“Yes, perhaps I may drop a hint and see whether he takes it.”
Chapter 26: The Free Trade
The Darcys stood at the door when Mary opened it.
“Mrs. Collins, may we take Elizabeth out on the balcony today?”
Mary stepped aside to admit them. “Lizzy, dear, are you well enough to join the Darcys outdoors?”
Elizabeth was lowering her feet from the fainting couch where she had been reclining. “Sir, I should be very grateful if you would escort me into the garden. I long to be outdoors.”
“Miss Elizabeth, I am certain my cousin would lend us her phaeton. I could drive you and my sister to the folly.”
“Sir, could you drive us to the tower? I wish to see again the place where I sought shelter during that cloudburst.”
His eyes softened at once. “I shall go and make the arrangements.”
Twenty minutes later, Georgiana exclaimed as the old ruin emerged from the surrounding woods. Elizabeth felt a warm flush as she remembered how it had felt to lie in the embrace of the man seated beside her.
And then she remembered with painful clarity how deathly cold she had been. Her wet gown had clung to her body, and the wind had seemed to pierce all the way to her bones. Yet today felt more like a warm afternoon in late summer than a day in late October. Before they began their drive, Mr. Darcy had wrapped a blanket securely about her shoulders and tucked another over her knees lest she suffer any relapse.
During the drive, she caught sight of the brook she had followed on that fateful day, winding beside the line of trees. Beyond itstretched a meadow thick with tall grass, and at last the ruined tower rose in the distance.
When the phaeton passed beneath the arched shelter at the base of the ruin, Elizabeth looked about her with interest. Thick, gnarled ivy vines covered nearly the entire outer wall and had crept inward as well, trailing through the ruined structure itself. Then her eyes found the narrow stair.
“Would you care to walk through the tower, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I would, sir, if we have sufficient time.”
“We do.” He stepped down from the phaeton and then turned to assist both ladies to the ground.
“Are you warm enough, ma’am, or shall I secure the blanket more closely about your shoulders?”
“If I may keep the blanket about me, sir, I believe I shall remain comfortable. It is considerably colder here in the shade of the stone walls.”
“Yes, it is. Do you wish to go up?”
“Yes, sir.”
Georgiana hurried eagerly ahead of them, climbing all the way to the third floor.
Elizabeth placed her hand upon the arm Mr. Darcy offered and followed more slowly behind.
She could feel his attention upon her, watchful and concerned.
She smiled up at him reassuringly. “I am quite well, sir. I no longer tire so easily, nor do I suffer shortness of breath when I walk. Even the lightheadedness has greatly improved. I scarcely experience it now.”
“I am very glad to hear it, ma’am.”
His eyes seemed to look straight into her heart. Could he perceive that she loved him? That she longed to lie once more in his arms, to feel his embrace about her, to kiss him?
She saw color rise slowly along his cheekbones and even reach the tips of his ears. Perhaps hecouldread her feelings in her eyes.
Elizabeth turned away from him and instead fixed her attention upon the stair.
They soon reached the second floor, where she paused briefly to recover her breath. Then she said, “I should like to see the room, sir.”
“Of course, Miss Elizabeth.”
