Charlotte brushed away tears. “That does not matter as much as the things he said, about how he would never have married someone like me if he were in his right mind – oh, Lizzy, it was so horrible. When he proposed to me, I knew it was too good to be true. What man would want poor, plain Charlotte Lucas? But I wanted my own home so much that I let myself believe it.”
“He does not deserve you. Oh, Charlotte!”
Charlotte swallowed hard. “He was always annoying and foolish, and I am much better off without the man he has proven to be.”
“What will you do? Will you return to Meryton?”
“I cannot. Meryton was bad enough when I was merely a poor spinster. It would be worse as a rejected wife. I do not even know if my father would take me back.”
“What will you do, then?”
Charlotte lifted her chin. “I will swallow my pride and accept charity. Mr. Darcy has offered me a cottage on his estate with a maid and a small income. He claims to feel an obligation to provide for me since my life was ruined by his aunt’s actions.” Charlotte’s hands stole over her stomach. “I will have a home of my own without needing to tend to a foolish husband, and I will have someone else to care for soon. I do not need Mr. Collins.”
“A child? I am so glad you will have someone to love. You will be a wonderful mother. Mr. Darcy is doing the right thing in helping you.”
“He is a much better man than Mr. Collins, but that does not take much. Are you and he...” Charlotte tapered off her question delicately.
“Not after Lady Catherine ruined my good name. The Matlocks are trying to repair my reputation, and it may change over time, but for now, no.” She shrugged, hoping to appear untroubled.
“That horrible, selfish old woman has caused so much pain. It isnot right.”
And it was hard to see how Lady Catherine’s sorcery could be kept secret if Mr. Collins was trying to gain an annulment based on it.
DARCY PRETENDED TOread a book as he waited for Elizabeth to emerge from Mrs. Collins’s room. He suspected she might try to leave without seeing him, and he had no intention of allowing that to happen. It had been three days since he had said goodbye to her at Rosings. After those weeks when he had seen her every day, often many times a day, these three days had felt like an eternity.
An eternity of missing her and an eternity of doubt. One minute he would remember her passionate kisses and her gentle touch on his cheek, and he could not understand how she could deny him. The next minute he would hear Eversleigh’s voice describing his magical bond with Elizabeth, and he wanted to rend his own flesh with his fingernails. Until he knew what – and whom – Elizabeth wanted, he would drive himself mad with questions.
He heard her footsteps on the stairs and hurried to meet her. “Miss Elizabeth, may I have the honor of escorting you back to Matlock House?”
“I would like that,” she said quietly, but he could not judge her mood. She took her bonnet from the butler and tied it on.
Darcy held the door open and followed her down the steps. She waited at the bottom, and he took that as an invitation to offer his arm. She tucked her hand in his elbow without hesitation. At least she was not afraid to touch him.
As they began to walk, she said, “I must thank you for intervening on behalf of Mrs. Collins and for your generosity to her.”
Her gratitude made Darcy uncomfortable. “It was the least Icould do. Lady Catherine’s behavior harmed many people, but perhaps none more than her, and certainly no one could be more blameless.” It was not what he wanted to speak to her about, but he was grateful they were speaking at all.
“You could have done nothing, and no one would have been the wiser, so I thank you.”
“I knew you would want her to be protected.”
She hesitated. “You are very kind.”
He had to say something. “I hope you have found Matlock House comfortable.”
The corners of her lips turned up in that delightful expression that told him he was about to be teased. “Comfortable at Matlock House? Are you certain you remember who I am – Lizzy Bennet who walked through three miles of muddy fields, who is terrified of Collegium mages, and who had never dealt with an aristocrat before these last weeks? The chairs at Matlock House are comfortable. So are the rooms and the beds. I am not comfortable, merely out of place.”
“I was surprised you agreed to go there.”
“As well you might be! I decided to take your advice and at least attempt to rescue my reputation. I have not even used my...things that I use.” She wiggled her fingers.
Of course. She would not wish to speak of magic on a public street. “I thought you were determined to keep using those things.”
“I was.” She gave him an arch smile. “But I am not without the ability to change my mind or to listen to advice.”
“Are you following Eversleigh’s advice or mine?”
She huffed. “Perhaps, just perhaps, I am clever enough to think that when two gentlemen I respect offer the same opinion, it might be worth listening to.”
