Page 11 of Lizzy's Story
“Have fun.” I gave Jane a small smile, trying not to let her see my conflicted feelings about being left alone with Darcy. It was exactly what I needed, but I wasn’t confident I knew how to interrogate a killer. Or even if I should.
Jane gave me a brilliant smile, put her hand in Charles’s, and walked off without looking back. I didn’t think she’d ever even glanced at Darcy since she couldn’t take her attention from Charles.
Once Darcy and I were alone, I ignored how my instincts screamed at me to get somewhere safe. But what sort of journalist would I be if I ran from the huge story that had fallen into my lap?
My cheeks heated anew at the idea of falling into laps, and I pushed the thought aside. It was time to show Maxine my front-page dedication, even if my heart wanted topound free of my chest. Because what was the worst that could happen to me in the middle of a crowded club, even if we were in a somewhat isolated VIP room? At least the door was still open.
“I don’t believe I’ve seen you around before. Are you new to Austen Heights?” I kept my tone conversational despite the way my palms were sweating.
“Yes.” Darcy crossed his arms and drummed his fingers on his forearm. Each tap seemed to emphasize his impatience.
“How long do you plan on staying?”
“Undecided.” He looked down his nose at me, literally because he was so tall, but also because he thought he was better than me.
I frowned and shifted my weight from foot to foot. The floating purple candles lit half of Darcy’s face while leaving the rest in shadows.
The music outside grew in volume, turning into something with an eerie minor melody. I raised my voice and asked, “Have you found a place to stay in town?”
“Yes.” He glanced toward the open door as if dismissing me.
Cursed soul. He was as unpleasant as a corpse. He spoke as if our conversation was a chessboard and each move had to be careful and deliberate, as if he valued his words too highly to throw them out carelessly and I wasn’t worth the effort. But if this were a game, I’d play to win. Maybe my next question would be the key to unlocking more than monosyllabic answers.
“I hear that Donwell Abbey or Kellynch Hall are very nice Airbnbs this time of year, and there’s plenty of room for a large group.”
“We aren’t using an Airbnb.” He twisted his lips as if offended that I’d even suggested it.
I silently patted myself on the back for getting an entire sentence out of him. He hadn’t reacted when I’d mentioned the hotel or a place in town, so… I stilled. Maybe that was it. There were a few places on the outskirts of Austen Heights. I’d look into it as soon as I got home tonight.
“Are you looking for things to do to kill time while you’re here?” I asked, watching for any reaction to the wordkill.
He flinched but almost immediately smoothed his expression. “Are you always this nosy, or is the inquisition just how you treat visitors here?”
“An inquisition? That’s going a bit far. I’m just trying to get to know you.” And determine your motive for murdering a man in cold blood. I flashed him my sweetest smile.
“Well, don’t.”
I did my best to brush off my annoyance at his curt dismissal and took advantage of the moment to study his tailored black blazer and green dress shirt, trying to figure out where he fit in with the Bingleys. My instincts, as well as his easy dismissal, told me he was a highborn fae, but if he was close to a prominent family like the Bingleys, why didn’t I recognize him?
“A friend of yours, Darcy?”
I spun around to find a woman—Caroline Bingley—appraising me from the doorway.
“Not particularly.” Darcy didn’t even bother looking at me as he joined her at the door, staring off into the crowds. “Where’s Louisa?”
“I don’t know. I think she’s coming later.” Caroline flipped her red curls over her shoulder. “She hasn’t been around much lately.”
I tried to brush off my annoyance as easily as Darcy had brushed me off. I racked my brain before remembering that Louisa was Charles and Caroline’s sister. From what I remembered from the few articles I’d seen her mentioned in, Louisa Hurst was married and not as prone to enter the spotlight as her younger siblings.
“And who is Charles dancing with?” Caroline asked, her gaze narrowed.
Darcy’s lips pursed in a scowl.
“Thatis my sister.” I met Caroline’s gaze. She had to know that I didn’t consider us beneath them, whatever she and Darcy believed. If anything, they had it backward. Jane was too good for Charles. She was one of the sweetest people he would ever meet.
A loud laugh drew our attention to the right, where Lydia and Kitty stood in the middle of a group of men with short haircuts and thick builds. A few bore the silvery outline of the Marked. I’d assumed they were military because of their stiff bearing, but considering theircoincidental timing with the Bingleys’ arrival, they might be bodyguards.
Caroline wrinkled her nose and glanced at me. “More of your sisters, I presume?” Since fae could sense other fae, she must have recognized the same wrongness from them as she did with me. Most Marked weren’t accustomed to interacting with half-fae.