Page 17 of Conundrums & Coincidences

His firm jaw clenched, and he seemed to hold himself with a rigidity beyond his customary good posture. “I see. And did anything of significance occur there?”

“Yes,” she whispered, forgetting to disguise her voice. “I was cruel to someone that evening, and I long to be forgiven by them.” How can I possibly continue playing this game? With pensive admiration, Elizabeth regarded the gentleman’s handsome face. She could not see his eyes because of the blindfold, but his features had seemed to soften at her whispered apology.

“I am certain you have their forgiveness, madam.”

Glancing round the circle, Elizabeth saw an assemblage of confusion, and she wondered what the others thought about such odd questions and answers.

Mr Darcy cleared his throat. “Last question. During Mr Hadley’s interrogation, did I, perhaps, make a cake of myself?” There was a fleeting quirk at the corners of his mouth.

Elizabeth’s heart went pit-a-pat. I do like this good-humoured Mr Darcy. I like him very much indeed. In an approximation again of the chaperon’s voice, she replied, “Yes, young man, I am afraid you did make a cake of yourself, but it was very sweet.”

“I thank you, Miss Rigby.”

“I am not Miss Rigby.”

To all appearances, he had guessed incorrectly, so Mr Darcy then had to move on and ask three questions of another player.

For an interval following their public tête-à-tête, Elizabeth spared Buffy Gruffy scant heed. She was too busy listening to her heart. I truly feel I could learn to love him. Such perfect timing, Lizzy, now, when all is in vain.

By mid-afternoon, the sky had cleared, which was more than could be said of Elizabeth’s muddled thoughts. Pacing in her bedchamber, she fretted and she pondered and she suppressed rising hope.

Had Mr Darcy truly forgiven her? Was it possible he still felt an attachment? Preposterous! Such a likelihood was contrary to reason and common sense. It went against the gentleman’s very nature. He had made it abundantly clear his temper could be resentful and that his good opinion once lost was lost for evermore.

He is such an enigma! And just when I need to give all my attention to solving this other perplexing one. Frowning at the words upon a piece of foolscap in her hand, Elizabeth stopped at the window but soon walked away. No light had been shed on the puzzle she needed to solve.

Had she been struggling with a problem at Longbourn, she would have set out for a nice long ramble, and her pace would have gradually increased until she was running at full tilt. While such indecorousness could not be attempted at Oakwood, the situation definitely called for a brisk walk. Her decision to go had nothing at all to do with the fact that she had just spotted Mr Darcy striding towards the hilly, wooded paths.

Minutes later, while passing the hedgerows, Elizabeth heard rustling just beyond the dog-roses. Leaves moving in the breeze? There was no breeze. She tried peering through the shrubbery.

Without further warning, something green and misshapen rounded the bushes and rushed at her. She screamed.

“Miss Ben—” Bent almost double, holding one hand against her heaving chest and the other at her waist, Miss Kensett panted and wheezed. “Miss Bennet…I have been up and down…those nasty, prickly brambles…all afternoon in the hope of…encountering you. Must you walk with such haste? I had to run to catch up with you. Now I cannot catch my breath…and I have this…dreadful stitch in my side.”

“Up and down prickly brambles! All afternoon? Good heavens, ’tis little wonder you are winded.”

But otherwise unscathed, it seems. Had I been climbing thorn bushes for hours on end, I might have incurred a scratch or two.

Elizabeth guided Miss Kensett to the nearest bench and ensured it was dry after the morning’s rain. She thought the lady might have looked resplendent in that Pomona green gown and emerald-coloured turban had she not been in such a state of inelegance.

Once they both had settled themselves and arranged their skirts just so, Elizabeth said, “You could have sought me in the house, you know. I was there this past hour trying to solve my current puzzle. You need not have enfeebled yourself.”

The rasp in the lady’s chest by then was a disconcerting whistle. “No, no. I need to speak to you in privacy. Thanks to Mr Monroe’s uncouth announcement at dinner last night, everyone is now aware I am in last place. Through no fault of my own, I might add.”

Elizabeth simply stared at her.

“Well, it is not my fault that I do not possess the ability to decipher complex rhyming vocabulary. I tried, on two separate occasions, to solicit assistance. Both that handsome Mr Darcy and young Mr Hadley were terribly sorry they could not help me. As for that unscrupulous Mr Fordham… Well! The very sight of him is odious to me. I cannot bear the thought of being outdone by someone so mean and deceitful.” She leant in and whispered, “I am sorry to say it of anyone, but he thinks of himself before anybody else and is intent on snatching—yes, snatching!—everything he possibly can.”

Miss Kensett placed a gloved hand upon Elizabeth’s. “As the sole females in this silly competition, I say we should work together, you and I. What do you think?”

She seemed earnest in her application, but Elizabeth could not risk disqualification. “You know perfectly well such collusion is strictly forbidden. I am sorry, but I am unable to help you.”

“Unable or unwilling?” Leaning away, Miss Kensett uttered an inarticulate sound, making her dissatisfaction known. “How terribly disappointing it is to discover one’s friends can be so terribly, terribly selfish.” Standing, she spoke in high agitation. “You have provoked me, but I shall know how to exact revenge.”

We never were friends, madam. Elizabeth had made an enemy, but she would not relent. “I, too, am acquainted with a woman whose own ease and gratification seem to be her ruling principles, and yes, it is disappointing.” Standing, she faced her rival. “Now, if you are fully recovered, I shall leave you.” Before striding away, she added, “With any luck, I shall find ease and happiness in yonder woods.”

About a quarter of the way up the shaded bridleway, Elizabeth encountered Mr Darcy returning from his walk. He was not alone, and he did not appear best pleased with his companion. Both gentlemen seemed inordinately glad to see her, but it was Mr Fordham who offered his arm and steered her back the way she had come.

“You and I have not had an opportunity to improve our acquaintance, Miss Bennet,” said he, “and it would give me particular pleasure to have the chance to do so now. By the bye, I understand you are from Hertfordshire, and I was wondering whether you are at all familiar with…”