Page 17 of Midnight at Pemberley

“You avoid the lesson, William.” Elizabeth spun from his embrace. “En garde!”

“You win, Minx,” he said as he lifted his sword in a salute. “Let us try a prise de fer. Do not forget to keep your right foot at a quarter angle. Watch my shoulder. Does it tilt or drop? That will signal what I plan as part of my attack. Keep your eyes on my face, but see my body’s position as part of your preparation. Now, watch what I do and then mimic it.” Darcy made the same move several times before she made a reasonable reproduction of the intricate form. Then he showed her how to counter the move. Starting in slow motion, he executed the form, providing her time to adjust to the weight of his sword striking hers. Each thrust became more powerful, permitting Elizabeth to feel the strike reverberate through her body.

“Let us attempt a combination—three basic thrusts and then the prise de fer. Parry each thrust and then fully block my attack. I will come at you quickly and with force. I want you to think, but more importantly, I wish you to respond. Assume your position, Elizabeth.” He paused for a moment, and then he circled her. “En garde!” he said with a smile.

Mr. Darcy’s lightning speed and accuracy had stunned her. She could barely think, but she placed her sword in position to have it slide off his before it flew from her hand. “Again,” he demanded as Elizabeth picked up her rapier. She barely assumed her position before he came at her a second time. With effort, she held onto her hilt, although his sword pulled up before he would have cut her.

Breathless, she thought to protest, but he simply returned to his position and barked out the dreaded word, “Again.”

With more anger than she knew she possessed, Elizabeth responded with an expertise that surprised her, but evidently not the gentleman. When the crossed swords pushed against her, she fought back.

“Perfect,” he whispered as she still struggled against his weight.

Realizing the fight had ended, Elizabeth released the tension in her shoulders and smiled up at him. “Truly, William?”

“Truly, Elizabeth!” He smiled in response. “With a bit more practice, you could best some of the men at my club.”

“This was exhilarating. I have never felt such freedom. Please teach me one more combination before we leave,” she begged.

“I could never deny you, Elizabeth, but we have not much time. There will be no time to practice the move.”

“I will practice it in my room. I will use the fire poker. Oh, thank you, William.” She bubbled with excitement.

“You will enjoy the sweeping motion of this one; it is called a demivolte.” He showed her the move several times, again permitting her to imitate his movement. “I will show you the counterattack tomorrow,” he said once she displayed the basics. “And now, we must leave. Hide the swords, my temptress. I will retrieve the horses.”

She did as he asked, wiping the swords with a polishing cloth before stowing them behind a chest in the corner. When she left the house by the back door, Darcy held the horses in place near the garden. “Miss Bennet, you are flushed from the exercise.”

“Mayhap I am flushed for some other reason,” she retorted, her chin lifted in a pretend challenge.

Before he lifted her to the horse, he restored two curls, which had come undone as they fought. “When you say something provocative, Vixen, I cannot guarantee I will continue to act in an honorable manner.” He hefted her with ease to the horse’s saddle.

“William?” she said hoarsely.

He checked the straps on the saddle, refusing to look at her. “Yes?”

“Do you enjoy flirting with me as much as I do with you?”

It pleased Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy held back a burst of laughter. “Vixen, I do not know how I ever lived without it.”

For the next two days, they continued with their secret meetings. Fencing lessons proceeded as before. Elizabeth’s enthusiasm fascinated Darcy. They laughed. They played. They kissed. At Netherfield, they met in the conservatory, where an out-of-the-way bench held privacy. There, he and Elizabeth spent time simply enjoying the exchange of ideas. He had never found anyone as interesting as was she. Darcy explained his plans for his estate. He shared his frustrations in raising Georgiana. Elizabeth spoke of her dreams of traveling, and she acknowledged the “silliness” displayed by her mother and younger sisters. They were friends. Trust formed between them.

Unfortunately, their time alone became more noticeable to the others. By silent agreement, around the Bingleys, they still sniped at each other. Caroline Bingley, vexed by what she could not identify, undermined Elizabeth at every opportunity. Elizabeth found Miss Bingley’s jealousy amusing and purposely feigned ignorance of rank and consequence.

One particular evening, Caroline’s tactics backfired. She meant to demonstrate her ascendancy over Elizabeth by walking elegantly about the parlor. When Darcy refused his attention, Miss Bingley, in desperation, turned to Elizabeth and said, “Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example and take a turn about the room.”

Caroline’s declaration surprised Elizabeth, but accepting the opportunity to befuddle her hostess, she agreed to it, and Darcy smiled despite the impropriety of doing so.

Miss Bingley’s manipulations succeeded no less in the real object of her civility. Darcy looked up. He was as much aware of the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth, and unconsciously he closed his book. Watching Elizabeth Bennet side-by-side with Caroline Bingley would provide him an opportunity to judge how he truly felt about his Elizabeth. Moreover, how they responded to each other could allay any suspicions.

Having his attention at last, Miss Bingley asked, “Will you not join us, Mr. Darcy?”

He considered how Caroline might feel if he stood and took Elizabeth’s hand and placed it on his arm to walk with her alone. Elizabeth must have understood his thoughts because she stifled a laugh.

Darcy fought his urges. “You could but have two motives in choosing to walk about the room, and I would interfere with both.”

He noted how Elizabeth’s eyes flashed with anticipation.

“Whatever could he mean, Miss Eliza?”