She met his look, wishing to determine whether he spoke merely from politeness, but there was nothing in his expression to suggest that he did.
“I ought to thank you,” she said, more quietly. “For your help. I do not know how I should havemanaged without it.”
“You need not consider it in that way,” he returned. “I could not have done otherwise.”
There was a brief silence, and the carriage moved steadily on, the sound of the wheels upon the road filling the space between them. Elizabeth found she was more aware of it than she would have been at any other time, as though the ordinary movement of the journey had taken on a greater significance.
“If you will not let me apologise,” Elizabeth remarked, “then you must let me thank you. I must have been a most inconvenient burden to carry so far.”
“You are welcome, then,” Mr Darcy said. “But I should not wish to leave you in any misapprehension of how I view the afternoon. I regret only your injury. That it was necessary to carry you, I can only regard as a privilege.”
Astonished, warmed, and thrilled, Elizabeth met his eyes. She knew she must be blushing, and even in Mr Darcy’s face, she could see a trace of colour. He looked away after a moment, though not before giving her a smile that made Elizabeth’s heart race.
They reached the parsonage only moments later. Mr Collins was at the door before the servant had properly let down the steps.
“My dear Cousin Elizabeth,” he began, having already arranged his concern into phrases of suitable consequence, “what an unfortunate event this is. What an alarming interruption to the pleasures of your visit. Lady Catherine was so extremely condescending as to send immediate notice, and Charlotte has been in the greatest solicitude.”
Charlotte herself appeared behind him, and whatever Mr Collins might have added was thankfully cut short by the simple steadiness of her manner.
“Lizzy,” she said, coming forward without ceremony, “do not attempt to move more than you must.”
“I shall obey you willingly,” Elizabeth replied.
Mr Darcy had already stepped down from the carriage. Before Mr Collins could offer his services, or Charlotte suggest any other arrangement, he turned back toward Elizabeth and said, with the same calm certainty he had shown before, “You must allow me to carry you in. It will be easier than trying the steps.”
Mr Collins, who seemed at once impressed by the offer and uneasy at being forestalled in his own household, drew himself up with an expression of solemn admiration. “My dear sir, your concern does you the highest credit. The greatest credit. Such attention, at such a moment, must ever recommenditself to the feelings of all present.”
Charlotte cast him a brief look which might, in another person, have been called reproving, then turned again to Elizabeth as though to spare her the necessity of answering.
Elizabeth, who felt refusal to be both impossible and absurd, and felt likewise a certain private thrill at the thought of being in his arms again, said, “You are very obliging, Mr Darcy.”
He did not answer beyond inclining his head, but when he lifted her from the carriage, he moved with such steadiness, such entire freedom from display, that she found herself less embarrassed by the circumstance than she had expected to be. The ease with which she had begun to trust him in these moments when trust had become unavoidable seemed to make embarrassment no longer necessary.
The passage into the house was soon made. Charlotte directed them at once toward Elizabeth’s room, and there Mr Darcy set her down with the same care he had shown throughout. Only when she was properly seated did he step back, as though the distance was now once more required.
“I hope,” he said, “that you will feel less discomfort after some rest.”
“I have no doubt of it,” Elizabeth replied. “And I am very sensible of all the trouble I have given you.”
“It has been no trouble.”
The sincerity of his tone made the thought of further contradiction feel almost like ingratitude. Then, too, they had already reached an understanding in the carriage. She looked at him, intending to answer lightly, but found herself checked by the seriousness of his expression. It was not worry exactly, though some remains of concern certainly had not left him. Rather, it was as if he felt too much to speak easily.
With a tact Elizabeth valued highly, Charlotte busied herself with arranging cushions and speaking to the maid about what might be wanted, thus providing a kind of screen behind which a few quieter words might pass.
“I must thank you again,” Elizabeth said, lowering her voice. “Not only for helping me, but for doing what I could not request, and might well have been so unreasonable as to refuse.”
A faint change came over his expression, not quite a smile, but something warmer than his usual reserve. “You were not unreasonable. Only hurt, and rightfully careful of your modesty.”
Charlotte turned back toward them then, and whatever else might have been said was lost. “You must excuse me, Mr Darcy,” she said regretfully, “but I really believe Lizzy must rest now.”
Mr Darcy inclined his head at once. “Certainly.I will not intrude upon her recovery.”
He took his leave with all propriety, yet when he bowed to Elizabeth, there was something more than ceremony in his manner, as though the parting were not, to him, entirely a formality.
When he was gone, Mr Collins filled the space he left with a fresh effusion on Lady Catherine’s kindness, Mr Darcy’s attentions, and the singular distinction of having so important an accident take place within reach of Rosings Park. Charlotte bore it for a few moments, then contrived to remove him by suggesting that Lady Catherine might expect a fuller report than had yet been sent.
The room was quieter the instant he disappeared.
