Darcy narrowed his eyes. “She does?”
“I suppose it is natural, after all. Oh, but she did go riding Saturday last, after your coachman arrived with that mare she is so fond of.”
“I hoped the mare would cheer her.”
“Indeed, in more ways than one, I think. When she said she was going out, Anne asked for a horse to be saddled and rode with her. I thought that a fine thing for my sister, a bit of female companionship to cheer her, but she has never mentioned going out since then. Perhaps she is more of a fair-weather sort of rider.”
Darcy did not answer. He was staring at his boots as they entered the house, turning certain thoughts over in his mind which he could not dare give.
Georgianahadalreadydisappearedinto the drawing-room, the bastion of femininity for the day. Darcy accepted his cousin’s offer of more gentlemanly refreshment, a glass of port in the study. Reginald claimed if they were not going hunting, then he had correspondence to answer and half a dozen affairs with his steward to oversee. He excused himself after only half an hour, leaving Darcy to his own devices.
He lingered in the hall, wondering if he ought to pay his respects to the ladies, or if he would do better to remain safely outside. He bristled with curiosity about Elizabeth, itching to ask how she was really faring in her new residence. Hopefully, he had done the right thing in encouraging her to accept the countess’s invitation.
But rather than Elizabeth, the woman he “ought” to be longing to see was Anne. Well, she was probably in no hurry to see him—at least not just now. It was supposed to be bad luck for the groom to know much about the dress, was it not? But still, it was not as if his casual glances could inform him of all the ladies were scheming. Surely, it was entirely fitting for him to at least look into the room. Only for a moment… merely to see ifshewas smiling today.
Just when he had taken two steps in that direction, Elizabeth herself came round the corner from the stairwell behind him. Her hands were full of ribbon, and she looked to be hurrying, but she stopped short when she saw him. That instant of recognition transformed her features from wooden to ethereal. Downcast eyes suddenly dazzled, and firmly set lips blossomed into a welcoming smile.
“William! I heard you were coming today, but I did not know you were here yet.”
“We came nearly an hour ago. Georgiana has been in the countess’s sitting room since the moment we arrived—were you not with the others all this time?”
“No.” Her cheeks flamed, and she made some excuse with her shoulders. “I-I was upstairs… looking for something.”
“For the countess, or your own pleasure?”
“For whoever likes it, I suppose.” She held up her hands and showed him. “It was a bit of ribbon I bought in London last summer. It was the same day you came to our hotel—we had been out taking in the sights, and I liked the colour.”
He smiled as he admired it. “Lavender. I might have guessed. May I?”
She allowed him to take it, and he stroked the satiny softness of it then held it up beside her cheek. “The colour suits you.”
She reddened still further. “I meant to suggest it for Miss de Bourgh. The countess was trying to persuade her to a yellow…”
Darcy folded the ribbon back over his thumb and lowered it. “Yellow, for one of Anne’s complexion? Your suggestion is the superior choice, but I still say the colour is better suited to you than to her. Why have you never done anything with it?”
Her chin lowered, but her eyes still linked to his as the corner of her mouth shyly turned up. “I do not need more bonnets. Someone very generous supplied more than I could have ever asked for.”
He laughed quietly and gave the ribbon back to her. “I hope you will save this for yourself instead of giving it away. It would look… very fetching on you.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you been well? My cousin tells me you have been rather quiet lately.”
Her eyes flashed to his, and her smile became somewhat less warm. “Oh… merely… taking stock of things, I suppose.” Her brow wrinkled, then she brightened. “I sent a letter to my family last week. I am hoping it will arrive before Christmas, but I have not received anything for over a month.”
“And when a letter does come, it will probably come to Pemberley. Fear not, Elizabeth, for if a letter arrives from your family, I will put it on my fastest horse to bring it here for you.”
She chuckled. “Thank you, William.” She tipped her head to the door of the sitting room. “Should we go in to the others?”
“Do you think it is safe?”
“Why would it not be?”
He leaned close to murmur in her ear—ah, yes,she still smelled the same. “I did not wish to be driven off with pitchforks and torches.”
She giggled. “I think you are safe if you follow me,” she whispered back.
“Then, under thy banner, I shall march, Fair Lady. Pray, lead on.” He gestured with his arm, just as he always did. The way she turned and waited, glancing over her shoulder, and almost permitting him to scoop her along, shot a tremor through his stomach.It could not be…No, he had to be imagining it.
