At one point she had seriously considered slipping out by the servants' stairs and walking the two miles to the Dower House, but had dismissed it when she thought of explaining to her father how she had behaved.
She had heard Mr Darcy when he came to her door. At the first knock, she had gone still beside the window. At the second, she had crossed half the room before stopping herself. His voice carried clearly through the door as he apologised for his anger and asked her to allow him to explain. For one weak moment, she had nearly answered.
Then she remembered how often their conversations began badly and ended worse. Their first encounter had produced an argument, their attempted truce had ended in a kiss and the previous evening had left them both furious and humiliated. Another conversation could hardly be expected to repair whatso many others had damaged. And whatever pretty promises he made, men like him did not court women like her. There was no bright future with her as mistress of some grand house, just heartache and misery if she continued on the path. She remained silent until she heard him leave.
By the time the house quietened for the night, Elizabeth had changed into her nightgown and robe and was preparing to dismiss her maid when there came a soft knock at the door. The young woman returned a moment later carrying a folded note. "This was brought for you, miss."
Elizabeth recognised Jane's hand immediately:
Lizzy,
Please come to the library. I have need of you and would rather not explain by note. Come quietly, if you can.
Jane
The request was strange enough to overcome Elizabeth's reluctance. Jane ought already to have been in bed, and the final instruction suggested something she did not wish overheard. Elizabeth drew her robe more closely around herself, slipped her feet into soft shoes and followed the dim corridor towards the stairs.
The house was nearly silent. Only a few lamps remained lit, their flames lowered for the night, and the long passages lookedunfamiliar in the shadows. Elizabeth reached the library without meeting anyone and found the door standing slightly open.
"Jane?"
Her sister was inside near the fireplace, still dressed in the gown she had worn to dinner. Colonel Fitzwilliam stood beside her.
Elizabeth rushed to her sister and Jane came forward at once. "Lizzy, forgive me."
"For what?"
The answer came from behind her.
"For this."
Elizabeth turned. Darcy had stepped from the shadows near the bookshelves. Before she could move, Colonel Fitzwilliam crossed to the door, pulled Jane through it, shut it firmly behind them and turned the key.
Elizabeth ran to the door, whispering angrily through it. "Have you lost your senses?"
"Possibly," Richard said. "But Jane and I have agreed that the present situation cannot continue."
Jane added in a trembling voice. "Please do not be angry."
"You brought me here under false pretences," she hissed, "and now the colonel has locked me in a room with a gentleman thatI can have nothing to say to. I can think of several reasons to be angry."
"Only until you have spoken," Jane added, her voice muffled. "Then Richard will open the door."
Elizabeth raised her eyes to the ceiling. "Richard?"
"That is not presently the important matter."
Colonel Fitzwilliam cleared his throat. "We will be immediately outside. No one will disturb you and nothing improper can occur."
"Nothing improper?" Elizabeth repeated. "You have locked an unmarried woman in the library with an unmarried man after midnight."
"When stated in that manner, it does sound less sensible," he admitted.
Jane continued to speak through the wood, "Lizzy, Mr Darcy has been miserable all day. He came to your door despite knowing how it would appear, and he has asked for nothing except the opportunity to speak to you."
"I heard him."
"Then why did you not answer?"
