“Would you have preferred all the ladies to have six inches of mud on their petticoats?” said Darcy.
“I would have preferred it if they came in a proper carriage,” she replied, “but I suppose that would be too much to expect.”
Darcy ignored her. It would only encourage her if he answered. Instead, he went to the hallway as the Bennets entered, and took up his hat and great coat, ready to brave the maze.
***
DARCY HAD DREAMT OFspending time alone with Elizabeth, but nothing could be further from what his imagination had conjured up. Bingley and Jane set out ahead of everyone, followed by Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst.
To Mr. Darcy’s dismay, however, Mr. Collins stuck like a burr to Elizabeth. Lydia followed closely, snagging her clothing from time to time on the well-trimmed hedges, and calling out to Mr. Collins to release her. Meanwhile, Mary plodded behind them, relating every detail ofThe Odysseyto Kitty, and showing off her elementary knowledge of Classical Greek by occasionally substituting a Greek word for English. This had the effect of having Collins stop and turn to correct her, holding up the whole party while he explained the rules of Greek grammar.
Finally, when Lydia managed to snag her sleeve for the third time, Darcy decided he could not bear it any longer. Trying not to snap irritably, Darcy turned to Mr. Collins so abruptly the clergyman crashed into him.
“I appreciate your desire to chaperon your cousins, Collins. However, the purpose of the maze is for everyone to spread out and find their own way. If we all walk together, it rather defeats the purpose.
Mr. Collins’ eyes darted to Elizabeth then back to Darcy.
“Then I shall accompany Miss Elizabeth, and we will go in a different direction.”
“Mr. Collins,” said Elizabeth, putting a hand on the clergyman’s sleeve. “I would be very obliged if you could watch over Lydia. She does not have a good sense of direction, and she will be immediately lost if you do not help her.”
She gave Mr. Collins a quick smile. Mr. Collins looked as if he might object, but then thought better of it.
“Of course, Cousin Elizabeth. But you must promise me an opportunity to talk to you later. We have a conversation to continue.”
“Actually,” said Mary. “I was hoping Mr. Collins would continue his explanation of the Greek tenses.”
There was a fork in the maze. Darcy hooked his arm in Elizabeth’s and steered her towards the left path. As soon as the others were out of sight, he let go of her, and began to run. Elizabeth ran after him, laughing, until they reached a bend in the maze. They stopped to listen. Darcy could still hear the others talking, but their voices were fading.
“I think we have lost them,” he said.
She nodded, her eyes full of mischief. She looked enchanting.
“Thank goodness,” she said. “Thank you for the rescue. Shall we continue on our way? I am eager to reach the middle of the maze before anyone else does.”
That was not Darcy’s plan at all. He hoped to spend as much time alone with Elizabeth in the maze, within the bounds of propriety, of course. But first, he asked the question that had been troubling him.
“I hope Mr. Collins is not scolding you and making your life difficult. Is that what he meant when he mentioned a conversation?”
Elizabeth's lips twitched. “No, it is not. Mr. Collins has asked me to marry him.”
The words were a punch in the jaw, coming from nowhere.
“May I inquire what your answer was?”
He waited, motionless, terrified at what she would say next. His whole world hung in the balance.
“I gave none.”
Her cheeks dimpled.
Darcy blinked at that enigmatic sentence. What did she mean? Was she actually considering marrying Mr. Collins? He waited for her to continue, but she said nothing else. The suspense made him wretched, but he could not very well continue with that line of questioning. He had already probed enough.
“I see,” he replied.
“I wonder what it is you see, Mr. Darcy?” she said, her tone teasing. “Do you think it is a good match for me? There are those who believe I would be lucky to marry such a man.”
This is not a laughing matter, he thought.If you married him, my heart would crack like ice on a pond.
