"Who?" I asked with absolute innocence because it's always worth a try.
Darcy regarded me as a strict parent would regard a naughty child, or at least I assumed so. I cannot be sure, I never had a strict parent.
"I have misplaced her. Momentarily," I admitted.
Darcy's lips formed an indulgent sort of half-smile. Perhaps things are not so dire after all.
Teasingly he said, "It is becoming a habit with you, losing my cousins."
Ah, so he had heard about that.
"I did not really lose Belinda, whatever your aunt may say. We were playing a game. It is hardly my fault she found such an effective hiding spot and promptly fell asleep in it."
"Yes, but perhaps it was not necessary for you to tell my aunt you had sold her daughter to a chimney sweep," Darcy chided. He and I have very different definitions of 'necessary'.
"Belinda was not five minutes missing when Mrs. Vane fixed me with that lethal glare you Darcys are so adept at and said, 'If you have lost her my kindness to you is henceforth over.' She used henceforth in a sentence unironically whilst suggesting she has ever beenkind to me—"
"Come now, she has smiled at you at least once," said Darcy.
"Oh yes, she has given me a Darcy smile. The sort of smile that makes you wonder if the smiler is only slightly nauseated by you or is possibly contemplating hunting you for your hide."
"We Darcys cannot be as bad as all that."
I raised my brow in a mocking portrayal of that supercilious thing he is always doing with his eyebrows. He seemed to find it amusing.
"So you see itwasnecessary," I said, returning to the original topic, "There could be no other response to such an over-dramatic threat."
"Yes, the obvious solution for overreaction is to create more drama."
"She deserved it, I had to bait her. She should know by now I am jesting. Besides, Belinda is far too large to climb all but the grandest of chimneys and in another year even those will be beyond her. No business minded sweep would make such a poor investment."
Darcy chuckled. I felt inordinately proud of myself for having elicited that chuckle. I felt prouder still when he said, "You are glorious."
I was stunned by his announcement and for a full half minute was not capable of speech at all. Then, not wanting to show how deeply his words had affected me, I said flippantly, "Finally you notice."
"I have noticed before now. Long have I realized that you are. . . ."
Brilliant?
Gorgeous?
Hilariously witty?
Seriously, Mr. Darcy what am I? I must know. But he trailed off frustratingly, clearly lost for what to say next.
Yet he had said glorious. I had never felt myself to be glorious before, but I would certainly take it. It was more than I had hoped for. The exhilaration that compliment had caused within me should shame me, however it just made me want more.
But I could not let it show.
"As much as I would love to wait here for you to extol my many virtues, perhaps it is time to find Dora?"
Darcy looked relived at my change of subject, as if he had said more than he had wished.
"Yes, we should find her."
"Iwill find her," I replied waspishly. Why had I spoken so sharply? What is wrong with me?
In a more regulated tone I added, "She is my responsibility."
