“What is he not angry about?”she said with exasperation.“He is angry she is going at such short notice, angry she wishes to go without him, angry she did not ask his permission first—as if she were a child!”She suddenly looked back to him with narrowed eyes.“You would never do such a thing, would you?”When he looked at her in bewilderment she added, “Force me to ask permission before going anywhere, as if I were a little girl?”
“Of course not!”he cried.He could not stop the smile from spreading across his face at the notion that she was imagining their marriage.He grasped her hand tightly in his.“Your spirit is something I love dearly, and I would not quash it for the world.”He raised her hand to his lips.“I would like to be told if you are leaving the county, and I would wish you to be properly escorted, but no, Elizabeth, you would not need my permission for anything.I wish to be your husband, not your master.”
She smiled brilliantly at him and raised up onto her toes to bestow a quick kiss on his lips.He looked rather dazed in response and she said, “What are we to do?I feel awful for causing trouble for Charlotte!She has been so kind to me, and this is how I repay her.”
“It is not your fault—do not blame yourself.Mr.Collins would have had to learn sooner or later that his wife is not chattel.”
Elizabeth looked down, chewing the inside of her lip.“That is not all they are quarreling over.”
“Oh?”
She looked up at him, eyes filled with worry and a tiny bit of mischief.She took a deep breath and said, “Charlotte finally told him why you are escorting us to Town.”
“I see.”He straightened and his expression became harder.
“He insists that you are engaged to Miss de Bourgh, and that we must be mistaken, or that you have been allured by my wiles.”
He looked back down at her at that and one side of his mouth quirked up.“Well, that part is true.You have bewitched me utterly.I don’t know how you’ve done it.Perhaps it is witchcraft.”
She smacked his arm playfully.“Oh do be serious, Fitzwilliam!”
Darcy laughed.“Very well.I will speak with Mr.Collins.”
“Will you?I would greatly appreciate it.”
He kissed her hand again.“Of course, my love.It is not right to allow Mrs.Collins to bear the consequences of my actions.”
“Well, that is painting it a bit dark, but I agree she should not be left on her own to face Mr.Collins’s displeasure when it is we who have so disappointed him.”
“Quite.”He led her back to the front door and into the parsonage.
Mr.Collins’s voice was quieter now, but he and Charlotte were still very clearly arguing in the front parlor.The maid hovered at the back of the hallway with a tea tray, looking terrified.
“Allow me,” said Darcy as he took the tray from the girl.
She scampered off to the kitchen and Elizabeth rewarded him with a proud smile.Then she took a deep breath, rapped on the parlor door, and pushed it open.
“We’ve brought tea,” she said brightly.
Darcy followed her in and set the tray on the table before the sofa.
“Mr.Darcy!”spluttered Mr.Collins, thoroughly shocked.
“Thank you, Mr.Darcy,” said Charlotte calmly.“Do be seated.”
She gestured to the sofa and Darcy sat next to Elizabeth, quickly taking her hand in his and settling it on his knee.She looked at him with surprise, but he merely gave her a look that let her know he knew what he was doing and turned to face their hosts.
“Mr.Collins, I understand there seems to be some sort of trouble.”
Mr.Collins was staring at Darcy with his mouth agape, his eyes moving from Darcy’s face to the hand that held Elizabeth’s and back again.
After another minute of silence, Charlotte said, “Mr.Collins was not pleased to hear of my journey to Hertfordshire, Mr.Darcy.”
“I assure you, Mr.Collins, the carriage is comfortable and well-sprung, and I will look after Mrs.Collins as if she were my own sister.No harm shall befall her.”
Mr.Collins spluttered again, saying half-words and making less sense than usual.Darcy had trapped him neatly.He could not say he was not concerned for his wife’s comfort or safety without seeming an uncaring husband.
Finally, Collins said, “I have no doubt of that, Mr.Darcy.A gentleman such as yourself could not fail to do so, but Mrs.Collins has duties here to the parishioners and to her husband.A journey at this time is ill-advised.”
