Chapter 48
Elizabeth took another step back towards the door. Then another.
Mr Darcy did not move, but she could see he struggled for words. “Please do not go.”
She shivered slightly. “I must.” A deep breath. “You must forget you have seen me. Tell no one. Or we have to begin this whole seven years thing again.”
His gaze never left her face. It was as if the sight of her was the only thing he needed.
“No. No, it is not seven years. It is the whole of my life.” He swallowed.
“Please do not vanish again. Please. I cannot forget. I — we — have been searching for you these seventeen months together. Do not ask me to forget, I beg you.”
A footman had moved forward to pick up the book and Elizabeth turned to him with a forced smile. “Thank you. Please put it on the table for Mrs Hughes.” She turned back to Anna.
“I am just returning your Byron, Anna. I do not have very long. Nan will need me.” She took another step backwards. Why could she not just turn and run?
Mr Darcy seemed much changed since she had seen him last. No longer the proud, aloof man who seemed to despise her, but a man pleading with her.
Anna’s gaze was darting from her friend to her brother. “Lucy? Elizabeth? Please can someone tell me what is going on?”
Elizabeth glanced at her. She could not ignore it. “That may be better said after I have gone, Anna. Please do not think badly of me that Lucy is not my real name.” Suddenly the air thickened around her. “I must … I must go.”
Mr Darcy suddenly seemed able to act. But he spoke, rather than moved towards her. “Please … please assure me you will remain here a few days. May I call on you tomorrow?”
Elizabeth shrugged slightly. “I may not be free to accept if Nan — Mrs Price — is too unwell.”
“Are you … are you Mrs Darcy?” Anna suddenly seemed to be adding the pieces together. Elizabeth winced. She had hoped never to be addressed that way again, but she forced her expression to return to impassivity. She hoped he hadn’t seen it.
She made a decision and turned to the doorway. Or she would be here too long.
“You will stay a few days?” His words seemed to burst out of him. She did not turn back.
“Nan needs me still.”
“Then may I call tomorrow?”
“Perhaps.” Another step and she would be … might be … beyond the power of that gaze. Oh, why had he come here, to Lincolnshire?
She could hear Anna’s determined voice. “William, tell me what is happening! What is seven years?”
Elizabeth drew great gulps of air as she attempted to look composed while hurrying away down the long driveway of Tealing Park. She was sure she could feel the intent gaze of Mr Darcy from the drawing room window.
Two miles. That would be enough to order her thoughts and feelings. Not for anything would she wish Mrs Simmonds to know anything.
Suddenly she remembered Mr Price’s strictures when he first said she could stay here “… you are not to use the place to entertain gentlemen callers …”. Oh dear. And he was calling at the house more often, too.
She pushed the thoughts away. They were problems for tomorrow; she had enough to occupy her mind today.
As soon as she was on the lane and around the corner, she stepped into the shelter of a tree and drew out her handkerchief to wipe away the tears she had not known were falling until she felt them on her cheeks, cooling in the breeze.
She was careful, though, when she stepped back onto the lane. Somehow, she felt less free than she had before now; now she knew he was here.