Page 1 of Shadows beneath Rosings (A Darcy and Elizabeth Quick Read Interlude #5)

T he teacups were very fine and delicate.

But they were far too small. Afternoon tea at Rosings was bad enough without being thirsty.

Elizabeth knew from her previous visits that she would not be offered a second cup, and this time had made sure to drink two glasses of water before leaving the parsonage.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to keep her composure, and dragged her longing gaze away from the teapot.

She steeled herself and raised the empty cup to her lips, pretending to take another sip. Then she put her cup down slowly, determined not to let her lips twitch. If the teacups were ridiculously small, they looked even more absurd in the large hands of both Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Unfortunately, she realised too late that Mr. Darcy was looking at her and she turned her gaze away fast, lighting eventually upon Lady Catherine, who was still holding forth to her nephews about the damage done to one of the tenant farms when the river had had the effrontery to flood. At Rosings, no less!

Elizabeth concentrated on looking both concerned and attentive, her eyes wide in pretended admiration.

A slight choking noise from the corner where Mr. Darcy was sitting almost caused her to look away from his aunt. Was he amused?

She kept her face as impassive as his always seemed to be, whilst inwardly, she seethed.

She did not want to be an object of amusement, neither did she want to attract unwanted attention from Lady Catherine.

That lady had been quite officious enough on the previous occasions she had summoned them to dine, or for tea, and Elizabeth was heartily sick of it, as well as Mr. Collins’ excessive servility and gratitude.

The sooner she was back in town, the better.

But Lady Catherine was distracted for a moment. “Darcy, do you not think Anne is looking very well this spring? I have a new physician from London who calls each week, and I believe she is looking much the better for it.”

Mr. Darcy turned to his cousin, who was, as usual, swathed in several shawls covering her thin body. Her sullen expression seemed more pronounced than usual, and Elizabeth wondered why it was so.

“Indeed, cousin. I hope you are enjoying the spring weather.” Mr. Darcy’s voice was polite, but unemotional.

Miss de Bourgh did not answer —if she had, she would not have been heard — as her mother sailed on. “Of course not. It is still far too early in the year for the weather to be suitable for one of Anne’s delicate sensibilities to risk her health by going out.”

Elizabeth felt the gaze of both Mr. Darcy and the colonel on her.

She hoped very much that neither of them would comment on the fact they had often seen her out on her walks, often without her pelisse.

Indeed, Mr. Darcy seemed to have ignored her pointed comments about her favourite rambles, which she had hoped would cause him to absent himself; he still often interrupted her solitude to walk silently alongside her.

Why did he not stay away from her? He must realise how much she despised him.

Mr. Collins leapt into the silence with a rapturous comment about Miss de Bourgh’s most elegant frail health, and Charlotte met Elizabeth’s incredulous gaze with a warning glance.

As Elizabeth glanced away, she caught Mr. Darcy staring at her again. What did he mean by it?

Back at the parsonage, Elizabeth managed to keep her amusement under wraps until Mr. Collins had bustled off to his book-room to prepare his sermon for Sunday, and Charlotte turned to her.

“You may tell me now, Eliza. What was so amusing at Rosings that you nearly lost your countenance?”

It was too much. Elizabeth raised her hands to her mouth, quite failing to prevent her gales of laughter. “Oh, Charlotte, my dear. Could you not guess?”

Her friend was chuckling, too. “No, I know not; only that your laugh is so infectious, we would soon have offended Lady Catherine.”

Elizabeth bit her lip, trying to force herself to solemnity, although little hiccups of glee still interrupted her occasionally.

“It was those teacups again.” She shook her head.

“They look ridiculous in our hands, but did you not think the sight was much more so for Lady Catherine’s nephews?

They are large men, and their hands dwarfed such elegant porcelain.

” She snorted. “They could not even attempt to use the handles as they were intended, the gap is too small even for their littlest fingers.”

Charlotte took a deep breath and sighed. “You are right, my friend, but I am happy you could contain your amusement until we were well away from Lady Catherine — and Mr. Collins.”

“I would not discompose your husband for the world, dearest. I know he would be deeply offended.”

Charlotte’s eyebrows rose. “Both the gentlemen noticed. I expect them to ask you what was so amusing when they see you next.”

“I thank you for the warning,” Elizabeth grinned at her friend. “Before then, I will think of something innocuous to have been amused about.” She jumped to her feet. “Will you join me to take a turn in the garden? I must walk off the itch in my feet.”

Charlotte shook her head. “Take Maria with you, if you would, Eliza. I have to speak to Cook, and Maria is in dire need of fresh air.”

“Of course. I am glad her health will not be at risk outdoors due to any delicate sensibilities .”

Charlotte rolled her eyes, and Elizabeth departed the room to look for her friend’s young sister.