Page 26 of Her Whole Heart
“I do not know. Tell Hen not to hold the meal for me.” He bowed to the ladies and smiled encouragingly at his cousin. “Darcy, you still owe me some time at Angelo’s. I mean to collect soon.”
“You have not bested me in a year, cousin. I owe you nothing,” Mr. Darcy said, but it was a playful jibe.
“Yes, it is at last time to spring my trap, before I am sent back to the continent.” The colonel smiled and took his leave.
Elizabeth watched him go. As she turned to say something to Jane, she caught the fleeting expressions of concern on both Lord Milton and Mr. Darcy’s countenances. They were worried for the colonel. He was in a dangerous business, so she did not know why their care should surprise her—very well, she was not surprised by the viscount’s worry, only his cousin’s. Still . . .
“I shall meet up with you at the park, Lady Carlisle,” Lord Milton said, and followed his brother.
The countess snapped her fan closed and dropped it into her reticule. “Well, the day is speeding on. Shall we retrieve our cloaks, girls?”
“Yes, Lady Carlisle,” she and Jane said together.
Chapter Nine
Rotten Row was very busy and very cold. It was fortunate that both she and Jane had been forewarned. They had donned their long pelisses for their journey to the lecture and would have the muffs and cloaks besides. Lady Carlisle had even presented them both with matching, rather jaunty fur-lined hats, each adorned with a single feather.
Had Amelia been here the effect would have been even greater, but Elizabeth had to admit the countess knew how to present a young lady to her best advantage.
Mr. Darcy had stepped away to give instructions to his own driver, and by the time he entered the carriage to sit on the rear-facing bench, they were warmly attired. He did not really look at them until he was seated, but then he looked up and Elizabeth saw something in his expression she could not account for—a brief, stunned glance.
It vanished the next moment, however, and Elizabeth supposed he had recognised how beautiful Jane was. If he wanted to know her sister better, however, he would have to take his place in line. Mr. Bingley, Baron Neumann, and Mr. Fredericks were all there before him. Even Viscount Fellington had not entirely moved on.
She hoped Mr. Darcywasinterested in Jane. It would serve him right to have to compete for her attention.
Even as she thought it, her heart pinched painfully. She still did not understand why he treated her so poorly. While she knew she was not as handsome as Jane, that was hardly a black mark against her, for who was? And surely he had seen the absurdity of declaring her a fortune hunter as though it was something unique to the ton. She laced her fingers together inside her muff and looked determinedly out the window.
No rain today. In fact, it was clear, with a light blue sky and a weakening winter sun. Still, to have any sunlight at all this time of year meant that more people than might normally make the trip to Hyde Park this early in the season were here today, crowding the paths and showing off their furs and other finery.
“Mr. Darcy,” Lady Carlisle said, “do you often find yourself in Hyde Park at the fashionable hour?”
“Not often, my lady, no.”
He did not elaborate, and Elizabeth felt a sort of giddy satisfaction that he should be showing his poor manners to everyone, not only to her. But Lady Carlisle did not seem put off.
When they arrived, and the roof had been folded back, the cold nipped at her nose and Elizabeth was grateful for her warm clothing. She set her hat jauntily on the back of her head, making certain it covered the tops of her ears, and buried her hands in her muff.
“Oh, there are the Loughtys,” Jane said, and nodded in recognition.
Miss Loughty smiled at them as her driver brought her alongside. “Lady Carlisle, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Miss Loughty, this is Mr. Darcy. And I presume you have all met Mr. Loughty?”
Mr. Loughty sat on the rear-facing bench. For once, he said nothing, but he touched the brim of his hat as his eyes moved rapaciously between Mr. Darcy and herself. Then he recalled that Jane was in the coach, and his expression clouded over. Elizabeth suspected he was trying to work out which sister Mr. Darcy was interested in.
Neither, she thought, for he could not seriously be interested in Jane when he had never spoken more than a few words to her. She wondered why he had come at all. A gentleman such as he could excuse himself, even if invited by a countess.
“Mr. Darcy,” Miss Loughty said politely before turning her attention to Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth. Are you at home tomorrow?”
Elizabeth glanced at Lady Carlisle, who nodded.
“We shall be, for you,” she said, and Miss Loughty’s complexion, already pink from the cold, flushed a deeper colour. It suited her very well.
Miss Loughty pushed her spectacles up on her nose. “I shall see you all then.”
Her driver slowed the little phaeton so that it fell behind Lady Carlisle’s barouche.
Mr. Darcy was watching her, and Elizabeth told herself not to roll her eyes.
