Page 28 of Compromise & Consequence
Elizabeth did not roll her eyes, but she did look to the ceiling before responding.
“Regardless of what you think of my family, we never fought or aired our dirty laundry in front of servants.”
No, not dirty laundry, just a filthy rag of a dress, he thought.
“My servants are loyal and do not gossip. If they did, they know they will be released from service without a referral.”
“Even loyal retainers can let slip personal information without meaning to. I am trying to stave off further gossip about our hasty marriage.” She poured some honey into her tea. “You wish me to attend a modiste to bolster my wardrobe. I must decline, as I do not have the funds and am determined to faithfully abide within the parameters of your orders.”
“I am very aware your allotment of fifty pounds, even if doubled by the amount your father will provide, is barely sufficient to cover a fraction of what you shall require. You must allow me to give you the funds required to purchase a proper wardrobe.”
“If you knew the amount to be insufficient, why did you suggest such a sum?”
There was no mistaking the expression of disappointmentetched across her face, and he felt increasingly uncomfortable about the way he had handled this whole affair. He could have easily settled a hundred times as much upon her, and under normal circumstances with a bride of his choosing, he would have given her that and much more. While he had been angry at the time of drawing up the settlement, the sums he proposed were atrocious and he had reveled in the thought of her being offended. But now, when faced with the physical reality of his anger, he felt nothing but shame over his actions.
“I apologize for my temper. It was not well done. I will accompany you to a modiste my sister patronizes and have her begin your new wardrobe.”
“You may very well wish to take me shopping, but I have decided I am more in need of a walk in the park.”
“In that dress?” he blurted out, aghast at the thought of anyone of consequence seeing her in such a filthy article of clothing.
She dabbed her full lips with a linen napkin, set it atop her now empty plate, and with a fluidity of movement that always caught him off guard, stood. His humiliation was further stretched when in an automatic, but futile manner, she attempted to smooth out the wrinkles of her skirt.
“Of course not,” she replied. “Mrs. Whittaker informed me my trunks from Longbourn have arrived.”
“Your trunks!”
As he sat gathering his wits which had scattered themselves about the room, she arched that elegant brow at him and he knew – he just knew – she inwardly smirked at him.
“You said I could notbringanything with me, Mr. Darcy but did not specify my clothing and personal belongings could notfollow.” She gave him a polite curtsy. “Good day, sir.”
Once again, he watched the diminutive form of his wife exit through a door. How many times would she leave him speechless? He thought about her words. Clever. She was clever. And beautiful. Very beautiful. He was more in danger of falling under her spell than he had been at Netherfield.
Chapter Eight
The next morning, feeling much better in one of her favorite morning dresses, Elizabeth filled her plate and sat down to break her fast, thankful that this room in its soothing creams and yellow was not decorated in the same god-awful manner of her bed chamber. The rest of the house had a quiet elegance, the furniture not ostentatious, but graceful and timeless.
She had not even buttered a roll when a pleasant-looking gentleman in uniform entered the room unannounced. This must be the colonel mentioned in the marriage articles. At first, he paused, as though surprised by her presence, but he recovered quickly enough.
“Good morning. Mrs. Darcy, I presume. I am Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.”
He gave her a smart bow and then filled his own plate before joining her at the table, noticing for the first time her bruise and giving a start.
“Forgive me, Mrs. Darcy. I cannot sit here and enjoy my breakfast without making sure you are well.”
“I am well, thank you, sir.”
She heard a noise and darted a quick glance toward the door, wondering if Mr. Darcy would appear today. He had been gone from the house all of yesterday, although she knew he had returned when she heard movement within his bedchamber after she had retired for the night.
“Are you nervous about your husband finding me here?”
“It is his house. I must learn to expect him in some rooms during certain times of the day.”
“Did he give you that bruise?”
There was no mistaking the protective tone of his voice. Instinctively, her hand flew to her cheek.
“Not directly. After our wedding, I fell forward when the carriage started and hit his knee.”
