Page 7 of A Letter in the Wind (Mayhem and Scandal Collection #1)

The day after Elizabeth’s confrontation with Darcy, she elected to walk to the village. She had not visited Miss Priscilla in the last few days because she had explained that her family would be visiting. Today, though, Elizabeth needed the reprieve.

“Lizzy! How are you, dear?” The white-haired woman with mischievous eyes asked upon her entrance.

“I am well, Miss Priscilla. How about you?”

The older woman thrust her hands on her hips. “Now, I told you to call me Aunt Silly.”

Elizabeth grinned in response. She did not wish to be rude and had not been certain the lady was genuine about going by that name. It certainly suited her.

“Come on in and have some tea. There is no use in refusing or fussing. I can see in your eyes that you need a strong cup.”

Before Elizabeth could take more than one step further into the room, two black and tan fur balls darted from under a table skirt. A young child in a blue dress emerged in the doorway to the terrace. She followed the animals in pursuit.

“Aunt Silly!” The girl cried. “Help!” She knocked into a table and careened around a corner, trying to capture the puppies racing around the room. A vase fell with a clatter.

“Ethelyn! Lucinda! Now, that’s enough!” Silly spoke firmly, and the pups immediately heeled. “Good girls!” She picked up some treats from a nearby tray and dropped them for the thankful dogs.

“Goodness gracious,” Elizabeth cried. She looked around the room in disarray. “What on earth has happened since I last visited?”

Silly laughed. “Oh, just the best sorts of things, my dear!” She hummed happily and then motioned for Elizabeth to sit. “Patience, come and join us!”

The child scrambled onto the settee beside Silly. She reached for the tea tray and popped a treat into her mouth.

“Thankfully, the tea is undisturbed!” Silly exclaimed as she poured Elizabeth a cup. “Now, there’s a dear. Patience is my niece. Well, my great-great niece, but a niece nonetheless.”

“I am very pleased to meet you, Miss Patience,” Elizabeth said.

“I hate being called Patience,” the girl said as she grabbed another confection. “I’m Patty. What’s your name?”

“I was just getting to that,” Silly said. “If you would use your manners and wait just a moment.”

Patty shrugged.

“Patty, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She is a relation to the rector and a friend to his wife. She is visiting for a few weeks.”

“You are living in a preacher’s house? I don’t think I understand them very much. I heard our vicar say that I’m an old shoe!”

Elizabeth glanced at her host. She knew children often misheard things, but she was at a loss to guess what Patty had heard.

“What on earth do you mean?” Silly asked.

“He said Patience is a worn shoe!” The girl frowned and crossed her arms in front of her body. “I didn’t think it was very nice. So, I kicked him in the shin when we were leaving the church. Father paddled me, and Mother said I deserved much worse, but he was mean first!”

“Heavens, child!” Silly cried. “He said patience is a virtue. It is from the Bible.”

“No! He called me a shoe!”

Silly shook her head. “Was it Mr Burkes?” Patty nodded. “The old man cannot pronounce the letter V correctly. It comes out sounding like a W. He must have said virtue.”

Patty looked unconvinced. “What is a virtue?”

Silly looked seriously at the child. “It means to behave properly.”

“Oh.” Patty thought as she swung her legs, which dangled from the settee and did not reach the ground. “Then he must not know what he is talking about. I get told I behaved wrongly all the time.”

“Your mother has the patience of a saint,” Silly muttered to herself. “Patience means being patient—which means to wait nicely. It is something we must all learn. They are not speaking about you specifically. You are named after the idea of waiting without complaint.”

“Maybe that is why I don’t like the name. I sure don’t have any patience!” The child shrugged and took another treat.

Elizabeth laughed. “Well, it is not a virtue that I have either! I admire your name very much but will call you Patty if you want.”

“Yes! I like you! Can I call you Betsy? We can be Patty and Betsy.”

“No one else calls me Betsy, so that can be used especially for you.” Elizabeth did not really care for the diminutive, having always preferred Lizzy. The smile on the child’s face was worth the small annoyance. Besides, she would not have to live with it forever.

“We all have names that end in the long e sound,” Patty announced. “That is what Miss Stokes said. It can be a y or an ie or sometimes even two es. What does Betsy end with?”

“Well, most often with a y,” Elizabeth answered. “Sometimes it is spelled it with an e and a y.”

Patty’s eyes lit up. “Can you spell yours with only a y? Then we can all match!” She clapped her hands. “Oh, but William will not.”

“William?” Elizabeth looked at the older woman for an explanation.

“My nephew is visiting. I do not think I explained why Patty is here.” She refilled her tea. “Her Mama is having a new baby. So, she is staying with me for a few weeks.”

“That sounds overwhelming!”

“Oh, I am quite up to it!” Silly’s eyes shone with merriment. “Lucinda and Ethelyn have been of great assistance.” She nodded at the now snoozing terriers. “So is William. He has visited every day.”

“Lucy and Ethel!” Patty cried. “They hate their long names. You only use them when they are in trouble.”

“How lucky to have a niece and a nephew visit simultaneously,” Elizabeth observed.

“We will call him Billy.”

Patty nodded as though that settled the matter. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. She could not say what a young boy who was a stranger to her would prefer to go by. Yet, she felt Patty knew how to get her way on everything. It reminded Elizabeth of Lydia. Her heart seized at the thought.

Elizabeth looked at Silly. “You mentioned that he comes every day? He does not stay here with Patty?”

“He stays with his other aunt,” Miss Silly explained. When Patty was occupied with patting the dogs, her aunt continued. “Of course, he cannot abide the old lady. No one can. It is no wonder he escapes the house every day and visits here. He is exceptional with Patty. She entirely adores him.”

The bell at the door rang, and Patty jumped up, squealing in delight. The dogs barked at the uproar, but their wagging tails and posture denoted excitement, not anger or fear. Patty was out the door with Ethel and Lucy close behind. Silly laughed at their antics.

“I suppose I ought to leave,” Elizabeth said. She had enjoyed the distraction of the lively little girl and her funny aunt. Anything was better than Mr Collins. Well, almost anything. She hoped to never see Mr Darcy again. As ridiculous as Collins was, it was nothing compared to Darcy’s arrogance.

“Oh, do not leave for his sake. He is earlier than usual, but that is of no consequence.” She looked at Elizabeth momentarily, a slow grin forming on her lips. “Why have I not thought of it before?” she muttered. Then, she reached for Elizabeth’s teacup and refilled it. “Now, my dear, I absolutely insist you stay.”

“I would not wish to overstay and be rude. You have family to entertain.”

“I thought you were made of sterner stuff, Miss Bennet. Would you be scared off by a mere stranger?”

“Well, put that way…” Elizabeth trailed off and gave the old woman a saucy smile as she squared her shoulders and then reached for her tea. She would remain and meet Silly’s relation. If her hostess did not care about the impropriety, then why should she?

“There’s a girl!” Silly patted her knee.

From somewhere in the house, they heard loud thumps and girlish squeals of delight. As the sounds grew closer to the sitting room, Elizabeth distinguished the tones of an adult male. She had presumed that Silly’s nephew was a child. Shrugging, Elizabeth gathered her fresh beverage.

“In here, Billy! She’s in here!” Patty called as she dashed into the room.

“Come back, imp!”

When Elizabeth heard his voice, she paused with the tea halfway to her mouth. Silly’s nephew was Mr Darcy! She set her cup down with a clatter and stood. At that moment, Mr Darcy entered the room with a giant smile and looking adorably dishevelled once more. His hair was mussed, his cravat destroyed, and strawberry jam was on his coat sleeve. Their gazes immediately caught.

“Miss Bennet?” He sounded utterly discombobulated.

“Billy!” Patty screeched and took him by the hand. “Come sit with us! I told you Betsy was pretty!”

Darcy hesitated as the child pulled with all her might.

“Pray, forgive dear William,” Silly said. “He is a trifle nervous around ladies.” She turned to look at him. “You have nothing to fear with Miss Bennet; she is no fortune hunter!” She started. “Goodness! You look pure white. Miss Bennet cannot terrify you that much.”

“Thank you for the refreshment, but I must go.” Elizabeth rushed through a curtsy and moved toward the door. The trouble was Darcy’s broad frame remained in the entry.

“Pray, do not leave on my account,” he murmured gently to her. “I will go.”

“No,” Elizabeth insisted. “Enjoy your visit with your aunt. I have stayed much longer than is regular.”

Darcy stepped aside a fraction, and Elizabeth squeezed through the doorframe. His masculine scent filled the air. She held her breath until she reached outside. Yes, what she needed was fresh air and a long walk. Ruefully, she supposed she could enjoy her usual path now that she knew Darcy could not be there.

Her head whirled. How could Mr Darcy be related to someone so loving and kind-hearted as Aunt Silly? Nay was not just related but also enjoyed her company and visited more than decorum required. Silly said that he was nervous around ladies. Elizabeth scoffed. Why did he think he understood them enough to know Jane’s mind and heart if he was so unused to ladies?

Turning at the pump in the village square, Elizabeth slowed her walk. The cursed wind blew against her. She did not need to turn around upon hearing steps behind her to know who it would be. She increased her speed; even so, it was of no use. Darcy’s legs were much longer than hers.

“Miss Bennet,” he said quietly as he reached her side. “Will you allow me to make some apologies?”

The shock of his statement made her stumble. Darcy caught her by the arm. She wrenched away with such force she nearly toppled backwards. Again, he reached for her. Clearly, he was stupid if he kept offering assistance where it was unwanted. He tenderly steadied her before slowly withdrawing his hands. A shiver ran up Elizabeth’s spine.

“Well?” she asked. “I am waiting. You may not be in a rush; I suppose you have no other hearts to break, but I do not enjoy standing idly in place in such elements.”

Darcy motioned forward with his hand. “By all means, let us walk, then.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and stomped off. Immediately, he caught up with her.

“The polite thing to do would be to listen to what I have to say.”

“I do not care about being polite with you anymore,” she responded honestly. “You cannot think less of me, and no one else can witness my behaviour.” She laughed at the thought. Such freedom! “In truth, I despise you.” Instantly, she regretted her words. She did not wish to wound him, as improbable as that was. It was not the Christian thing to do. Unfortunately, words were not easily recalled. “I am sorry. That was too far.”

Darcy looked at her, scrutinising her face. “How do you do that?”

“What? Apologise?”

“Speak with such little restraint?” He shook his head. “I fully understand how you can easily apologise where I cannot. You are gentle and pure by nature. You are forgiving.”

“Some people would not call that a virtue. Although, I suppose I can forgive others because I hope to be forgiven myself.” She let out a deep sigh. “Being angry at you accomplishes nothing. I should not return your ill-treatment with poor behaviour, even if you think I am an inappropriate hoyden with disgusting relatives.”

“I do not think that about you.” He sounded shocked by the accusation.

“Oh, that is correct,” she said sarcastically. “Your criticisms against me were always more about my paltry looks than my family’s situation and temperaments.”

“I am many things, Miss Bennet,” Darcy said in a neutral voice. “As my aunt tried to explain, I am awkward with ladies—indeed, with most people. Nevertheless, I hope I have never been so inept as to criticise your beauty.”

“You say you value my honesty.” Elizabeth turned to look at him. “Are you daft or just so conceited that you have reframed events so you may look innocent? One of the first things anyone in Meryton heard you say was that I could not tempt you to dance and was slighted by other men. That is not gossip, Mr Darcy. I heard it myself!”

“Impossible,” he muttered.

“I was not the only one to hear it. Perhaps you should lower your voice the next time you wish to insult people and feign ignorance.”

“I was blind. I do not know how else to describe it. My opinion has changed so thoroughly that I could not remember those foolish and hurtful words many months ago.” He shook his head as an expression of disbelief came over him. He spoke lowly, “I do not recognise that man.”

“He is the same one that condemned Jane.”

Darcy squeezed his eyes shut and looked pained as if she had struck him. She braced herself to hear further defence.

Instead, he declared, “You are correct.”