Amelia gave her a grateful smile, while Henry Blackwood muttered something which made her laugh.
"The maze will require more than fast legs," Lady Hortensia continued. "That is the only hint you shall receive. By this time tomorrow the Challenge will be over, the cup awarded and the losing side preparing itself for the forfeit."
A mixture of groans and laughter travelled around the table.
"And once that unpleasantness has been endured," she added, "we shall have the ball."
The mention of the ball restored the company's spirits. Colonel Fitzwilliam turned towards Jane at once, and Mr Hadley leaned closer to Mrs Cartwright with a hopeful expression. Even Harriet forgot the maze long enough to ask whether the musicians had arrived.
"They come from Derby tomorrow afternoon," said Lady Hortensia. "The ballroom is being opened tonight, Cook is preparing a feast fit for an army and I expect every one of you to dance, whatever the result."
Elizabeth heard Darcy laugh quietly across the table.
"Lady Hortensia appears determined to leave us no dignified means of escape," she said.
"I had not been searching for one."
His gaze rested upon her with enough meaning that she became suddenly aware of the warmth in her cheeks.
"Have you promised every dance already?" he asked.
"Not every dance," she answered with a chuckle, in truth she had not promised one.
"Then may I claim one before the maze alters your opinion of me?"
Elizabeth pretended to consider. "That depends upon your behaviour tomorrow."
His smile broadened. "Then I shall ask again after I have defeated you."
"You may ask," she said. "I make no promise about the answer."
Darcy inclined his head, but the warmth in his expression remained. Elizabeth looked away before she smiled too openly.
Mr Ashcombe, who had been listening to the discussion around him with growing impatience, reached for his glass. "The gentlemen have no cause for concern. We have led for much of the week and shall lead tomorrow."
Lady Hortensia regarded him for a moment. "Confidence is a pleasant quality, Mr Ashcombe, but unregulated it can easily transform into pride—and we all know what that precedes."
The Blackwood brothers laughed loudly, and even Sir Geoffrey looked amused.
Conversation resumed with renewed energy. When Elizabeth looked across the table again, Darcy was still watching her. Tomorrow the Challenge would end, but she found herself thinking less of the cup than of the ball and the opportunity it might give them to resolve whatever lay between them. Shehoped very much that tomorrow might be the beginning of another great adventure.
???
Elizabeth had scarcely removed her jewellery when the knock came. She looked towards the door with a smile. "Come in, Harriet."
Harriet entered first, visibly disappointed to have been anticipated, with Clara and Miss Drummond behind her. The others followed before long, until every chair had been claimed and several ladies had settled upon the bed. The gathering no longer possessed the awkwardness of their first council. Mrs Cartwright accepted a small cake from the plate Miss Grey circulated, Amelia sat comfortably beside Jane and Harriet had squeezed herself between Clara and Miss Drummond at the foot of the bed.
"We know very little," Elizabeth began once the room had settled. "Only that the maze will require more than speed. That does not mean speed will be useless, so Harriet must not exhaust herself before we know what is required."
Harriet drew herself up. "I can be very restrained when necessary."
Clara looked at her. "Can you?"
"For several minutes at a time."
The laughter eased some of the tension in the room. Elizabeth continued, "I also think we should remain together unless the instructions clearly require otherwise. The gentlemen may divide in the hope of covering more ground, but I believe there is some advantage in acting as a team. If we send anyone ahead, they must remain within calling distance."
Miss Drummond agreed that they should also keep careful account of every turn. Between herself, Clara and Mrs Cartwright, they ought to be able to remember the route well enough to retrace it if they reached a dead end. Miss Lacey promised to watch for markings or signs along the way, while Lady Frances pointed out that they should be ready to choose a representative quickly if the rules demanded one.
