The rallying cry rumbled across the room. Elizabeth had not heard it before, but it was clearly something the young apprentices were trained to say.
“Thank you for listening. I will leave you to it. The Tutors will be calling out names for the teams. Please wait for your name to be called.”
He stepped down from the dais and walked slowly to the door.
Elizabeth looked towards Darcy, expecting him to join her, but he took out a series of papers and distributed the lists to the other Tutors, then began to read out his own list.
Elizabeth did not receive a list. Nor did anyone read out her name.
This was beyond ridiculous. Was she to be excluded from even the most mundane of tasks?
As the teams were sorting into lines and led out of the Ballroom, Elizabeth went after Darcy.
“May I have a word?”
Darcy threw a glance at the apprentices who were surrounding him, then led her gently through a doorway and closed the door.
“Why have I not been given a team to supervise?”
“Because you have not yet been appointed as a Tutor.”
“And why can I not train with you?”
“Because, for the moment, the Council has prohibited it.”
“Ah. May I ask, then, what I am supposed to be doing?”
“I am sure you will find something to do, Elizabeth.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “I really must go.”
Elizabeth tried her best not to take it to heart, but it was difficult. She had left Longbourn because she was summoned to teach the apprentices. Now she was not even given a chance to supervise them in the most mundane tasks.
What was she doing here? She really had no role at all, and now that the tasks had been distributed, she did not have anything to do.
She could not even risk walking on the grounds, not until all the Wards had been set up. As Lord Matlock had emphasized, the utmost secrecy was required, especially in her case, since she was known locally. The smallest glimpse of her would make it obvious that the stories circulating about the new occupants of Netherfield Park were not true.
There was only one place for her, really. The library. She was beginning to understand why her father always took shelter in the library at Longbourn.
***
ELIZABETH AND DARCYdid not cross paths again until the evening, even though he kept an eye out for her. When he spotted her lining up to eat, he strode over at once, and the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder as they helped themselves to food. They would eat in the conservatory, he decided. They would have to cross the length of the house carrying their dishes, but it was worth it to have some time alone with her.
“Come with me. I discovered a small conservatory this morning. No one knows it is there yet. Sadly, it is not in the best of shape. Most of the plants have died because the furnaces were not kept on. I do not know if any of them can be salvaged, but perhaps when the house has been organized, we could find out together?”
She quirked her eyebrow. “Are you finding me something to do to make me feel better?”
“I am finding something forusto do together. You know if I could, I would spend the whole day with you.”
The disheartened expression on her face pierced his heart. He slipped his free hand around her waist and drew her close.
“I am sorry we could not talk earlier. It could not be helped.”
“It was not your fault.”
They reached the conservatory. Elizabeth halted in the doorway and gazed round at the withered plants.
“Oh! I remember this place when it was warm and lush and full of life. The poor plants!”
Perhaps it was not the best idea to have brought her here after all. Not only was it full of dead vegetation, but it was cold as well. It had seemed warmer earlier, with the sun pouring through the window.
