“I say that if it is honour which is said to be one of the highest traits a gentleman might hold, then such a man could no longer be considered a gentleman–whatever his pretense may be to the contrary. As you say, Bingley, duty and honour would bind a couple so long courting; to grovel to society when society has acted in error shows his weakness of character and ultimate cowardice. Sadly, this young man we are speaking of is far from the worst offender, for men exist who do not even claim society as an excuse for their treachery–running due to belated reappraisals, or worse still, mere selfish pleasure. Would that society might judge them harsher.”
“Too true,” Elizabeth admitted unhappily. “If society did judge such behavior more harshly, then perhaps men would be less apt to leave disappointed ladies in their wake… or at least prove a trifle more circumspect in actively courting.”
“I agree,” Jane said as they neared Mary and the Colonel. “Only a man certain he is prepared to see courtship through to its likely end ought to engage in it. For though not all courtships should end in marriage, that is the hope.”
“What is the hope?” Mary asked, a broad smile upon her face as she and the Colonel forced their attention from each other.
“Never mind,” Jane laughed. “I doubt it matters in your case.”
Resisting the urge to wrap her sisters in a hug, Elizabeth instead observed them with a smile.This trip, as with Kitty’s upcoming marriage, would upend their lives… but could that not be a good thing? If they enjoyed the bond of sisters AND the joys of courtship, marriage, and a life beyond their childhood home?
The true worry now was Lydia. Whatever would they do if they all married before she did, or before Father came home?
At least they could find a steward for Longbourn. That was easy enough, as long as they each worked to visit once or twice a year. Their sister required greater care, and a vast deal more love. She…
Whatever was she doing?Elizabeth laughed to herself, the conversation moving on in spite of her distraction.None of them save Kitty had plans to marry. Likely or not, the rest of them lacked even a proposal. It was far too soon to worry.
Her cheeks warming as she met the soft gaze of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth took in a deep, cool breath.Perhaps not too soon, come to think of it? Not at all.
Chapter 21
Staffordshire, England – 1812 – Day 11
From his bedroom window Darcy watched a brightly clad Miss Bingley reject the assistance of her brother as she sought to climb into the awaiting carriage, the shining black stark against the white of the drive.
Stepping away from the cool glass, Darcy took a fortifying breath. For all that he pitied Bingley’s falling-out with his sister, her absence lent a peace long overdue.
If only Mr. Thomson would follow her lead and leave.
The rest at least knew to ‘keep their breath to cool their porridge,’ as Grandfather often said. A little lacking in sophistication, and perhaps not an ideal use of his grandfather’s saying, nonetheless their silence, though not complete, had and still was, quite welcome.
“Enough self-pity. It is time to live as a man; not as a browbeaten boy.”
Elizabeth. He would find Miss Elizabeth and determine if she and her sisters’ belief in a secret passage could be confirmed. True, they would all prefer a simple conversation with Lady Charmane; but if she refused to oblige, a secret passage being blocked off might prove incredibly useful.
Glancing at the clock, Darcy considered where she might be.10:45. Too late for breaking her fast… she should be gone from her room as well. The drawing room, library, or somewhere outside?Drawing near the window, he rejected the last option.The snow came down far too thick.
No. If she had begun to wonder about that passage as he had, she would be in the library.
With a swift nod he accessed his appearance in the mirror, and in less than five minutes he had made his way from his room to the library door, his heart hammering away as he prepared to enter.
“Foolishness,” he whispered to himself as he pulled his shoulders back.
Except for the fact he had confessed his feelings for Miss Elizabeth without receiving a reply,he reminded himself.
One deep breath, two, and he pushed open the library door, Miss Elizabeth whirling to face him, her hand held to her chest as her back pressed against the many rows of books.
Exactly where they had stood the other day,he mused, his feet leading him unwittingly to her side.
“I see you hold the same idea as I,” he smiled down at her, her hand at last falling to her side. “We never did have an opportunity to search for your passageway.”
“My passageway?” she laughed. “You mean Lady Charmane’s… though I dare say I have more interest in it than she likely does. For her disappearing has grown wearisome. This morning she scurried into her study again and by the time I realized she had used her well-trod passageway, she had vanished not only from there, but the library as well. We may find that it travels between more rooms than these two.”
“That it may, though one entrance is all we require,” he remarked, his gaze moving lazily over the thousands of books. “If only it might be simple to find. It could be opened by the removal of a book, by the pressing of a patch of fine scrollwork, or some panel nestled behind any number of books.”
“True,” she sighed, her own gaze moving over the wall of books. “Though the sound appeared localized to this area; unless built to aggravate, the means to open it must be near the door. Lady Charmane disappeared too quickly to have run to that corner of the library over there and then to here to make her escape.”
“She is an eccentric woman; evading her guests as she has. Still, you are correct, our means of entry ought to be hidden nearby… and given her height is no greater than yours, the uppermost shelves are unlikely to hold the answer.”
