Page 34 of In Want of a Suspect

“Yes. But I don’t think you’ll like it very much.”

Eight

In Which Lizzie and Darcy Discover Something Rotten on Rotten Row

JANE HAD BEEN CORRECT.Lizzie did not like her idea at all.

Unfortunately, it was the only one that made any sense, if Lizzie was to find a reasonable excuse for being on Rotten Row with Darcy that wouldn’t stress her mother’s nerves.

Which was why she found herself atop Georgiana’s gentle bay mare, inexplicably named Violet, the following day. It was a damp afternoon in Rotten Row, the sandy track that ran all the way from Kensington to Whitehall, but a good number of ladies and gentlemen on horseback and in open carriages were taking advantage of the weak sunlight breaking through the cloud cover.

This was not Lizzie’s idea of a good time, and even less so because she was currently in a riding party comprised of Darcy, Jane, Bingley, and, most distressingly, his sisters.

“Mr. Darcy, how wonderful of you to join us today!” CarolineBingley exclaimed. Unlike Lizzie, she looked beautifully at ease on the back of a horse. Lizzie didn’t know much about the creatures, but this one was very tall and his shiny black coat gleamed in the midday sun. Caroline wore a handsome sapphire-blue riding habit and a smug expression as she expertly guided her mount to fall into step next to Darcy’s, ignoring Lizzie. “Whatever is the occasion?”

“I wasn’t aware I needed an occasion to exercise my horse,” Darcy replied stiffly, and with far less bite than Lizzie would have minded.

“You never come out and join us anymore,” Caroline said with a small pout. She didn’t even spare a glance at Lizzie, who was awkwardly holding her reins and trying to keep her seat a stride behind them. “You’re always so very busy.”

“Yes, well that is the nature of jobs,” Lizzie cut in. “They do require work.”

Caroline sniffed and continued to address Darcy. “I don’t know why you bother. It isn’t as though you need one.”

Lizzie noticed Darcy’s jaw tighten at that. He was awfully sensitive about his job lately. She couldn’t tell if Caroline’s words irked him because they were true, or if something else was bothering him—something to do with his never-ending workload and why Tomlinson was so very cross when she’d visited the day before.

“Caroline, leave the man alone!” Bingley said. “So what if he works a job?Iwork a job. And need I remind you that without Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth, I might not be here!”

Lizzie had to smile at that, because it soured Caroline’s expression and because Mr. Bingley was never one to fail to give credit where credit was due, especially in regard to how Lizzie and Darcy had cleared his name of murder.

“I don’t know why you’d bring up such horrid memories, Charles,” Louisa Hurst said with a sniff. Although it hadn’t been quite a year since the murder of her husband, she was out of mourning and was surveying the nearby riders with a sharp eye. “Someone might hear.”

“My apologies,” her brother said. “But let this be a pleasant outing, please! It’s not often that I am joined by my sisters and dear friends on such a lovely spring day!”

Quietly, so no one else would hear, Lizzie leaned in her saddle toward Jane and whispered, “You are lucky that he is so charming as to make up for his sisters’ lack.”

Jane shot Lizzie a reproving look but could not argue with her.

Despite her displeasure at spending time with Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst, Lizzie had to admit that Jane’s idea was a clever one. She and Darcy had been warmly welcomed to join the party by Bingley, and Mrs. Bennet had deemed it perfectly suitable that Lizzie should take the afternoon off work to spend time seeing to her sister’s social life.

But Lizzie was beginning to wonder just how on earth they were supposed to find Leticia Cavendish in a park humming with society members, riding and driving their rigs, seeing and being seen. There were people everywhere she looked. Besidesfinding her, how were they supposed to have an open conversation with Leticia among all these witnesses?

With dexterity that Lizzie lacked, Darcy guided his horse to fall back in pace with Lizzie’s borrowed mare. “Watch your reins,” he advised. “Give her some slack.”

Lizzie’s body immediately tensed at the idea of letting this great creature have full control, but she forced herself to relax her grip. The mare took the opportunity to shake her head, making the bit and bridle jangle, but her stride seemed to loosen into something less choppy.

“See? Much better.” Darcy’s smile turned mischievous. “We ought to do this more often.”

“Not on your life,” Lizzie shot back. “I’m satisfied with where my own two legs can carry me, thank you.”

“Being comfortable astride a horse has numerous advantages,” Darcy said, and if Lizzie didn’t know him better she’d think he was lecturing her. “Not only are you in a position to travel quickly if need be, but it’s a good form of exercise and it allows one to socialize in a less structured setting.”

“Well, if I were actually riding astride, maybe I’d feel the same way,” Lizzie said, trying not to wriggle around too much in her sideseat saddle. “As it is I can’t help but feel as if I’ll slide off at a moment’s notice.”

Darcy had the good grace to look apologetic. “Ah. Well, yes... I can imagine that is awkward.”

Lizzie smiled at the acknowledgment, then changed the subject. “I am certain there are no fewer than eight of Mama’sacquaintances who will be calling on her to mention that two of her daughters were seen riding withtheMr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.”

“Do you suppose it will do anything to help your mother’s opinion of me?”