Page 37 of The Cherry Trees of Rosings
“Charlotte!”Mr. Collins’ voice rang out, moments before he stepped out of the house, onto the porch.
He frowned at both of them.
“Is something the matter? Come inside, the two of you! I do not want cold air to get in!”
“Yes dear, we shall be there in a moment,” Charlotte saidquickly. “Do go in.”
Mr. Collins “hmm-ed”, eyeing Elizabeth suspiciously, before he went back inside. Charlotte turned back to her.
“I shall come to your room later. Wait for me, please.” She squeezed Elizabeth’s hand once more.
“...there might be something I can do.”
Chapter 25:
Unspoken
When Elizabeth stepped into her room upstairs, she realized she was not alone.
“Mr. Darcy!” she said, startled.
She quickly glanced behind her in the corridor.No one had heard her. But Maria and Janet were discussing something at the head of the stairs.
She quickly closed the door. Then she turned back to face him. The two of them stared at each other.
Elizabeth could feel her face beginning to warm.
Had he heard her earlier? When she was speaking to Charlotte?
She cleared her throat.
“When did you arrive?”
She stepped deeper into the room and set her reticule on a side table.
“Just some…” Mr. Darcy paused. “Uh… now.”
Elizabeth raised her brows.Was Mr. Darcy lying?Her face warmed some more.
“I was at Rosings,” she said.
“Yes.”
He blushed immediately. And then added, “I heard Mr. Collins…”
Elizabeth could feel herself blushing even more furiously now.He was lying!She was certain.
“Well, then.” She did not know what to say.
Her gaze flitted around the room, never staying on anything in particular. Not the curtains. Not the floorboards. Not the writing desk. Most definitely not on Mr. Darcy!
“How was your dinner?” he asked.
Their eyes met.
Elizabeth could feel her face burning. Flaming.An inferno!She had the sudden desire to run outsideand walk, and walk, and walk in the night chill until she was an icicle instead.
“It was… pleasant.”
