Page 97 of Cousin Conundrum

But… “Where am I?”

They exchanged a look. Elizabeth squeezed his hand. “You are in Netherfield Park. Do you not remember? Mr. Jones did not think you had hit your head hard.”

“Yes.” He remembered. “Netherfield Park.” And the tall auburn-haired woman…that was Miss Archer. The Archers were the Peacock. Weren’t they?

But how did Georgiana come to be here? By what fortune did Elizabeth grace his bedside?

“Should we send for Mr. Jones?” Georgiana asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. “Not yet.” Her attention fixed back on Darcy. “That is, not unless you feel you need him urgently?”

“I do not,” he replied even as he wondered why Elizabeth wouldn’t want his sister to fetch the apothecary.

Elizabeth sucked in a deep breath, glanced at Georgiana, pinned a smile in place and said, “If you feel well enough, I should explain first.”

“Explain?” Perhaps he’d hit his head hard after all.

“About the engagement,” Georgiana said unhelpfully.

Darcy stared up at them in confusion.

“You were so fevered,” Elizabeth began.

“And you kept begging us to let you see Elizabeth.” Georgiana’s cheeks pinked. “You kept pleading to be allowed to kiss her one more time.”

“You were so agitated, Mr. Jones feared for you,” Elizabeth added. “My parents forbade me to tend you, saying it was not proper. So I…” She glanced at Georgiana, who nodded. “Well, I told them we have a secret understanding.”

Darcy stared at Elizabeth. “Secret understanding?”

She squeezed his hand tighter. “Do not worry. Georgiana knows the truth. I am not attempting to trap you. Once you are well, or sooner if you prefer, I will beg off. I will say I changed my mind and throw you over.” Her hands convulsed around his and she drew in a shaky breath. “I know my reputation will suffer, but Jane and Mr. Bingley are betrothed now, so it will not be so terrible for me. If I never marry, Jane will see that I have a place with her.”

He could only continue to stare.

“I thought you would die, Fitz.” Georgiana’s voice trembled. “I did everything I could, but you were so frantic, and you pleaded and pleaded for Elizabeth. You grew calm the moment she came to tend you.”

He looked back and forth between them again, the two most important people in his life. He was engaged to Elizabeth? Did her declaring them engaged break the vow he gave his mother?

“You are displeased,” Elizabeth said quietly, dropping her gaze. “As I said, I will break off our supposed engagement as soon as you like. Though, for the sake of my good name, I would prefer to wait until you are well.”

“I would like nothing more than to be your betrothed, Miss Elizabeth,” he said, agony shooting through him as she raised luminous eyes. “But my vow…” That damnable vow.

“What vow?” Georgiana asked.

Looking at her, Darcy cleared his throat. “When Mother lay…” He shook his head, unwilling to utter the words. “When she was very ill, I vowed to her that if I did not marry Anne, I would marry someone who brings at least as much to Pemberley as Anne would.”

Georgiana’s frown mirrored Elizabeth’s. “I have never heard of this vow.”

Elizabeth released his hand, offering his sister a brittle smile. “It is no matter. I understand. As I said, I will break off our supposed engagement as soon as required.”

“But you nursed him back to health,” Georgiana protested, her idea of the romantic obviously offended. “He would have died without you.”

Elizabeth shrugged, looking away. With one hand, she dashed tears from her cheeks.

Darcy reached for her, but she kept her face averted. She did not take his hand. “I would rescind those words if I could. You have no notion how I wish I could take back that vow. Elizabeth…” Now was not the time. Not the place. Supine, with his sister crying beside him was not how he wished to reveal his heart, but he must make Elizabeth understand. “Elizabeth, I love you.”

Her head snapped back around, her eyes wide.

He proffered his hand again, ignoring the pain the motion awakened in his side.