Page 48 of Mr. Darcy's Folly
His cousin's eyes crinkled at the corners and he shook his head. "This part of your character is entirely unknown to me, Darcy. I am not afraid to say that I am greatly enjoying it."
He had no need to defend himself when Fitz knew as well as he that Elizabeth had been permitted to write first. Darcy allowed himself a small, private moment of satisfaction. She had written tohim, not merely sent a message through some intermediary. And now he had written in return.
It was a simple enough thing, a letter. And yet he had the distinct sensation of having crossed some invisible threshold, as though the boundary between them had altered in some imperceptible but meaningful way.
His reverie was shattered by the unmistakable sound of Lady Catherine’s voice echoing from the corridor. “I demand to know who thought it wise to give him mutton!” she was exclaiming, her voice rising in righteous fury. “Have they lost their senses? Has the cook taken leave of her faculties? Do they mean to weaken him further?”
Fitz’s eyes widened in alarm. “You had better get back into bed.”
Darcy briefly entertained the foolish notion of resisting but thought better of it. With a grimace, he allowed Fitz to help him lower himself back down onto the bed, turning his head just as the door swung open.
Lady Catherine swept in, her expression one of supreme indignation. “Nephew, this will not do.”
“So we heard,” Darcy replied. “Along with the rest of the household.”
Fitz tucked the book under his arm and turned towards the door. “I shall leave you in the hands of your most devoted advocate.”
Darcy gave him a dark look, but Fitzwilliam was already gone, the sound of his quiet laughter trailing behind him.
Lady Catherine sniffed, looking down at him as though his current state were a personal failing. “I shall have Cook dismissed at once.”
Darcy, now well acquainted with his aunt’s unique brand of benevolence, closed his eyes briefly. “Do not dismiss the cook.”
“Nonsense! If she cannot grasp the simplest principle of nourishment for an invalid, she is of no use to this household. You should not be eating such things for weeks yet. No, I shall have none of this insipid nonsense.”
“I do not object to mutton.”
Lady Catherine made a dismissive noise. “Do not be absurd. You are in no condition to make such decisions. That is what I am here for.”
He peered at her from the corner of his eye. “I had rather hoped you were here to see how I fared.”
She waved a hand. “I can see that you are faring well. The real question is whether you are beingmanagedproperly. And I think we both know the answer to that.” She cast a withering glance at him.
Darcy, resigned, exhaled through his nose. “As you say, Aunt.”
Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes. “You should not be propped up like that. You must keep to your prescribed position if you mean to recover properly.”
“For once, we are in agreement.” With no further preamble, Darcy turned onto his stomach, effectively turning his back to his aunt and ending the conversation.
Lady Catherine, far from taking offence, gave a little grunt of satisfaction. “Good. See that you remain so. I shall send Anne to look in on you shortly.”
As her footsteps grew softer, Darcy smiled. “Yes,” he said quietly, “do send Anne.”
Chapter Fifteen
Elizabethhadexpectedareply—hoped for one—but even so, when Aunt Gardiner set the letter before her with a knowing smile, she was not entirely prepared.
She had thought to open it at once, but now that it was here, she hesitated.
It was not nerves. No, certainly not that. She was simply prolonging the moment. Savouring the anticipation.
“I do not believe it will bite,” Aunt Gardiner teased, her eyes twinkling.
Elizabeth huffed a small laugh, then, with no further hesitation, unfolded the letter. Her eyes immediately found the first line.
I must confess myself flattered by your selfishness, and it aligns most conveniently with my own.
Indeed? A slow smile curved her lips as she read on, her fingers tightening slightly on the edges of the page. His words were laced with a humour that she suspected most of society never knew he possessed.
