Page 21 of Cousin Conundrum

Steven caught her hand. “Louisa, please, I am sorry for disappearing this morning. I realize I promised you a ride in the park.”

“Do you? Because the staff tell me that you departed not five minutes before I came down to meet you for our ride.” Anger and hurt mingled in her eyes and pinched her face. “You could not even wait five minutes to tell me to my face that you would not honor your commitment to me. Not that you are obliged to, apparently.”

“I am obliged to. You are my wife. I wanted to ride in the park with you.”

That earned him a hard glare.

Steven drew in a long breath. She used to look at him with hope and adoration. He lightly squeezed her fingers. “I very much wish to accompany you to Hertfordshire, for your company, not for your brother’s hospitality. I will be a most attentive husband there. You have my word.”

Her gaze roamed his face, searching.

Steven willed sincerity into his features.

Finally, Louisa shrugged. “You may want to ask your valet to begin packing for you, then. We plan to depart tomorrow after breakfast.”

“The sooner the better.” He brought her hand to his lips to kiss.

She looked down in obvious confusion. “Yes. Well. Please send Millie back in.”

“I will.” Steven gave her fingers a final squeeze, feeling suddenly buoyed. He may not have his freedom yet, but Padgett exiling him from London might be the next best thing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, would get in the way of him showering Louisa with attention once they reached Hertfordshire.

Chapter Seven

Elizabeth sat down to breakfast with her mind awhirl from recent news. News that had kept her up all night wondering if she would come face to face with the man she’d glimpsed in the carriage. Be introduced to the owner of that stern visage, strong jaw and serious gaze. To the face that filled her dreams, both asleep and awake. Could fate be so kind?

Their normal, dull existence had been quite disrupted, and by something far more substantial than Kitty’s inexplicable behavior. A gentleman had let Netherfield Park. An unmarried gentleman. One who, moreover, could afford to let the finest property in the neighborhood. One who might very well be the owner of the intent dark eyes that had studied her from inside that fine carriage that passed Elizabeth and her sisters on a walk to Meryton.

Rumor named him Mr. Bingley and labeled him quite handsome. The former Elizabeth believed. The latter she suspected would be said of any gentleman who could afford to let Netherfield Park, and so could not be credited until she met him. Unless he and the mysterious carriage-glimpsed gentleman were one and the same. Then, Mr. Bingley was exceedingly handsome indeed.

Though surely, after weeks of daydreams, she now exaggerated his appeal. His comeliness. The jolt that locking eyes with him had sent racing through her. In fact, she hoped she did. Once she met this Mr. Bingley and learned there was nothing at all special about him, she would be cured of her aggravating obsession. Her mind and heart would once more be her own.

To drive her carriage-man from her mind, Elizabeth reached for the jam and forcibly turned her thoughts to Kitty. Despite Elizabeth’s best efforts, the enigma of Kitty had only grown. Alerted now to Kitty’s morning rambles about Longbourn, Elizabeth had come to view more of her sister’s activities with suspicion. Such as the number of walks into Meryton her youngest two siblings took. Lydia always returned with a new ribbon or a hat to make over, or any number of small purchases, but Kitty generally came back empty-handed. What was she doing in the village if not shopping with Lydia? When next the two went into Meryton, Elizabeth intended to follow them to spy on Kitty.

Between her sister’s odd behavior, the arrival of Mr. Bingley, and the possibility that he might be her carriage-man, Elizabeth’s boredom was suddenly conquered to a rather uncomfortable extent. She could do little more than chase thoughts around and around inside her head. She must solve at least one riddle soon, or madness might take her.

Nibbling on toast while her thoughts spun, Elizabeth hardly noticed Jane and Mary’s arrival and took even less note when her mother and youngest sisters joined them. In fact, nothing interrupted Elizabeth’s musings until Mrs. Bennet, seated at her end of the table, cleared her throat and opened her mouth to say—

With a rustle, Mr. Bennet lowered his paper, preempting his wife’s words. “I hope, my dear, you have ordered a good dinner today, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.”

“Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody who is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call, and I hope my dinners are good enough for her.” Mrs. Bennet tipped her chin up, smug. “I do not believe she often sees such at home.”

“Who is it, Papa?” Lydia asked, her eyes bright with interest.

“Yes, Papa, who?” Kitty echoed.

Elizabeth took in the amusement glinting behind Mr. Bennet’s spectacles. He obviously found his knowledge entertaining. Or perhaps the entertainment lay in taunting them.

“The person of whom I speak is a gentleman and a stranger.” With that, Mr. Bennet returned his attention to his paper, as if they need know no more.

Elizabeth’s heart jolted. Could it be—

Kitty and Lydia let out delighted, deafening squeals. Beside Lydia, Mary winced, a sentiment with which Elizabeth sympathized. Their two youngest sisters sounded like a pair of jays fending rooks from their nest. Jane, her gaze abstracted, did not appear to notice Mr. Bennet’s words or Kitty’s and Lydia’s squawks.

In fact, Jane had been distracted of late. Ever since the day of the carriage? Had she seen the man as well? Worry shot through Elizabeth. No man would choose her over Jane.

But no, the direction they’d been walking, and the direction of the carriage, precluded seeing Elizabeth’s gentleman, as she knew she had no right to consider him, without turning around. She felt certain Jane hadn’t turned around.

“A gentleman?” Lydia demanded.