.
Darcy turned to face Elizabeth. His next words would indelibly change their lives, and yet he spoke deliberately, decisively. “We can keep our engagement a secret no longer.”
Perhaps he imagined her fingers chilling and stiffening, or perhaps the iciness in her grip had been there all along and he had only just noticed.
Elizabeth was too intelligent to pull away or protest, and she was too honest to force an insincere smile even when the circumstance merited one. But there was lightning in her eyes, and it cracked like a whip through Darcy, leaving him bewildered.
CHAPTER13
Of all the high-handed, arrogant, presumptuous, imperial… Elizabeth’s head filled with unfavorable adjectives. She had thought they were partners!
Well, Mr. Darcy might think he could determine her future without so much as a grain of consideration for her opinion, but she would let him know that he was the last man in the world she could ever marry!
She maintained her composure remarkably well, given her duress, and her awareness of it made her align her shoulders ramrod straight. Her jaw did not gape open, she did not tug her hands away, and she did not cry out.
Her eyes, however, blazed. The bewilderment on Mr. Darcy’s face added fuel to the fire of Elizabeth’s fury. As if he expected her to simper and submit mindlessly to his hasty solution! He did not know her at all if he expected meek compliance! Elizabeth refused to marry a man with so little regard for her own sentiments.
Miss Bingley swooned; Mrs. Hurst suggested that some mistake had been made. Elizabeth would have agreed with her, but rational thought kept her silent.
“Lizzy can have the disagreeable boor!” Lydia’s merriment had quickly turned to jealousy.
“Hush, Lydia! Think of the pin money Lizzy will have! A house in London! The carriages!” Mama’s voice echoed through the study.
Papa stepped forward. “I shall have a word with you, sir, and you, too, Lizzy, while the others return to the ball.” Turning to Mama, Kitty, and Lydia, he added, “Not a word from you about this until I say so, or I swear on my life that you will never grace another ballroom.” Before they could produce pouts, he turned to their hostess. “Miss Bingley, if you would be so kind as to have a candle lit.”
Elizabeth knew she had done nothing wrong, but she wilted under the severity of her father’s tone. How many years she had wished he would reprimand Lydia and Kitty in such a way! It pained her to be the receiver of his correction—all the more so when she was blameless.
Frozen in her stupor, Miss Bingley did not react until Mr. Hurst moved her along with his wife tugging her sister’s other arm. “Bingley keeps his best brandy in the bottom drawer of his desk.” Whether to drink in celebration or drown their sorrows, Mr. Hurst’s words could be understood either way. Together with his wife, they pulled Miss Bingley down the hall. The others followed behind. Elizabeth prayed her mother and sisters would heed Father’s threat.
Lydia whined. “If only John Lucas were here, I could use him to make the officers jealous, and I could have my pick from proposals.”
“You do not mean that, Lydia. John is a nice boy, and it would be cruel to use him to make others jealous.” Kitty’s voice faded as they moved away.
A maid scurried inside, her eyes down, working quickly to light the sconces and adding burning coals to stir the fire to life.
Mr. Darcy did not fetch the brandy.
Papa motioned for them to sit. “I cannot speak for you, sir, but I know my Lizzy, and she is too clever to allow herself to be ill-used by a gentleman, engaged or not.”
Elizabeth’s shoulders relaxed with her exhale. Her father was not disappointed inher. He would not make her marry a man she did not love.
Mr. Darcy bit his lips together. Was he blushing? It was difficult to see in the candlelight. “I assure you, Mr. Bennet, that nothing untoward has happened, though all appearances suggest otherwise. My offer stands. I am prepared to spare Miss Elizabeth’s reputation, but first, I believe you deserve a full explanation.”
Papa nodded his head and settled deeper into his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin as he listened to Mr. Darcy’s detailed narration of the events leading to their discovery. Not one emotion or opinion shadowed his stoic telling, though Elizabeth noticed how he edited certain details in her favor. Every time Elizabeth wished to interject a point, Mr. Darcy addressed it without any need for her to interrupt.
Why should a man she disliked so much be so in tune with her own thoughts? It was disconcerting.
Finally, he finished, and Papa leaned forward. “You did not think to prevent Lizzy from pulling out so many pins in the first place?”
Elizabeth cringed. “He did, Papa. Only I was too intent on escaping. I did not heed his warning.”
Papa’s eyebrows raised, and then he shook his head with a sigh. “And his coat? How do you explain that, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth had forgotten she was wearing it. Taking it off, she shoved it at Mr. Darcy. “Mr. Darcy noticed I was cold, and he lent it to me.” Turning to the gentleman, who had yet to accept his coat, she said, “Thank you, but I am quite warm now.”
“You are certain?”
Take the blasted coat!“Yes, sir, I am quite sure, I thank you.”
