I jerked my gaze up to her face, realizing I’d just been staring at her bosom. My face flushed with heat. “I shall get the dress tomorrow and bring it to you. I shall give it to you on the morning walk.”
“That would work,” she said.
“And then we shall sneak out after luncheon to the stables to get a carriage and go to the ball.”
“So, we should be dressed for the ball at that point?”
I considered. “No, let’s not. Just bring the clothing and we can change in the carriage.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Separately!” I said. “I’ll bring us servants, shall I? I’ll bribe them. My valet and someone for you, someone to serve as a lady’s maid.”
“All right,” she said. “Tomorrow, then.”
“Tomorrow,” I said.
“Well, today,” she said, looking at the dress. “Because, after all, it’s always today.”
“If we like it, we can go to this ball again,” I said.
She nodded. “Yes. We can do anything. Anything at all.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
elizabeth
It took two days to get away clean with the carriage and the servants. The first time we tried, we were accosted by Colonel Fitzwilliam who wanted to know where it was we were going, all alone, together, in the midst of the afternoon.
We tried just telling him the truth and seeing if he wanted to come along, but he seemed to find it all very odd, and he would not go along with it quietly, saying we ought to tell Lady Catherine what we were about, and that the invitation had come to her household.
So, the next day, we simply avoided him.
We made it out.
Traveling in the carriage was nice. I had not realized how difficult it had been to be cooped up in the same place for so long. I spent the journey drinking in the scenery as I looked out the window.
I was seated next to a girl named Emily, who had been brought along as my maid. She was excited as well. Mr. Darcy’s valet was riding on the back of the carriage. Mr. Darcy sat opposite Emily and me, sprawled across the entire seat, looking pleased with himself.
“If I ever saw a man more self-congratulatory, Will, I should be surprised,” I said to him.
He smirked. “I’m not congratulating myself.”
“Oh? No? What’s that expression on your face, then?”
He ducked down his head, blushing. He’d been blushing a lot lately, hadn’t he? “Nothing.”
“You’re embarrassed, I see, but it won’t save you from admitting that you’re quite pleased with yourself for bringing this off, even though it has taken us nearly a week since we conceived of the idea to even get this far. I’m not sure you should be so very proud of yourself.”
He looked up at me, shaking his head. “I’m not embarrassed. Or… if I am, it’s only because you caught me staring at you. Which I find myself doing too often.”
I sucked in a sharp breath and looked away. I felt that as a warmth in my belly. It was good, but it…
“Apologies.” His voice was very deep.
“No, it’s all right,” I said. I was blushing, too. I glanced over at Emily. “Erm, perhaps we should play a road game? A visual scavenger hunt. Whoever sees all of the things first wins.”
“Capital idea!” he said, too vigorously.
