Page 48 of Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure

“Are you more prone to abhor men?”

“I make no special effort to disdain them. On the whole, I find many of them agreeable. I recently made the acquaintance of Colonel Fitzwilliam, who displayed no faults that I am aware of and whose company I would welcome anytime.”

“Unlike his cousin?” Abby added with a sly smile.

“Yes, well…” Lizzy bit her tongue before she found herself saying anything too critical.

“I know you are not overly fond of Mr. Darcy, but do you see no redeeming traits in him at all?”

“I understand he has a delightful library,” Lizzy replied, in recalling Miss Bingley’s praise of Pemberley.

Abby laughed. “Oh dear, is he as bad as that?”

“But you are acquainted with him. You must know better if he possesses more amenable qualities than what he has displayed to us?”

“And if he were in possession of such, would that change your recommendation of him?”

“Of course. Your opinion of him, if it be agreeable, would affect my consideration.”

“I am flattered by your regard.”

Lizzy was only slightly curious to hear what Abby thought of the man, as she suspected that the opinion of the latter could not be too divergent from her own, but their conversation was put to an end with the arrival of Mrs. Singh with the tea. When they resumed talking, it was not of Mr. Darcy. After half an hour had passed, Mr. Singh returned with a note for Mrs. Trenwith.

Abby read it, then looked at Lizzy. “It would seem you can have your second lesson this evening.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“I am told you will not be taking dinner here?” asked Lady Catherine as she observed her nephew putting on his cloak in the vestibule.

“Regretfully, no,” Darcy replied. Upon receiving the note from Abby, he had brooked no hesitation in replying in the affirmative.

“Anne herself contributed to the menu for the evening. With my guidance, she has recommended an exceptional repast.”

“I will convey my apologies to her in person and ensure my stay is of a duration that I may sample many other menus of hers in the days to come.”

Never satisfied when her plans were upset, Catherine frowned. “And what matter of business calls you away at this hour?”

As she was his aunt and hostess, Darcy stymied his objection at her prying. “My assistance is required.”

“By whom?”

Darcy paused, knowing full well his aunt’s regard, or lack thereof, rather, for Abby. “By Mrs. Trenwith.”

The shock in Catherine’s face was as he had expected, but he continued to put on his gloves and hat.

“Mrs. Trenwith! Abby Trenwith?”

“Yes.”

He was spared from further discussion by the announcement that his horse was ready. Still in the haze of disbelief, she ambled behind him, but stopped at the threshold. She stomped her cane. “This will not do. Have you any idea what that woman is about?”

“Your pardon, but a quick departure will hasten my return,” he said as he mounted his bay.

Unable to refute him, and perhaps sensing his determination, she said nothing, but the look of consternation upon her face needed no words.

Darcy urged his horse into a gallop. Perhaps it had been foolish of him to be truthful, though Catherine was unlikely to reveal to anyone his acquaintance with Abby. Under no circumstances would he admit the full truth of what occurred at Trenwith House, but he had no tolerance for prevarication if it could be avoided. He knew he had opened a Pandora’s box with Catherine and was sure to hear more from her on the matter.

At Trenwith House, he was shown to his usual chambers and learned that Nicholas had went into town with a friend. To his knowledge, Nicholas had never been indiscreet, but he would have preferred to trust Nicholas with as little as possible. If it was Miss Elizabeth, she would do well to be cautious around him.