Darkness Falls Upon Pemberley by Susan Adriani Page A

idea what she was, but what sort of danger she posed to him, perhaps then you’d better comprehend my reluctance to place my trust in either of you so freely.”
    Darcy’s temper flared and , before he could check himself, said hotly, “ My sister is more than ten years my junior. In my absence last summer she was transformed from an innocent, carefree human girl into a veritable monster by the worst kind of fortune-hunter. In an instant her hopes—nay, her entire future and mine —were dashed to hell, so believe me when I say I’m well aware of the potential threats posed by a persistent suitor!” He leapt from his chair and strode to the opposite side of the room.
    It was then that the drawing room door was opened with a quiet click of its brass handle . Instinctively, Darcy turned toward the sound, his breath catching almost painfully in his throat as Elizabeth entered amongst a flurry of dark curls and pale, pink silk. She looked as beautiful as ever as her fiery gaze settled, not on her father, but directly upon him. Darcy swallowed thickly and willed himself to remain where he was rather than crossing the room to drop to his knees at her feet. Her name was on the tip of his tongue but, to his consternation, Mr. Bennet’s voice preceded his.
    “Elizabeth, what on earth do you think you’re doing, child?” Mr. Bennet demanded, rising from his chair.
    “I’d like to speak with Mr. Darcy, Father, regarding a matter most urgent.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    T welve
     
    “I’m afraid that’s out of the question,” Mr. Bennet replied, striding toward his daughter and taking her hand in his. “Why don’t you return above stairs, my dear, and leave the two of us to our discussion. You and I can talk later, after Mr. Darcy has gone.”
    But Elizabeth refused to be summarily dismissed. She retracted her hand from his grasp a nd spoke firmly. “I’m sorry, Papa, but what I have to say to Mr. Darcy cannot be put off until later. It must be said now.”
    “ Elizabeth,” her father said lowly, “you will do as I say. You must.”
    “ Have I not always done what you’ve asked of me, regardless of whether your decisions have brought me happiness or disappointment,” she inquired, looking him determinedly in the eye, “regardless of whether your requests were something I wished to comply with or not?”
    “ You have,” he conceded, “but—”
    “ I would like to speak with Mr. Darcy, sir.”
    “ Lizzy—”
    “ No, Papa. I deserve to know happiness! I deserve it just as much as Jane, for I have as much soul as she, and full as much heart. It may no longer beat within my breast, but I assure you it is there, and it aches.”
    Though a flash of compassion appeared in Mr. Bennet’s eyes, his countenance remained grim. “Elizabeth, we cannot give our neighbours any reason to suspect what we are. You know this, yet you insist upon arguing with me. It is very much out of character for you to defy me, especially when the safety of our family is at stake.”
    “ Our neighbours,” Elizabeth repeated bitterly. “I’ve grown tired of always considering our neighbours. You know as well as I that our neighbours will always find something to talk about so far as our family is concerned. Forgive me, but Mamma has seen to that many times, as have my younger sisters, yet it’s never their behavior you see fit to check, but my own. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
    “ Of course you haven’t my dear,” her father chided, reaching once more for her hand, “but your mother’s and sisters’ antics are quite effective in drawing attention away from both of us. You know that, and we must therefore use it to our advantage.”
    E lizabeth snatched her hand away and folded her arms across her breasts. “No, sir, I know no such thing. If anything, their unchecked behaviour invites scrutiny and gossip, and always will. Do you honestly think our neighbours failed to notice the differences in my