Page 150 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

Elizabeth watched her ears turn forward.

“What does that mean?” Georgiana asked.

A muffled voice came from beyond the trees. Sarah moved ahead several paces and stopped.

A second voice followed, sharper than the first.

“Move aside.”

Sarah ran.

Elizabeth gathered her skirt and followed.

“Elizabeth?” Jane called.

The path narrowed between the yews, shutting out the lawn behind her. Sarah disappeared around the bend, and a single bark broke through the trees.

Not excitement. Warning.

Elizabeth quickened her pace.

The summerhouse stood at the end of the path, partly hidden beneath the branches. Its door was closed.

Sarah stopped two paces from it and barked again.

“Sarah.”

The dog looked at Elizabeth, then returned her attention to the door.

Footsteps sounded behind them. Georgiana reached the bend first, with Anne and Mrs. Jenkinson close behind. Bingley and Jane followed, while Louisa, Hurst, and Caroline had not yet appeared.

Georgiana stared at the summerhouse. “William?”

Movement sounded inside.

The door opened.

Darcy stood in the entrance with one hand still on the latch. Surprise crossed his face when he saw the group, followed by something harder as he looked back into the room.

Caroline caught his sleeve.

She had approached without Elizabeth hearing her. Whether she had come by another path or followed them through the yews, Elizabeth could not tell.

“Mr. Darcy, wait.”

Darcy looked down at her hand. “Release me.”

Caroline did not.

A pale ribbon hung loose from her shoulder. She pulled it free and stumbled toward him.

Darcy stepped aside and Caroline’s hands closed on empty air. She twisted toward the small table and caught its edge, but it skidded beneath her weight. One leg snapped. The table tipped and carried her down with it, leaving her on the floor clutching the broken frame while the ribbon settled beside her.

For one suspended moment, no one spoke.

Then Hurst came around the bend behind Louisa and looked through the open door.

“It seems the furniture also declined to support her,” he said. “A treacherous room.”