Chapter 4
FOUR
King’s Newton was a modest village, hardly any size at all, but it boasted a pretty medieval church nestled in a small grove of trees.
Winding up from the church was a narrow path that led to an elevated spot, allowing Darcy and his fellow travellers to survey the damage.
Water had saturated the distant fields, creeping up over many of the roads,
To his delight, Darcy had the pleasure of escorting Elizabeth, with Mr and Mrs Gardiner ahead of them.
Occasionally she smiled shyly in his direction, and he wondered what this meant.
Dare he hope that she did not hate him as passionately as she did before?
If there was only the faintest chance that she thought favourably of him, then Darcy would seize it with both hands.
I will do anything in my power to show her how keenly I have attended her reproofs.
The path curved a little to the left, and Darcy’s chest hurt with every step.
Whether this was due to his bruised ribs, or the erratic pounding of his heart, he could not be certain, but his only awareness was of Elizabeth’s hand resting in the crook of his arm; the sparkling light dancing in her eyes as she spoke; and how much of a fool he had been to ever consider himself superior to her.
Soon Mr and Mrs Gardiner were a considerable distance away.
A habitually brisk walker, Elizabeth’s pace was decidedly slower than usual, and Darcy realised, with a pang of adoration, that she was shortening her strides to accommodate him.
As they passed over the uneven stones, her hand tightened over his arm, as though concerned he might fall.
A smile curled on his lips. He had never personally experienced this cosseting side to Elizabeth, even though he knew her to be in possession of a caring nature.
He revelled in her proximity, not wanting her solicitous attention to end.
They stopped, Elizabeth muttering something about catching her breath, but in reality, her actions were obviously for Darcy’s benefit.
“Have we walked too far?” Elizabeth looked out to the horizon, the floodwater swirling over the fields before returning her attention to him. “Would you like to rest longer? Should we make our way back to the inn?”
Eager to reassure her, he replied swiftly, “This exercise is of an enormous benefit to me. I have no wish to return at present. I am only sorry that I cannot move any faster.”
“Do not apologise! I am too much of a whirligig, rushing here and there. It would do me good to practice moving at an elegant pace.”
“And thus preserve your petticoats?” answered Darcy, with a smile. Elizabeth’s eyebrows raised and he qualified hastily, “I recall your boots and gown were thick with mud when you walked from Longbourn to Netherfield.”
She grinned. “What is a little dirt after being confined indoors for days? Believe me when I say I understand your reluctance to go back to the Cross Keys inn—staying in bed all day must be a trial for a man as active as yourself.”
Buoyed by her compliment as well as the teasing arch of her eyebrow, Darcy found himself contradicting her playfully, “No indeed, my bedrest has been most instructive. I am discovering facets of my personality of which I was hitherto unaware.”
“You must enlighten me!”
“I did not know I had such a tolerance for mould. I must have counted at least three different species upon the wall.”
She giggled, prompting him to continue, “I must also observe that my appreciation for decent food has increased tenfold.”
“Is that because we have yet to be served a proper meal in days?”
“I will admit the food is unique.”
Her eyes glowed with amusement. “Am I to infer that you have not enjoyed the Cross Keys’ specialty of hard bread and stale cheese?”
“I cannot fault the menu,” he said with mock seriousness. “But it is my teeth that object.”
Laughter erupted from Elizabeth. Darcy’s heart leapt, knowing that it was he who had caused her mirth.
“Our accommodation is dreadful,” she conceded, “but with the influx of travellers whose journeys have been disrupted, there was precious little choice but to remain. We did not want to risk travelling any further, in case it worsened your injuries.”
Her observation sobered Darcy. “I am excessively grateful to your uncle and aunt—and to you, of course. This cannot be how you imagined your trip.”
Elizabeth waved her arm across the miles of flooded land.
“Well, I did wish for a tour of the lakes,” she replied with a rueful smile before turning back to him.
Their eyes met. Blushing, she looked away.
“Does your sister know what misfortune has befallen you? I hate to think of her worrying about your lack of correspondence.”
“I sent her a letter at the first opportunity. I await her reply. Your uncle informed me the roads leading to London are busy, so I must pray my missive reaches her soon. She was due to join me at Pemberley, but I have cautioned her to remain in town.” He paused, his next question delicate. “Have you heard from your own sisters?”
Elizabeth bit her lip. “I have written home, but I am not sure how long we intend to stay here. With all the disruption, I do not know if I will receive a letter before we depart.”
Hovering on the tip of Darcy’s tongue was the fact that Bingley was also due to visit Pemberley, but he could not say this without bringing attention to his previous officious conduct.
Elizabeth saved him from answering. “Despite all this flooding, the countryside is remarkable. I am not sure why you would ever wish to leave Derbyshire.”
“I must confess to be of the same opinion, but polite society dictates that I should not confine myself to Pemberley. In all honesty, I would far rather remain at home.”
She regarded him warmly. “Yes indeed, you seem more relaxed here than I have ever known you to be.”
Darcy longed to tell her that his elation had nothing at all to do with the location, but her bewitching company. If only he could speak to her as easily as he had seen others do!
Misinterpreting his hesitation, Elizabeth’s gaze dropped to a point on the floor. “You must excuse my overfamiliarity, Mr Darcy. I meant no offence.”
His voice low, Darcy sought to reassure her. “Please do not apologise. Truly, there is nothing you could say that could offend me.”
Her eyebrows rose so high they almost disappeared under her bonnet. “I cannot believe you,” she said quietly.
Darcy longed to tell her that every objection she had made to his proposal was entirely justified and therefore needed to be said, but the remembrance of her rejection was too painful.
“It is the truth, nonetheless,” he managed.
To lighten the mood he added, “Take care, Miss Bennet, for I have delivered to you a carte blanche to tease me about anything you like, without remonstration. Most people would be overjoyed to receive such a coveted prize.”
Mischief danced in her eyes. “I had not thought of it in those terms.” She placed an unguarded hand upon his arm. “Be reassured that I will use your gift responsibly.”
His eyes came to rest on the place where their bodies met. To his horror, on the skin above her wrist was a cluster of red welts. Elizabeth swiftly withdrew her hand. “It appears that humans are not the only visitors who are welcomed at the Cross Keys inn.”
Bed bugs. Mortification swelled in Darcy’s chest. That Elizabeth should suffer any kind of discomfort at his expense was abhorrent. “How bad is the infestation?” he asked, his voice choked.
“Fortunately, there was only one miscreant.” Elizabeth’s attempt to sound nonchalant only served to stoke Darcy’s vexation at their miserable accommodation. “And he was vanquished in an instant.”
“Are you certain there is nowhere else to stay?”
“When we last enquired, my uncle could find nowhere from here to Castle Donington.”
Darcy nodded, his mind still disturbed with the thought of Elizabeth’s verminous mattress. “You must not remain here for my sake. Under no circumstances should you remain in that hovel.”
The corners of Elizabeth’s mouth curved into a regretful smile.
“It is our intention to return to Hertfordshire as soon as we receive word that the roads are less busy. We have no wish to find ourselves in even worse accommodation than we have at the moment. My uncle desires his own bed and cook—and I do not blame him for it. The Cross Keys inn is to be the furthest we shall travel in our tour of Derbyshire. A memorable location, but sadly for all the wrong reasons.”
A warm breeze blew between them, lifting Elizabeth’s dark ringlets.
Against the green backdrop of the farmland, she looked like a nymph from an oil painting, so achingly beautiful that he yearned to pull her into his embrace.
Darcy’s throat constricted. These cannot be the last circumstances in which we are together.
I must have more time—I must make amends for all the offence I have caused.
Seized by a sudden inspiration, he asked abruptly, “Did you say all rooms from here to Castle Donington are occupied?”
“Yes.” His question surprised her.
He nodded thoughtfully. “Would it trouble you if we returned to the inn?”
“Is anything the matter?” Her eyes widened with concern in a way that made his heart ache. I love you. The words played upon his lips, but he knew better than to utter them aloud. Nothing would induce him to break the delicate truce growing between them.
Instead, Darcy shook his head. “Be reassured that I am well.” He took an involuntary step towards Elizabeth, her beauty drawing him near. “But a means of repaying your uncle and aunt for their kindness has just occurred to me.”
Her face blossomed into a delighted smile. “Do you intend to inform me of your plans?”
“I will not, for there is every chance that you will be included in them.”
Another laugh escaped her lips. “My curiosity is piqued.” She glanced over his shoulder to the path that the Gardiners had taken. “Should I tell my relations about your scheme?”
Sunlight peered from behind a cloud, bathing every line of Elizabeth’s face with golden light. Darcy had never known a woman to be more lovely. Unable to help himself, he took another step closer.
“Let it remain our secret for now,” he said with a gentle smile, before adding, “There is a place nearby—known only to me—where we might all stay in comfort, but I need to send a letter to its occupants before arriving unannounced.”
A faint pink stained Elizabeth’s cheeks. “Grateful as I am for your consideration, we could not impose on your acquaintance, sir.”
“There would be no imposition. Derbyshire is a wonderful place. It would be a terrible pity if you—and your uncle and aunt—were to return to London without sampling all that my home county has to offer.” His voice low, he continued, hoping Elizabeth heard the sincerity in his expression.
“Allow me to make amends for the inconvenience my accident has caused. I do not think I will be easy until I have settled my debt to you and your family.”
“Although I must emphasise that there is to be no obligation between us, I will admit I yearn to stay a little longer.” She gazed up at him through her dark lashes, and Darcy knew himself to be a hopeless case, for in that moment he wished for nothing more than for Elizabeth to look at him that way forever.
She continued softly, “Derbyshire has many good qualities. I believe there is a lot more to appreciate than I had previously thought. It would be a pleasure to become better acquainted with—” she paused, before adding shyly, “—the local area.”
There was an irresistible modesty in her countenance that made Darcy’s heart stutter. Are we still talking about her tour? Or does she wish to know me better? Hope soared through his body. “Then I will do all in my power to ensure your stay is unforgettable.”
Now it was her turn to close the distance between them. “I should like that very much.”