Page 17 of The Cherry Trees of Rosings
“Hmm…”
“What are you thinking?” he asked when Elizabeth was silent for a while, glancing between him and the mirror.
“Well, it is only a curiosity…” she said. “Would you care to stand beside me in front of the mirror? I was wondering if I might see you.”
A relieved smile flashed across Mr. Darcy’s face. He stood up. But Elizabeth found herself staring at him.The man was truly was handsome when he did not look sour, or vexed at the world.
“Miss Bennet?”
She blinked and looked away. Then got to her feet.
Chapter 12:
Tea with Charlotte
They were not able to get to the letter that night. Not from lack of trying, though.
It was the oddest thing.
One moment, Elizabeth was standing next to Mr. Darcy in front of the mirror, staring at the astonishing fact that shetoocould not see him in the mirror. And the next—she had turned her face towards him, catching his eyes, surprised at how close they were…
…when he abruptly disappeared.
Elizabeth had looked about the room, unsure if he was truly gone. But Mr. Darcy was nowhere to be found.
So she had waited for him to appear for another hour before sleep had claimed her naturally.
Elizabeth did the next best thing when she woke up the morning—she stuffed some loose pages and a pencil in her reticule and took it with her on her morning ramble.
But Mr. Darcy did not show up anywhere.
Not in the avenue of cherry trees.
Or in the chestnut copse.
Or anywhere else.
Feeling defeated, Elizabeth finally returned to the parsonage after some hours. And there she almost collided with Maria Lucas on her way inside.
“Goodness, Lizzy! Will you watch where you are going?”
“Oh!”
Elizabeth clutched a hand to her chest.
“Maria! Is that Eliza?”Charlotte’s voice rang out from within the morning parlour.
“Yes, it is!” Maria answered back. And then she stepped around Elizabeth. “Who were you talking to yesterday night?”
Elizabeth froze, and then quickly fixed a quizzical look on the girl. “Talking?”
“Yes,” Maria said, a small frown appearing on her lips. “I heard you speaking to someone for quite a while. I thought it was Charlotte, but she said it was not.”
“Oh…”
“Eliza! Can you come in here for a moment before you go upstairs?” Charlotte’s voice rang out again from the parlour.
“Yes!” she called back. Then she looked at Maria. “I do not know what you mean. Perhaps you were dreaming.”
