Chapter 10 #3
“None whatsoever.” Darcy rose as well, though his pulse hammered in his throat. “I apologise if my questions seemed impertinent. As I said, merely the curiosity of one landowner to another.”
“Your curiosity is rather specific for casual interest.” Malcolm's Scottish burr grew sharp with suspicion. “If you have doubts about my suitability as Elizabeth's husband, perhaps you might address them directly rather than circling like a lawyer deposing a witness.”
The accusation hung in the air. Darcy felt Elizabeth's gaze on him, questioning and confused. He had pushed too hard. Now Malcolm's defences were raised in a way that would make further enquiry impossible.
“I have no doubts.” The lie tasted bitter. “I merely wished to understand the circumstances Miss Bennet would be entering. Surely you cannot fault a friend for taking interest in her future welfare.”
“A friend.” Malcolm's tone suggested he heard more than Darcy wished to reveal. “How considerate.”
The tension stretched taut between them. Georgiana rose from the table with Moira, her timing impeccable as always. “Brother, I believe we have imposed long enough. Miss MacKinnon has mastered today's lesson beautifully, and I promised Lady Lucas we would return in time for luncheon.”
Malcolm seized the excuse with obvious relief. “I should take my leave as well. Elizabeth, we can discuss the arrangements another time, when we have more privacy.” The emphasis on the final word was pointed. He bowed to Georgiana before nodding curtly to Darcy. “Miss Darcy. Mr Darcy.”
He withdrew, Moira in tow, towards the nursery stairs, the child glancing back with confusion at the adults' strained faces. The moment the door closed, Elizabeth turned to Darcy with barely contained frustration.
“Are you quite well, Mr Darcy? Only, I am unaccustomed to such a measure of impropriety from you.”
Darcy met her eyes, seeing the sharp intelligence. “I merely wished to know more about the man you are to marry.”
“By interrogating him as though he were a criminal?” she demanded. “You sounded like a magistrate conducting an investigation, not a friend making conversation.”
“Did my questions seem unreasonable?”
“They seemed pointed. Invasive, even. You asked about his parents, his inheritance, and the Clearances. Topics that clearly caused him pain. What were you searching for, Mr Darcy?”
He could not tell her. At least not without absolute certainty and some measure of proof.
To voice his suspicions now would be to destroy her engagement on the strength of mere speculations.
If he was wrong, he would cause irreparable harm.
If he was right but could not prove it, she would think him motivated by jealousy rather than genuine concern.
“I only wished to assure myself that you would be well cared for.” The partial truth was all he could offer. “That Mr MacKinnon's circumstances are as stable as he represents them to be, that his estates will provide the security your family requires.”
Elizabeth studied him for a long moment. He could see her mind working behind those fine eyes, weighing his words against his behaviour. “You have never taken such interest in anyone else's circumstances before.”
“I have never had cause to concern myself with anyone else's welfare before.”
The confession emerged before he could stop it, carrying more weight than he intended. Elizabeth's expression shifted into something complicated. Surprise, perhaps. Or understanding. Or both.
“I am perfectly capable of assessing my own circumstances,” she replied quietly. “And Mr MacKinnon has been nothing but honest and generous in his dealings with my family. Whatever concerns you imagine you have discovered, I assure you they are unfounded.”
“I hope you are right.” The words came out more fervently than he intended. “I truly hope you are right, Miss Bennet.”
There was a small silence, and then Georgiana awkwardly cleared her throat. “Brother, we must make haste.”
Darcy bowed to Elizabeth, searching for words that might repair the damage his interrogation had caused. “Thank you for your hospitality. Please forgive my excessive curiosity. It comes from a place of concern, nothing more.”
“I understand.” Elizabeth's tone suggested she understood more than he wished. “Your interest is noted, Mr Darcy, though I assure you it is unnecessary.”
He wanted to tell her it was absolutely necessary and that her entire future might rest on a foundation of lies. But until he had irrefutable evidence, he could do nothing but wait.
“Good day, Miss Bennet.” He followed Georgiana from the room before he could say anything more foolish.
The door closed behind them. Darcy stood for a moment in Longbourn's entrance hall, aware that his concern had emerged as suspicion and his protective instincts as interference. Malcolm would be on guard now. And Elizabeth looked at him with confusion rather than trust.
But at least she would be thinking. At least his questions had planted seeds of doubt, even if she would not acknowledge them yet.