Page 8 of Her Whole Heart
Mr. Darcy’s voice had carried, and they were not the only people to overhear. By the end of the night, she had been required to relive it a dozen times. She had smiled and laughed about it all, excusing the man for being out of sorts, but she could not help but feel the sting of the insults he had laid to her charge.
Who knows what would happen if you shook her family tree too hard?She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to remove the stench of the fortune hunter.Elizabeth had thought she was being playful. Heaven knew the man appeared as though levity was required, so dark was his affect. Yet somehow, she had managed to give offence.
She should not have been so surprised, for hewasrelated toLady Henrietta.
Oddly, Lady Henrietta’s brothers had both been more gentlemanly than their cousin. Elizabeth’s dances with them—first the viscount, and then the colonel—had cooled the rumours circulating around the room that she was somehow at fault for Mr. Darcy’s departure. She was not foolish enough to believe that it meant the rumours would disappear entirely, but it was good enough for now.
The carriage stopped, Lord Carlisle handed them all out, and Lady Carlisle bade them all a good rest. “I will not be myself until dinner tomorrow, girls. I shall see you all then.”
“Thank you, Lady Carlisle,” Elizabeth and Jane said nearly at the same time, and the venerable lady smiled.
“Good night, Aunt,” Amelia said, and after bidding one another pleasant dreams, the girls left for their own chambers.
After she dismissed her maid, Elizabeth sat in bed with her knees drawn up under her chin. The door to the sitting room creaked as it opened, and soon Jane was lifting the covers to join her.
“You say that you found Mr. Darcy amusing, Lizzy. But your heart is not as resilient as you want the world to believe.” She pressed Elizabeth’s hand. “I know his words must have hurt you.”
Elizabeth laid her head on Jane’s shoulder. “They did. But then I realised something important.”
“What is that?”
“Mr. Darcy is an idiot.”
Jane attempted to squelch a laugh but did not succeed. “Idiot might be taking things a little far.”
Elizabeth laughed with her. “Iama fortune hunter, Jane. As are you. We cannot deny that we are here to make financially advantageous matches. But the ballroom wasfullof unmarried ladies—and men, I must add—who were all looking for the best situated spouse their circumstanceswill allow. I dare say even the odious Mr. Darcy is seeking a match that will add money to his coffers and more power to wield than he currently possesses. Does that not makehima fortune hunter?”
Jane smiled. “I am afraid I must disagree in regard to you and me. We shall not employ any tricks or stratagems to fool a man into marrying us simply to lift us and our family into a more elevated sphere than the one we currently inhabit.”
“Yes, that is true.”
“Good.” Jane nodded. “Now I will have you admit that you are wrong.”
“Am I?”
Jane’s laugh was quiet, but it burst from her as though it had taken her unawares. “Yes, Lizzy. It has been known to happen from time to time. A fortune hunter hasonlywealth and status in mind, not caring a whit for compatibility or character. And that, my dearest sister, is not me and is not you.”
Elizabeth took a very deep breath and let it out slowly. “As much as I dislike being proven wrong, I believe you have done just that. Brava, Jane.”
“Our parents have made you doubt yourself. Rely upon your strong, generous heart, Elizabeth, and you cannot fail to find happiness.”
It was not herself Elizabeth did not trust—not usually. Other than Jane, it was other people she had a difficult time relying upon, for they so often disappointed. Mr. Darcy at least had that in his favour—there was little he could do to make her opinion of him any worse than it was now. If he robbed a stagecoach, perhaps.
Jane was a determined optimist, though, and Elizabeth allowed herself to be comforted.
“I could not do this without you, Jane.”
Her sister nodded. “I feel just the same.”
“But I must warn you . . .”
“Of?”
Elizabeth smiled. “I shall win our wager.”
Jane must be blushing, for she had lifted a hand to her cheek. “Whatever do you mean?”
“A half a dozen men expressed interest in you tonight.”
