Anne tilted her chin and looked up to the ceiling in thought. “Only by four years. What does that matter?”
Darcy put a hand to his forehead. “I can think of any number of objections. You hardly know him, for a start.”
“Untrue, for I have spoken with him nearly every day since he first came to Matlock. I should not be surprised if I heard more words from him in six months than I have from you in twenty-eight years.”
“The words of a sycophant. Come, now, Anne, the man hardly inspires respect.”
Anne laid one forearm over the other. “We have very different definitions of the word.”
“But you are one of the wealthiest women in the country! You need not settle for the first man to kiss your feet. Surely!”
“Do you know why I thought I might settle on you, Darcy? Because of all the men who paid me court, you were the only one who did not do so for my fortune—but in your case, it was because you did not need it. Collins adores my personality, and I daresay he is the first ever to do so.”
“That is not true,” Darcy protested. “Have we not been friends almost since we were in our cradles? I understand you are angry with me—”
“No, Darcy, I am not angry. The scales have fallen from my eyes, that is all. You are as good a man as ever I knew, and you have been a good friend, but if I tried to make more of you, I would despise you. I believe you would think even less of me.”
“I would not,” he argued, but his voice was uneven.
“We are not well-matched, Darcy. We have always known that, but do you know what is worse? We never fought about it.”
“I thought a lack of strife was to be commended.”
“A couple who argues at least has some shared turf to dispute. We did not even have that.”
He answered this with silence and lowered eyes.
“There, I have the right of it. I am very happy, and I hope you will be happy for me.” She extended both her hands, palms down, and allowed them to linger for half a moment, with only the faintest tremble in her fingers.
Darcy took both hands and lightly kissed her knuckles. “If you are certain of this, then I am delighted for you.”
“We are agreed. I release you from your promise, Darcy.”
He chuckled. “I thoughtIwas supposed to be releasingyoufrom yours, since it is you who—”
A golden brow pushed upwards, and the edge of her mouth followed on that side. “What I mean, Darcy, is if you have anything, or anyone…other… I absolve you of any guilt you might feel, by taking it upon myself. I daresay I shan’t lose a night’s sleep over it, but if our places were reversed, you would make yourself positively ill.”
His eyes narrowed, and he watched her expression change from curious to savvy. “Does anyone else know of this?”
Her mouth puckered, and her eyes danced. “One other person… just one, so far.”
Chapter 36
Wyoming
May 1900
Elizabethroseearlyonthe following morning, resolved to begin the new day with some shreds of enthusiasm. Jane stirred not long after, and Kitty was kind enough to bring them a tray to break their fast in their room. Jane declared herself well and fit to go below stairs, despite a lingering dizziness and headache, and they helped each other to dress. Elizabeth tied her sash, then stood at the window, pulling aside the lace. There was a deal to see on this day.
“Oh, the horses have come to town!” Jane breathed over her shoulder.
“Bound for New York,” Elizabeth agreed.
“Did Papa come with them?”
“I was hoping he had. He does not usually, but perhaps…”
“He will be sure to come to the house, of course,” Jane comforted.
