“No, miss. The colonel is out riding.”
Her mind could hardly comprehend the words. “Does that mean he will return today?” Her voice shook.
“Aye, miss, he will be back before dinner, if not sooner.”
By dinner the last stage to London would have left. But he would help her, would he not? She had hardly spoken to him since her return from Faerie, but he could not have changed that much.
“Is something the matter, miss?”
She burst into tears, his kindly words more than she could bear. Covering her face with her hands, she ordered herself to stop, but that only made her cry harder.
“Now then, miss, surely it cannot be that bad.” The poor man clearly had no idea what to do.
“I... I am sorry. I need to speak to the colonel quite desperately.”
He seemed relieved by this. “No need to worry, then, miss. He’ll be back soon. You can wait for him at the house.”
“No! Not the house. I will wait for him here, if I may.”
His brow furrowed. “Here? In the stables?”
She swallowed hard, trying to keep the sobs back. “Is there a bench I can sit on where I will see him when he comes?”
His expression cleared. “Yes, right out here in the yard. You will be in the shade, and no one will bother you.”
“Thank you,” she said wearily. “That will be perfect.”
She let her emotions grow numb along with her body. Although it was not as cold as winter, the April weather would have been easier to tolerate with her pelisse. Elizabeth was thoroughly chilled after half an hour or so.
At last Colonel Fitzwilliam trotted into the stable yard on a black horse, dismounted fluidly, and came straight to her, his riding crop still in his hand. “What is the matter, Miss Bennet?”
She tried to remember the speech she had carefully composed. “Forgive me, Colonel. I must return to London tonight, and I find myself without sufficient funds to purchase a ticket. I am hoping to impose upon you to loan me the fare, which I will repay once I reach my uncle’s house.” There. She had said it without starting to cry, although her voice had quavered a bit.
His brows drew together. “Miss Bennet, if you need to go to London tonight, I will take you there myself, but I must ask what has occurred to cause this urgent need? Has someone mistreated you?”
She tried to summon a shaky smile. “It is a complex story, and I do not wish to drag you into the middle of it.”
He frowned. “In other words, yes, someone has mistreated you. Will you come to the house for a glass of wine? It may calm your nerves.”
She should have known he would ask more questions. “Not the house,” she said miserably. There was no point in hiding it. “Lady Catherine has decreed I am not to be admitted.”
“What?” he cried. “That is ridiculous.”
“Perhaps, but nonetheless true. That is why I waited for you here. The butler refused even to give you a message.
“That is intolerable.” His expression was stormy. “I will resolve this, I promise you.”
“Since I cannot remain here anyway, it does not matter.” She raised her chin to disguise her trembling lips. “Mr. Collins has cast me out of his house with nothing but the clothes I am wearing. He plans to burn my other possessions. He would not even permit me to take what money I had, hence my request for a loan.”
“The devil!” He jumped to his feet, his eyes burning with anger. “Why would he do such a thing?”
Elizabeth looked away, blinking hard. “He said it was on Lady Catherine’s instructions, because I am a witch.”
“Damn them!” He slammed his riding crop into the wall hard enough to crack the handle. Scowling, he snapped it in half, flung it on the ground, and strode across the stable yard. With his back to her, he laid one hand on the wall and appeared to study the ground.
Elizabeth bit her lip. She had known he would be angry, but she had not imagined the amiable colonel would react this strongly.
After a few minutes he returned. “Pray forgive my show of temper. I am trying to remind myself that I can postpone the pleasure of thrashing Mr. Collins until after I have arranged for your safety, but it is a struggle. And do not tell me I should not thrash him. When I think what might have happened to you, a woman, penniless and alone, had I not been here!” He sounded on the edge of fury.
