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She slipped her arm through his, taking in the strength of his frame anew.

“You and Mr. Bingley are off to the Archers?” Kitty asked behind them as they started down the steps.

“We are,” Mr. Darcy replied without looking over his shoulder.

Elizabeth had forgotten the gentlemen’s part in tomorrow’s plan. They were to call on the Archers today and invite them to return the call tomorrow. “Is Mr. Bingley equal to the task?” From what Kitty told Elizabeth, Mr. Bingley had no desire to see Catherine Archer ever again, even if they were betrothed.

“I am equal to the task.”

The surety in Mr. Darcy’s voice sent another tremble through Elizabeth. She would never have suspected she would find his confidence so appealing. Had his hubris not been one of her main reasons for disliking him?

Concern darkened the eyes he turned on her. “Are you certain you are well enough to go down to tea?”

“To tea with Kitty, Charlotte, and Miss Bingley?” Elizabeth chuckled. “I am not so feeble as that.” It was not as if he would be present, after all, staring at her in that way that sent dizzying warmth through her.

He turned to her as they reached the entrance hall, capturing the hand she’d rested on his arm between his large palms, warming fingers as icy as the rest of her was hot. “Please try not to become overly fatigued. I will assist you back to your room when we return from our call.”

Staring up into the worry on his face, she could only nod.

He released her with a bow, to which he added a nod to Kitty before pivoting to collect his hat and gloves. The latter shoved inside the former, he went out to join Mr. Bingley in the carriage.

Elizabeth stared at the door once it closed behind him, her heart pounding. The lingering warmth of his arm and hands stayed with her, a shield against the cool marble floors and hard mahogany wainscotting of the entrance hall.

Then Kitty’s arm slipped through hers where Mr. Darcy’s had been. Her sister turned them away from the closed front door and started walking, freeing Elizabeth from Mr. Darcy’s spell.

“Perhaps there was something to Miss Archer’s plan after all,” Kitty mused as they set off down the hallway.

“Miss Archer’s plan?” Elizabeth frowned. “To fall in the pool?”

“Yes. Ever since you fell in, Mr. Darcy has been very attentive to you.”

“Perhaps he does not want to see his efforts go to waste.”

“Perhaps,” Kitty echoed lightly.

Elizabeth suspected his attention had far more to do with her willingness to kiss him, but she couldn’t tell Kitty that. No matter how mature Kitty seemed now that Elizabeth knew her secret, one whisper of what Elizabeth had done would have Mrs. Bennet sending marriage announcements to the papers.

They proceeded to the drawing room, Kitty leading the way as she already knew the house far better than Elizabeth, and entered to find Miss Bingley and Charlotte waiting. As they stood in greeting, Elizabeth offered their hostess a convivial smile, then went around the low table to Charlotte.

Charlotte wrapped her in a hug, saying, “Oh, Lizzy, what a sight you are to behold.”

Elizabeth blinked in surprise. “My looking glass showed me nothing to inspire such a demonstration. Are you well, Charlotte?”

Charlotte ended her embrace but caught both of Elizabeth’s hands. “Am I well? Now that I see you, I am. I thought you might…that is, when Mr. Darcy carried you up the walk, you were so limp and pale, and your mother has been all over the village with tales of the state you are in.” Charlotte shook her head. “I was so afraid for you, and here you are, appearing nearly yourself.”

Elizabeth quirked a smile. “I shall endeavor not to take nearly as an insult.” She tugged Charlotte downward, to retake her seat on the sofa. “But do not fret so. I am not as frail as all that.”

“You must have suspected Mama exaggerated,” Kitty said, alighting beside Miss Bingley, who waved to a maid, signaling the need for tea.

“We have all hoped she exaggerated,” Charlotte relinquished one of Elizabeth’s hands, but still squeezed the other. “But we all saw you looking very unwell, and when Mr. Collins called yesterday with the Archers, he seemed to believe you may not recover.”

Elizabeth raised her gaze heavenward. “Neither Mama nor Mr. Collins have even been to see me. Not that I wish Mr. Collins to. The only good thing about the Archers is that they keep him occupied and away from us.”

“But surely you cannot be happy with the attention Miss Mabel lavishes on him? Whomsoever marries Mr. Collins will have Longbourn someday.”

“Will they?” Miss Bingley’s expression became thoughtful for a moment, then she shook her head.

“Even love of my family home is not enough to entice me to endure Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth said flatly.