“What about Bingley? He might leave the room and lose his way.”
“Unfortunately, you will have to lock the door. I cannot assign him a footman. No one must know that you left the room.”
“What is going on?”
“I will explain along the way.”
Darcy rose from his bed and started to pick up his candle, but Matlock blew it out. “I’ll conjure up a ghost light. No one else will be able to see it. Now hurry. Throw on some clothes.”
Darcy took the key from the inside and locked the door after him. He was not happy doing that to Bingley. He just hoped his friend would not wake up.
“We need Elizabeth as well. Which bedchamber is hers?”
“Are you going to explain—?”
“Quiet! And you had better Muffle your magic.”
When they reached Elizabeth’s bedchamber, Darcy crept softly in, holding Matlock’s ghost light and trying not to startle her by stumbling over the carpet or crashing into the furniture.
He also tried not to think about how delightful it would be if he could join her instead of going with his uncle.
“Elizabeth, my love.”
He touched her lightly on the shoulder. She jerked awake with a gasp, then relaxed when she recognized him. She put her arms out to him and smiled.
“You came.”
He swallowed hard.
“I am here because my uncle needs us.”
“Your uncle? Lord Matlock?”
Her voice rose in a squeak.
“Hush. He’s outside the door. Now please get dressed quickly.”
She nodded and stepped out of the bed. He looked away, not wanting to be even more tempted by the vision of her in her nightgown. How could a long plain cotton nightgown look enticing? He supposed she would look enticing in a sack.
“It will be quicker if you help me. Shall I wear my training gown?”
The last thing he needed at this moment was to help her dress. “Yes. It might be best.”
She disappeared behind the screen, then reappeared a few moments later.
“Why did your uncle not warn us? We would have been ready. What does he want?”
“I have no idea.”
The training gowns were designed to be practical, without hooks or buttons, but with a complicated series of ties. Keeping his mind strictly focused on the ties, not on the soft contours beneath the gown, he helped her tie the knots quickly. Within minutes, she was ready.
When they stepped out of the room, Matlock was looking impatient.
“You took your time.”
Darcy wanted to protest that Elizabeth had dressed remarkably quickly, especially for a lady, but Elizabeth gave him a nudge of the elbow.
“Follow me.”
