“I am. She will soon be adept.”
Elizabeth risked a glance at his face and saw the intensity that smoldered there. Her breath caught, and she looked away. If she were to endure dinner, she must avoid his eyes. She turned back to her young sister and said, “If I could ride well enough to visit our tenants who live farthest away, I would be satisfied.”
He took her hand and helped her rise. “I came to say that dinner is served.”
As he led her toward the dining room, he bent his head and said in a low voice, “I love you, Elizabeth. You are more beautiful than I could ever have imagined. I truly am the happiest of men.”
His words sent her into another wave of self-conscious embarrassment, and she entered the dining room with her gaze lowered and her face burning.
Bingley entered with Jane, followed by Mr. Lewis, who stood in the entrance and looked about the room. “Mrs. Darcy, I do not see Miss Mary,” he said.
“Sir, I am afraid my sister suffers from the headache and has asked that a dinner tray be sent to her room. She will not join us tonight.”
She saw his jaw tense, and then he bowed stiffly. “I am sorry. Perhaps she will feel better in the morning.”
“Perhaps,” Elizabeth replied, but her eyes held censure.
He flushed and said quietly, “Tomorrow I will make amends, ma’am.”
That night, as Elizabeth sat at her dressing table while Ellis took down her hair, they heard a tap on the connecting door. She started and then realized she should have expected him to come. Mr. Darcy entered. Ellis shook out Elizabeth’s hair andthen curtsied and excused herself. Her husband stood looking at her with that smoldering intensity, and she felt again that warm flush flow through her entire body. She rose and watched as he came to her. His neck was bare, and he wore a banyan, and she knew he wore nothing else, for as he walked to her, she saw his beautiful bare thighs, his knees, and his shapely legs. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her, gently, tenderly. But after, he pulled her tight against his body, and she thought no more.
The following day saw the Darcys pulling up to the grand entrance of Ashbrook Manor. They were shown into the best drawing room and waited for Mr. Ashbrook. He entered soon after, with a woman a little younger than himself. The introductions were made, and Mrs. Tallant, his sister, guided Elizabeth to a settee a short distance from the men. Mr. Ashbrook listened gravely while Darcy spoke.
“Sir, it pains me to bring this matter before you, and I pray you will not think ill of me for bringing my wife, but Elizabeth insisted. Miss Ashbrook rode to Pemberley yesterday and found me at the castle. I confess I was surprised to find her unattended on my land, and I was made very uncomfortable at being alone with her. I did not remain, but excused myself and rode home. Your daughter followed me. I need not tell you that it caused my wife no little distress when we rode up together.”
When Darcy stopped speaking, Mr. Ashbrook opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by the sound of boots tapping in the hall.
Elizabeth looked toward the doorway and watched as Miss Ashbrook entered the room. The woman’s hand fluttered to her shapely bosom. “Fitzwilliam, you are here. The stable hand said he saw your carriage drive up, so I came at once.”
She moved into the room and settled close to him, linking her arm with his with the ease of one who believed herself entitled to command his attention, as though she held a rightful claim upon him. Darcy freed himself and then shifted so that she was no longer pressed against him. Her father opened his mouth to object, but another spoke first.
“Christiana, come sit beside me and visit with Mrs. Darcy.”
Miss Ashbrook turned, and her brows rose when she saw Elizabeth seated with her aunt near the window. The look she turned on Elizabeth was venomous, but she complied. “Yes, Aunt Prissy.” She rose and went to join the two ladies.
When she had moved out of earshot, Darcy continued. “Sir, will Miss Ashbrook be returning to Edinburgh soon?”
Ashbrook shook his head. “Priscilla tells me that as of late, Christiana has insisted on returning home. She had no choice but to bring her to me, for she was fearful that my daughter would return unescorted.”
“Perhaps she could reside with you in London, sir. If the servants begin whispering about her attentions to me, it will affect my reputation and, in time, my marriage.”
The older man sighed. “On my oath, I will remove her to London by next Monday. Until then, I will refuse her the use of the horses and the carriages. Fortunately, Pemberley is too far for her to walk.”
Darcy stood. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate your understanding.”
Ashbrook said, “Son, I would appreciate your continued silence.”
Darcy nodded. Elizabeth reached his side, and he took her arm and set it comfortably within his own, and together they left the house without looking back.
When they were once again settled in the carriage, Darcy turned to her. “How was your visit with Mrs. Tallant and Miss Ashbrook?”
Elizabeth shuddered. “She asked if you came to me every night, and when I stared at her like a frightened animal, she smirked.”
Darcy shook his head grimly.
“Her aunt told her to behave herself. She spoke to Miss Ashbrook as if she were a child of ten rather than a woman of five and twenty.” Elizabeth looked up at him. “Then she winked at me and laughed. I felt like a prude and a simpleton.”
He remained silent.
