Page 85 of Her Whole Heart
Georgiana smiled smugly, and Darcy was startled to see a resemblance to Fitz in the expression. “I did. It is the most beautiful pale green, brother. Your green waistcoat with the ivory embroidery would be perfect.”
He nodded, already planning to have his valet take it out and ensure it was ready. “Thank you, Georgie.”
“How did you know she would say yes to dancing with you?” Georgiana inquired.
“I did not. I simply wished to be prepared.”
“But she has accepted a dance with you now?”
Darcy leaned back against the squabs and tipped his head back, smiling. “She has.”
The following day, Darcy found himself being shown into the drawing room at Carlisle House and finding Miss Elizabeth all alone. Of course, no one was ever truly alone in Carlisle House—there was a maid sitting in the corner, and Laramie was stationed in the hall, staring at them through the open door. Still, they could converse in some sort of privacy.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he said. “I am grateful you had the time to see me today.”
“Why would I not?” she asked.
“Lady Morgan’s ball is only four days away,” he replied. “My sister informs me that it takes at least a week to prepare for such an event.”
Elizabeth smiled widely. “She is not wrong. But I have managed to wrest enough time for a call from my extraordinarily busy ball preparations.”
“And I thank you.” Darcy chuckled, then hesitated before saying, “I have a request to make of you, but you must not feel compelled to honour it if you would rather not.”
She studied his countenance for a moment, and then nodded.
“I have heard bits and pieces of what happened the night of the fire, but I am having trouble putting it all together. I think knowing it would help me understand my cousin better—and you.”
A chill travelled down her back, breezy but brief. “You wish to know what happened the night of the fire?”
“If it would not harm you to speak of it.”
It was difficult, for Jane and Amelia knew and no one else seemed to care. She was unpractised in the telling of it. And what would he do when she was through? Would he take the story back to his uncle and cousins only to have Lady Henrietta deny it all? Would he believe her?
She had felt cold before, now she felt hot. She closed her eyes.
“Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy said quietly. “You need not, if it will harm you to tell it.”
But if she truly cared for him, if she thought she could love him—Jane had said it the night before they left Longbourn—trust must come before love. She could trust Mr. Darcy would not scorn her or think her a liar. She could trust him.
“I am well,” she told him. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, and then began. “It started earlier in the day. I had protested Lady Henrietta’s poor treatment of one of the maids. She had delayed Molly until she was late to her duties and then used Molly’s skirt to clean her pen.” Elizabeth sighed. “The skirt was ruined, and how was she to purchase another? I stepped in, and Lady Henrietta shoved me. Three of the bigger girls began to reach for me, and I swung to protect myself.” She paused, glancing at Mr. Darcy’s expression to gauge whether he was angry or disbelieving.
“Go on.” It was said gently, and she was encouraged.
“After that the four girls, including Lady Henrietta and Lady Penelope, tossed me into a classroom despite my protests, and your cousin locked meinside. It was very cold, and there was no fire. I was there until sometime after midnight, when Jane located a key and let me out.”
Darcy nodded encouragingly.
“On our way upstairs, I smelled smoke. Jane went into our room for our coats, and I began pounding on doors. Then Jane returned and helped me. When the girls came out, we told them there was a fire.”
“And you left then?”
She shook her head. “There were two wings in the building. Jane and I were on one. The girls from the higher families had rooms on the other wing, which looked out on the gardens. Those girls needed to be warned.”
“I see.”
“Jane said she would go, but I was faster. I told her to take the first set of girls out and alert the teachers while I crossed to the other wing.”
“How far had the fire progressed at that point?”
