Page 132 of The Difference of a Darcy
Warily, Elizabeth looked down at the man at her feet. “You are Colonel Fitzwilliam? Then where is Da—where is my husband?”
“Here, Beth.”
Elizabeth looked up as Darcy shoved his way through the men standing around in the crowded kitchen. Her shoulders sagged with relief, and she dropped her arm, allowing the broken bottle to fall to the ground amid the shards of glass.
“William, you made it.” Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears. “You are safe.”
“As are you,” he assured her. “The man you have knocked to the ground is, indeed, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“Oh, I do beg your pardon, Colonel.” Elizabeth blanched when she saw the blood streaming through his fingers. “Please, you are injured. I am most sorry. Here, allow me to help you.”
She bent down in an attempt to help Georgiana’s cousin to his feet, but he waved her off with his other hand.
“My men will assist me,” he managed hoarsely, pressing a hand to his temple. He looked around, wincing at the movement. “Stand down, lads. Good Lord—what a blow.”
Georgiana once again attempted to get to her cousin, but Elizabeth held her back once more. “There is glass everywhere, Mrs. Georgiana, and you do not have shoes.”
“I can carry her,” the colonel said. He tried to rise, but staggered. “I can stand—at least, I think I can…”
“No,” Elizabeth said quickly. “It would be too dangerous. You are injured.”
He gave a short laugh that turned into a wince. “I confess, the world is turning rather more than it ought.”
Elizabeth seized a towel from the table and pressed it into his hand. “Here—use this to keep pressure upon the wound. The bleeding seems to have stopped, but you must not strain yourself.”
He obeyed without argument, holding the cloth to the gash above his brow. “Then one of my men shall carry Mrs. Wickham.”
At that, Georgiana flinched visibly and shook her head, shrinking back toward Elizabeth. Her voice was small but clear. “Please—no. I do not wish to be touched.”
Elizabeth glanced from her to the colonel, then spoke softly. “Would you prefer that William carry you instead?”
Georgiana hesitated, then nodded.
The colonel inclined his head. “Very well. Take her upstairs, but mind your footing. The rest of you—two remain here to guard the door, the others see that no one enters Pemberleywithout my order. Detain any man who attempts it, no matter who he is.”
The men saluted and dispersed to their posts.
Darcy stooped and lifted Georgiana gently into his arms. She trembled, but when she saw his face, her fear subsided. The colonel followed slowly, one hand still pressing the towel to his head, the other braced on Elizabeth’s arm for balance.
As they ascended, Elizabeth whispered another apology. “Colonel, I am deeply sorry for striking you. I had no thought but to protect her. I feared—”
He interrupted her with a faint smile. “You need not explain. I quite understand. In truth, I am impressed—your bravery in defending my cousin is remarkable, and your choice of weapon even more so.”
Elizabeth flushed. “It was simply the first thing I could find that was heavy enough to be useful.”
“Then fortune smiled on you—and less so on me.” He chuckled softly, then winced again. “Why was the door so devilishly difficult to push open?”
“The barrels,” she admitted. “We—well,I, rather—rolled them in front to barricade it.”
“Let me guess—that was also your idea?”
“Yes, Colonel.”
He nodded approvingly. “Then I wish half my soldiers had as much sense and loyalty.”
By the time they reached the upper floor, his steps had steadied. In Georgiana’s chamber, Darcy laid his sister gently upon the bed. Her pallor was startling against the linen, and the curve of her stomach was unmistakable. The colonel halted, his expression softening into sorrow.
“I see,” he said quietly.
