Her brow arched. “Does he? And do you do everything your uncle wishes?”
Darcy exhaled slowly, already regretting every decision that had led him to this moment. “He believes it would be…advantageousfor us to be seen together.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Seen together in what capacity, exactly? What isyourintention, Mr. Darcy?”
Darcy hesitated for half a breath—just long enough for her to pounce.
Her smirk was slow, deliberate. “As prospective lovers?”
Darcy’s fingers curled into his palm. The way she said “lovers” sent an unwelcome heat crawling up the back of his neck.Of all the words she could have chosen.
He did not trust himself to speak immediately, lest he say something truly regrettable. So he simply leveled her with his most unamused glare. “That, I believe, is what my uncle would like.”
She tilted her head, assessing him. But before she could fire off another impertinence, Mrs. Gardiner cleared her throat. “Well then,” she said, gesturing to her companion, “I suppose we shall leave you two to discuss… whatever it is one discusses in these situations.”
Darcy blinked.What?
Elizabeth whipped her head around so fast that the loose tendril bounced against her cheek. “Aunt—”
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Gardiner interrupted. “I am certain you and Mr. Darcy will wish to come to an understanding in private.”
Elizabeth’s entire face turned scarlet.
It was not that he had never seen a woman blush before, but there was something genuinely unaffected about Miss Bennet’s reaction—not coy, not calculated, just pure, honest mortification.
And, blast him, but he thought it suited her.
She gaped at her aunt, clearly horrified. “That is entirely unnecessary!”
But Mrs. Gardiner was already rising, a pleased little smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Come, Miss Fletcher. I believe we can grant Mr. Darcy and my niece a quarter-hour audience without impropriety.” Miss Fletcher followed, her gaze sliding between Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet as though already taking mental notes for a wedding trousseau.
Darcy forced himself not to sigh.
Truly, he had walked into an ambush.
Elizabeth Bennet drew in a sharp breath, clearly gathering herself. Then, after a moment, she turned back to him, and her embarrassment vanished as quickly as it had come. Her expression was clear, focused. A challenge.
“Well then, Mr. Darcy,” she said coolly as she lowered herself into the nearest chair. “Shall we begin?”
Darcy exhaled slowly.
Heaven help him.
“Yes,” he said. “Let us.”
“Shall we speak plainly,Mr. Darcy?”
His dark brows lifted slightly, as if mildly impressed by her directness. “I would not object.”
Elizabeth nodded. “You have no wish for an engagement.”
“None,” he said, without hesitation.
“And I have no wish for one either.”
He inclined his head slightly, a flicker of something like relief passing over his features.
“Yet here we are,” she continued, tilting her head. “My uncle has been led to believe that you came to court me.Youruncle is rather determined to see it so. And from where I sit, you do not seem entirely free to contradict him.”
