Page 66 of An Accidental Meeting
Elizabeth frowned. Had her uncle just shushed her? He had not done so since she was six, and Elizabeth had not liked it any better then. It was embarrassing, the more so in Mr. Darcy’s presence.
Soon she saw that they were approaching Lady Anne’s reading room, and her curiosity burned hot as Mr. Darcy led them inside.
“I will leave you two for ten minutes. No more,” Uncle Gardiner warned, as he pulled the door closed. He opened it again and pushed his head back into the room, narrowing his eyes at Mr. Darcy. “I shall be right outside.”
The door clicked shut a second time.
Mr. Darcy stood before her, silent and solemn.
“This is such a lovely room,” Elizabeth said, not knowing what else to say. Perhaps he had asked for privacy to say his goodbyes. If that was the case, she would bear it stoically.
“Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy said softly, and her heart leapt to attention. Foolish heart.
“Yes?”
He took a deep breath and let it out before wiping his hands on his trousers. Was he nervous? Whatever for?
“I shall always be glad you came to Pemberley.”
Itwasto be a goodbye, then. Elizabeth was sorry to be right, but how could it be anything else? “It has been the most wonderful visit, Mr. Darcy,” she said earnestly. “I will always remember it.”
He tipped his head to one side. “It?”
Was it not clear enough? “Pemberley, of course. It is magnificent, but then, you know that.”
His smile was wan. “And is it Pemberley only that you will miss?” he asked softly.
Elizabeth closed her eyes. It was painful to say, and she did so haltingly. “No. I shall miss all who reside here a great deal more.”
“Allwho reside here . . .”
He sounded uncertain. Howcouldhe be uncertain?
She lowered her gaze and noticed that his hands were trembling. Perhaps—perhaps he was as distressed as she was herself. Elizabeth wished to say more, but . . . “Please forgive me. It is only that I know we must leave directly, and I would not burden you with any unwanted expressions of—” Tears welled in her eyes, and he reached into the pocket of his jacket to retrieve a handkerchief. He held it out to her.
Elizabeth accepted it gratefully, dabbing at the tears that had escaped despite her best efforts. A bit of lace on the edge caught her attention.
It washerhandkerchief, the one she had used to assist Mrs. Reynolds. Her eyes flew up to meet his.
“Please,” he said abruptly, not recognizing that he had inadvertently revealed his heart. “Burden me.”
They stood in silence for a moment as Elizabeth clasped the cloth in her hand and gathered her courage. “Are you certain?” she asked at last.
He nodded.
Very well, then. “I am sorry to be parted fromyou.” She felt a little ill saying it, but it was the only thing he had truly asked of her since their arrival. At least he would know. She held out the handkerchief to him. If he wished to keep it, she would not deny him. He did not move, so she gently took his hand in hers and pressed the cloth into it.
Mr. Darcy was staring at his hand in hers, and his silence was disconcerting. She attempted to pull back, but he shoved the handkerchief back into a pocket before he slowly lifted her hand to his mouth. His lips brushed over her skin like a whisper.
“Miss Bennet,” he said hoarsely. “I still—”
She could not allow him to finish. “Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said reprovingly, withdrawing her hand. “You cannot be serious.”
“Why is that?” he asked, his brow creasing in a way Elizabeth found most attractive.
Howcouldhe ask? “The scandal! You have a younger sister to consider.”
His lips tugged up. “Ihaveconsidered her. She is rather fond of you.”
