“Yes, Louisa.” With a final look at Richard, Miss Bingley turned. She slipped back past Darcy and Bingley, her eyes over-bright, and went down the hall.
After frowning at her retreating form for a moment, Bingley turned to Richard. “Yes. Well. Sorry about that.”
Richard’s eyebrows rose. “You are sorry that your sister showed concern for my injury?”
“Ah, well, rather that she nearly accosted you while in her dressing gown.”
“You have odd notions as to what is offensive to a man, Bingley.” Richard grinned, then winced, touching his cheek.
“You are bleeding on your nightshirt,” Darcy informed him, for the trail of crimson ran down Richard’s face to drip from his jaw. “And you still have not clarified your intentions concerning those men.”
Richard’s gaze lingered in the direction Miss Bingley had gone. “Many women would have fainted.”
“You cannot question people in Bingley’s cellar,” Darcy said stiffly.
Richard finally focused on him. “Why, because it is not good form in a house guest?”
“If by ‘question,’ you mean ‘interrogate,’ then yes.”
Bingley turned a startled look on Darcy. “I say, do you mean he is going to torture people in my basement?”
Darcy kept his gaze locked with Richard’s. “Do I mean that?”
Richard shrugged. “I prefer ‘question.’”
“Is all well now?” Georgiana’s voice asked. “Only, I heard shouting and a scuffle, and I was—” She broke off with a squeak as they all turned to her. “Richard, you are bleeding.” Her eyes rolled back, showing the whites.
Darcy leaped forward to catch her as she slumped to the floor in a faint.
“You see?” Richard said dryly.
“Call for a maid,” Darcy snapped. Scooping up his sister, he turned back to Richard. “I must see to Georgiana, but we are not done with this matter.”
“No.” Richard sighed. “Knowing you as I do, I would not imagine we are.”
With a parting scowl, Darcy carried Georgiana back into her room.
Chapter Fifteen
A gust whipped Elizabeth’s skirt around her legs, chilling her. She again checked the height of the diffuse glow in the clouds that gave evidence of the sun, then sighed. Obviously, Colonel Fitzwilliam did not intend to appear. If she waited any longer, she would be late returning from her walk. Mrs. Bennet had ignored Mary’s accusations yesterday, but repeated reports of Elizabeth’s misbehavior would eventually make their way through her mother’s chatter and into her mind. As an invitation to Lucas Lodge had arrived the afternoon before, Elizabeth especially dreaded reprimand. Charlotte was one of Elizabeth’s dearest companions, and it would be beyond disappointing to be banned from attending the festivities that evening simply for being tardy to breakfast.
Tugging her bonnet lower against the bluster of the wind, Elizabeth turned to retrace her path from Longbourn.
“Miss Elizabeth.”
She swung back to see Fitzwilliam coming across the field. In that moment, the wind seemed more frolicsome than cold, and the day brightened around her. The sun must finally be ready to peek out from behind the scraggly clouds that cloaked it.
He rode across the field with more speed than usual, the set of his shoulders stiff. As he drew near, she took in his harried expression. Nor did he halt his horse as far away from her as normal, or dismount with his typical fluid grace, the movement too hurried for that. He did, however, turn back to adjust the reins before leading the stallion forward.
Her heart hammering with worry, Elizabeth rushed to meet him. She clamped a hand to her bonnet as a gust whipped by. “Whatever is the matter? Is it Miss Darcy?”
He shook his head. “All is well. Forgive me. I came to reassure you, not to alarm you.”
“Reassure me regarding what?”
“I imagine in a region such as this that rumor travels swifter than a fine mount, so I desired to be the one to convey that there was another attempt on my cousin last night.” He drew in a quick breath. “Rather, very early this morning, before dawn. Three men brought a ladder and entered his chambers through a window. All were detained and no real harm done to anyone, even the criminals.”
“Another attempt? That is horrible.” Her worry that the community was not safe crashed back to her. How had she failed to speak with her father on the matter?
