“I have every intention, yes.”
“Good. There is something about which I must seek your advice. It is important, and somewhat urgent.”
“Can you not ask me now?”
She shook her head. “Better I show you. Tomorrow. I will be at our usual—”
“Admiring my mother’s palm, Mr. Collins?” Miss Lucas’s voice said loudly.
His head snapping up, Darcy stepped around the plant.
Mr. Collins stood on the other side, his shoulders back and his face twisted into righteousness. “Sir, relation to an earl or not, how dare you plan an assignation with my cousin.”
A quick glance showed no one near enough to overhear those low words, to Darcy’s relief. In fact, the room at large seemed inclined to give Mr. Collins a wide berth.
“We were not planning an assignation,” Elizabeth’s tart voice said as she stepped up beside Darcy. “I simply seek the colonel’s advice.”
“On what matter?” Mr. Collins demanded.
Elizabeth eyed him. “That is none of your concern.”
“You are my cousin, and I am in more ways than one responsible for the purity of your body and your soul.” Mr. Collins puffed out his chest. “It is my concern, and I can tell you that my patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, will not be pleased. Not at all. With any of this.”
“Any of what?” Elizabeth asked, though out of a desire to know or in an attempt to divert Collins, Darcy couldn’t guess.
“Any of the clear fraternizing taking place between that Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy, and between you and Colonel Fitzwilliam.” Mr. Collins’ lip curled. “I have already informed Miss Bingley that Mr. Darcy is engaged to Miss Anne de Bourgh.” He gestured across the room to where Miss Bingley and Richard still stood talking. Miss Bingley laughed, reaching out to lightly touch Richard’s forearm, which he did not draw away. “Now I see I must inform you, my own cousin, that a gentleman of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s standing would never be permitted to marry a woman of yours.”
“Now you have us married?” Elizabeth laughed, an edge to the sound. “It is quite the future you have planned for me and the colonel.”
“But he will not be permitted such a future, which is why I must protect you. I cannot bring a stained woman back to Hunsford to be mistress of my flock.”
Miss Lucas gasped.
Though her eyes blazed, Elizabeth kept her voice low as she said, “You need not worry about bringing me anywhere, sir.”
“But I must. Your mother informed me that Cousin Jane will any day now become engaged to Mr. Bingley…”
Darcy started. Did Bingley know that?
“…making you the next logical choice as the recipient of my proposal, assuming you have not sullied yourself beyond redemption.”
Anger sparked in Darcy, scattering concern for Bingley, and he growled, “Desist in insulting both Miss Elizabeth’s honor and mine.”
Mr. Collins turned his haughty glare from Elizabeth to meet Darcy’s gaze…and blanched. His mouth dropped open. Sounds came out, not forming into words.
“Mr. Collins, you require punch,” Miss Lucas said firmly. “Elizabeth, help me escort Mr. Collins to the punch. I do believe everyone can see that you have occupied enough of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s time this evening.”
Sure enough, a fresh glance showed that while no one had yet drawn near, their conversation was now garnering eyes. Miss Lucas wrapped an arm through that of the stuttering clergyman.
Darcy bowed, whispering, “Perhaps we should not meet tomorrow.”
Elizabeth dipped a curtsy and replied, her voice equally low. “It is urgent.”
“My patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, will hear of this,” Mr. Collins squawked, the words fractured by fear.
“Lizzy,” Miss Lucas hissed.
Turning from Darcy, Elizabeth moved to take her cousin’s other arm. Together, the two dragged Mr. Collins away. Try as he might, Darcy found no other opportunity to speak with Elizabeth that evening.
