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A voice sounded in the distance, reminding them forcefully where they were.
They sprang apart guiltily, eyes darting about to notice if they were observed. But there was nobody in the courtyard; the voice must have been far away. Mr. Darcy chuckled at his own nerves.
“We should not do such things,” Elizabeth whispered.
“Hmm…I disagree. We should do such things. Only we should find a more private location,” Mr. Darcy replied in a teasing voice.
Elizabeth’s breath caught. If a single kiss could make her forget herself so thoroughly, what could a whole series of kisses do? He could tempt her to do almost anything.
“I should depart before I am presented with further temptations,” he said. “Collins saw me on the road, but I will tell him I thought better of visiting today after the encounter with Weston. I will pay a formal call upon the family tomorrow.”
“Of course,” Elizabeth agreed.
But before Mr. Darcy had turned away, she caught his arm. “Oh! I have quite forgotten the other news.” Her pleasant mood immediately evaporated. “Mr. Shaw visited my cousin yesterday, and they were sequestered in his study for several hours.”
He frowned in concern. “Is that unusual?”
She nodded. “I do not believe Mr. Shaw has ever called before, and he did not sit with the family in the drawing room at all.”
“You think he plans to make an offer for Jane?” Mr. Darcy asked.
Elizabeth nodded. “And soon!”
Mr. Darcy drew in a sharp breath. “Surely she will not accept.”
Elizabeth stared down at her feet. “I believe she will. She does not love him, but she will believe it is her duty. It would relieve Longbourn of the burden for her care and put her in a position to care for the rest of us.”
Mr. Darcy’s face had grown quite pale. “Are you feeling ill, sir?” she asked him.
“I am quite well. However, there is a task I must accomplish when I return to Netherfield.”
“I see.”
“And before I depart, I have other news as well. The kisses caused it to slip my mind.”
This time Elizabeth managed to control her blush. “Indeed?”
“It is about your sister Lydia…”
Chapter Eighteen
Elizabeth’s mother and sisters were very pleased to hear the news that Mr. Darcy had shared about Lydia. While her circumstances were far from ideal, it was a joy simply to know she was safe and in good health. Mrs. Bennet even exclaimed over the prospect of her first grandchild. She had been prepared to pack her bags and fly to Lydia’s side immediately, but Jane had convinced her to wait until their sister neared her confinement. They did not possess the resources for frequent trips, so their mother reluctantly agreed to wait.
After that exhausting conversation, Elizabeth next needed to speak with Charlotte. The mistress of Longbourn spent much of her time with baby Robert, and Elizabeth rarely had a chance for a conversation with her friend. But the day after Mr. Darcy’s return, Elizabeth caught Charlotte just as she was leaving the nursery.
“Is Robert taking a nap?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes,” Charlotte said with a soft smile on her face. “Kitty is watching him.”
“Do you have time for a turn about the garden?” Elizabeth asked. “There is something in particular I wish to discuss.”
“Of course.” Charlotte’s evident pleasure at the invitation caused Elizabeth a pang of regret. Although she had once been closer to Charlotte than any other woman save for Jane, everything had changed when her friend had become mistress of Longbourn.
Far more sensitive to the delicacy of the situation than her husband, Charlotte had made great efforts to be fair and kind. Wisely, she had not altered the household decorations or furnishings—so that Longbourn continued to feel like home to the Bennets. She often softened the worst of her husband’s impulses when she could. However, the alteration in their circumstances had necessitated a degree of distance between the friends. They were no longer equals; Charlotte had become the mistress of Longbourn, and Elizabeth was a dependent relative. Elizabeth had lamented the loss of their closeness but knew it was impossible for it to be otherwise.
The two women fell into step as they paced the outer perimeter of the garden. “Does Mr. Collins lament the loss of Mr. Weston?” Elizabeth asked.
Charlotte pursed her lips. “I do not believe so. He believes the man was quite irrational.” This pronouncement helped calm Elizabeth’s jittery nerves. “However, tomorrow Mr. Collins plans to investigate the matter of Longbourn’s extra sheep.”
