Page 13 of The Engagement at Longbourn

Darcy frowned. “Pedant.”

Elizabeth’s lips twitched.

“Do not let her frighten you,” he told her.

“I assure you, sir, I am rarely frightened by ladies who speak loudly.”

Darcy seemed to consider this profound. “Yes.”

Then, louder, “Elizabeth is brave.”

Richard looked toward the ceiling as if requesting strength.

“She walked through mud.”

“I have heard rumours.”

“Six inches.”

“Scandalous.”

“To Jane.”

“Yes.”

“I love her.”

Elizabeth went scarlet.

Richard coughed.

Darcy tugged weakly at her hand. “Why are you not wearing my ring?”

“I do not possess your ring.”

He looked offended. “Richard.”

“No,” Richard said immediately. “I am not fetching the Darcy jewels at midnight.”

“Coward.”

Elizabeth made a sound suspiciously like a laugh.

Darcy smiled at her. Then the fever dragged him elsewhere. By dawn the news had left Longbourn. No one could later say precisely how. Mr. Barnes had heard Darcy declare the engagement in the lane. His labourers had heard it as well. Mrs. Barnes had sent broth to Longbourn and mentioned the matter to her sister. The sister’s maid had a cousin in Meryton. Colonel Fitzwilliam’s express had reached Matlock House, where a footman had spoken to another footman whose brother worked for a viscountess. By breakfast in London, it was whispered that Fitzwilliam Darcy had been gravely injured while riding to propose to a Hertfordshire beauty.

By luncheon, he had supposedly broken both legs saving her from a runaway carriage. By dinner, one hostess confidently informed her guests that Darcy had fought three highwaymen, been shot through the shoulder, and become engaged while bleeding into Miss Bennet’s lap. The only part of the story everyone agreed upon was the engagement. Charles Bingley heard it from his aunt.

He arrived at his sisters’ sitting room without knocking. “Darcy has been injured.”

Caroline looked up from her embroidery. “What?”

“In Hertfordshire.”

Louisa’s cup stopped halfway to her lips.

Bingley’s face had gone pale. “A broken leg. Fever. He is at Longbourn.”

Caroline’s colour changed. “At Longbourn?”