Mrs. Philips ignored him.
“I expected you last night, Lydia and Kitty,” said their aunt. “I can understand that Jane and Lizzy are needed to nurse their mama, but you could have gotten away. All the officers were asking after you.”
Lizzy was mortified at Mrs. Philips’ words. She threw a quick look at Mr. Darcy and saw his mouth tighten. The luminous smile was gone.
“Officers?” said Lydia. “La! What would I want with officers, when I have the company of far more worthy gentlemen?”
She looked at Mr. Collins as she spoke, and he inclined his head, his expression full of complacency.
Mrs. Philips stared.
“But only two days ago you said—”
It was time to intervene.
“If you have come to enquire about Mama’s health, then I am pleased to say she is improving fast,” said Elizabeth. She had promised herself that she would not utter any more falsehoods, but someone had to keep her aunt in check, and Jane was not doing it. “She is sitting up in bed today. We are hoping she will be on her feet in a few days.”
“That is excellent news!” Mr. Bingley beamed. “You must be intensely relieved, Miss Bennet.”
Jane blushed and looked at her hands.
“Yes, very much so,” she murmured, shyly.
“Then I will go up and speak to your mama at once!”
Elizabeth was taken aback. She had not considered that possibility. If Aunt Philips went upstairs she would discover that Mama was perfectly well, and the news would be all over Meryton in an hour.
“Perhaps it would be better to wait another two or three days until we are sure she is ready to receive visitors.”
“Nonsense! I am sure she would love to see me. I will entertain her with the latest gossip.”
In a few minutes, everything would unravel. Mama would be bound to tell Aunt Philips the news, and the whole sorry debacle would be known.
“Mrs. Philips,” said Darcy, abruptly. “We were thinking of going into Meryton. I would like to send some lace to my sister. The haberdasher has acquired a new sample, I have heard. I wonder if you can lend me your excellent judgement on the matter?”
Everyone stared including Mr. Bingley, whose mouth hung open for a full minute before he caught on and lent Darcy his assistance.
He gave her a charming smile. “It is an urgent matter, Mrs. Philips. Lace is not readily available in Derbyshire.”
“Really?” said Mrs. Philips, looking very superior, her eyes darting towards Mr. Darcy. “Well, Meryton may be a small place, but no one can say we are backward.”
Before anyone knew it, Mr. Darcy had taken Mrs. Philips by the elbow and was guiding her to the door. As he left the room, he sent Elizabeth a meaningful glance, and then he did the most shocking thing.
He winked at her.
Elizabeth looked around to see if anyone else had witnessed it, but no one was paying attention. Had he really winked? Laughter bubbled up inside her, along with an entirely new sensation of well-being.
She was only too aware of the sacrifice Mr. Darcy was making. He would be obliged to spend the next hour in the company of Aunt Philips, walking to Meryton, then looking at lace.
He would do this for them? Why? She thought of that strange light in his eyes when he had looked at her, and a wonderous warmth unfurled inside her.
He was doing it forher.
Unfortunately, she did not deserve it. She shut her eyes, her feelings in turmoil. She was grateful to him for doing it, but she was now more indebted to him than ever. It made her feel even worse.
The trickle of guilt was fast turning into a flood, and she was in danger of drowning.
