“Hide all valuables the next time she calls. It is unfortunate that you have made that lady’s acquaintance, and with the extraordinary fortune she left with today, she will henceforth be a regular guest.”
“I am shocked and grieved that my poor decision cost you so dearly, both in monetary and sentimental value. I should not have list—” Elizabeth almost blamed Lady Matlock again, but the fault was all her own. How could she have been so stupid! She should have known better than to offer the bowl that Darcy cherished so much as to have on display in his favourite room. “I should never have allowed myself to be persuaded to part with thegui.”
“No, you should not. If this travesty should ever repeat itself, you must beg your excuses and state that youmustconfer with me before any decisions are made.”
“But that will imply I am not mistress of this house.”
“That is of lesser consequence than having our fortune depleted, piece by piece.”
Elizabeth pressed her lips together, to quash the angry retort resting on her tongue, and nodded. She had erred, and Darcy’s anger must be instigating the arrogant, patronising words. Elizabeth clenched her teeth until her jaw hurt. The blood boiled in her veins; if she spoke, she would say something she would later regret. There was nothing to do but correct her mistake, regardless of how little she relished the embarrassment.
“If there is nothing else, I have household matters that require my attention.”
Darcy dismissed her with an indifferent wave. Elizabeth hastened out of the study and was relieved when she found Mr Gilbert immediately.
“Do you know Miss Molesworth’s address?” she asked.
“Her rooms are on the south corner where Davies Street meets Mount Street,” the butler informed her.
It was unnervingly close to Grosvenor Street and Hurst House, but she would arrive from the opposite side to avoid detection.How Miss Bingley would gloat should she ever discover how foolish I have been!It was a blessing that she was not so afraid of being laughed at as Darcy, though the thought was much more disconcerting when she had done something truly stupid.
Elizabeth grabbed her parasol and shawl before she enlisted Tommy to escort her. He was the youngest and least experienced of their footmen, and it was to be hoped that he would not question her manoeuvres.
Striding to Davies Street, she knocked on the door and waited impatiently. The old landlady invited her in, by sheer fortune, just as Miss Molesworth arrived in the entrance hall. Her eyes widened upon espying Elizabeth, but she recovered quickly.
“Mrs Darcy, what a pleasure to see you so soon.” Miss Molesworth waved the landlady away and made it clear that she was not to be invited farther into the house.
Elizabeth was expecting guests and had no time to mince her words.
“You cannot be ignorant of my reason for being here. You were not honest with me and lied about everything from your title to the value of thegui.”
Miss Molesworth’s stricken face did nothing to alleviate Elizabeth’s pique. Her game was up, and the sooner the lady realised it the better.
“A moment, if you please,” the lady begged after an uncomfortable silence. She disappeared through a door and a muffled conversation followed. The other party was male, but they were speaking in tones that were too low to discern the words when Miss Molesworth’s voice rose in concern. “But what if she notifies Mr Darcy?”
It was to be hoped that the conclusion to that exclamation was the return of the artefact.
The conversation continued for another minute before Miss Molesworth returned to Elizabeth with theguiin her hands. Without a word, the lady offered her the vessel, and she wasted no time taking her leave.
When she arrived home, Darcy was pacing the entrance hall, raking his hands through his hair.
“Elizabeth! You cannot leave the house without telling anyone where—”
Darcy’s eyes fixed on theguiin her arms. He pressed his lips together and gestured towards the study.
Elizabeth sighed and complied; she was about to receive her second scolding of the day.
When the door closed behind her, Darcy turned his dark eyes upon her.
“You went to Miss Molesworth’s to retrieve theguiagainst my express wishes?”
Elizabeth said nothing as the question was clearly rhetorical.
“What could have possessed you to act so imprudently?”
“I am not as opposed to being laughed at as you,” Elizabeth muttered with affected indifference.
A puzzled frown created two dents between Darcy’s brows. At least he listened to the defence of her undertakings.
