“What?”
“The same look you had at Rosings: you basked in her presence like you did when she talked and argued with you.”
“Basked?” he asked sceptically.
“Well, basking for you. I thought that look was present in Dartford because you were both relieved to be safe. I suppose the question is, does she only like you a little better, or does she love you now?”
“I have made a fine beginning to fall in love with you”was what Elizabeth had said to him while they were in bed together. “I know that she does.”
Fitzwilliam took a slow drink and studied him for a moment over the rim of his glass. His cousin then swore and slammed down his glass. “You did not!”
“What?” he asked, alarmed.
“While kidnapped? You would never—no, in the Bull and George after?” He laughed. “Safe and sound in one another’s arms!” Fitzwilliam laughed harder. “I cannot believe it!”
If he had not had so many recent threats on his own life, Darcy was certain he would die of embarrassment. He bowed his head over his glass and refused to raise his eyes.
“Now I see why you need to talk with her,” Fitzwilliam said, still chuckling.
“This is not amusing,” he cried. “Markle wants to kidnap her again to force my hand. A violent man wants me to trade an innocent child for Elizabeth, or else he hunts down my sister for the same purpose. I cannot even go to Elizabeth and tell her I still want to marry her.” Darcy sullenly took a drink while his cousin’s expression sobered. “What woman could be secure after what we did, and how we argued, and with my not calling?”
Fitzwilliam gave him a compassionate look. “You will think of a way to solve this. Get the boy out of London first.”
“Even when I do, Markle won’t let this go. If he finds Elizabeth and cannot trade her for Kirby, he will kill her. If he cannot find Elizabeth, he will kill my sister. And then he will kill me the next time he follows me. I have little time to find a solution.”
Chapter Seventeen
The Gardiners hired a carriage to take them to the Hursts’ in Grosvenor Street on Thursday evening. Elizabeth saw how pleased Jane was with Miss Bingley’s and Mrs Hurst’s notice, so she was resolved to be patient with them. They would soon be Jane’s family, if Bingley’s looks and smiles meant what she thought they did.
“Do you think Bingley will contrive to take a place by yours at the table?” she asked Jane as the carriage slowed. “He used to do that at all of the dinners in Meryton.”
Jane blushed prettily. “I will be happy to sit next to anyone.”
She might have demurred, but Elizabeth knew Jane felt confident of Bingley’s intentions by now. “I am certain you would, but I think he only wants to sit by you.”
He showed his interest once they were shown into a grand entrance hall, and Bingley scarcely let his sister do the courtesy of greeting her guests before he bounded forward to welcome Jane. Mrs Hurst’s greeting was milder, and her husband only bowed.
“Do you expect others this evening?” Mr Gardiner asked him pleasantly, but Mr Hurst only shrugged.
“No,” Miss Bingley answered shortly. In a voice of forced politeness she added, “Louisa has an even number now, so that is the only good thing about Mr Darcy not coming.”
Elizabeth’s heart sank. “He was invited, but had an engagement elsewhere?”
Mrs Hurst shook her head. “He sent a note saying that he was not well.”
Elizabeth shared a look with Jane, who gave her a commiserating smile. She felt such disappointment to have missed the chance to see Darcy.
Bingley immediately came near. He spoke to everyone but looked meaningfully at Jane. “Darcy wrote to me as well,” he said in his cheerful way, “and he was glad that I had gone to Gracechurch Street. I wish I had known that Miss Bennet was here all winter, but Darcy says he is particularly glad that I learnt you were in town. He hopes to see you himself soon.”
Bingley and Jane were all smiles, but Elizabeth felt wretched. He had all but given his permission for Bingley to pursue Jane, said he wanted to show Jane her due notice, but he would not come tonight. Was it because he was still angry over what she had said about Wickham?
“I suppose it is just as well for Miss Eliza and Mr Darcy not to be seen together so soon,” Miss Bingley said. “For the sake of their reputations, you would want nothing to be misconstrued by their being in public together so soon after the incident.”
“It is only us here this evening, Caroline,” Bingley said. “And no one would misconstrue anything unless you hinted something was amiss.”
Miss Bingley sputtered and said how she would never damage dear Mr Darcy’s reputation, or her friend Jane’s sister’s either, and was seconded by Mrs Hurst in her empty pleasantries.
While the others listened, Elizabeth grew furious. What could Darcy mean by avoiding her? Was she simply supposed to wait for Darcy to show up, whenever that might be? Women were to be proposed to, and could never speak first. Jane had been miserable all winter because she could not call on Bingley herself, and now here she was supposed to do the same with Darcy.
