Page 39 of The Cherry Trees of Rosings

---

“I shall tell you in a minute. Let me catch my breath.”

Charlotte walked deeper into the room and started for the chair where Mr. Darcy was sitting. A look of alarm flashed across both Elizabeth and his face.

“Not that!”

Elizabeth quickly stepped in front of Charlotte and physically maneuvered her friend into the chair she had occupied just moments ago.

“Sit here! It is more comfortable.”

“Eliza!”

Charlotte huffed in exasperation.

And then her eyes fell on the papers on the desk.

A frown etched itself between Charlotte’s brows. Her gaze shifted to the other chair. The one with Mr. Darcy… who looked even more uncomfortable than he had before. He quickly vacated the seat.

“Eliza?” Charlotte asked, slowly turning her gaze on Elizabeth. “Is Mr. Darcy here?”

Elizabeth felt her face flame.

“Well…”

“Heis, is he not?!” Charlotte cried, glancing at Mr. Darcy’s chair again. She threw up her hands and stood up.

“On my word, Eliza! I do not like this.”

“Charlotte, please,” Elizabeth said quickly. “It is not–”

“Eliza, unmarried men and women cannot be alone without a chaperone,” Charlotte said, exasperation clear on her face. “I always believed you were meeting outside.” She glared at the empty chair. “Surely you are aware of that, sir.”

Mr. Darcy—who was standing next to it—flushed bright red.

Charlotte threw her hands up again, perhaps at the ridiculousness of speaking to thin air, and turned back to Elizabeth. “Can he hear me?”

“Charlotte…” Elizabeth began.

“Mrs. Collins is not wrong, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth looked at Mr. Darcy.

He shifted uncomfortably. Guilt and embarrassment were clearly marked on his face.

“It was not my intention to make you feel importuned.”

“Eliza?”

Elizabeth turned back to Charlotte. The latter had her eyebrows arched.

“Can Mr. Darcy hear me?” she asked again.

“I will be outside,” Mr. Darcy said.

Elizabeth huffed in annoyance—looking from one to another. She held up a hand.

“Can the two of you give me a moment to speak?!”

A beat of awkward silence spread through the room.

---