“I doubt she is fit to receive you, my dear,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam with a sideways glance at his cousin. “You must let her rest until her health improves.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Elizabeth said, seizing the opportunity to break away from Mr. Darcy. “I must distract Miss de Bourgh.”
Her hasty departure from Mr. Darcy’s side brought a measure of relief, though not without regret. She joined the others, and soon, as the group settled around a card table, Elizabeth found herself daring to steal another glance at the gentleman. He remained whereshe had left him, his expression one of quiet befuddlement, as if the day’s events had stirred some deeper mystery in his mind.
Chapter 13 – The Search for Collins
By the time dinner arrived that evening, Elizabeth was still grappling with the events of the morning. She had spent the hours in a state of restless reflection, turning over her last conversation with Mr. Darcy in her mind, half-expecting him to appear at any moment, uncertain where her desire led her in regard to his presence: was it dreaded or wished for? Yet the gentleman had made himself scarce all day, affording her some reprieve. When the meal was announced, her palms grew damp and her heart gave a traitorous flutter at the prospect of seeing him again. He and his cousin, however, chose to forgo dinner and remained shut in the library. Elizabeth now lingered in a state of constant disquiet, attending little to the conversation at the table, her mind straying always back to him.
When Mr. Darcy and the colonel finally joined the ladies for the last course, another pang of discomfort gripped Elizabeth’s stomach. Mr. Darcy did not meet her eyes as was his custom. Instead, he stood beside his cousin, his expression grave as he listened while the colonel announced his intention to depart for the mainland the following day.
“Is this a jest?” Miss de Bourgh blurted with a sneer.
“It is not.”
“Why you? Why not send someone else?” she demanded. “’Tis too dangerous!”
“The decision is made,” Mr. Darcy said with force. “We cannot delay reporting Lady Catherine’s death any longer.”
“Thenyougo, if it is so urgent.” Miss de Bourgh’s voice trembled. “Why must it always be Richard? Nothing will change if we wait another day. She is already dead!”
“Anne!” The colonel’s brows furrowed as he glared at her. “Darcy is right—this must be done at once.”
Miss de Bourgh struck the table with her fists. She leapt to her feet, causing her chair to scrape the floor with a harsh noise as it toppled backwards. Her voice broke as she cried, “Then go and drown in the sea! She always believed you of little worth, and now you will prove her right! Even in death, she still controls our lives!”
She stormed from the room before anyone could stop her. Colonel Fitzwilliam followed a heartbeat behind her, leaving the rest in stunned silence. After a long, uncomfortable pause, the meal resumed, though conversation was scarce. Mr. Darcy left the room without so much as a glance in Elizabeth’s direction, leaving her with nothing but the bitter taste of his indifference.
***
The following morning brought no change in the gentleman’s manner. Mr. Darcy entered the morning room pale and weary, shadows etched beneath his eyes, as though sleep had eluded him entirely. Elizabeth’s chest tightened. Had her words truly caused such unrest? For once, she was not triumphant for her honesty, but regretful for having been so unflinchingly frank.
Miss de Bourgh did not appear until mid-morning. She had been absent since her outburst the day before—noticeably, so had been the colonel—and when she finally joined them, her movements were languid and her eyelids heavy, as though she could scarcely keep them open. For a time, Miss de Bourgh bent over her embroidery in silence, pricking her finger more than once and staring at her work as if the simple pattern confounded her. Clearly it did not; the design was childishly easy. A lady so steady with the brush would never be so clumsy or falter with the needle.
“The weather is very much improved. Would you not agree, Lizzy?” Charlotte gave Elizabeth a sideways, meaningful glance.
“Indeed,” she said, catching Charlotte’s intention. “The roads must be passable now.”
“Oh, this pattern. . . it is so hard to follow.” The young mistress pressed her finger to her lips, a faint smudge of blood blooming at the tip.
The friends exchanged a look. Even Maria’s eyes widened at Miss de Bourgh’s awkwardness, and she nudged her sister with her elbow.
“I thought it would be convenient if we returned to Hunsford this afternoon, Miss de Bourgh.” Charlotte ventured a comment after a moment. “We have imposed on you for too long.”
Miss de Bourgh set down her hoop with deliberate care and fixed Charlotte with a drowsy gaze. “No imposition at all, my dear Mrs. Collins. I should feel terribly alone if you abandoned me now—Miss Lucas and Miss Bennet as well. The house is so large. . . and so empty since Mama is gone.”
Her voice quavered at the last word, just enough to stir pity in her company.
Charlotte offered her a tired smile. “I perfectly understand, madam, but my household expects my return, and my husband must resume his duties at the parsonage.”
Another languid blink, followed by a soft sigh. “Of course he must. But one more day, pray—only one more. I should be grateful for the company.”
Her friend’s resolve crumbled before Elizabeth’s eyes.
“Very well,” Charlotte said at last. “One day more.”
Concerned by the disparity in the new mistress’s demeanour, Elizabeth debated whether to confide in Mr. Darcy. How would he respond if she approached him? She had barely seen him since the day before, and the few times they crossed paths, his manner had grown distinctively remote. His silence could be ascribed to her recent rejection, but there must be more to his detachment—a distraction that gnawed at the edges of his composure, pulling his mind far from the present company.
The gentleman joined them sometime later. Consistent with his behaviour during the day, Mr. Darcy did not look at her and stood by the fireplace, separated from the group. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and approached him.
