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The frown deepened but rather than pursuing this topic Richard struck off in another direction. “Farley has told me the doctor is still upstairs, Georgie, so I shall go up. Pray, don’t run away, Miss Gardiner, until I return.”

The colonel went off and the ladies resumed their conversation, soon turning to the topic of sisters, of which Miss Gardiner had an abundance and Miss Darcy, quite envious, had none. In the midst of Georgie’s enthusiasm for more anecdotes of Miss Gardiner’s sisters, the colonel returned.

“I’m afraid the doctor has plagued and poked Darcy to such a degree that he just wants to rest for what remains of the afternoon, Miss Gardiner, but he was quite enthusiastic on the topic of your reading.”

Elizabeth resisted raising her eyebrows at this. The colonel, thinking his white lie had been swallowed whole, continued:

“Can I convince you to at least stay until this plaguey fellow from Oxford has turned up? I am quite tired of running back and forward to that agency to yell at Mr Jukes.”

“Oh, yes!” added Georgie. “Please do come again, Miss Gardiner, and we can have tea again tomorrow afternoon! I so enjoyed our little chat today!”

Elizabeth was torn. Her common sense told her she had erred greatly in disguising herself and should depart immediately, never to return. But upstairs was a man she thought she had loved lying stricken in bed, and here were his relatives begging her not to abandon them.

Against her better judgement, Elizabeth agreed.

Chapter 30: Sticky wicket

The colonel had merely gone upstairs to ensure that Darcy and Miss Gardiner had not got off on the wrong foot before investing any energy in convincing her to stay. As much as he had taken a fancy to the lady from the agency, there was no use in retaining her if Darcy was not going to co-operate. Richard knew his cousin had been lukewarm about accepting a compromise while he continued the search for Mr Trevor or found a suitable substitute. Personally, he would have given his right arm to have a female as pretty as Miss Gardiner read him a few bedtime stories, especially if she stroked his hair at the same time, thought the colonel as he mounted the last few steps to Darcy’s bedchamber, grinning.

To his surprise, he found Darcy standing unaided, or at least, without human intervention. His cousin’s legs were encased in leather leg braces, and he was holding onto the back of a chair. Richard could see the effort it cost Darcy as he tried to shuffle forward. Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead, but he made little progress. Finn stood by anxiously; ready to catch Darcy should he falter. The frown on Finn’s face suggested he was putting in almost as much effort as his master, willing him to take a step. Finally, Doctor Gordon intervened.

“Well done!” he praised cheerfully. “Does it not feel good to be standing?”

Darcy ground his teeth. He knew a one-year-old could have done better.

“Yes, terrific progress!” answered Richard for his cousin.

Shooing the slight doctor out of the way, he helped Finn assist Darcy back to his bed. He then stood aside to allow Doctor Gordon and Finn to loosen the braces and pull them off.

“So,” said the doctor, tidying his gear into his kit, “I shall have some braces made-to-measure with buckles, so that you can take them on and off more easily. Keep practising with the chair and let me know how you go with the glasses. Good day to you, sir.”

With a quick bow, the doctor was off.

“Well, Darcy,” said Richard, getting to the point as soon as the door closed, “how did it go with Miss Gardiner?”

Darcy, who had collapsed back onto the pillows, frowned.

“What does she look like, Richard?”

Richard raised his eyebrows at this reply, which seemed rather shallow and uncharacteristic of his cousin, but he replied directly, nevertheless.

“Very good, I’d say; beautiful even.”

“No...” replied Darcy impatiently, “I have this uncanny feeling I have met Miss Gardiner before. What does she look like?”

“Well, she is of medium height, slight, with a most pleasing décolletage and... brown hair!”

“Excellent!” said Darcy sarcastically, “that differentiates her wonderfully from the other five hundred thousand women in England! What would you estimate her age to be?”

“Oh, Darcy! How can I tell? She is of that ageless group that is older than your sister and younger than I!”

“Richard, you would have failed dismally as a spy,” commented Darcy acerbically. “Finn, can you add anything to this wonderful description?”

“Her clothes were stylish, sir, but not made by a modiste. She was wearing lavender with grey ribbons, so I expect she has recently suffered a bereavement.”

“Ah! This is better!” said Darcy, racking his brain for such an acquaintance.

“Why don’t you just ask her if you have ever met before?” said the colonel, wondering why all this guessing was necessary. “But you have not answered my question. Miss Gardiner is inclined to take herself off. I didn’t have time to come in this morning, but she does not have all the skills you specified. In particular, she knows little of mathematics. I thought you might be able to make do with the Latin and Greek till that other fellow turns up. Tell me, what is your inclination? Should I convince her to stay?”