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“There is a Colonel Forester to see you, sir.” A well-dressed footman interrupted Theodore’s train of thought.

A slow smile spread across Theodore’s face. Wickham had not reported to duty on time. “Do you know if Bingley is in his study?”

“I believe he is, sir,” was his bland reply.

“Bring the colonel to the study in five minutes. We should be ready by then. Oh, and could you arrange for these to be sent express?” Theodore handed the man a stack of correspondence.

“I’ll take care of both tasks,” he assured with a nod. With a respectful bow, he headed out of the room.

Theodore’s footsteps echoed behind him as he made his way to Bingley’s study, eager to put his plan into action. He pondered if Wickham’s disappearance had motivated him to take action, or if he was still the same unbearable slug as before. They would find out soon.

When Colonel Forester entered Bingley’s study and glanced around, he noted the restrained luxury of the room.

The stately fabrics and rich wood were far less ostentatious than the grand parlor.

Mr. Bingley sat behind the desk while Colonel Fitzwilliam leaned against it and Mr. Darcy stood next to the fireplace, all three facing him expectantly.

He promptly took the seat offered to him and then regretted it.

Though the room seemed to be decorated better than the other parts of the house, the chairs were certainly wanting.

The silence stretched on until he could no longer bear the discomfort and finally spoke up.

“You let me know you thought Lieutenant Wickham would not report to duty. As he has not reported, I am left to wonder if you would detain him to prove a point. I also wonder about the witnesses that you spoke of. I am sure any of you would have the funds to secure false testimony.” The longer Forester spoke, the more uneasy he became.

He could not pinpoint whether it was the glares from the three influential gentlemen before him or the odd balance of the chair he sat in.

Still a slug, then. Theodore wished there were not so many fools so high in the ranks, but at least this man would never see combat.

Or maybe he would. Who was he to say? “I would like to say that I am surprised that he did not show his face, but I am not. I marvel at the depth of your stubborn refusal to see what is in front of you.”

“I suppose you can produce your witnesses for me to take their testimony.” His deep, angry voice bounced off the walls, reverberating with a sense of defiance as Forester refused to accept defeat.

They had decided that he would be the one to speak while Darcy and Bingley would look upset and disapproving.

No need to put all of their cards on the table just yet.

Nodding to Darcy as he left the room to go see about Miss Elizabeth, he returned his focus to Forester, keeping his expression bland.

“We brought Miss Elizabeth here to assess her injuries and the apothecary, Mr. Jones, requested that she stay here to recuperate for a time. We can see if she is up to a short audience. As for the boy who witnessed the altercation, Kiernan is with his family, who are tenants on Longbourn land. I am sure we can arrange a meeting,” Theodore said, his slightly jovial tone not revealing his irritation.

Darcy regarded Elizabeth’s face in horror.

Where her cheek had been puffy and beginning to discolor when last he saw her, now the bruise was a swirl of dark blues, purples, and reds that stretched that the length of her face.

How had he allowed Wickham to do this to her when he was only an arm’s length away?

He was ashamed of his inability to protect the woman he found to be so important to him.

Even though a day had passed since her nightmare, she still felt the lingering feeling of dread; the vivid images were still fresh in her mind.

When Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy standing before her, well and whole, she felt a sense of calm.

“Mr. Darcy, I am going to think I have food on my face if you stare so,” she chided the gentleman before her.

Had she not known him as she did, she might think his behavior rude, but now she thought it meant something else.

She simply had to analyze what his penetrating look meant and why it made her heart flutter.

If there wasn’t something hidden beneath the surface, the dream wouldn’t have had such an impact on her.

He berated himself for getting lost in his own head and attempted to bring his attention back to the present.

“I came to see how you were feeling and ask if you were up to speaking with Wickham’s superior officer.

” His words were no sooner out of his mouth than he became distracted once again.

This time, it was her hair that held his gaze.

The sight of her chestnut curls, unrestrained and full of life, made his heart ache.

He reluctantly shifted his attention from her beautiful hair and back to her face, waiting for her response.

Elizabeth found confinement to be a bigger issue than other people might.

She customarily spent a portion of every day being active, either on a walk or practicing archery.

She would do almost anything to get out of being confined to bed, regardless of whatever pain she might be in.

“I am doing well, especially as I have had the benefit of not having to lift a finger for the last two days. I would be happy to speak with the officer.” Elizabeth was glad she had insisted on getting dressed, even if she was going to be in bed.

She threw her blankets back, her feet searching for the floor.

Jane had watched the interaction between her sister and Mr. Darcy with a repressed smile.

“What my sister may not say is that she is in pain, but she chooses not to dwell on it or let it stop her. However, if Lizzie is going to meet with an officer, we must make her slightly more presentable. Between Mrs. Ansley and I, we should only be a few minutes,” Jane remarked from her spot by the bed, completely aware that Mr. Darcy had not even noticed anyone else in the room.

“Come, brother, I will wait in the hall with you while they help Lizzie.” The sound of Georgiana’s laughter echoed in the hall as she pulled her big brother along. She had never once seen her brother so befuddled, and she loved it.

It was only a few minutes later when Elizabeth was ready and on her feet with the support of her sister. Walking to where Darcy stood, still looking a little flummoxed, she smiled up at him despite the pain it brought to her cheek. It was a rather endearing look on him, she decided.

“Would you help me down the stairs, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth requested.

“It would be a pleasure. You will say if anything is too much for you, will you not, Elizabeth? I would not have you overdo it.” With her hand tucked securely in the crook of his arm, they began their journey down to the parlor.

Leaning on Darcy for support too much for her taste, Elizabeth still had the energy to engage in banter. “I cannot promise you anything in that regard. What if I am enjoying myself too much to retreat to bed?”

“What if I promise you more fun later on if you return to bed to rest after you speak with Colonel Forester?” When Darcy averted his eyes from Elizabeth’s, he found he could speak more fluently. He decided that if he actually looked at the stairs, it would help him better navigate them.

“What kind of entertainment do you propose?”

“Well, I know you are fond of reading. We could discuss any of the Bard’s works or your thoughts on the Greek or Roman classics. Unless you are fond of chess?” Darcy offered, unconcerned with what she chose, as he would be happy just to spend time with her.

Elizabeth had always wanted to learn to play chess, but would certainly never learn from her father.

“I would love to discuss anything we might have read, though to be honest, my father would never teach me to play chess, and I have always wanted to learn.” Elizabeth bit her lip, wondering if Darcy would be patient enough to teach her.

“It would delight me if we spent our evenings playing chess together. We can start tonight after dinner if you are up to it.” Darcy could just picture it—a crackling fire on a frosty night and the two of them chatting over a chessboard. They just had to deal with Forester first.

On the stairs behind the two, Jane, Georgiana, and Mrs. Ansley struggled to not burst into peals of unsightly laughter.

It would not do to hurt Mr. Darcy or Elizabeth’s feelings, but it looked as if both were entirely ignorant of their developing feelings.

Jane met Georgiana’s eyes and smiled. Who knew?

Maybe Georgiana would have sisters to enjoy before long.

“I am told you wished to speak with me,” Elizabeth stated as she entered the parlor.

Passing up the chair where Colonel Forester sat, she moved to sit across from him while Darcy took up the position beside her.

Jane, Mrs. Ansley and Georgiana moved to the far corner in case they needed to be of assistance.

Forester knew they said Wickham had harmed the woman, but he was still shocked to see the woman so badly wounded. “Yes, Mr. Darcy has claimed that Lieutenant Wickham made an attempt on his life. He also stated that you would testify to it.”

“I was prepared to step in and prevent your lieutenant from shooting Mr. Darcy. Why would there be an issue to disclose the information to you?” Elizabeth retorted. She did not know why, but she did not like this man.

“He pulled a gun on Mr. Darcy? I find it hard to imagine such a refined gentleman would do something without being provoked.” Forester leaned back in his chair, his mouth agape in shock at the thought of such a jovial man acting so maliciously.