“We are all laughable when we wear someone else’s clothes,” he said, his smile widening. “Especially when the modiste has gone to so much trouble to create a garment that fits one particular person – in this case my sister. But my main concern is that you may trip over the hem when you go down the stairs.”
“Thank you for the warning,” she said. “I will endeavor not to do so, so you will not be obliged to rescue me again.”
Her smile was open and full of laughter. He looked away, eager to take the conversation in another less perilous direction.
“How is Margaret?”
“Maisy assures me that, according to Mrs. Durrell, she is well. I have yet to see her. ”
The mother sat up straight, gave a little stretch, and shook her head, causing her hair to cascade over her shoulders. There was an unconscious grace to her movements, and she looked very pretty, her long dark hair wet and draped over her shoulders in damp waves. She reached back and gathered together the strands, pulling them upwards, exposing the creamy skin at the nape of her neck.
As she noted the direction of his gaze, she looked mortified and quickly released her hair.
“I am sorry. I am not in the habit of leaving my hair down in company, but I needed it to dry by the fire. We will be leaving soon.”
It discomposed him that she had guessed the direction of his thoughts, and alarmed that he was even thinking that way. What on earth was he doing? She was married, and from Cheapside, and they did not move in the same social circles. He ought not to have intruded on her like this. He had already taken his leave earlier. It was time to do so again. He had to distance himself, or he would find himself drowning in quite another way than in the lake.
“You may stay as long as you wish,” he said, dragging his gaze away from her and shuttering his expression. “You need notworry about leaving down your hair. I will be in the library on the other side of the house, so you will not be in my way, and I will not be in yours. I came to speak to Mrs. Durrell.”
It was not a very subtle way of communicating that she should not expect him to speak to her again.
Her cheeks turned bright red. She had understood the implication.
“I very much appreciate your assistance, Mr. Darcy,” she said. “You need not worry. We will be leaving shortly.”
“Have Mrs. Durrell send for the carriage when you are ready. I very much hope neither of you experience any repercussions from today’s events.” He bowed. “I bid you farewell, madam. I wish you well.”
At the flash of chagrin in her eyes at his impersonal words, he felt immediately contrite. His words were civil enough, but they were a dismissal, and they both knew it.
He bowed and hurried out, feeling both guilty and embarrassed. In his haste to leave, he almost collided with Georgiana.
“William—” she began.
“I will talk with you later,” he said and hurried away from the temptation to walk back and issue an apology.
Chapter 5
True to his word, Mr. Darcy’s carriage was ordered as soon as Elizabeth expressed her desire to leave. She and Mrs. Durrel woke Maggie up and, as soon as they were reassured that she was not in any danger, a footman carried her down the stairs into the carriage where blankets and warm bricks awaited them. The damp seats had been covered and the floor mopped. All in all, there was little evidence of the event that had occurred earlier.
“Do you think Mama will be angry at me for falling into the lake?” said Maggie, as they set out for the Gardiners’ house?
“Of course not,” said Elizabeth. “It was an accident. Accidents do happen. Though you must be very careful from now on not to go too close to the water. I was very frightened. Will you promise me that?”
“I promise,” said Maggie, solemnly. “I was frightened, too.”
“Well, you are safe and sound now,” said Elizabeth, hugging her closely, and trying not to think about what might have happened. “That is what counts. But you must not scare me like that again.”
Maggie nodded her head and squeezed closer to her side. A few minutes later, the sound of her even breathing indicated she was fast asleep. Elizabeth wrapped her in the blanket and made certain she was warm and comfortable.
As she left Darcy House behind her, Elizabeth began to think of the best way to tell her uncle and aunt what had happened. She wondered what they had made of Miss Darcy’s message, or indeed, what exactly she had written. Elizabeth had been too preoccupied to pay attention, but she was grateful the Darcys had made the effort to reassure the Gardiners. Imagine if they had sent the carriage to pick her and Maggie up, then returned without them! How horrible that would have been. Luckily, Mr. Darcy had dealt with it.
The Gardiners must have been waiting for them to arrive, because the door flew open before the horses had even come to a halt. It was unusual for her uncle to be at home this time of the day. Mrs. Gardiner must have forwarded the message to him.
“I received Miss Darcy’s message,” said her uncle. “What happened?”
“So you have come here in a carriage bearing the Darcy crest,” said Mrs. Gardiner, as Elizabeth opened the door. “What can that mean?”
Elizabeth looked at her aunt in surprise. “How did you recognize the Darcy crest?”
