“She looks wonderful,” pointed out Jane.
“She is ill, Jane,” said Anne angrily. “And she is wasting the time that she has on this quackery!”
“Miss Fletcher looks very well too, you cannot deny it,” said Elizabeth nodding to that lady, who was spinning about the room with an officer. “It is excessively odd.”
“Ever since his arrival, Mama has refused to discuss anything with me regarding her illness,” said Anne, angrily.
Elizabeth decided that she would ask Darcy to speak to Lady Catherine about that soon. It was rather unkind of her host to make Anne worry.
“Of what are we all speaking?” asked Lady Gordon as she approached with her husband.
“Lady Gordon, we were just remarking on how interesting thecomteis,” Elizabeth said.
“Interesting! We just left him on the terrace, where we spent an astounding half hour with the man, who confounded us quite easily with his tales of transmutation!” said Sir Charles.
“Just now? You mean to say that youjustleft him?” Elizabeth said curiously.
“Yes, not even a moment ago,” answered Lady Gordon.
“But I have only just left him on the dance floor, where I spent a half hour discussing jewels with him, and he told me of Catherine the Great,” Elizabeth said in bewilderment.
“We saw you,” Jane agreed.
“Comte!” Elizabeth said, perhaps a bit louder that she usually might, in an effort to get the man’s attention as he passed several feet away. “Sir Charles and Lady Gordon say that they just left you on the terrace, sir. But you just left me on the dance floor not five minutes past. How could you be in two places at once,monsieur?”
Thecomtebowed over her hand and kissed it. “It is not impossible,mademoiselle.”
Elizabeth tookDarcy’s arm as they took to the floor for their second dance. They were officially courting, so they could enjoy three without scandal. Elizabeth wished she could dance with him all night.
“One day, we must hire a musician to play from behind a screen, so we might dance together all night,” Elizabeth sighed in happiness. “At least once a week.”
“That sounds like heaven to me,” Darcy said, content to be in her company again. “I cannot speak to how glad I am to beback in your company. I have missed you sorely, and just to look upon you gladdens my heart. Your eyes, they sparkle with such fire and intelligence. Every time you look at me, I am both unravelled and made whole again.”
“You once told me of your admiration, and now I must return your praise, for I have come to admire not only your character, but the heart that I know lies beneath it,” Elizabeth confessed, blushing.
“Elizabeth, I have struggled to find an appropriate time to speak privately with you since I arrived. At first I had thought to wait until the end of our visit, but I find I simply cannot. Would you accompany me for a short moment on the terrace when we have completed our dance?”
“Of course,” Elizabeth breathed.
Darcyhadbeen thwarted since he arrived. First by Anne, his aunt, his sister,hersisters! Bourne House was constantly so full, and no one seemed to have any pity for a man who simply wished to propose before he burst.
The dance ended, and Elizabeth laid her hand on Darcy’s arm as he led her to the terrace. She waggled her brow and tilted her head to Jane, a signal between them for the other to follow. Jane would wait at the door to the terrace to preserve Elizabeth’s reputation.
Sadly, the couple never made it outside.
Just as they began to exit the assembly room, Mr Woodhouse cried, “Emma!” Elizabeth turned to see Miss Woodhouse swoon, and the room was thrown into disorder.
CHAPTER 32
Late the following morning, Elizabeth muttered to herself as she picked her way to the castle, one of her favourite routes. Lydia had elected not to accompany her; it was raining lightly, which did not concern Elizabeth, but her youngest sister objected to such activities in inclement weather. Her preferred companion, Mr Darcy, had not appeared this morning when she came downstairs for their walk, though she waited for nearly half an hour. She was instead accompanied by Lady Catherine’s footman, and one of Darcy’s grooms.
The previous evening had ended in chaos. Elizabeth was suspicious that Miss Woodhouse had only swooned to prevent Elizabeth and Darcy from going onto the terrace alone. The young woman watched the pair of them closely, and with disapproval, all evening. Elizabeth was quite nearly ready to tell the young woman to mind her own business. For heaven’s sake, even Mr Darcy’s uncle, Lord Matlock, approved of her, and had no objection to her family or background andheworked with the prime minister and the King! If her family in trade was not a concern for Lord Matlock, what business was it of Miss Woodhouse to have an opinion?
Indeed, Darcy had lost no time becoming well acquainted with her Uncle Gardiner, and the men had all recently undertaken some important new investments together. Even Mr Bennet had contributed something to it in the hopes of setting a sum aside for Mrs Bennet. Mr Bingley was keen to improve his fortune, so that Jane and any daughters would be well provided for, should they indeed wed. Darcy had no such worries, his fortune being quite a bit larger than rumour gave him credit for, but he was always interested in new investments.
How lovely it would have been to wake an engaged woman today, with nothing to worry about but planning her wedding. Instead, last night, just after Miss Woodhouse had swooned, Mr Woodhouse had turned on thecomte, and vented his spleen upon the foreign nobleman in anger.
“What kind of physician do you call yourself? That you will watch a young woman suffer, and do nothing!” shouted Mr Woodhouse angrily at thecomte.
