Page 27 of In Want of a Suspect
“Leave!” the man ordered.
But behind him, she saw Darcy’s tall figure emerge into the hall. He was walking briskly in her direction and she could tell by the set of his shoulders and the stony expression he wore that he was not pleased. “Miss Bennet,” he said, acknowledging Jane first, then, “Miss Elizabeth.”
“Darcy, get back to work,” Tomlinson growled.
Darcy flicked his gaze to his supervisor but didn’t move. “I beg your pardon, sir, but Miss Elizabeth is consulting on a case.”
Lizzie had the satisfaction of seeing the man’s eyes widen in shock. “A Pemberley case? Which one?”
“One that doesn’t concern you,” Darcy said.
“I demand that you answer me!”
“I’m afraid I cannot,” Darcy said, pausing slightly. “It’s confidential.”
This seemed to infuriate Mr. Tomlinson. His cheeks reddened and he hissed. “You are digging yourself into a hole that you will not be able to get out of!”
But Darcy did not react beyond saying, “Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, allow me to fetch my jacket and hat, and I will meet you outside.”
Darcy could be curt, but Lizzie sensed something else brewing beneath the surface, something she didn’t understand. Mr. Tomlinson had murder in his gaze. “I demand an explanation!”
“You will be receiving a letter from my father explaining the situation,” was all Darcy said, and then he turned to go.
Lizzie herded Jane and Guy outside, not willing to risk drawing Mr. Tomlinson’s ire. “Lizzie, are you sure that it was all right for us to come here?” Jane asked, worry creasing her pretty face.
“Don’t worry, Darcy never stays cross for long,” she assured her sister, although she knew that was hardly an answer to her question. The truth was, Lizzie was shocked by Tomlinson’s reaction. She knew he disapproved of her, but Darcy was the Pemberley heir! How dare Tomlinson speak to Darcy in such a manner!
“Now, I expected better from you, sir,” Lizzie admonished Guy. The dog looked up at her, the picture of innocence. “We do not bark at others in such a way, no matter how unpleasant they might be!”
“It seems as though it was warranted,” Jane murmured, making Lizzie laugh.
Guy looked away from the sisters and observed the busy street before them. When Lizzie looked back down at the dog, his gaze was on something behind her, and he was focusing with an unusual intensity. Lizzie felt a strange prickling at the back of her neck, and turned to see what had captured the dog’s attention.
She didn’t get a good look—all she saw was a figure turning abruptly to disappear around the corner.
Seven
In Which Darcy Comes Face-to-Face with His Uncomfortable Past
DARCY HATED THAT HE’Dsent Lizzie to wait for him outside as if she were someone he was ashamed of. She deserved better than that. He ought to have explained about Mr. Tomlinson before now. If anyone would understand, it was she.
Why hadn’t he just told her?
He took a steadying breath as he stepped outside and reminded himself that it wasn’t Lizzie’s fault that Tomlinson had decided to make his life miserable. However, it was his fault that he’d soon be caught in a lie about Lizzie consulting on a Pemberley case. Who would discover it first—Tomlinson, who seemed out to get him, or his father, who would surely use this as an excuse to forbid him from seeing Lizzie?
He added this to his long list of things to worry about later.
Lizzie’s back had been to him when he stepped out, but she turned around now and smiled weakly when she spotted him. “Hello. Is this a bad time?”
“Of course not.” Darcy rushed to reassure her, even as his conscience whispered,Liar. “Good day, Jane.”
“We are awfully sorry for making things difficult for you,” Jane added.
“Tomlinson would not be happy for me to leave at any time,” Darcy said. He worked to put a smile on his face. “He would chain me to my desk from dawn to dusk if he could.”
His attempt at humor pacified Jane, but Lizzie was watching him with a keen eye, and he knew that she wasn’t fooled. He looked down at Guy and exclaimed, “What on earth have you done to that poor dog?”
“It wasn’t me!” Lizzie protested. “That was all Lydia and Kitty. If they have their way, he’ll end up a spoiled lapdog. I had to tell Mama a rather too convincing lie in order to keep her from turning him out into the streets, and now I fear she thinks you hate him.”