by Abbey North
Her uncle looked up. “I shall explain it all to you in a moment, Madeline.” Then he returned his attention to Lizzy. “Mr. Darcy has suggested, and I agree, that you should not go out unaccompanied. Until the matter is resolved, and the culprit is apprehended, you are to stay here in the townhouse unless I can accompany you somewhere. Mr. Darcy has also offered his assistance.”
Lizzy’s mouth dropped open wider, and she glared at Darcy. “I will be a prisoner here for no reason?”
Her uncle made a scoffing sound. “You are hardly to be a prisoner. You simply must have an escort.”
She looked at her uncle. “You will be happy to take me to the museum, or the lending library, or the tearoom?”
Her uncle looked dismayed at the possibility. “I do have to work many hours per day, my dear.”
“So, I am indeed a prisoner. Does Aunt Gardiner count as a permissible guardian?”
Her uncle frowned, seeming to consider the matter. “I hesitate to disappoint you, but I fear Madeline might not be adequate. If you are physically at risk, your aunt would be unable to provide assistance.”
With each word, Aunt Gardiner looked more and more concerned, and Lizzy sighed. “Perhaps you should speak with my aunt and explain it all to her.”
Uncle nodded and stood up, taking Aunt Gardiner by the hand and leading her from the room to his study.
Lizzy was glad to have a moment alone with Darcy. “I hope you are happy. No doubt, you had some scheme in mind for setting this in motion. Do you imagine having me confined here will keep my sister from being able to interact with Mr. Bingley?”
His expression darkened, and his face tightened, but he sounded relatively mild when he said, “If you desire entertainment, we are having a ball at Darcy House this weekend. You and your sister must attend, and I will escort you myself.”
Lizzy wanted to refuse, wishing to toss back the offer in his face in a dramatic gesture, but she realized how happy Jane would be at another chance to see Mr. Bingley. By the weekend, she would probably be sick of staring at the four walls around her and eager to escape her confinement to the townhouse. “Very well, Mr. Darcy. We shall be your guests.” She spoke as though she were granting him a favor, and his lips twitched in response, though he had the good sense not to laugh.
“How very sensible of you, Miss Bennet.”
“I still resent your interference. There is hardly an indication to suggest I am at risk. I have little enough opportunity to explore the delights of London, and now you have curtailed my ability to do so further.”
“If it makes you unhappy, I do apologize, but if it saves your life, I can hardly regret my actions.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “All this melodrama. Miss Harris was an assistant cook, and Miss Mansfield was training to be a seamstress. They were both working-class women, and it is likely their killer is from the same class.”
His brows drew together sharply in disapproval. “Are you suggesting there cannot be a murderer in the higher echelons of the ton?”
Lizzy hesitated and then shrugged. “Perhaps, but it seems unlikely.”
“Were you not the one who took me to task for excluding half the population from our suspect pool? Now you are doing the same based on class rather than gender. I am quite surprised at you, Miss Bennet.”
She opened her mouth to retort, but Lizzy realized she had nothing to say. He made a valid point, so she grudgingly nodded. “I suppose you are right.”
He feigned shock. Grasping his chest in a theatrical fashion, Mr. Darcy said, “I do not know if I can bear the shock of this moment. You are conceding I was right about something? That means you were wrong.”
Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him. “I was possibly wrong. There is a difference, Mr. Darcy. You needn’t act so ridiculous. I have never claimed I am always right.”
His lips trembled with threatened laughter, as though he disagreed, but he apparently decided to stop teasing her. “If you will be arriving in the accompaniment of your aunt and uncle for the ball, I will not send a carriage for you, but I look forward to seeing you this weekend. If Mr. Kenton contacts me with any updates, I shall pass them along to you.”
“That is the very least you can do since I am to be trapped here and unable to investigate on my own.” Never mind she had already reached the reluctant conclusion there was little she could do to investigate Miss Mansfield’s murder.
He gave her an indulgent smile, and she suspected if he’d been closer, he might’ve patted her on the head like a pup. She glared at him again as he stood up, inclining his head as he said, “I shall leave you for now, for I have things to which I must attend.”
“It must be nice to have the luxury to leave.”
He didn’t bother trying to hide his chuckle that time as he turned and walked away. “Stay safe, Miss Bennet.”
Since he wasn’t looking at her, Lizzy felt it was harmless enough to stick out her tongue at him. It was perhaps the most juvenile of reactions, but satisfying, nonetheless. She was angry with him, but paradoxically, she was disappointed when he was gone.
9
Fitzwilliam hurried back to his townhouse, summoning his housekeeper and butler into the sitting room. He was surprised to find Charles waiting for him, but he had no time to dally at the moment. Instead, he said to Mrs. Harper, “We are hosting a ball this weekend.”
The housekeeper’s eyes widened. “This weekend, sir?”
“It will be a smaller affair than usual, but we will need to move quickly to make arrangements, and I shall task Georgiana with sending out the invitations.” He spent the next few minutes discussing the semantics with his staff, and though he could see they were both daunted by the prospect of trying to make it all happen in a matter of days, he had every faith in their ability to do so.
Somehow, Charles had kept himself quiet during the conversation, but as Mrs. Harper and Mr. Williams departed, he grinned at Darcy. “How unlike you to throw an impromptu ball. It does go quite against convention for such short notice.”
Grudgingly, Darcy sketched out the information for Charles, providing enough to explain why he felt moved to offer to host the ball for Miss Bennet. “It was an act of charity.”
Bingley laughed at him, making no attempt to hide his amusement. “Of course, it was. It is simply an obligation you must undertake, and you have no desire to make the young woman happy.” His tone was full of gentle mocking.
Darcy scowled at his friend. “Was there a reason you visited? Or are you simply here to entertain yourself at my expense?”
“That is undoubtedly an unexpected boon, but I did have a purpose. I wanted to prepare you, Darcy.” Charles had turned unexpectedly serious.
Fitzwilliam sat down, realizing he was still standing after his conference with the housekeeper and butler, and he braced himself for whatever serious topic of conversation was on his friend’s mind. He had no doubt it was connected to Miss Jane Bennet. “For what are you preparing me?”
“I intend to offer for Miss Jane as soon as I speak with her father.” Charles said the words confidently, with no hint of defensiveness. He simply reflected firm resolve.
Recognizing that, Fitzwilliam knew it was useless to argue, but he still said, “I do not believe she holds you in high regard. Will you not at least consider the possibility she is more interested in your fortune than you?”
Bingley frowned, but he didn’t exactly argue. “I did consider that possibility at your behest, and it was one of the reasons I agreed to leave Netherfield so hastily. I have discovered that time apart from Miss Jane has done nothing to impede my love for her, and I have pined for her. Before I learned Miss Jane was back in London, I had planned to return to Netherfield as soon as the weather permitted.”
His eyes widened at the news, which Bingley had understandably not shared with him until this moment. “I see. Your mind is made up then?”
“Truly, it is. I do not believe it would matter to me if I discovered Miss J
ane was more enamored with my fortune than me, but I assure you that is not the case. She is normally reserved, but when we are alone, she is completely different. I understand you have your doubts, and I wish to address them, but I also want to make it clear I will not tolerate disparaging talk of my future wife in days to come.”
Darcy sighed regretfully. “I would not wish for this matter to end our friendship, so I will hold my tongue. I hope you are making the right choice and have properly evaluated Miss Jane’s feelings for you.”
“I have never been more certain of anything in my life.”
He sounded entirely serious, which had the effect of slightly convincing Fitzwilliam. He had no doubt Charles believed what he was saying, though he still wasn’t certain about Jane Bennet’s feelings. It was different to see his friend so decided on a course, since Bingley tended to be more amiable and adapt to challenges in his path rather than try to stand fast against them. He must truly love Miss Jane, and Fitzwilliam hoped she loved him with equal fervor, for that was what his friend deserved.
“I do not expect you to offer congratulations, so I shall take your grudging silence in lieu.” Bingley grinned then. “I would suggest a drink, but I suppose I should wait until I speak with Mr. Bennet before we celebrate.”
Fitzwilliam smiled. “I doubt you shall have trouble gaining his agreement.”
Mr. Bingley shook his head. “Indeed, I should not, for Miss Jane herself has told me she is definitely not his favorite daughter. The only one he is likely to object parting with is Miss Elizabeth.”
That caused a jolt in Darcy’s chest that he couldn’t explain and didn’t want to examine the reason for too closely. “Considering her sharp tongue and open dismissal of the state of matrimony, Mr. Bennet is likely to have her by his side for the rest of his life.”
Mr. Bingley looked like he might challenge that for a moment, but at a warning look from Fitzwilliam, he closed his mouth. Fitzwilliam was in no mood to entertain discussion about his possible feelings for Elizabeth Bennet. His friend didn’t know about his folly of proposing to her at Hunsford, and he intended to keep it that way. “I will try to keep an open mind and evaluate Miss Jane’s behavior through the perspective you have shared, Bingley.”
“That is all I can ask from you, along with maintaining silence if you still disapprove.”
Fitzwilliam feared that would be even harder than reevaluating his opinion, but he nodded his agreement instead of arguing. His friendship with Bingley was one of the few he treasured in his life, and though he had tried to warn his friend, he could hardly force Bingley to forgo the woman who made him happy. He only hoped Miss Jane could make Charles as happy on a continuing basis as he appeared to be now.
Somehow, the staff and Georgiana had managed to throw together a ball that looked like it had been planned in detail, and at least eighty percent of their invitations had been accepted, so they had a respectable turnout. He was dismayed to see Mr. Elliott, Mr. Nobles, and Viscount Aumley in the assembly below as he stared down from the second-floor landing. He had deliberately left them off the guest list, but Georgiana must’ve added them.
Perhaps she thought she was doing something kind for Lizzy, having seen them interact before. He wanted to take his sister to task for that, but that would require a long and lengthy explanation of events he had no plan to relate to her. With a sigh, he accepted the damage was done, and the man was here now.
So was Lizzy, and he found it almost impossible to look away from her as she swept in on the arm of her uncle. Her aunt was on Mr. Gardiner’s other arm, and Jane followed behind them with her gaze darting around the room. He doubted she was appreciating the ornate decoration of Darcy House’s ballroom. Rather, she seemed to be looking for someone, and he was unsurprised when her gaze lit up upon falling on Charles Bingley, who was rushing toward them.
Fitzwilliam had a similar urge to rush down the stairs and greet them, but he forced his feet to remain where they were. It would be undignified to run toward them and act like an eager puppy, especially since he could well imagine how intolerable Lizzy would find the greeting. She seemed barely able to be in his presence, and he had difficulty seeing her again too. It was impossible not to relive the moment when he had made the fateful proposal that she had soundly rejected.
Even now, thinking about it made him squirm and shift in his dance pumps. He had taken a sensible and honest approach to the proposal, expecting Lizzy would’ve reacted in a similar fashion from what he knew of her. He had thought dispassionate logic and an acknowledgment of all the reasons why he shouldn’t marry her but wished to anyway would have persuaded her to see his viewpoint. Instead, she had soundly rejected the proposal both because of its tone and because he refused to accept Jane loved Bingley.
That reminded him of his promise to his friend, and he tore his gaze from Lizzy, trying not to mind when Aumley almost immediately swept her into a dance, and kept his gaze on Jane as she interacted with Charles. He watched them from his perch on the second-floor landing as they danced for most of the first set.
He was reluctantly forced to admit he might’ve been wrong, and Jane’s true feelings were revealed by the way she smiled at his friend, the angle of her head, and how closely she held her body to his whenever the opportunity presented itself. There was a difference in her expression and her overall manner when she was with Charles, and Darcy wasn’t certain if she was just more secure in her emotions and was now showing them, or if he had been too blinded by his assumptions to see it before.
It was galling to admit he was probably wrong, but he was big enough to do so. He would need to tell Bingley that, but first, he wanted to make it clear to Lizzy he had realized the error of his ways. He owed her that, and it wasn’t simply a bid to renew his marriage proposal.
He walked down the stairs and finally joined the party, mingling as he worked his way toward Miss Bennet over the next several minutes. She had danced a second dance with Lord Aumley, and he swooped in before someone else could entice her to dance the next set. Threading his arm through hers, he said, “Shall we get some air?”
She seemed surprised by his brazenness, but she didn’t pull away. “I suppose that would be nice.”
He led her to the balcony. It was a cold night, and normally, they would’ve hovered in the open doorway for a moment to refresh themselves, but instead, he pulled her out into the night air.
Lizzy immediately shivered. “I take it there is a reason you brought me out here?”
“Indeed, and it was not simply to freeze you.”
Her lips twisted in what was clearly a reluctant smile. “Perhaps you would like to get on with it then?” She shivered again.
He thought about offering to hold her to share body heat, but he could well imagine how quickly she would reject the offer, no doubt outraged by the idea. Instead, he cleared his throat and said, “I believe I was wrong.”
He had it coming, to be fair, when she grasped her chest in the same fashion he had affected the other day when she admitted she might not have been right. “Could it be, Fitzwilliam Darcy is admitting he was wrong about something?”
He took her response with good grace, waiting until her hand had returned to her side, and she seemed serious again before he said, “As I am no doubt wrong about a great many things in your eyes, allow me to clarify to what I refer. I believe I was incorrect in my assessment of Miss Jane’s feelings. Having watched her with Bingley this evening, I can see she holds great affection for him. I have withdrawn any objections, and Bingley intends to speak with your father at the soonest opportunity.”
Lizzy’s eyes widened, and her lips parted on a gasp. For a moment, he had a difficult time tearing away his gaze from the plump contours, all too easily remembering how she tasted. That single kiss in his aunt’s drawing room continued to haunt him to this day.
“That is wonderful news. I imagine he has already discussed it with Jane, but I shall not reveal the secret unless she speaks to me of it first, f
or I do not wish to ruin the surprise.” She tilted her head. “How do you feel about the proposal?”
“I initially registered my reservations, but Bingley entreated me to revise my opinion with an open mind.”
She scowled at him. “Of course, you can do that for Bingley, but when I ask you to, it is a Herculean task beyond imagining.”
His lips pursed. “You needn’t continue to remind me of my failings, Miss Bennet. I have admitted I was wrong, and I would expect you to accept that graciously rather than gloating or view it with resentment that I did not do so sooner.”
“You may expect what you like, Mr. Darcy, but that does not mean you shall receive it.” She spoke to him in that same too-sweet voice that had a way of needling him, but instead, he just laughed. Her disappointment was obvious.
“In light of my changed opinion, is it possible you might entertain giving me a second chance, Miss Bennet? Have I proven I am capable of revision and self-improvement?”
She hesitated for a moment. “You have proven that, but I fear it does not change anything, Mr. Darcy. We would be an incompatible match, and I am certain you must agree with that. We would argue far too often, and our values and worldviews are quite different. I appreciate you being able to reevaluate your opinion about Jane, but it can change nothing between us. For all I know, you are simply pretending to accept Jane as a way to soften my resolve.”
He crossed his arms over his chest as he glared at her. “I resent that allegation. Have I ever lied to you, Miss Bennet?”
That she had to tip her head in consideration and clearly review their interactions irritated him, but eventually she shook her head. “No, I do not believe you have ever been untruthful. Indeed, you are more likely to be honest to a fault, uncaring about the result.”
He clamped his lips in irritation for a moment, not wanting the disagreement to escalate into a full-blown argument. “When I tell you I have reevaluated my opinion of Miss Jane, I am being sincere.”
