Page 65 of The Widower of Pemberley

Murder. Shame. Disgrace.

Man of honour.

Fight to protect your honour.

“Move that piece.” Emily pointed at the desired one.

Darcy said, “I believe it is Mr. Bennet’s turn first.”

“No! That piece.”

Mr. Bennet laughed. “The sanctity of the game will not be deeply violated if black moves first.”

Darcy moved the piece.

They played the game, and despite Darcy’s best efforts to suggest sensible moves, it ended in an extremely easy victory for Mr. Bennet.

At seeing the girl’s expectant look, Darcy then clutched at his throat and said, “No, no, no! Alas! I have lost. Oh, my heart, oh my heart. I am pierced through with grief!”

Emily giggled. “Again! Play again.”

Darcy reset the pieces.

Wickham did not deserve death. It had been a sin but not a mortal one.

Colonel Fitzwilliam’s sudden loud laughter made Darcy look over at him.

His cousin exclaimed, “No, but did he really?”

Georgiana, Elizabeth, and the colonel all looked at Darcy.

Georgiana said, “He did. I heard him. It was quite shocking.”

His sister laughed, but there was something brittle in the sound.

“Did I do what?” Darcy enquired.

“Oh, I am not shocked, knowing him as I do now,” Elizabeth said cheerfully, and she smiled warmly at him. Perhapsshewas not thinking about it.

“Might I know what you all speak of?”

“Pay attention to me,” Emily demanded. “Move that piece.”

Darcy moved the piece without any attempt to suggest a less disastrous move. Mr. Bennet instantly jumped his own piece.

That gentleman was clearly delighted to win under such circumstances.

“Did you really,” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked, “refuse to dance with this lovely woman because she was too pretty?Thatis much like you. And a great compliment to Miss Elizabeth’s vanity. I see why she forgave you for your refusal.”

“He could not have made a more pointed statement of interest,” Elizabeth agreed.

Bingley stood from where he had been talking to Miss Bennet. “Itold him he should dance with you. I had no notion that he would ever marry again. But I told him to.”

Darcy’s eyes caught Elizabeth’s. She smiled at him. His stomach leapt. He felt the memory of her lips on his and wished to kiss her again.

He was happy in this moment.

And then he remembered that he planned to kill a man the next morning whom he had known as a boy. And he would be scorned by all who knew him if he did not let Wickham shoot at him, now that he had forced him to fight.