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Darcy knelt beside her and placed his finger upon her lips to hush her. Remembering himself, he removed it just as quickly. “Miss Elizabeth, I do not rely solely upon that gentleman’s account. You are in no condition to travel. Your things are wet. You are under my protection, and I will not have it said I did not deliver you safe and sound and well to your friends in Kent.”
Scantily attired in nothing more than her thin linen chemise, she paced back and forth before the blazing hot fire. Mr. Darcy’s behaviour had confounded her, but it was nothing in comparison to her own. What on earth had possessed her to trace her finger along his lips? Surely he must think I am wanton. Or even worse, that I mean to tempt him with my feminine arts and allurements when nothing can be further from the truth.
She ceased pacing and stared into the fire. Mr. Wickham’s words silently echoed throughout the room. “Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates.” In light of what Mr. Wickham had said, what would be the point in Elizabeth’s foolish musings?
In spite of my ridiculous cousin’s assertion that Miss de Bourgh is of a sickly constitution, what has that to do with precluding a match where there is the matter of combining two great estates?
She caught her breath. Does Mr. Darcy mean to dally with my affections knowing there can never be anything more between us owing to his obligations to his family?
I must stop this at once. I shall not assign nefarious intent to Mr. Darcy’s motives when I have nothing to blame but my own body’s traitorous responses to his every look, his every whisper, his every touch. Yes, he stares at me more often than not, but he is just as likely to be looking to find fault rather than as a means of pleasure.
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her shoulders. She immediately recalled the weight of his great coat draped about her and how wonderfully safe and protected it rendered her during the rainstorm. Most of all she remembered how pleasingly intoxicating it smelled—the scent of sandalwood and spice, which lingered on her body still.
Imagine the stranger assuming that Mr. Darcy and I are married. More than a few times after first seeing his magnificent estate in Derbyshire and studying his likeness in the gallery, she had imagined what it must be like to be mistress of Pemberley. That was before she met him and judged for herself that he was just as her family and Mr. Wickham had proclaimed him: haughty and proud and expecting that everyone connected with him should have an understanding of the first class.
His cousin is nothing like him. What is more, I actually like the colonel, and I think he likes me. Surely her time would be better spent dwelling upon what might be with the colonel, who despite being the son of an earl, could never be accused of anything dishonourable, as best she could tell.
Not long after the maid placed Elizabeth’s wet things before the fire to dry, Elizabeth was fully dressed once again. Feeling quite restless, she decided she would not have dinner in her room as Mr. Darcy had dictated, but she would seek the gentlemen’s company instead. Mr. Darcy is being overly cautious. If she were truly to get to know the colonel better, she planned to take advantage of whatever opportunities presented themselves over the coming days and weeks.
Once the innkeeper and the servant girl quit the private dining room where the gentlemen awaited their meal, the colonel set his ale aside and turned to his cousin. “I was not asleep the entire duration of our journey from town.”
“And you chose to pretend you were, because?”
“I wanted to see what you were about. Your behaviour towards Miss Elizabeth is such that I have never seen before. Why do you pretend to hold the young woman in contempt one moment, and the next you behave the jealous lover?”
Darcy huffed. “Without conceding to your outlandish characterisation of my behaviour, I will say were you privy to the unsettling knowledge of her family, you would understand.”
“You are very hard on her family in general when you spent but a few days in Hertfordshire. Perhaps you misjudged them.”
“What little time I spent in their presence was more than enough. The eldest daughter is a schemer. The mother is calculating. The three younger daughters are silly beyond compare.”
“What of the father?”
“I had no opportunity to make his acquaintance, but I can scarcely allow him to be any more tolerable than the rest of the lot. A father has a great deal of influence over the comportment of his family.”
Darcy went into some detail in accounting for his weariness where the people of Meryton in general were concerned, including how he had admonished his friend Charles Bingley against a most unfortunate alliance.
Why on earth would I allow myself a similar fate? He heard a creak just outside the door and he looked over and noticed it was left ajar by the attending servant. The last thing he needed was to be overheard. Darcy bolted from his chair and went to the door. He opened it. Elizabeth stood there with her hand poised to knock. “Miss Elizabeth.”
“Mr. Darcy.”
An awkward pause ensued. Darcy did not know what to make of her being there. “I thought you were having dinner in your room.”
“I decided I would rather not dine alone.”
“Of course, you are welcome to join us.” He stepped aside and allowed her to pass. Darcy did not know how to look or how to feel. How long has she been standing outside the door?
CHAPTER 11
THE PALINGS OF ROSINGS PARK
Finding it convenient, Darcy and Richard remained at the Parsonage with Elizabeth whilst the carriage conveyed Mrs. Annesley to her friends in the village. As soon as the driver returned, the gentlemen departed. Mr. Collins, who had prevailed upon his esteemed visitors to be allowed to accompany them, left also. Charlotte and Elizabeth made their way to the small parlour.
“I would say that Mr. Darcy is a great admirer of yours, my dear Eliza.”
“You would not say that if you really knew what he is like. I am afraid the gentleman barely tolerates me.”
“I believe you are quite mistaken. I believe Mr. Darcy is quite taken with you. Have you ever considered what you perceive as a lack of tolerance is merely born of expectations of his family that will not allow him to admit his true feelings, even to himself?”
