She could still hear that piercing voice:Lizzy, you’re engaged to Mr Darcy?!Loud enough to reach every corner of the party, to transform a desperate improvisation into public declaration.
“Once Lydia announced it to the entire party, and everyone began congratulating us, there was no taking it back. Not without creating an enormous scandal that would damage us both irreparably.”
Jane wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Oh, Lizzy. You were only trying to be helpful.”
“And instead I have trapped us both in an impossible situation.” Tears finally spilled over, hot against her cheeks. “The news has spread everywhere now. There is no containing it, no quietly setting matters right. I have ruined his life and my own through sheer foolish impulsiveness.”
“You have not ruined anything,” Wilhelmina replied. “Those women truly did mean to compromise Mr Darcy. What you did prevented something far worse than gossip.”
“At the cost of our reputations.”
Mary looked thoughtful. “You acted with good intentions. Mr Darcy must recognise that, else why would he have supported your claim? He could have denied it immediately, yet he chose to corroborate your words instead.”
That same fact had been circling Elizabeth’s mind since she woke. Mr Darcy had possessed every opportunity to expose her fabrication, to declare before all those witnesses that noengagement existed. Instead, he had said:Indeed. Miss Bennet is quite correct. We are engaged.
He had chosen to protect her in that moment, even at tremendous cost to himself.
“I owe him an apology,” she murmured. “A profound one. And I must discover what he wishes to do about this disaster I have created.”
“Whatever happens,” Jane said, “we are with you, Lizzy. All of us. Whatever follows from this, you do not face it alone.”
Elizabeth looked up at her sisters and cousin through blurred vision. Their faces held nothing but concern, support and a steadfast loyalty that made her throat tighten with gratitude.
“How can you be so calm? I have created a scandal that may follow us all back to England. It may affect each of you by association.”
“Then we shall weather that storm together,” Wilhelmina declared. “You stood between Mr Darcy and direct harm yesterday. That required courage, even if the method proved imperfect.”
Mary nodded. “Reputations can be repaired with time and care. What matters now is determining the best path forward.”
Before Elizabeth could respond, the door burst open without warning, admitting Lydia, Kitty, and Effie in a flurry of muslin and excitement that seemed to fill the entire room.
“Oh, we have been planning such wonderful things!” Lydia flung herself onto the sofa beside Elizabeth with remarkable exuberance. “A spring wedding would be lovely, do you not think? Or perhaps summer, for better weather and more flowers. And you must have an entirely new wardrobe made, naturally, one cannot go to Pemberley in last season’s gowns. I wonder if Mr Darcy’s estate has a proper ballroom for wedding celebrations? It must, surely.”
“Lizzy needs rest, not wedding speculation.” Jane rose, her gentle firmness brooking no argument. “Perhaps you three might explore the gardens instead? The morning is fine, and Aunt Ahearn mentioned the roses are particularly beautiful this week.”
Kitty opened her mouth to protest, caught Jane’s expression, and subsided. “Oh. Yes, of course. I suppose we can discuss ballrooms amongst ourselves. Come, Lydia, Effie.”
They departed with considerably less enthusiasm than they had arrived, Lydia casting disappointed glances over her shoulder until the door closed behind them.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth whispered.
“They mean well,” Jane replied, resuming her seat. “But their excitement serves no useful purpose at present.”
The morning dragged on with agonising slowness. More callers arrived, each one deflected by the household staff with variations of the same polite excuse: the family was resting after yesterday’s exertions and could not receive visitors.
Elizabeth remained sequestered in the sitting room, too anxious to read, too restless to sit still for more than a few moments. She paced to the window, stared unseeing at the garden, returned to the sofa, then rose again to repeat the circuit.
When the mantel clock chimed eleven, Mary glanced up from the book she had been reading. “Mr Darcy should arrive soon.”
“I hope that is indeed the case.”
A commotion below stairs signalled his arrival. Mrs Bennet’s effusive greeting carried upward, closely followed by Mr Darcy’s deeper tones responding with appropriate courtesy.
“I should go down,” Elizabeth said, even as her legs seemed disinclined to cooperate with this intention.
Jane nodded encouragingly. “We shall be here when you return.”
The descent to the ground floor felt endless, each step requiring conscious effort. Mrs Bennet met her at the bottom of the stairs, vibrating with a satisfaction Elizabeth could not share.
