Page 22 of Twice Chosen

Elizabeth looked away.

Lydia held up blue and green.

Elizabeth almost laughed from sheer nerves. "The blue."

Lydia smiled.

When Elizabeth looked back, Darcy was still staring. His hand rested at his side. The forefinger tapped against his thumb once, twice, three times.

Elizabeth's eyes filled.

Not yet.

Surely not.

Darcy bowed. "Miss Elizabeth."

His voice had changed. She knew that voice. The one he used when emotion threatened his control.

"Mr. Darcy."

He left with Bingley.

Elizabeth remained standing.

Jane came beside her. "Lizzy?"

Elizabeth watched the door. "I think I am going mad."

Jane blinked. "Should I be worried?"

Elizabeth laughed shakily. "Possibly."

Chapter Six

Letters to Georgiana

Darcy wrote to Georgiana that evening.

He began three letters and destroyed two. The third survived.

My dearest Georgiana,

You will think your brother transformed, but I intend to remain in Hertfordshire somewhat longer than originally planned.

Darcy stopped.

In his first life he had written cool, instructive letters. Asked after her studies. Her health. Mrs. Annesley. Rarely asked what Georgiana felt.

Elizabeth had pointed that out during their second year of marriage. He had been offended. Then ashamed.

He continued.

You need not answer any question you dislike, but I wondered today whether you are lonely. I do not mean whether you have company. I know you do. I mean whether you have someone with whom you may be unhappy without first reassuring them.

His throat tightened.

Ramsgate had happened months ago. Georgiana remained raw. He knew now how much she had blamed herself, how often his anger at Wickham had sounded, to her, like anger at her.