Elizabeth’s eyes flashed. “At least on men.” Her normally smiling lips had a bitter twist to them.
Oh, no. Darcy wanted to kick himself. He should have seen thatcoming.
Richard fell into the trap. “Mages don’t cast spells on women or children, either.”
“Except for those unfortunate women who have magic,” Elizabeth said with finality.
Before Richard could reply, Mrs. Collins said firmly, “Lady Catherine was gracious enough to send us one of her cook’s delicious almond tarts. Lizzy, would you like a slice?” Her tone held a warning.
“I thank you, no.” Elizabeth sounded subdued.
“Mr. Darcy? Colonel Fitzwilliam?” She cut a slice for each of the gentlemen. “I hope Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh are in good health.”
“Indeed they are,” said Richard a little too heartily. “Lady Catherine is very pleased with the state of Anne’s health. She has told us that at least four times since we arrived yesterday.”
As if being in good health meant someone who swooned twice a day and could barely complete a thought before being distracted by something else! Darcy would much rather be with Elizabeth, even though he would pay for it later with tortured dreams.
But Elizabeth did not seem to have recovered her spirits. She had not even touched her tea. Had she missed him as much as he had longed for her? Was it painful for her to be thrown into his company, knowing there could be no future? Poor Elizabeth! If only he had the right to make her smile again.
Absently he continued to stroke her cat. It was as close as he was ever likely to come to touching her.
“LIZZY, WHAT WERE YOUthinking?” exclaimed Charlotte in exasperation. “Were you trying to expose yourself?”
Elizabeth looked away. “I know. I was not thinking.”
“You most certainly were not! Two mages, and you immediately inform them that their treatment of women with magic is unfair. They are not stupid, Lizzy. What if they tell Lady Catherine what you said? It could bring trouble for me as well.”
As if she did not feel frightened enough about her slip already! “I truly am sorry. I just could not bear it when the Colonel went on about how the enlightened Collegium will not permit spells on people’s minds – at least when it suits them. I stayed out of the discussion until then. Perhaps I should return to London early, and you can tell Lady Catherine you sent me away because of my behavior.”
“Don’t be silly. It will come to nothing. Colonel Fitzwilliam seems to find Lady Catherine a subject for mockery. I doubt he would consult her on anything.”
“If you change your mind –” Elizabeth wished she would. It would be so much easier to leave all of this behind, but she had promised Charlotte a long visit. Besides, the injured villagers needed her.
“I will not change my mind. I am happy to have you here.” Charlotte picked up Elizabeth’s full tea cup and placed it on the tray. “Was something wrong with the tea?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No. It was simply not as hot as I like it. I had best accustom myself to it. I will be drinking a great deal of lukewarm tea until Mr. Darcy leaves Rosings Park.” Noticing Charlotte’s worried look, she added, “I do not mind lukewarm tea, to tell the truth. It simply made me angry that I could not heat it with magic as I usually do.”
“And then you did not want it at all, because you were so busy resenting Mr. Darcy.”
“How well you know me!” Elizabeth turned to her cat. “And you have turned traitor, Pepper. When did you become such a great friend of Mr. Darcy?”
“Mrowr.” Pepper nonchalantly began to wash herself.
DARCY TOOK THE PATHthrough the grove towards the parsonage. He had planned to call there with Colonel Fitzwilliam later in the day, but the thought of Elizabeth drew him in, moth to her flame, and he could not wait to be in her presence. She had seemed unhappy at the end of their visit yesterday, and he ached to relieve her distress.
He stopped in mid-stride. The elements were growing weaker, so Elizabeth had to be near, probably here in the grove. Darcy went still and listened. Yes, there were sounds from over to the left. He hurried to reach the path in that direction.
There she was. He could see her light and pleasing figure past a clump of trees. A smile curved his lips. Elizabeth! She was looking down at something and seemed to be talking to it. Her cat, most likely. How very like Elizabeth to have conversations with her cat!
But as he rounded the curve, he discovered a little girl was skipping beside her, a tenant’s child, by the look of her. What was she doing on the private grounds of Rosings? Tenants were only allowed there if they were doing work.
He bowed. “Miss Bennet, this is a fortuitous meeting. I was on my way to call on you at the parsonage.” It came out sounding too stilted and formal.
Her cheerful expression faded. “You would have found no one there. Mrs. Collins is helping at a parishioner’s cottage, and I am assisting her by distracting young Meggy.”
Darcy examined the girl. Her clothes were clean and mended, at least, but her hands were grubby. “This is Meggy, I assume.” She certainly did not belong on the private estate lands.
The girl buried her face into Elizabeth’s skirt. “Am I in trouble?” she whimpered.
