Page 52 of Her Affections and Wishes

Darcy expected Sir John to add his own provocative remarks, but he had walked through the jib-door and he heard his feet on the stairs. When he came back down, he said in a rush, “That door is locked.”

“Locked?” repeated Mrs Tessier. “We have no reason to lock that door.”

Lady Metcalfe had a finger raised to point in Elizabeth’s face, but she dropped it. “Well, there is nothing wrong with this door and⁠—”

“And the table by the door is not in the same place. Look,” Sir John said, pointing at the carpet. “You can see it has been moved and put back in a different place. The imprints in the carpet do not match where the legs are.”

“Are the latches locked?” Darcy asked. “I locked them when I opened the stairs the other day.”

Sir John fumbled beneath the table top to find them. “No. Lady Metcalfe, as fond as I am of a scandalous interlude, it does seem possible our friends were trapped in some cruel trick.”

Her face darkened, and she ground her teeth together. Darcy saw that her arguing was over, but no apology would be forthcoming. “If they did not hide there to be alone, then who locked them in, and who moved the table before we came back?”

Darcy drew in a breath to accuse Julia, but Elizabeth cleared her throat. She meant for him to stay quiet, so he paced the room to keep his calm. He could not slander people. He had no proof that Julia locked them in with Mr Travers’s help, and what he saw in the library was not proof either. Was he mad to go on believing Julia had some nefarious plan all week to harm Elizabeth with no evidence? It was unlike him to be swayed so deeply by feelings. But someone had organised this prank against her and had help to do it.

“I doubt our servants would do such a thing,” said Henry. “Besides, most were at the races. What if it were housebreakers?”

Sir John scoffed. “Have you looked around?” He gestured to the ornate library. “There is not a single gilt or silver item missing.”

“Whoever is responsible,” said Lady Metcalfe, “what is to be done about her now?”

“Her?” repeated Darcy.

“It is unseemly that two of Mrs Tessier’s single guests of the opposite sex spent all day together alone in an enclosed space in an empty house.”

“Our actions were blameless, but someone else’s actions are far from innocent!”

“It still looks dreadful,” said Sir John, although in a tone that was all amusement.

Henry cleared his throat. “Perhaps our friends ought to…keep some distance from one another for the remainder of their time here?” Why did he now want to take some initiative? “It gives an odd appearance, although, of course, we all know nothing happened,” he added.

“Do we?” muttered Sir John. He was riotously amused. He would not judge them if he and Elizabeth had engaged in every possible act between a man and a woman, but he would not stay quiet about it either.

“That is not enough, not when my daughter’s reputation could be called into question by association,” said Lady Metcalfe.

“Really, Louisa, do you think that necessary?” stammered Mrs Tessier.

“Undoubtedly. I brought her, and I have decided to protect my daughter from her.” She turned her steely eyes on to Elizabeth. “I will send Miss Bennet back to her friends in Hunsford. It is only twenty miles, and she can be back with them before dark.”

He watched Elizabeth blanch. If Elizabeth went back alone, Lady Catherine would hear of it and tell everyone. Julia and Sir John would mention it also; one would disparage Elizabeth and the other would mention it from the love of a spectacle. Mrs Tessier would never insist that she stay. Even if Darcy followed her and took her home from Hunsford, the damage to her reputation would be done.

All would whisper that Miss Bennet had been alone with a man, and then sent away in disgrace. The rumours about her would be wild and egregious.

“Miss Bennet has agreed to marry me,” he announced.

Every eye turned to him in shock, including the fine eyes of his future bride.

“That, that is unnecessary,” said Lady Metcalfe, with a look to Julia, who was silent but red-faced. “If you say nothing untoward happened behind the door, then we must believe you. You need not act hastily. No one here will speak ill of Miss Bennet, will we?”

“No need to throw yourself away, Darcy,” agreed Sir John.

Darcy ignored him and glowered at Lady Metcalfe. “I asked her two days ago and have, in fact, been in love with her for months.”

Elizabeth’s mouth gaped, then she snapped it shut with a glare his way. He could guess how happy she was to have him make the statement without her agreement.

“I hate to see you make a rash decision,” said Lady Metcalfe. Julia shook with silent rage.

“There is nothing rash about it, and besides, I find Miss Bennet lively, witty, and beautiful,” he admitted, hoping his candidness would convince her to let up.