He came another step nearer and turned his palm up, asking for my hand.
Well, I was already in this over my head, with no way back to shore that I could see. Why not drown a little? I raised my hand, made a nervous fist, then let go of my breath and rested my fingertips on his. I would see what more he had to say.
But it was not his words that convinced me. It was the joy that sparkled in his face just then—his dimples dancing, his smile dashing and delicious. “Miss Elizabeth, thank you for trusting me.”
“I did not say I trusted you,” I said tartly.
He laughed. “Thank you for giving me an opportunity not to have my head split open again.”
“The afternoon is still young.”
“Indeed, it is. Very well, then. You are wondering why I keep mentioning those vases from Netherfield.”
I gulped. Here it was—the moment I had been dreading for at least fifteen years. Papa was about to be revealed to the world, and life, as our family had enjoyed it, was coming to an abrupt end. “If you are what you say you are, you must already know about them. So, is it that? You are on a quest to bring my father to ruin? You came to see the vases and buy the statue and uncover everything? If that is your intent, I—I…”
He scoffed, still clasping my hand. “Hardly. I could not care less about his vases, but they turned me on to a suspicion. That was why I came back that day to ask you about that sculpture. I did a little research into the archives. Tell me, what do you know about your great-grandfather, Robert Trenton, Viscount Elroy III?”
I narrowed my eyes. “He was no viscount.”
“In fact, he was, but his reputation was ruined and his fortune all but erased by the time of his death. Would you like to know how?”
“I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.”
He shrugged. “Naturally. He was found out as a copyist. That is one thing the Academy expressly forbids in its summer exhibits, and he had misled them. They drummed him out of the Academy after that.”
“What?” I frowned. “Are you saying thathewas the artist who made that sculpture?”
“That I do not know. He was also recognized for his authentic collection, the art he imported from Italy. He was a great admirer of Michaelangelo, for example. At nearly the same time as his dismissal from the Academy, his investments turned bad. I understand he sold off whatever he could to pay back his debts, so there must be some reason that this one was kept.”
I sniffed. “Perhaps it was his wedding gift to his daughter. I always heard Papa’s mother came to her marriage as nearly a pauper. If that was all her father could give her—”
“Or His Royal Highness just bought a worthless rock.”
I set my teeth. “And you are involved in the transaction.”
He nodded gravely. “At the behest of my uncle, the Earl of Matlock.”
My mouth fell open. “Ah,” I breathed. “Does he know… any of this?”
Mr. Darcy shook his head. “You may distrust my reluctance to drag my family name into this, and you would be right to do so. I let you be deceived, and it was unforgivable, but pray believe me now when I say that I have as much to lose in this as you do, Miss Elizabeth.”
I regarded him for a moment. “Do you know, Mr. Darcy, every feeling of reason or good sense demands I walk away this instant. Wash my hands of you and let my father’s indiscretion catch up to him, and the consequences be what they may.”
His mouth curved. “But?”
I narrowed my eyes and shook my head at him. “But you do, after all, have a rather nice smile.”
“Do I? I expected you to say something noble about coming too far to turn back or saving your sisters from ruin or some such.”
“That much goes without saying.” I moved closer to him and tipped my face until I was looking at the underside of his chin while he froze in place, scarcely breathing as I patted his chest. “But you seem to be at your most brilliant and most shockingly audacious when I tease you. I believe I will keep using it to my advantage.”
I walked to the door and then looked over my shoulder when I reached it. He had his hand over his heart like he was trying to catch his breath, and his eyes were full of bewilderment. “Is that a promise or a threat, Miss Elizabeth?”
I turned the latch and pulled the door open. “I suppose we will find out tomorrow.”
Nineteen
Elizabeth
