Elizabeth had nothing to say against it, but Darcy had not joined in everyone’s enthusiasm. Colonel Fitzwilliam was still seated by her at the instrument, and he rose upon seeing a rather emphatic look in Darcy’s eyes. Darcy led him a little apart and behind her. They spoke quietly, but were not as far away from her as they suspected.
“If I leave, my concerns at Pemberley are left as a body without a head,” she heard Darcy whisper harshly.
“It is one day! Your steward can oversee matters foroneday.”
“You know that is not the only?—”
“And you cannot accuse Balfour or Utterson until they return, and until I investigate the pawnshops,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said sharply. “Search their rooms before we leave, but you won’t solve anything else tomorrow, so you may as well amuse your guests with an exploring party to Dovedale.”
Realisation struck Elizabeth. Darcy and his cousin suspected that either Mr Balfour or Mr Utterson were behind the looting in Lambton. They thought one of them stole items from the village and then pawned them for money.One of them must have taken the candlestick from old Mr Darcy’s room as well. What a deception from a man she had thought was a gentleman, and poor Darcy, to be deceived by a friend.
Her breath came faster, and she felt a sickening coldness creep over her.Darcy thinks one of them killed Carew.
She brought a hand to her mouth to stifle a cry of surprise. Every feeling revolted against it, but she could not allow her reason to falter. Both men had a want of money, they both liked to spend beyond their means, they both had the opportunity to loot the village, and they both were known to be away from the house when Carew died. She blew out a breath and forced her shaking fingers into fists on her lap. One of Darcy’s friends might be a murderer. It was little wonder acute sorrow seemed to have settled in his eyes.
“Iintendto!” she heard Darcy cry.
“Yes, well, a smile, half-bow, and a wish that she has a good morning whilst you do not see each other for the next eight hours, and then spend the evening in mixed company will hardly get the desired result!” Colonel Fitzwilliam’s voice had raised too, and she turned to learn what it meant. They noticed her, and the effect was immediate: Darcy’s expression softened, and Colonel Fitzwilliam bowed and walked away.
“You, you did not hear much, did you?” Darcy asked in a low voice. “I mean... nothing to distress you, I hope?”
He does not want to worry me because I already suspect that Carew’s death was not an accident.To see the man she loved distressed, and to be unable to relieve him, was a painful affliction she would not wish on anyone. The least she could do was pretend that she was not terrified as her mind jumped from wondering if it was Mr Balfour or Mr Utterson who was a killer.
“No, not at all,” she said, but from Darcy’s troubled expression, he did not believe her. She ought to try to bring back some of the smiles he had worn earlier. “What think you of the visit to Dovedale tomorrow? I should like it very much.”
“It is one of the most pleasing scenes of the Peak,” he said, but with no enthusiasm.
She would not now mention the horrid idea that one of his friends might be behind the death of one of his servants. “Hearing and answering applications for help leaves you no hours for recreation. I hope you can enjoy one sightseeing afternoon without feeling guilty.”
She could see in his face that was precisely how he felt. “Iwillfeel guilty, but you and Fitzwilliam are determined to see me go.” Darcy smiled, and she could see him putting in the effort to be agreeable. “For your sake, I shall show you all the beauties of the valley and the River Dove.”
“I hope you can enjoy it, Darcy. I know”—she placed a hand on his arm—“I know you have much to worry you, and how much you care for the people here.” She dropped her voice and gave him an earnest look. “You can be honest, you know, with me. You need not pretend you are not afflicted for my sake.”
She had drawn her hand down his arm before removing it, and he grasped her hand, lightly, giving her fingers a squeeze before letting go.
“I do,” he said slowly, “I do feel a duty, a responsibility that weighs heavily on me, more so than anything I have ever felt.” He looked her full in the face, and for a moment she thought he might mention his fears about Carew’s death but, in the end, he only said, “Miss Bennet, I dare not say more about it, but if I were to wish a bitter curse on an enemy, I should put him in my place with my feelings.”
She tried to imagine his loss in knowing that one of his friends wasa killer—his strain, his fear—but she knew what she imagined could never match Darcy’s reality. If she could not share his concerns, she would try to raise his spirits. “That would put Mr Wickham as Pemberley’s master, and that would gall you more.” She smiled at his surprised expression, and he laughed a little. “So I think it best if you remain Pemberley’s caretaker.”
“You intend to tease me?”
“Absolutely, if you will let me.”
The look Darcy gave her was so tender she wondered if he was about to declare all of the sentiments she hoped he would confess. Elizabeth then noticed how the rest of the room was watching, and she took a small step away from him.
“Shall we enjoy ourselves tomorrow?” she said in a more conversational tone. “Can you suffer a few hours with your friends, as a reward for the effort you have already put forth for Pemberley?”
Darcy too noticed that they had gained the attention of everyone else. He lowered his voice, and even bent a little lower to look directly into her eyes. “I shall suffer ten times more if I am not with you.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The ladies were comfortably settled in Darcy’s barouche to drive to Dovedale. Elizabeth and Hester rode with Mrs Annesley as Darcy drove and his sister joined him in the box. It was pleasant to see brother and sister full of conversation. She often saw Darcy’s handsome face in profile when he turned to speak to or smile at Miss Darcy. She seemed to have forgotten that there were three people seated behind her; Miss Darcy talked more freely than Elizabeth had previously seen.
“We are fortunate the weather is fair, and it is unlikely to rain,” Mrs Annesley mused happily.
Their road was through a pleasant country and the sun was shining, and Elizabeth was happy in admiring the beauties before her. Hester often looked back after Colonel Fitzwilliam, who decided to ride rather than crowd the barouche. Elizabeth suspected he did not want to force Hester into his company. She smiled to herself when Hester appeared to be admiring some scenic beauty and, when Colonel Fitzwilliam gained on them whilst ascending a hill, would whisper, “There he is.”
After this happened a third time, Elizabeth did not hide her smilefast enough, and Hester blushed. “I am content with our friendship as it is,” she said softly.
