Presently the repast came to an end. Caroline looked expectant. She seemed about to speak, but Darcy forestalled her.
"I'm afraid I have some business to tend to in town this afternoon," Darcy announced.
"Oh," Caroline murmured. "I—"
"You've never been to town, have you, Miss Bennet?" Darcy inquired, cutting her short.
"No, I haven't," Elizabeth admitted.
"Would you like to come with me, then?" Darcy invited.
"I would love to," Elizabeth accepted enthusiastically.
"Shall we three go together, then?" Caroline suggested.
Darcy raised an eyebrow. "We three?" he queried.
Caroline smiled. "I am going into town today, too," she replied.
"Indeed?" Darcy demanded.
"My visit was arranged weeks ago," Caroline explained. "Didn't I mention it?"
"No," Darcy returned coldly.
Elizabeth knew that Caroline was lying and so, apparently, did Darcy. But her lie had accomplished its purpose. She had managed to arrange matters so that she accompanied them.
It took a good twenty minutes to drive from the George Inn to the small village town. Darcy's carriage crossed the heavily crowded streets surrounded by shops.
"I must leave you now, ladies," Darcy informed them when they reached the center of town. "As I said, I have an appointment."
As he excused himself, he suggested that the ladies might care to amuse themselves in his absence by seeing a little of the sights, and that they might particularly enjoy the view on foot.
"Oh, yes!" Elizabeth cried with alacrity. "Thank you."
"Thank you—so much," Caroline seconded less enthusiastically, as Elizabeth bounded up the endless dirt road ahead of her.
* * * *
Several minutes later, Caroline arrived at Elizabeth's side, breathless, but determined once more to try to expose her adversary.
"How did you and Mr. Darcy meet?" she gasped.
"Pardon?" Elizabeth countered. "I don't follow you."
"Well you said that your families were feuding, and..." Caroline began.
Elizabeth decided to cut the interrogation short.
"Oh, look!" she cried. "He has finished early. Let's run down and meet him!"
And then, without giving Caroline an opportunity to protest that the man to whom Elizabeth was pointing was not Mr. Darcy, but a perfect stranger, similarly dressed, Elizabeth was off.
Caroline sighed. She made her way at a leisurely pace, and presently rejoined Elizabeth by the millinery.
"You do like to dash about, don't you?" she commented.
Elizabeth, who had been gazing at the thickening storm clouds, smiled. "One could say that."
She was aware that Caroline was about to start questioning her yet again and that she would have to be careful how she answered.
Her head started to throb and she put her hand up to her brow.
Then, miraculously, Darcy reappeared, having concluded his business. He regarded Elizabeth worriedly. "Headache?" he inquired softly.
Elizabeth nodded in assent.
"We shall go back to the inn immediately, then," Darcy responded, "so that you can rest."
Caroline's mouth registered her annoyance. Her prey had been weakening. She had been about to triumph. She could not allow him to snatch victory from her grasp.
"But you cannot!" she protested. "There is so much to see here. We—"
"I am sorry, Miss Bingley," Darcy interrupted. "We shall have to postpone it until my cousin is feeling better."
"But..." Caroline began.
"Miss Bennet and I are going to the hotel now," Darcy cut in.
"Surely you do not have a headache, too?" Caroline asked.
Darcy eyed her coldly. "I believe my cousin stands in need of my assistance," he stated, putting his arm around Elizabeth.
"Oh, come now!" Caroline exclaimed. "You are well enough to go to the inn alone, are you not, my dear?"
Elizabeth was uncertain as to what to reply to that.
Fortunately, however, there was no need for her to speak.
"Can you not see that Miss Bennet has hurt herself?" Darcy demanded angrily. "There is no question of her returning on her own!"
Caroline realized that she had made a mistake. "Forgive me," she apologized to Elizabeth. "I had forgotten about that unfortunate accident."
Elizabeth murmured some response. She was grateful for Darcy's arm supporting her. She was very weak and dizzy. She heard him snap his fingers to summon his carriage and she allowed him to convey her into it. Then as she leaned back, with her eyes closed, she felt his arm around her once more.
Caroline elected to join Darcy and Elizabeth in the carriage. She sat opposite them and confined her conversation to the weather and the state of the roads at this time of year.
Inwardly she was seething with rage. The sight of Elizabeth with her head pillowed comfortably on Darcy's shoulder drove her wild. But she controlled herself.
She knew Elizabeth couldn't keep up this charade forever. Caroline's smile, her calm exterior, were feigned. She only managed to suppress her fury by promising herself to outwit Elizabeth.
As soon as they arrived at the inn, Darcy took a suite of rooms for himself and Elizabeth for the night. While he went to inspect them, Elizabeth waited for him—alone.
This was the opportunity Caroline had been hoping for. As solicitous as possible, she buzzed around her rival.
"Why don't you try a little tea?" she suggested. "That is sure to cure your headache. Waiter. Some tea for us, please."
"Certainly, madam."
Tea was brought and Caroline pressed Elizabeth to drink some. Wearily Elizabeth acquiesced, but though her headache went, she felt exhausted. Completely drained. She was in such a daze that she hardly heard a word as Caroline chatted on and on to her.
She gazed bemused at the street outside the inn. It was scarcely visible. The storm clouds had darken everything—it looked as if night had come early. Although it was scarcely four o'clock and the day had been sunny and warm, candles were being lit.
Elizabeth began to shiver.
Darcy rejoined them. "How are you?" he inquired.
"She is much better, are you not, dear?" Caroline replied. "Her headache is quite gone, isn't it?"
Darcy glanced at Elizabeth. He saw that she was as white as a sheet and that she was shaking.
"I think not, Miss Bingley," he stated. And then to Elizabeth herself. "Shall I send for a doctor?"
Elizabeth focused on his proud face. "No, thank you," she said.
"Are you sure?" he persisted.
"Yes, thank you," Elizabeth returned. "I am just tired."
"In that case you ought to go straight to bed," he remarked.
"Yes," Elizabeth agreed.
"Come upstairs, then," Darcy ordered.
He took Elizabeth's hand in his and drew her to her feet. As he was about to escort her to their rooms, he paused and addressed Caroline. "You will excuse us, won't you?" he asked.
"Of course," Caroline responded.
And Darcy smiled, knowing that there was no other answer she could have given.
Once they were safely in their chambers, Darcy summoned a maid to help Elizabeth undress. As soon as she lay down Elizabeth fell asleep, and it was thus that Darcy found her when he looked in on her a little later.
He was to dine alone. He was unperturbed by the prospect. He requested that his dinner be sent to his room, confident that he had only to remain cloistered in there in order to avoid Caroline.
The following morning, Elizabeth was wakened at the crack of dawn. For a moment she stared blankly at the maid who had roused her, unable to remember where she was or what she was doing there. Then she recalled the circumstances in which she had met Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth smiled secretively. She had always wanted to have some excitement in her life. The staid sobriety of Longbourn had, although it provided security, been monstrously dull. This will be differe
nt. This will be an adventure.
As soon as she was dressed, Elizabeth went into the sitting room where Darcy was waiting for her.
"Good morning," he greeted her. "Feeling better?"
"Good morning," she replied. "Yes, thank you."
"Are you certain?"
"Positive."
"You don't want me to send for a doctor?"
Elizabeth laughed. "No, indeed," she began. "I'm sorry I've been such a bother."
"You haven't been a bother at all," Darcy interrupted.
"I'm glad. But, as I was saying," Elizabeth continued, "I didn't have any sleep the night before last, so I was completely exhausted."
"I can imagine. Did you sleep well?"
"Very well, thank you."
"Do you feel strong enough to travel to London today?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Excellent. Would you mind leaving immediately?"
"Not at all. Why the hurry, though?"
"Have you forgotten my nemesis?" he countered.
"Miss Bingley?"
"Exactly."
"I'm afraid I had," she admitted, adding mischievously, "Do you intend to leave without saying goodbye to her?"
Darcy did not answer her question, but the look he gave her spoke volumes.
Elizabeth and Darcy stole out of the George Inn like a couple of conspirators. By sunrise they were on their way and their carriage was driving out towards London.
"How long do you propose to stay in London?" Darcy inquired.
Elizabeth shrugged. "I have no idea," she replied.
"None at all?"
"None at all."
"Do you have friends in London? A fiancé, perhaps?" Darcy asked with a slight edge to his voice.
Elizabeth frowned, not understanding the reason for the change in his tone.
"Only an aunt and uncle. Why?"
"It seemed the likeliest explanation for your choosing to travel there."
"Oh."
"Why do you intend to go there, then?"
"I wish to seek work."
"Really? Doing what?"
Elizabeth shrugged once more. She had not considered a vocation for when she reached London and she did not wish to admit this to Darcy. So instead of answering him, she inquired suddenly,
"Why are you running away from Miss Bingley?"
Chapter Seven
Mr. Darcy sighed. "Because," he informed her, "she wants to marry me, but I have no wish to make her my wife."
"Why not?" Elizabeth queried.
Darcy was silent.
"She is beautiful, is she not?" Elizabeth wanted to know.
"Perhaps."
"She is attractive, wouldn't you agree?" Elizabeth persisted.
"I suppose one could call her so," he conceded, "but she doesn't attract me."
"Why not?"
"I really cannot say."
"What is wrong with her?"
Darcy gave Elizabeth a baleful glance.
"From society's point of view," he replied, "nothing."
"And from your point of view?"
"I would like to be free to choose for myself whom I marry," he answered.
"And Miss Bingley regards that as an eccentric whim?" Elizabeth questioned mockingly.
"Possibly. However it is not an uncommon desire in men."
"Doesn't Miss Bingley recognize that?"
"I do not know. In any case, she is determined to have me and I am equally determined not to be had. Once my good opinion is lost, it's lost forever."
"I see," Elizabeth answered reluctantly. "This is why you want me at your side—to create an obstacle."
Darcy's eyebrows rose slightly. He eyed her speculatively and responded, "Precisely," as if he were not telling the whole truth. Then he added with sincerity, "It is quite a problem avoiding her."
"Is it?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes. She is an extremely cunning, devious, dissembling woman."
"What do you mean?"
"I had the narrowest of escapes before I met you," he explained. "Caroline had maneuvered me into what could have become a compromising situation. Fortunately, I realized what was going on and got away in time. But if her little ruse had succeeded, I would have been forced to offer for her."
"How very galling for you!" Elizabeth laughed.
"Very," he concurred coldly.
Elizabeth saw that she had annoyed him by teasing him on this sensitive issue. She fell silent for a few minutes, but presently she asked, "What is your first name?"
"Why do you want to know?" he countered smugly.
"If I am to keep up the pretense of being your cousin we should be on Christian-name terms, don't you think?"
"You may be right."
"Besides," she continued, "you have already used mine. It is only fair that I am permitted to use yours in return."
"I..." Darcy started to contradict.
He had not been aware of what he had done. He began to argue with her and then it dawned on him that she was correct. What was almost a blush flitted across his countenance.
"You seem much livelier now than you were yesterday," he commented after a short pause.
"Do I?" Elizabeth inquired.
"Yes," he replied. "When I originally saw you at the inn I could have sworn you were very shy and retiring."
"Oh I am," Elizabeth assured him gravely. "Far too shy and retiring to press you for your Christian name, which, may I remind you, you still have not told me."
Darcy pursed his lips. "Fitzwilliam."
"Fitzwilliam," she murmured. "How nice. And how terribly stoic."
Darcy growled at her. There was another awkward silence, broken once again by him.
"When we met at the George Inn," he remarked. "I was convinced you were a little town mouse."
"There you were quite wrong," Elizabeth informed him demurely. "I'm a little country mouse."
Darcy began to laugh at her remark.
"What's funny about that?" Elizabeth demanded. "From society's point of view, it is hardly cause for amusement—more for commiseration."
"Nothing," he answered, when he had collected himself. "Only I did not expect you to reply as you did. In fact, I thought you would be angry."
"Indeed? Is that why you said it?"
"Yes. Most women of my acquaintance would have been furious if I had called them mice."
Elizabeth surveyed him archly. "I am not most women," she retorted loftily.
Darcy gave her a searching glance. "I shall remember that in future," he promised.
"Good."
They gazed at each other for several seconds.
"Had you been intending to go to London for a long time?" Darcy queried abruptly. "Or was it a sudden decision?"
"The latter," Elizabeth told him.
"What brought it about?"
"I..." Elizabeth had half a mind to concoct some excuse, then she decided she might as well let him know the truth. "I had to run away."
Darcy made a choking noise. "That's an honest answer at least," he said.
"Of course."
"Pardon?"
"I was taught that honesty is the best policy, weren't you?"
Darcy cleared his throat. "From whom were you running away?" he inquired, ignoring her question. "Not from whom," Elizabeth responded. "From what."
"From what, then?"
"From a marriage which I did not want. If I had stayed even one more day I would have found it impossible to convince anyone that I was not going to marry a certain gentleman."
"I see." He paused. "Why did you object to him?"
"He lacked the qualities I desire in a husband."
"Such as?" Darcy pressed.
"I will only marry a man who is pleasant, cheerful, considerate, conscientious, and kind. He must be a good conversationalist and an excellent listener."
"A paragon of virtues," Darcy commented dangerously.
"Exactly." Elizabeth agreed, u
nconsciously adding fuel to the fire. "I'm sure he will make some lucky woman an excellent husband."
"But?" Darcy prompted silkily.
"He simply does not appeal to me," Elizabeth answered. "I cannot accept the idea of becoming his wife."
"Oh." Darcy made an effort to master himself. "So you packed up and left home."
"That's right."
"Forgive me for asking, but wouldn't it have been simpler to tell this gentleman that you would not marry him?"
"That's what I did."
"But?"
"Unfortunately no one would believe that I could refuse him and they began to push me into marrying him. So I had no other choice but to depart at once."
"I see. You sound determined." He smiled. He thought for a moment and then added. "Your situation is not so very different from mine."
"I don't follow you." There was no mistaking the enthusiasm in Elizabeth's voice. She could hardly wait for him to continue.
"The people whom I had mistakenly trusted had decided that it was high time that I married," he went on. "They knew that Caroline had been pursuing me, and they considered that it was a shame I had not asked her to become my wife." He shuddered involuntarily. "Like your unwanted suitor, Miss Bingley doubtless has many excellent qualities. However, as far as I am concerned, she is the last woman in the world I would consider marrying."
"Does she know that?"
"She must be aware of the fact that I do not wish to make her my wife."
"Yet she pursues you."
"Unfortunately."
"Have you ever encouraged her—proposed to her, perhaps?"
"Never. Not even in jest."
"And that does not affect her?"
He shook his head in negation.
"Is she so thick-skinned?" Elizabeth asked.
"It's not that," he replied, refusing to elaborate further.
"I see," Elizabeth murmured.
"So you see why for the first time in my life," Darcy remarked, "I required a chaperone."
Elizabeth laughed. "You do indeed!" she declared. "What a cruel trick fate has played on you. Surely you cannot have done anything to deserve it."
"Can't I?"
Elizabeth's brows furrowed. "No. Of course you couldn't," she returned. "Could you?"
Darcy leaned back in his seat and gazed unflinchingly at her from under his seductive dark lashes.
Darcy's Charade Page 4