Page 15 of The Cherry Trees of Rosings
Instant alarm shot across Mr. Darcy’s face.
“Absolutely not!”
Elizabeth smiled wryly at his reaction.
“I believe you are quite safe from such machinations. As I said earlier, Lady Catherine is not very happy with your cousin’s lack of forthcomingness.”
“Good,” Mr. Darcy said, looking relieved. But then he grew contemplative.
They continued to walk.
“Miss Bennet, I think a letter to Richard cannot be avoided.”
“Hmm?”
The breeze had slowed but birdsong was still heavy in the air. Elizabeth looked at the cherry blossoms drifting around them.“How do you propose we prevent any… er, wrong impressions?”
Mr. Darcy stopped walking. She did too.
“You must tell him about me.”
Their gazes locked on one another.
“Do you mean…?”
“Yes.”
"Hmm."
Elizabeth wondered howthatwould be regarded. It was not everyday that one received a letter about the ghost of one’s cousin!
Chapter 11:
Night Visitor, Deux
Elizabeth was prepared when she saw Mr. Darcy next.
Unfortunately, it was not where she had hoped to meet him again. She sighed.
“Mr. Darcy.”
His outline was less distinct in the darkness of her room. The moon had begun to wane and there were clouds in the night sky.
“I truly did not intend to importune you this way…” he said. She could hear the strain in his voice.
“It is no matter,” Elizabeth said, moving the covers aside and getting out of her bed. She was still dressed in her dinner clothes. “As you can see, I anticipated something like this would happen.”
An embarrassed silence stretched between them. Elizabeth bit her lip as a stray thought came to her.
“I was wondering if you have ever manifested… in this state…” she gestured at him. “When I was not aware.”
The silence seemed to thicken, growing more uncomfortable. She could feel the back of her neck heating. But she persisted.
“Mr. Darcy, if your appearances are somewhat like clockwork, I believe it is something we must consider,” she said, growing exasperated at his continued silence. “Perhaps your cousin can shed some light on it if I were to mention it in the letter.”
“I… had not considered that,” Mr. Darcy said at last. He shifted where he stood.
Elizabeth lit the candle on the table beside her bed. Dull warm light suffused the area around them. She looked at Mr. Darcy. He still looked embarrassed.
