Page 10 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)
Darcy managed to think of little else but Elizabeth, so much so his thoughts spilled onto the paper before him.
What manner of man must her husband be? Why was there no sign of him at the assembly?
How is it that she is here tending to her sister who suffers no more than a trifling cold, when she might be in her own home with her husband?
If she were my wife, I could not bear to be parted from her.
Darcy ceased writing long enough to consider his mindless scribbling— if she were my wife!
Get a hold of yourself man! He quickly reached for a fresh piece of paper and endeavoured to return to the serious business of writing his letter.
Over the course of the next half-hour or so, Caroline tried, as best she could, to garner Darcy’s attention away from his letter and towards herself. As all her many schemes had gone unnoticed, she endeavoured to enlist Elizabeth and her brother as allies in her quest.
“Come now, Mrs. Carlton, Charles, and you, too, Mr. Darcy. What say you all that we enjoy a game where one of us is allowed to ask any question we might wish to, and everyone else in the room is obliged to answer truthfully? Would that not be fun?”
“I suppose that is one way to pass an evening,” said Elizabeth, whilst laying her book aside. “I think it is a fine way to become better acquainted,” Elizabeth remarked in a manner of speaking that compelled Darcy to turn his attention away from his letter to study her intently.
He boldly accepted her challenge. “Indeed, I cannot think of a happier way to pass the time.”
“Wonderful,” cried Caroline, enthusiastically. “I shall go first. It is not every day that a young lady is at liberty to ask such questions. I am dying to know what a gentleman seeks most in a lady. Likewise, what is it that a lady seeks most in a gentleman?”
Charles was first to respond. “Why the lady must be accomplished; though, I never heard of talk of any woman but that she is accomplished. I should add that she must have the countenance of an angel and the disposition of a saint. ”
Darcy rolled his eyes at his friend’s not so unexpected response. “And to the second half of that question, your answer would be?” Darcy asked impatiently.
“What do I know of what a lady looks for in a gentleman, except that he is kind and amiable, of course?”
“Very good, Charles!” Caroline exclaimed. She then looked towards Elizabeth. “What say you?”
“In truth, I have not given much thought to such things, of late,” Elizabeth responded in a less than enthusiastic manner.
“I imagine Mrs. Carlton would have no reason to be concerned with such matters,” Darcy spoke to no one in particular, “as the institution of marriage surely renders such considerations as futile.”
“I am afraid you may have gotten the wrong impression when we were introduced earlier today, Mr. Darcy. I lost my husband many years ago as a result of an unfortunate accident.”
Darcy coloured upon hearing her revelation. She is not married! He did not know whether to be relieved or embarrassed by his inadvertent insensitivity. “I beg your forgiveness, madam, for seeming inconsiderate. I had no way of knowing. Please accept my heartfelt condolences on your loss.”
“Please accept my condolences, as well,” Bingley offered.
“I appreciate your sentiments, indeed,” Elizabeth responded to both gentlemen. “As I said, it has been many years since that tragic day, and time does have a way of healing one’s pain. I have much to be thankful for in my life.”
After such a revelation, no one was much in the mood to continue the frivolous game.
The sombre tone in the room soon led them all to return to their earlier activities—Bingley to his silent musings, Darcy to his letter, Elizabeth to her book, and Caroline to her preoccupation with how to garner Darcy’s attention once more.
Elizabeth was soon called to her sister’s bedside with the news that she had awakened and was asking for her company.
“Dearest Lizzy, having you here means the world to me. How can I ever thank you?”
“Seeing the look on your face is enough. You seem to be recovering. ”
“Yes, I feel as though I have done nothing but sleep all day. Being here is nothing like being at Longbourn. It is so quiet and peaceful all about.”
“If I am any judge of character, I would say Netherfield Park might soon have a new mistress.”
“Lizzy, you must not speak that way.”
“Why on earth should I not? It is obvious Mr. Bingley is half in love with you already. You should see how he moons about downstairs.”
“What of his friend, Mr. Darcy? How does he behave? He stared at you during the entire assembly. Have you gotten to know him? What is he like?”
“I am utterly convinced that, in his mind, the woman who made his acquaintance this morning is hardly a fitting substitute for the woman he so admired during the assembly. Now, I am afraid, he barely looks at me, except to find fault.”
“I am sorry to hear that he turned out to be such a disappointment, Elizabeth.”
“Why should you feel sorry? My fate is settled. Mr. Darcy might be the most agreeable man in the world and nothing would change the course I have set upon,” Elizabeth replied wistfully.
Elizabeth passed a good part of the evening in Jane’s room, reading to her and occasionally waiting upon her until Jane was asleep once again.
Elizabeth decided if she was to be of any use to her sister in the morning, it was better she venture to the room Caroline had arranged for her, in search of a good night’s rest herself.
Elizabeth blew out the candles on her sister’s bedside table, picked up her book, and walked outside into the hall.
She slowly closed the door and without much thought, turned to make her way to her own room, just down the hall.
To her surprise, there was Mr. Darcy! His room was just across the hallway from hers.
Either he had been waiting for her, or he had heard her leave her sister’s room and stepped outside his own bed chamber in anticipation of encountering her.
Despite the lateness of the hour, he was fully dressed, except for his dinner jacket.
That was comforting to Elizabeth. If for nothing else, it was exceedingly disconcerting finding herself in the middle of the night, in a dimly-lit hallway, alone with the man who had frequented her dreams for the past nights since she first had laid eyes on him at the assembly.
Elizabeth felt her heart race as he slowly drew nearer. He paused directly before her.
“Pardon me, madam,” Darcy spoke softly in a manner that took her breath away. “I must speak with you—in private.”