"I am not especially sorry," Jane admitted with a wide grin.
Behind them, Richard clapped Darcy upon the shoulder. "And what has become of your determination to keep yourself under better regulation?"
Darcy looked towards Elizabeth, his expression softening at once. "I have abandoned it entirely."
Chapter Eighteen
Elizabeth had gone into the garden with Mr Darcy intending only to walk until the company was called together for the next contest. They had not gone far. The morning was bright and cool, and the lower path was conveniently hidden from the house by a thick border of yew and laurel. When Darcy stopped beneath one of the trees and turned towards her, she made no attempt to remind him of the time.
He kissed her slowly at first, one hand at her waist while the other rested at the nape of her neck. Elizabeth slipped her arms around his neck and rose closer, still scarcely able to believe how completely the distance between them had vanished. The man who had once seemed incapable of looking at her without disapproval now held her as though she were the most precious thing in the world.
When she laughed softly against his mouth, Darcy drew back just enough to look at her.
"What is it?"
"I was thinking how very poor we are at conducting ourselves properly."
"I have made several attempts," he said, nipping at her lip.
She playfully pushed him away. "None that I have noticed."
His smile widened. "You are a minx." Before she could answer, he caught her more firmly about the waist and swung her around beneath the tree. Elizabeth gave a startled cry and clung to his shoulders as her skirts lifted around her ankles.
"Mr Darcy!"
He set her down only to kiss her again, leaving her breathless when he finally drew back. The laughter in his expression was unlike anything she had seen from him before, and she found herself laughing too as she held on to his coat and tried to recover.
"We shall be late," Elizabeth said when she had recovered her breath.
"We have several minutes."
"You said that several minutes ago."
Darcy glanced towards the house, though his arm remained about her waist. "Then I suppose we ought to go."
Elizabeth looked up at him. "Your team is already two points behind. It would be unfortunate if their captain were also absent when the next contest was announced."
He kissed her once more, briefly this time, before offering his arm. Elizabeth placed her hand upon it, and they returned towards the house at a pace which suggested neither felt any great urgency.
Most of the company had gathered in the long gallery by the time they entered. Conversation faltered for no more than a moment, though it was long enough for Elizabeth to notice several glances pass between the gentlemen. Mr Ashcombe said something under his breath to Sir Geoffrey, while James and Henry Blackwood looked towards Darcy with open amusement.
"It appears our captain has been occupied elsewhere," Mr Anstruther remarked.
Mr Hadley glanced at Elizabeth's hand upon Darcy's arm. "Perhaps he has been negotiating a truce."
"A very thorough one," Colonel Fitzwilliam said.
Darcy ignored them and continued across the room without releasing Elizabeth. She ought to have felt embarrassed by the attention, but the morning had left her too happy to care. Jane smiled at her from among the ladies, Lady Frances shifted alongthe bench to make room and Harriet Sitcombe looked as though she were struggling not to applaud.
Lady Hortensia waited until Darcy had escorted Elizabeth to her place before striking her cane against the floor.
"Now that both captains have deigned to join us, we may begin." She gave Darcy a meaningful look, which he met with admirable composure. "Today's contest will test your wit and will be divided into two parts. First, each team will face a series of riddles worth three points. You may confer before answering, but once an answer is given it cannot be withdrawn. The final two points will be decided by a debate between your captains."
That produced an immediate stir among the company. Elizabeth looked across at Darcy, who had already turned towards her.
"The subject will be announced only when the debate begins," Lady Hortensia continued. "You will each be required to defend the position assigned to you, whether or not it reflects your true opinion. The riddles will commence in thirty minutes, which should give you sufficient time to consult with your teams and, in some cases, recover your concentration."
A ripple of laughter passed through the room. Darcy bowed to Elizabeth before crossing towards the gentlemen, though he had taken only a few steps when Lady Hortensia called after him.
