Page 60 of Knowing Mr. Darcy
“I…” She was uncomfortable, now that there was no way to banter. “I don’t know him. And I can’t talk to him, so I don’t see how I ever will know him.”Someday soon, something wretched is going to happen between us, though, something frightfully improper.
“Marry me,” he said.
She stopped walking, her body going cold.
He clapped a hand over his mouth, laughter leaking between his fingers. “Dash everything. I’ve said that aloud!”
She searched for words. Couldn’t find them. Settled on shaking her head.
He dragged his fingers over his chin, still laughing. “All right, here we are, then. One word from you and I shall pretend that was a jest.”
She couldn’t say anything.
“Well, then.” He reached out and took her hand. “It wouldn’t be like with him. My family would think I had gone mad. That would be the same, actually, but, er, he would havethingsto console you from their frosty acceptance of you. Houses and servants and carriages and all manner of things. I’d have very little in the way of that. And I have to go back to France, but I swear they don’t letme do anything dangerous, so I likely shall survive easily. But we probably shouldn’t have very many children. Nothing to give them, nothing for them to inherit, you see. Maybe a girl, only a girl, just one? But you wouldn’t mind, I don’t think. Your situation, you would see it differently than a woman in my social circle. And you’d likely be quite good at being frugal, when necessary. And so, anyway, it might not be as mad as it seems, in the end.”
She looked down at the place where their hands were joined. “Why?” was what she said.
“Why?” he repeated.
She furrowed her brow. “We don’t know each other at all.”
“Oh, well, he talks of you constantly,” said the colonel. “So, I knowyou. I have been in love with you since that time we saw you in the park with Mr. Bingley. I thought then, ‘If that woman were mine, I would marry her already. Why is he dallying?’ And we have been here weeks, Miss Elizabeth, and my cousin hasn’t asked for your hand. What’s he waiting for?”
“He won’t marry me,” she said. She licked her lips. “He hasn’t… has he said that he would?”
“He…” The colonel pulled his hand back. “That blackguard. You don’t think he’s considering keeping you as a mistress or something?”
“I don’tknowhim!” she cried out. She backed away, clutching at her own elbows, trying to fold in on herself. “I don’t know what he would do.”
“Marryme,” he said.
“I don’t know you either,” she whispered.
“You have the option of changing your mind, you know,” he said. “Say yes, and we’ll get to know each other, and if you don’t like it, end it.”
“Oh, that’s… that’s…” It seemed a dreadful thing to do, to lead a man on in such a manner. She backed away further. “You always talk toJane.”
“Yes, your sister’s very pretty and very pleasant,” said the colonel. “No denying that. If I’d seen her first, maybe… but itwas you, so… what do you say?”
She said nothing at all.
“Maybe think about it?” He grinned. “How long would you like? A day?”
She should simply say yes. Any other woman would say yes. The son of an earl, second-in-line, should anything happen to his brother he would have a title, and he was perfectly fine. There was nothing wrong with him at all. How could she turn down a man like that? “Indeed, let me think about it, please,” she said instead, and fled.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THERE WAS SOMETHINGabout the way that Richard wasn’t looking at him that bothered Mr. Darcy. And then, the entire party from Hunsford was supposed to dine at Rosings that evening but she wasn’t there.
He inquired and was told she was complaining of a headache.
He invented a malady of his own, split second. He moved forward and said, “Oh, dear. I think I may have strained something when out riding today. I don’t think I can sit upright after all. I’m going to have to retire for the evening.”
Everyone said all the right things about how sorry they were and how much they hoped he’d be better soon, and then he was free.
He glanced about to find Richard looking at him, but when his gaze fell on Richard’s, Richard looked away. Richard seemed guilty about something.
He knew what it was while he was walking across the grounds to the parsonage. He knew it, but he wouldn’t admit it to himself. He was angry, but mostly at himself for not having done anything at all thus far. He’d been waiting for an opportunity, certainly, and this was the opportunity, but he was frightened that he had waited too long. He should havecreatedan opportunity.
