Once safely across the street, she caught a glimpse of the colonel between passing carriages. It seemed that he was well received by the lady, but if she wished to know more, her curiosity was to remain unsatisfied, for her escort seemed relieved to have avoided the meeting. “Do you know, sir,” she spoke without turning her head, “did I not know better, I should suspect you to be a haughty, unsociable fellow.”
“What makes you believe that I am not?”
“Your sense of humour is far too incisive. Clever fellow, you must have fooled a number of people with that brooding scowl of yours, but there is much lurking beneath the surface.”
“You are quite determined to create intrigue out of my character, but I assure you, there is none.”
“Indeed? I am not convinced, but then, I am certain it is no concern of mine.”
“You would proclaim my own character a puzzle, when you, madam, have proved the greater mystery.”
“I? How so?”
“I do not believe I shall grant you the satisfaction of a reply at this moment. Perhaps if we meet again in a setting more agreeable toconversation, I might elaborate for you all the points at which your nature eludes me.”
Elizabeth laughed, glancing back and just catching the gleam of humour in his eye. They were approaching an intersection, and the walkways were somewhat fuller now, so they fell into an easy silence for the remaining distance to Gracechurch street.
As they came upon the house, Elizabeth’s steps began to slow. She bit her lip and drew a long sigh as her eyes scanned up the windows facing the street. She could see her own, and that one just down the way from it must be where her cousin awaited her return like a vulture. He would be upon her the moment she had set foot inside the door, and no quantity of veiled hints or even stark objections would be sufficient to discourage him.
“Miss Bennet, are you unwell?”
She shook herself. “No, merely… reluctant. Pay me no mind.”
His lips thinned unhappily, and he paused, indicating with a dip of his head that he waited upon her pleasure. Elizabeth could not help a slight smile. The gentleman was learning his trade, after all.
Her brief, pleasant thought shattered an instant later, for there, standing on the pavement, was a boxy frame in black, slightly stooped and crowned with a floppy parson’s hat. The figure was speaking, stopping everyone who passed by with a raised hand and a wheedling voice. And it was her name he was plying.
Elizabeth gritted her teeth, and a low, whispered word escaped her which, fortunately, not even her companion could have made out. For his part, he had jerked to a halt in dismay, aghast at the scene created on the street and the repeated references to her name in such a public venue.
Elizabeth spun away, her face growing hot with shame and anger, and found herself almost colliding with the strong arm which held her parasol. His voice was low in her ear as he asked after her well-being once more. She groaned, unable to claim that she was not humiliated, yet likewise too ashamed to allow him to see her so deeply affected by the actions of a fool. How she longed to setCollins down with a proper tongue lashing, but not on the street, not with nowhere to escape to afterwards but the same house, and not beforehim,so that she might feel ever more keenly the shame.
She felt his hand gently close around her elbow, and he guided her to stand near the steps of another house while she composed herself. A handkerchief found its way into her hand, and though she was far from tears or fainting, she was not beyond shielding her face with the article to stop a torrent of furious words which would not have improved the situation.
“You there! Ah, yes, perhaps your mistress can help me.”
Elizabeth cringed at that oily voice, and she felt the sun strike her more fully as her parasol turned slightly.
“I beg your pardon?” Elizabeth’s companion sputtered.
“Yes, I was speaking to you, man! You are with your mistress, are you not? I must ask her if she has seen a young lady, for I fear she may have met with some accident. Do you know MissEliz-a-beth Ben-net?” At that last question, Mr Collins’ voice raised, and his words slowed, as though he were speaking to a child or trying to make himself understood to a foreigner. “It is most urgent that I find her. Miss… ELIZABETH… BENNET.”
Elizabeth could not bring herself to turn round and look at the fool. He did not deserve to find her! Gratefully, she sensed the tall presence step nearer and gloried in his clipped tones when he replied.
“And who are you, sir, to be making inquiries after a lady of strangers upon the street? How have you the right to presume information of… this lady? Do you believe your actions in any way favourable to the lady you seek?”
“I am the betrothed of the lady in question!” Collins blustered. “I am perfectly within my rights to seek after my future wife, for it is most distressing that a young lady should be so long away without her escort. I came to London specifically to see her and make her known to my patroness, and she must be in the neighbourhood somewhere. Ask of your mistress if she knows Miss Bennet.”
“I shall not permit this lady to be imposed upon in such an indecent manner,” Elizabeth’s companion retorted. “Good day, sir.”
Elizabeth felt the shade of the parasol fall, then a hand guiding her elbow once more. Without thought, she suffered herself to be led away, still too mortified and incensed to allow her face to be seen by that bombastic oaf. Behind her, she heard Collins importuning yet another passer-by with a demand for anyone who knew Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
“You may lower the handkerchief, madam,” was the murmured assurance at her side. “He is safely behind us.”
Elizabeth swallowed and slowly complied.
“Thatwas the reason you did not wish to remain at home this morning?”
She released an unsteady breath, tasting the copper tang in her mouth from so long biting her tongue. “Indeed.”
