Page 45 of One Night with Mr. Darcy
“That is my cousin’s motivation,” said Mr. Darcy to Charlotte. To Willie, “I have simply always been smitten by this one’s mother.”
Elizabeth bit down hard on her lower lip. Smitten? Why did that make her stomach turn over to hear him say that aloud?
“Always?” said Charlotte. “But, sir, we all thought that you—”
“Yes, I know, I heard you when I came in. She thought I didn’t like her,” said Mr. Darcy. He eyed Elizabeth. “But she has always driven me to the brink of madness, in truth.”
“Always, but you chose to express it when she had inherited your aunt’s estate,” said Charlotte. “Which, pardon me, is perhaps stating in rather baldly, but you are accusing Colonel Fitzwilliam of quite the same thing, so—”
“I wanted to express it,” said Mr. Darcy. “But she was engaged rather quickly, wasn’t she?”
“And then you left,” said Charlotte, eyes wide. She turned on Elizabeth, now astonished.
Mr. Darcy smiled at Elizabeth. “Perhaps I’ll take Willie for a walk?”
“A walk?” said Elizabeth. “Where?”
“Oh, there are a few little rambles that I used to enjoy as a child.”
“He is but two years old, Mr. Darcy.”
“I am well aware of this, madam. I shall be careful with him.”
“Well, perhaps I should come along,” she said.
“No, no, you stay here with Miss Lucas,” said Mr. Darcy. “We couldn’t leave her alone, could we?”
“No, indeed,” said Charlotte, “for I have ever so many interesting things to discuss with you, Mrs. Collins.”
“Just… if he cries or he needs me—”
“I shall bring him to his mother straightaway,” said Mr. Darcy, giving her a small smile. “Don’t worry. I promise you that I shall be as careful with him as if he were my own.”
Her stomach turned over again.
Willie was pleased in Mr. Darcy’s arms, and the two set off with Mr. Darcy chattering softly to Willie, who watched the man with rapt attention, his eyes full of adoration. He loved his father already.
Elizabeth sank down in a chair, letting out a groan.
Charlotte sat down next to her. “Lizzy, he is in love with you.”
Elizabeth didn’t respond to this. She wasn’t sure what to say. What else had Charlotte discerned?
“He has always been in love with you. Why, that must be why he asked you to dance with him on the night of the Netherfield Ball. He was in love with you even then! Did you know? Is that why you first denied Mr. Collins and then changed your mind?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No. I simply… Mr. Collins and I…”
Charlotte sighed heavily. “Oh, Lizzy, how horrid not to have realized. To think, you could have been spared all of this.” She gestured around. Then she considered. “Well, from a certain point of view, things have worked out rather well for you, actually. I know there has been a great deal of grief, but you are in such a position now, and the aid you can give your family is unprecedented.”
“That’s true,” said Elizabeth.
“And he’s still in love with you, even though you have borne another’s child,” said Charlotte. “Both of them are trying to woo you! All the men want you, Lizzy.”
“What? No, they don’t.”
“A girl could easily become jealous if she spent too much time around you.” Charlotte laughed. “Of course, now I am an old woman of thirty—”
“You are not old!”
