Page 35 of Saved By Mr. Darcy
“Goodnight Lizzy. Sleep well.”
The two left the room, Darcy pushing the chair slowly down the darkened hallway. He knew full well that he ought to allow a servant to perform such a task, but he wanted to take her himself. He savoured these quiet, uninterrupted moments of her company – though they were rare indeed. Each unsupervised moment was a slight against both of their characters, and a breach of the promise he had made to Mr Gardiner. His honour was slipping away with each moment, replaced instead by a longing he did not want to give a name.
“Mr Darcy,” Miss Elizabeth said softly. “I have given our conversation a great deal of thought. And I believe that you have misunderstood me.”
“Miss Elizabeth!”
One of the serving girls called after them, and Darcy closed his eyes as he heard the footsteps grow closer. He stepped away from the chair, and his space was instantly filled as a girl with red hair slipped into the gap.
“There you are, Miss! I apologise, Master, for the imposition. We should have known you’d want to go to bed, Miss. Goodnight, sir!”
Before he could protest, Miss Elizabeth had been whisked away towards her bedroom. He stared after her, longing to see her turn to look at him. She did not, and then he was alone.
∞∞∞
He returned to the parlour, Georgiana’s music guiding him back. He sank down into his seat without a word, listening to the steady rhythm of the piece. Abruptly, with a clash of keys, the music ended and he felt the familiar burn of his sister’s gaze on him.
“What?” he asked without looking up.
“I have eyes, Fitzwilliam.”
“Oh?”
“You are in love with her.”
“Please, Georgiana. I am tired, and in no mood to discuss this.”
“And I am in no mood to tolerate your mood! You must tell her at once, and secure her affections! I am sure we do not have long before someone hears of her stay here and we are inundated with sympathetic guests who wish to aid in her recovery.”
“I do not think so.”
“I hope not. I am so enjoying having Lizzy staying with us, brother. She is like a sister to me already, and I would like to see you happy. You have been in the most peculiar temper for weeks.”
“There has been much to do.”
“You were sick with worry, Fitzwilliam, and now you are sick with love!”
“You have grown too at ease with Miss Elizabeth, Georgiana. We all have. She is not our sister and…”
“I did not say she wasyoursister, but mine!”
“And that is precisely the problem of it. Such careless talk would compromise Miss Bennet’s reputation. This arrangement we have, it is for her own health. She needed care, and we have provided that. There must be no talk of anything else – for thereisnothing else. Am I quite clear?”
Georgiana nodded, swallowing heavily. She was not used to being scolded, for he had spent her life speaking to her in soft, careful tones with gentle words.
“Yes. I am sorry, brother. Perhaps I got carried away. I meant no harm.”
“I know. I am sorry to have spoken so harshly, but it must be said. Miss Bennet is our guest. When she is recovered, she will leave this place and I doubt she will return. It would not do to grow too fond of her, Georgiana. I would not like you to be sorrowful when she is gone.”
Her playing resumed for a moment, then stopped. She closed the lid of the pianoforte and stood with all of her usual grace, but even in the dim evening light he could see her eyes shining with tears.
“Of course. If you will excuse me, I think I shall retire for the night.”
He rose from his seat, kissing her goodnight as she passed him. She left without another word, and he was alone once more. Itwas not the first time he had found himself in this situation, turning away others with his harsh words.
You have misunderstood me.
What a fool he was, to believe that the words they had shared this afternoon were an indication of love. She had asked him to visit her this evening so that she might do him the service of dashing his hopes in private. How merciful of her!
