“Do you remember the night at the Assembly Rooms when Bingley suggested that you dance with Elizabeth, and you said she was tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt you?”
Darcy’s face went pale. “How do you know that? Did you overhear our conversation?”
“No, but someone else did and they told me what you’d said. And they weren’t the only person who overheard you; Elizabeth did too.”
I watched as Darcy’s cheeks went from pale to bright red. “Dear Lord, say it is not so!”
“I’m afraid it is. And that’s why she’s been so funny with you ever since: You hurt her pride.”
“I am mortified that she should have been so insulted by my words, for even as I said them, I never meant them in earnest,” Darcy said, turning and starting to pace across the cobblestones. “And yet, since then I have made overtures toward her, attempting to engage her in conversation, and she has rebuffed my efforts each time.”
“Darcy, you might not remember this, but you once told me that you’re not someone who can easily forgive when you’ve been wronged. I think Elizabeth might be similar to you in that respect, although she would never admit it.”
“Then you are saying that all chance of Miss Bennet and I becoming acquaintances is lost?”
“No, that’s not—”
“Perhaps that is for the best,” he interrupted. “While I admit that she is an elegant young lady with a lively mind, there is much about her that displeases me: Her relations are quite vulgar, and her connections inferior. Indeed, I believe this might be for the—”
“Darcy, stop!” I said, and he ground to a halt in front of me. “You haven’t lost your chance with Miss Bennet, I assure you. But if you are to have any chance of altering her first impression of you, then you need to stop being so distracted by what happened with me in London and start focusing on your life here instead.”
I saw him consider this for a moment. “Are you suggesting that I go and speak to Miss Bennet presently?”
“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. In fact, I think the best thing you can do is leave her alone and take Bingley to London. Did you notice how much attention he was paying Kitty Bennet last night?”
Darcy looked at me, aghast. “Bingley and that silly Bennet girl? But that would be most grievous.”
“Yes, that’s why I think you need to get him away from her and back to London.”
“Indeed, there is no time to lose. I must make plans for us to depart at once. Good day, Miss Knight,” Darcy said, and before I knew it, he’d turned and was storming across the stable yard toward the house.
“Darcy!”
I saw him pause and look back at me.
“Whatever happens in the next few months, don’t give up on Elizabeth, OK? She’s worth fighting for, even if it seems impossible.”
Darcy gave me the briefest nod of a bow, and then, for what I hoped would be the last time ever, I watched my book boyfriend stride away.
Chapter Thirty-Three
I waited for a few minutes until I was confident Darcy would be out of the way; then I headed back toward the house. As I reached the entrance, I saw a pair of servants carrying a heavy-looking trunk down the staircase into the hall. Did that mean they were already packing up to leave for London? And if so, was the story finally getting back on course? I wanted to stop and ask someone what was going on, but then I caught sight of the grandfather clock in the hall. It was almost midday, so I only had two hours to finish writing before Maggie returned and it was time to try to read us out of here.
Back in my room, I sat down at the dressing table and reread what I’d written earlier. Sadly, it was just as stilted and unnatural as I’d originally thought. It was like it had been written by someone who’d never spoken English before, let alone lived in London. I started scribbling out sentences and writing new ones, but I’d not got far when I heard a knock at the door. Shit, was that Maggie already?
“Come in.”
I turned to see Nick’s face peering around the edge of the door.
“I just wanted to check in and see how you are,” he said as he stepped into the room. He’d taken off the tailcoat and cravat he’d had on last night and was just wearing his breeches and shirt, the top few buttons undone to show his toned chest underneath, and my stomach did a little flip of excitement. How had I not realized sooner how attracted I was to this man? And it wasn’t just his good looks, either, but the way he was watching me with kindness, concern, and OK, let’s be honest—a healthy bit of lust too.
“I’m OK.” My voice came out husky, and I swallowed. “I just told Darcy the truth about his time in London, so hopefully he’ll be less agitated about that now and the story will carry on as it should.”
Nick smiled. “That’s amazing, well done.”
“No, don’t congratulate me. This whole mess is my fault in the first place.”
“No, it’s not.” Nick came to kneel next to the dressing table so he was at my eye level. “This ismyfault, Zoe. I should have been honest with you from the start. If I’d told you about my family’s magic sooner, then we could have returned Darcy much quicker, and none of this would have happened.”
