Elizabeth pressed her lips together. “Oh, very well,” she burst out. “You are right. I was not thinking. I am sure if you had not accosted me, I should have soon come to my senses.” She glared at him then released a sigh. “Thank you for coming to see to me. Perhaps you have saved me from getting into danger.”
Darcy looked a little astonished by how easily she relented but he nodded.
“I am glad to hear it. My sister would have been distraught if anything had happened to you. Not to mention the pain it would cause your poor aunt and uncle. They would never have recovered from their guilt.”
The flush of shame taking over Elizabeth was becoming unbearable. She had a sudden urge to get away from Darcy where she could berate herself for her stupidity in private. How dare he see her foolishness! And for it to be exposed in front of him, of all people. What mischievous form of fate was playing with her so? She had made the most stupid mistake of her life and it had been witnessed by the one person she could not bear to think of seeing her behave thus.
“I quite comprehend that,” she said tartly. “If you will excuse me, I will return to my aunt and uncle now.”
She stepped around him to leave but he placed himself in front of her again. Elizabeth gave him an outraged look and was about to order him to step aside when she stopped. The furious look had disappeared from Darcy’s face to be replaced by a softer expression.
“I know I have been rather hard on you,” he said gently. “I do not speak to make you feel ashamed. But you cannot imagine the enormous horror I felt when I saw you run down here. I was sure something would happen to you before I could reach you and I was filled with dread. I know it is not in your nature to allow matters to pass out of your own hands and if I am to be honest, I admire you for it. There are not many people who would show such spirit.”
Elizabeth was so startled by his words she did not know what to say. She merely nodded. Darcy’s expression turned stern again.
“But that is not to say you should do such a thing again. Promise me you will not.”
Elizabeth was about to ask him who he was to demand promises from her but something about the expression in his eyes halted her. He looked as though he sincerely worried for her.
“I promise,” she said gruffly. “It is not as though I am in the habit of being in such situations. This is the first time it has happened.”
Darcy smiled, the first real smile she had seen from him. “I am glad to hear that. Come.” He offered her his arm. “I will take you to the magistrate where you might give an account of the fellow. Then I will accompany you back to your aunt and uncle.”
“There is no need to do that. I can manage perfectly well by myself.”
“I am sure you can. But I would still prefer to walk with you if you will indulge me.”
Elizabeth sighed and relented. She took Darcy’s arm and they walked down the lane as the faces in the taverns windows watched them.
20
It took a little longer than expected to see the magistrate who was away when they called so by the time they left his house with assurances that he would send word to Darcy if they found the thief, Elizabeth was late to meet her aunt and uncle. She looked at Darcy’s watch and gasped.
“The time. I was supposed to meet my aunt and uncle some thirty minutes ago. They will wonder where I am.”
“Come. If we go this way, we shall be there sooner.”
Elizabeth was about to insist again that she did not need Darcy’s escort but she kept her lips shut. Besides, there was something rather nice about his protective attitude towards her. If it had happened in Meryton, her father would have sighed and made some sarcastic remark about the thief but would not have concerned himself much beyond that. For Darcy to go out of his way to help Elizabeth as much as he could despite having his own affairs to worry about filled Elizabeth with a strange warmth.
They chatted about inconsequential matters as they approached the town square. A voice called out Elizabeth’s name. She turned to see Matthew Thompson running towards them. He stopped when he saw Darcy.
“Are you well, Miss Bennet?” he asked. Though he addressed Elizabeth, his eyes remained fixed on Darcy’s face, alive with suspicion.
“I am well. Where are my aunt and uncle? I hope they are not too worried for me? I know I am rather late.”
“They are worried. They called to us and told us you had not returned yet. Though they say you like to walk, they also say it is not like you to be so late. Is everything alright?” Still he looked at Darcy.
“Everything is quite well. I will explain everything to them when I see them.”
“I will take you if you will allow me.”
He held out his arm to Elizabeth. Elizabeth hesitated. Darcy spoke first.
“It is quite alright. As you can see, I am escorting Miss Bennet. I will take her to her family.”
“Mr and Mrs Gardiner sent me to find her. They will expect me to return with her. I am not sure they would be happy if she returned with someone else.”
“They know Mr Darcy, Mr Thompson. They will not be upset to find me in his company.”
Matthew’s eyes widened. “Mr Darcy? Of Pemberley?”
Darcy inclined his head, as aloof and regal as a king acknowledging a peasant.
“So I can assure you, my name is quite good. The Gardiners will not be upset to find Miss Bennet with me. Now, if you will excuse us, I think they have been allowed to sit in worry for long enough.”
Elizabeth was rather irritated by his high-handed manner but she could not say she cared any more for Matthew attempting to take possession of her as though she were a handkerchief someone had dropped and he wanted to take credit for discovering. She was half-tempted to tell Darcy she could walk very well by herself but it would have been churlish considering the service he had rendered her.
And he had rendered her a service. The magistrate said the thief was known to him from her description. And he was not a friendly fellow. If Darcy had not intervened when he did, Elizabeth was confident she would not have come to a good end. She shuddered and Darcy looked down at her at once.
“Are you well?” he murmured. “I know you have had a shock.”
Elizabeth smiled and nodded. “I am quite well. Just tired after the day’s events.”
“I hope you have come to no harm,” said Matthew anxiously. “If I had known you would walk about alone, I would have offered to accompany you. I would have —“
“And may I ask who you are, sir?” said Mr Darcy. “I have not known Miss Bennet very long but I recall no mention of a brother.”
His tone was arrogant but Elizabeth wondered if there was a slight note of worry in his voice. Why should he be worried? It was not as though a man like Matthew Thompson could ever be a threat to a man like Mr Darcy. Perhaps she imagined it.
Matthew threw Darcy a cold look. He drew himself up. “I am certainly no brother of Miss Bennet’s” he said in a grim tone with an unmistakable stress on the word brother. Elizabeth wanted to groan. Much as she had enjoyed Matthew’s company on the carriage ride to Derby, she did not want people receiving the idea that there was anything between them, at least not before she had a chance to get to know him and decide her own feelings. But Matthew seemed to insinuate that there was something more between them. That was all she needed.
“Mr Thompson is a guest at the inn at Lambton,” she said. “He and his parents travelled with us to Derby as they had space in their carriage. Was that not kind of them? Now, if you will come, I wish to see my aunt and uncle. I have worried them long enough.”
“Of course you must go to your aunt and uncle —“ Matthew began.
“I will take you to them,” said Darcy in a crisp voice that would accept no opposition.
As it turned out, neither man took Elizabeth to them. Mr and Mrs Gardiner had seen them standing in the square and they ran across the cobbles towards them.
“Thank goodness,” said Mrs Gardiner. “You had us worried,
Lizzy! Oh! Good evening, Mr Darcy.” Her eyes widened when she noticed him and she turned to give Elizabeth an arch look. “Is this why you were late? Because you met with Mr Darcy?”
Elizabeth and Darcy exchanged a look.
“In a manner of speaking…” said Elizabeth tentatively. “I am afraid someone stole my purse.” She hesitated, not sure what she should say next. If her family knew she had chased a known criminal through a dangerous part of town, they would never let her live it down. But she could hardly avoid the topic. Especially with Darcy standing there.
“I happened to be passing by on a matter of business,” Darcy broke in. “I saw what happened and went to see if I could be of any assistance. We brought the matter to the magistrate.”
Elizabeth threw him a grateful look. Mrs Gardiner covered her mouth with her hands.
“Oh, my dear girl,” she said. “How dreadful. Are you alright? He did not injure you?”
“What did the magistrate say, sir?” Mr Gardiner demanded. “How does he mean to catch the rogue?”
“He promises to notify me of any developments,” said Darcy.
“I am not hurt,” said Elizabeth. “A little shaken, perhaps…”
“Which is why I propose to bring Miss Bennet for tea. Food is the best thing for a shock.”
“Of course,” said Mrs Gardiner. “We have not yet eaten. We planned to do so once Lizzy joined us.”
“Excellent,” said Darcy.
“Wait.” Matthew scowled. “My parents will wonder why you do not join us in their carriage to return to Lambton. Perhaps we should find something Miss Bennet can take away with her and she can enjoy a proper meal once we are at the inn?”
“There is no need for that,” said Darcy. “If you and your parents are ready to leave, do not allow is to delay you. I will take Miss Bennet and the Gardiners home. If that is suitable to Miss Bennet?” Darcy looked down at her. His expression was bland but there was a slight challenge in the raising of his eyebrow. It was as though he were very interested to see which option she would choose.
Elizabeth’s stomach decided for her by giving a rather loud growl that was thankfully disguised by a passing cart rattling over the cobbles.
“I am rather hungry,” she said. “If you would not mind bringing us home, sir, we would not need to delay the Thompsons.”
Matthew’s face fell. Elizabeth felt sorry for him but she was not about to delay eating for several hours just to satisfy him. She wasn’t nearly as faint as Darcy seemed to think but after the previous encounter, she felt oddly reluctant to part with him just yet. Having him near her was comforting in a way she did not understand. All she knew was that the prospect of being with him for the evening soothed her more than anything else could have done.
“If you are sure,” Matthew said.
“I am very sure. I will feel much better after I have eaten.” She gave him a weak smile and felt a flash of shame at her deception.
“I have known people who experienced such a shock before. And I have learned that eating as soon as possible is the best way to deal with it,” said Darcy. “I do not wish Miss Bennet to faint once the reality of her experience hits her. I would even less like it to happen when she is travelling in a carriage.”
“She does not look faint,” said Matthew.
“Oh, I am.”
“Oh, she is.”
“We must get you inside, my dear. Mr Thompson, will you please convey our thanks to your parents? We will do it ourselves once we return to the inn, but I am most concerned about Lizzy,” said Mrs Gardiner with such anxiety Elizabeth wanted to kick herself for implying she was worse than she was.
“Very well,” said Matthew with great reluctance. He started to walk away but turned back and pressed Elizabeth’s hand. She was too surprised to pull it away and merely stared at him, her mouth open. “If there is anything you need, Miss Bennet —“
“Then I will most assuredly see to it,” said Darcy flatly.
The two men scowled then Matthew bowed and walked away. Elizabeth looked after him with concern but what could she do? She was hungry and it was not as though Matthew was violently in love with her. He and Mr Darcy were clearly just enacting some odd male tradition. A woman in distress had turned them both into stags who might lower their antlers at any moment. She doubted it had anything to do with her personally.
“I know a place you will enjoy,” said Darcy with an air of authority that brought her mind firmly back to him. “I rarely have cause to eat in Derby but when I do, this is where I come.” He held out his arm to Elizabeth again. She took it and pretended not to see the looks her aunt and uncle exchanged. Perhaps that was why they were so quick to agree with Darcy’s plan. Well, they could forget it. She had no interest in marrying a man like Darcy and the feeling was clearly mutual.
21
The tavern was small and clean and Elizabeth’s stomach rumbled once again when delicious smells wafted out from the kitchen. Darcy had been looking at her when it happened but he discreetly looked away.
As they ate the rich lamb stew and herbed bread, Elizabeth reluctantly confessed her actions to her family. They shook their heads.
“Really, Lizzy. What would we have told your father if anything had happened to you?” Aunt Gardiner chided.
Darcy watched as Elizabeth dropped her eyes. “He would not have blamed you,” she said. “He knows what I am like.”
That drew Darcy’s attention at once. “What are you like, Miss Bennet? How common an occurrence is this that your father would expect it of you? Are you in the habit of chasing after thieves?”
“Oh, I think it is you who is in that habit,” she said, looking at him with those bewitching eyes. Did she mean to be so alluring or was it unconsciously done? Darcy suspected she had no idea just how desirable she was without even trying. He would have to tread carefully if he were not to find himself making a decision that he might regret in the not too distant future.
“Lizzy is a sensible girl, Mr Darcy, but she is lively and no stranger to mischief,” said Mrs Gardiner. She gave her niece a fond, exasperated smile. “But she has never gotten into as many situations as she has done since she has been here.”
“It has been since I met Mr Darcy,” said Elizabeth pertly. “Literally since the moment I met him. I think he either brings out the worst in me, or he is a bad luck charm.”
“I hope I am neither,” said Darcy.
“I think it is the latter,” said Elizabeth decisively. “In fact, I would not be surprised if the thief had spotted me right at the moment you came along. If you had not been there, he would have passed me by.”
“Lizzy,” said Mrs Gardiner. “You must remember, Mr Darcy is not accustomed to your manner of teasing. He might think you are serious.”
Darcy smiled.
“I suppose Miss Bennet is correct. I do not know what I am to tell my sister about this worrying discovery. She has written a note to the inn. I am sure it will be there for you by the time you return. It requests that you join us for dinner at Pemberley tomorrow. But if as Miss Bennet says I am the cause of all her misfortune, it seems only right that I keep away from you. I shall have to explain to my sister that you cannot join us at Pemberley.”
He was gratified to see the light in Elizabeth’s eyes at his teasing.
“Oh, I do not know that we need to go that far. No, I think we have a very easy solution before us,” she said lightly.
“And what might that be?”
Elizabeth’s smile widened. “That you leave Pemberley and stay far away until we have left. That way, I may continue my friendship with your sister without having to fear where the next threat may come from. I think it a fine idea.”
“I cannot risk it, Miss Bennet,” said Darcy. “No, I could not allow you to even be within feet of Pemberley. What if the house is tainted by my living there?”
“That is a risk I am prepared to take.”
“Then so am I.”
The conversation was
nonsensical but Darcy found he enjoyed it. It was more pleasant to be at ease with someone and joke and laugh instead of always feeling on the outside of matters. His sister was the woman he had known longest and best and even he and she had never had this light hearted teasing between them. For a little while, he could forget he was master of Pemberley and simply be a young man teasing a young woman.
Or was it flirting? He liked to think it was but her aunt’s gentle admonishment suggested this was Elizabeth’s usual manner. Even so, Darcy was determined to enjoy it while he could. Once she left Derbyshire and he returned to London for the start of the season, he would have nothing to look forward to but more empty-headed nonsense from marriage-obsessed ladies. And yet such ladies he would have to endure if he were ever to find a wife. It was a tedious prospect. No one could blame him if he indulged in a little lighthearted fun with a woman he could never think of seriously.
The thought of the London season and having to endure endless balls and dances and dull conversations while being sized up like a calf on the market made Darcy sigh.
Elizabeth tilted her head. “Does the thought of my demise really trouble you so much, sir?”
“Dreadfully,” said Darcy, drawing himself back to the present with effort. “I do not want to have to explain to Georgiana that I have lost her the first friend she has made in a long time.”
Elizabeth shook her head as she delicately swirled the last piece of her bread around the remains of the stew.
“Georgiana would have no trouble making friends if she only knew how delightful she is. She does not know her own worth.”
Darcy smiled. “The people in my family are quite reserved. My parents were similar.”
“I knew Mr and Mrs Darcy,” said Mrs Gardiner. “Not very well, but they were well liked.” She smiled fondly. “I recall Mrs Darcy speaking to me one day in the town square. I had run away from my mother when I was bored of shopping, and I tripped and scraped my knee. I was crying when this lovely lady crouched down before me, paying no heed to her fine gown being brushed in the dust. I still can picture the sight of her silks covered in dirt just to assist me. She asked me my name and then gave me a barley sugar from her pocket. She said she was bringing some home for her little boy,” she nodded warmly at Darcy. He swallowed and nodded for her to go on with the story. “She spoke to me for some minutes and made me laugh. Then she took my hand and helped me find my mother. I only discovered afterwards who she was. She told me her name was Anne.”
An Engagement at Pemberley Page 9
