“Pardon?”
“Leave me alone.” Her tone was implacable. Still, she did not turn around.
Elizabeth felt as though she were in a dream. “Will you at least?—”
Jane stood abruptly and span to face her. “I said get out!”
The vehemence of her outburst forced Elizabeth several steps inthat direction, but she was too stunned to go any farther of her own volition. She stared aghast at her sister, whose fine features were contorted beyond recognition by frightful, ugly emotion. “Why?” she enquired breathlessly.
“Because I cannot compete with you any longer! I have none of the allurements that make you so vastly appealing. I am neither a wit nor a flirt, and neither am I with child, you stupid, selfish girl!”
“What?”
“Had you not been so utterly self-absorbed, you might have grasped that Mama was mistaken and saved me your boasts! Instead, with your usual disregard for anybody’s feelings but your own, you have forced your way in here and crowed of your latest triumph.”
Elizabeth clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. “Believe me, I wish I had not, for you have not even mustered the good grace to congratulate me.”
Jane laughed somebody else’s laugh, her smile twisted into a bitter sneer. “Congratulations then, Lizzy. You have now trounced me in every possible way.”
“Trouncedyou? Think you I got with child to outdo you? Can you not conceive that Darcy and I might have had other inducements? The world does not revolve around you!”
“There isnothingof which I am more aware!” Jane all but screamed back. Tears had begun to roll freely down her face, though she did not sob. They seemed to fall quite independently of her ire. “It revolves solely around you—only you are too rapt with your own existence to see it!”
“Listen to yourself! You are all resentment and bitterness!”
“And you are all coquetry and satire!”
Elizabeth gaped in furious disbelief. “And you wonder why I am loved better than you?” Before she had closed her lips on the last word, Jane’s palm landed hard across her face. Searing pain bloomed over her cheek, and she staggered several steps backwards in surprise.
Either time slowed or Elizabeth’s heart sped up alarmingly as she met the gaze of the stranger who had struck her. Jane’s eyes widened, and she stared in apparent horror at her open hand, yet no apology was forthcoming. Slowly, deliberately, ignoring her shaking hands, Elizabeth turned her back on her sister and left the room, closing the door firmly behind her.
When, after an hour, Elizabeth had not returned from her sister’s room, Darcy sent her maid to fetch her. When the maid returned to say Elizabeth was no longerwithher sister, Darcy swore and went in search of her himself. She was in the first place he looked, furiously pacing the only area of floor still lit by the library’s dying fire. Unsure what manner of comfort she might require, he stood at the edge of the hearthrug, crossed his arms and waited.
She saw him on her next turn. “Do not tell me I ought to have listened to you and stayed away,” she said, continuing to pace. “I am in no humour for sermons.”
His eyebrows rose. “Nor I for preaching, I assure you.”
“And do not scowl at me so! I shall not harm the babe by walking.”
“No, but you might harm it if you do not calm yourself.”
“Regrettably, Fitzwilliam, not all the world is as unexcitable as you. You may be able to sit calmly and write long letters when youhave been insulted, but the rest of us like to fume and pace!”
Thus, it was confirmed that Jane Bingley had indeed insulted her yet again.
“I am as disposed to pace as to write letters,” he replied evenly. “As well you know. You have teased me for both.”
Elizabeth stopped abruptly, clenched both her fists and huffed an exasperated growl at the ceiling. “And now I am reduced to insulting you because I am too vexed to think sensibly.” She rubbed her temple with the heel of her palm and added in a subdued voice, “Forgive me.”
Darcy unfolded his arms and stepped forward to wrap them around her. “I have told you before, I am not afraid of you.”
Her frame was taut with anger, and it was some moments before she relaxed into his embrace. “Dearest Fitzwilliam, your arms could cure a thousand ills. What would I do without you?”
“Go for long solitary walks and hum to your heart’s content, I should imagine.”
She gave a small breathy exclamation and clung to him more fiercely. “I ought to have listened to you and stayed away.”
“You ought to have returned to me instead of coming here alone. You are well though, I trust?” He dipped his head as he enquired, attempting to catch her eye but she would not meet his gaze. He lifted a hand to her chin and tenderly but firmly tilted her face up. Sheresisted at first but then yielded with a sigh and allowed him to see her countenance. When he did, cold fury flooded his gut. “Shestruckyou?”
