The truth of it was, I didn’t know where I belonged. Here? In London? It hardly seemed to matter. I was cursed in either direction.
I could go back to London, escape this place, leave Wickham and his unsettling presence behind. Leave Elizabeth Bennet behind. But I would still be haunted—literally—and at least here, I wasn’t making a fool of myself in front of my family.
Well, not yet, anyway.
“Darcy,” Bingley’s voice softened, a touch of concern creeping into his usual cheer. “I know last night was... well, not to your liking. I know you do not enjoy balls, and you seemed terribly out of sorts when last I saw you. But staying cooped up here all day won’t help. Come skating with me. We’ll make a day of it.”
I glanced at him, the temptation to decline already forming on my lips. But then I thought of London. Of Georgiana. Of the chaos that awaited me there—and the very tangible ghost who would follow me wherever I went.
Here, at least, the madness was contained. Mostly.
“I suppose,” I said slowly, “it wouldn’t hurt to join you.”
Bingley grinned again, clearly pleased with himself. “That’s the spirit! We’ll leave within the hour.”
As Bingley bounced off to inform the rest of the household of his grand plans for the afternoon, I leaned back in my chair, staring into the cold hearth once more.
London or Meryton—either way, there would be no escaping this purgatory.
Elizabeth
“Lizzy, come on!” Lydia’sshout echoed across the frozen lake, her voice high-pitched with excitement. “The ice is perfect today!”
I tightened my scarf and took a deep breath, watching my breath cloud in the air as I pulled my skates tighter. “I’m coming, Lydia, don’t wear yourself out before you’ve even begun.”
“Not possible!” she sang, already spinning circles with Kitty, their laughter mingling with the other skaters gliding across the ice.
Charlotte, standing beside me, raised an eyebrow. “Do they ever slow down?”
“Only when they run out of breath,” I said dryly, my eyes scanning the crowd. “Or, you know, when they crash into something.”
Charlotte smiled as she tightened her own skates. “Well, I suppose we’re in for quite a show then.”
Mr. Collins had barely stepped onto the ice before disaster struck. He teetered for a full two seconds before his arms flailed wildly in the air, and with a resoundingthud, he landed flat on his backside.
“Good heavens, Miss Elizabeth!” he yelped, trying and failing to pull himself back up. “I fear I have injured... something.”
I stifled a laugh, offering him a sympathetic look. “Perhaps, Mr. Collins, it would be best for you to rest a while. There’s a bench right over there. You mustn’t overexert yourself.”
“Y-yes,” he wheezed, wincing as he hobbled off the ice, holding his lower back. “I shall supervise from the sidelines. A prudent decision, I’m sure Lady Catherine would agree.”
Charlotte nudged me, her eyes twinkling with amusement as we watched him shuffle awkwardly toward the bench. “Well, that’s one way to escape a conversation.”
I grinned. “I have my methods.”
With Mr. Collins safely seated on the sidelines, I allowed myself a moment of triumph before Charlotte’s gaze drifted toward the ice once more. That was when I saw it, too. The wobbling, stiff figure attempting to maintain some semblance of balance just a few paces ahead. There, struggling to stay upright, was none other than Mr. Darcy himself, his face set in that familiar scowl of concentration.
“Oh no,” I muttered, half to myself.
“Lizzy, what is it?” Charlotte asked, pulling up beside me.
“Just… that.” I jerked my chin in his direction.
Mr. Darcy was attempting to stay upright, but it was a losing battle. His legs splayed out at awkward angles, and his arms flailed in every direction like a windmill in a storm.
“Oh dear,” Charlotte said, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.
“More like ‘oh disaster,’” I sighed, trying not to wince as he stumbled again, narrowly avoiding a group of young children who skated past him with the ease of seasoned professionals. He might have managed to stay upright if not for whatever invisible force seemed to be tormenting him.
