“It cannot be!” She twisted her hands around the candelabra.
“His foot caught in your sister’s skirts, and he twisted his ankle. He will limp for a day or two?and more if it gets him out of his duties.”
“I must get to my father.” She spun away from me, the candelabra thudding to the floor, and tugged again on the latch. No remark on Wickham’s character, no expression suggesting the possibility she had been wrong about him... nothing.
I was disappointed, but that did not dismiss me from my responsibility. “I will speak to him. It is my duty.”
“And allow you to glory in our shame?” she hissed. “No, Mr. Darcy, I will talk to my father about your claim.”
I was stunned. I had told her the facts, including the proof, and still she would side with that rake? “You do not believe me?”
“Why should I?”
“You believed Wickham, and he cannot have offered any proof besides his own word.”
“From the moment I met Mr. Wickham, he has behaved like agentleman. I cannot say the same for you, sir.” She turned her back on me, grabbed the candelabra, and resumed pounding on the door.
Her words were a slap to my face.Me? Not a gentleman?I braced my hands against my knees, my head reeling when the library door flung open.
CHAPTER 3
Mrs. Bennet swayed against the door frame. “Is this the withdrawing room?” she called into the dark library.
Miss Elizabeth went to her side, looping her arm through her mother’s.
“Lizzy! I am in need of a chamber pot!” Mrs. Bennet emphasized her statement with a belch.
I held myself as still as I could, as much to spare Miss Elizabeth further embarrassment as to escape her mother’s notice.
“Come, Mama, I will take you.” Miss Elizabeth tugged Mrs. Bennet toward the hall.
One more step and I would be out of their view. Freedom within my grasp, I allowed myself to breathe.
That was a mistake. In my relief, I started to move and tripped over the candelabra we had used as a battering ram. I had not seen Miss Elizabeth set it on the ground, but there it was, catching my boot and clattering on the wood floor at the edge of the carpet.
Mrs. Bennet spun around, dragging her daughter with her. “Mr. Darcy?”
Miss Elizabeth glared at me, and I glared back. She could have placed that infernal candelabra anywhere else but directly in my path.
“Is that you, Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Bennet repeated with a hiccup.
Unable to pretend she had not seen me, I bowed. “Madam.”
She turned her head to face her daughter, losing her balance in the process. I felt it necessary to reach forward to lend her some steadiness before she toppled over and dragged Miss Elizabeth with her. If only she would cease whipping her gaze back and forth between us like an excited dog wagging its tail.
“You and Mr. Darcy? Here?” She flailed her arms wildly, pulling out of my reach and away from her daughter. “Alone?”
Her mind was clearly steadier than her feet.
Again, Miss Elizabeth looped her arm through her mother’s. “The door locked behind us, but thanks to you, we are free to leave. Now, let me show you to the withdrawing room.”
Mrs. Bennet narrowed her eyes at me, her gaze sweeping over my frame from head to toe. She was not so drunk nor so desperate to relieve herself that she did not recognize a prime opportunity to claim a compromise.
I stood erect, chin tucked against my chest, expectant of her demand. There was nothing to do but to comply, though I was loath to marry under such circumstances. How had I allowed this to happen? I, who prided myself on my caution!
Staggering forward, straining against her daughter’s hold, Mrs. Bennet jabbed me in the chest with her fan. “I will return shortly to discuss this matter. I would stay now, but more urgent matters demand my immediate attention. Lizzy, Ineedthe withdrawing room.”
Without another word, the two ladies retreated down the hall.
