She slowed and turned, her expression carefully cool. They stood in the narrow passage between the library and the breakfast room, with the murmur of the others ahead and the closed door behind them. It felt too private for comfort.
"I wished to speak of yesterday," he said. "Of the watch you returned. It was my father’s and most important to me. You performed a kindness, and I repaid it with behaviour not befitting a gentleman. I was angry about something else entirely and took it out on you. I am sorry."
For a moment she only looked at him. Darcy made himself remain still beneath the scrutiny, though it felt as if she stared straight through the mask that allowed him to navigate society. At last she said, "I did not think you were the type of man to apologise. It was very prettily done."
"And do you accept my apology?" he said, feeling quite desperate now.
"That remains to be seen. It would not do to be on such close terms with the enemy."
"The enemy?"
"You are captain of the gentlemen, are you not?"
"I had not understood that we were at war."
She cocked her head at him with a grin. "I have no intention of making this an easy contest, sir. So perhaps we say you are provisionally forgiven, but I reserve the right to change my mind, depending on your conduct in the challenge."
Despite himself, Darcy smiled. A burst of voices rose from the breakfast room, reminding them both that they were not alone. Miss Elizabeth glanced towards the sound and tightened her hold upon the instruction sheet. "We should return before Lady Hortensia decides to deduct points for lingering."
For a moment neither moved. Darcy knew he ought to step aside, bow and return to the gentlemen with what little remained of his composure. Instead he found himself looking at her hand, still curled around the paper, and remembering the warmth of her fingers against his.
Miss Elizabeth seemed to remember it too, for she looked down at the same instant. Colour rose in her cheeks. "Good luck, Mr Darcy," she said, her voice a little too bright.
"Good luck, Miss Bennet."
She lifted her eyes. "Within limits, naturally."
"Naturally."
This time she smiled properly, though only for a moment, before turning towards the breakfast room. Darcy watched her go. Who was this woman who had undone him completely in less than a four-and-twenty hours? If he had not yet lost his heart he realised with a jolt, it was at very great risk.
Chapter Nine
Darcy stood amongst the gentlemen and shared the particulars of the challenge. He explained that they were to find three objects, combine them to form a common phrase and present their final answer to Mr Pritchard in the hall. He suggested that they divide into groups: one to search the drawing room and music room, one to take the east gallery and morning room and one to begin in the small library before moving wherever they were most needed.
The group responded to the details very differently. The Blackwood brothers punched each other on the arms and each declared that he would be the first to solve a clue. Mr Anstruther began speculating aloud about possible hiding places, while Captain Fanshawe listened with a thoughtful frown. Mr Ashcombe examined his nails and said, "I am sure we shall succeed. Women’s minds are not built for logic."
Mr Hadley clapped his hands together. "Well, I think it sounds a great deal of fun."
Colonel Fitzwilliam, however, appeared not to be attending at all. He stood at the edge of the group with all his attention fixed upon the huddle of women across the room. He looked, Darcy thought irritably, like a lovestruck boy at his very first assembly.
"Richard," he said in clipped tones. "You are not attending."
"Hmm?" said his cousin distractedly.
Darcy excused himself from the group and pulled his cousin a little aside. "You are not attending. Will you please cease your mooning and support my efforts?"
"Your efforts?" Richard said, still gazing pointedly in the other direction.
"Yes, my efforts," said Darcy, exasperated. He took his cousin by the arm and marched him a little farther from the gentlemen. "Richard, what is this? You are a colonel in His Majesty’s army, and you have lost your head over a woman you have only just met. Do you know anything of her family? Her fortune? You know you cannot afford to marry without connections and a sizeable dowry."
This seemed to shake Richard back to himself. His expression darkened. "Damn it, Darcy," he said, keeping his voice low. "I do not care about the blasted competition. I have met the best, kindest and most beautiful woman of my acquaintance. Win or lose, I will court her, and all being well, marry her. You know that my mother has a small estate through her father, and she has promised it to me when I wed. It will not be Pemberley, but when have I ever wanted that? It will be enough to live on quite comfortably, if Miss Bennet will have me."
"Of course she will have you. You are the son of an earl, and as far as I can ascertain, she is a country miss."
Richard’s face darkened. "She is not mercenary. She is the sweetest creature I have ever had the good fortune to meet. And do not think I have not seen you staring at her sister."
"I can admire a handsome woman without going about like a besotted schoolboy," Darcy said peevishly, although he knew as he uttered the words that there was more to his feelings for Elizabeth Bennet than admiration.
