“Shakespeare.”
“Yes, I know that,” she said. “But your context eludes me.”
He raised his head and offered her a half smile. “I am jealous.”
She tilted her head. “Of Mr Hartham?”
“Of any man who has your friendship,” he replied ruefully. “But since last night,specificallyMr Hartham. I fear such musings, along with the lack of sleep, have rendered me even more ungentlemanly than before.”
Jealous?The word, and the humility in his aspect, softened her. “I am not the sort of woman who?—”
“I know. Truly, I do. It was a most absurd thing to say, and I regret it heartily. Only you were with him in the middle of the night, unchaperoned. And then you came in here just now so fresh-faced and more beautiful than ever, and I decided at once that you must be in love with him.”
Wholly discomfited by his frankness, Elizabeth hardly knew what to say or do. He had never told her he thought she was beautiful, not even when he proposed. Rather pitifully, she mumbled, “It is the sea air, I daresay, that makes me…fresh. Not love.”
There was a short silence between them.
“I have tended to your reproofs,” he said earnestly. “Or at least I have tried to. Clearly there is ground to be gained, but I?—”
The sound of footsteps descending the stairs interrupted him. Lord Saye appeared a second later on the landing. “What sort of savages are awake and talking at such an hour? And what are the damned birds about all the time? I never heard such a racket!”
11
Relief, mixed confusingly with disappointment, coursed through Elizabeth at Lord Saye’s intrusion into her turbulent tête-à-tête. She turned away from Mr Darcy and his candour and walked towards his cousin.
“I fear the fault is mine, my lord,” she said quickly. “I learnt yesterday of a situation that might prove ideal for you, and given that my house is not ready to be inhabited, I wished to bring it before you at the earliest possible hour. I would be more than glad to return the funds you have put forth should you wish to move.”
The peevishness on Lord Saye’s countenance did not abate in the least. “I smell coffee,” he said. “Where is it? I need some at once.”
“You smellmycoffee,” Mr Darcy replied. “Your cook has somehow managed to make some in the rudimentary scullery that passes as this house’s kitchen.”
“How am I meant to procure some?” his lordship spoke in a whinge. “What do I do, just wander down there myself? Like afootman?”
At this most auspicious of moments, Mr Tucker and Mr Gardiner reappeared. It was clear both men were finding a kindred spirit in one another, but more importantly, they had found coffee and brought with them a large ewer on a tray with cups and a bowl of sugar.
Lord Saye cried out with delight. “Tucker, you blessed soul, I fear I might actually kiss you.”
Mr Tucker was setting his tray on the sideboard and said, calmly, “No need, my lord. I believe you like it without cream?”
“Black as the night,” said Lord Saye, sounding more cheerful by the moment. “Miss Bennet, do go on and tell me about this home you have located.”
“A very splendid home, with twelve bedchambers,” she said as Mr Tucker handed Lord Saye his coffee. “And ceilings that have remained intact for above a century.”
Lord Saye took a deep, appreciative inhalation of his coffee before drinking deeply.
“Where did you learn of it?” Mr Darcy asked.
Elizabeth could not look at him and answered as though Lord Saye had asked the question. “I heard of it at a ball last night. Alas I cannot boast first-hand knowledge of the place, but by all reports, it is a house very well-suited for a man of your station. It only very lately became vacant.”
Lord Saye nodded thoughtfully, his free hand resting on his hip. “How is the view?”
“Lovely, I understand. Verdant and lush, surrounded by…beech trees…on three sides…” Elizabeth trailed off, having observed an expression of increasing horror on his lordship’s countenance.
“Trees?” His lip curled up on one side. “Surrounded bytreeson three sides?”
Elizabeth shot her uncle a quick glance. He appeared as mystified as she felt. “A charming wood.”
Lord Saye closed his eyes, seeming pained. “And where might this verdant paradise be located?”
