After bidding her a good day, Kirkwood slipped through the door and was gone. She almost missed his presence, for now she would have to address the troublesome problem of Mr. Darcy.
***
Darcy truly did not wish to know about Kirkwood’s proposal, but he also could not stomach remaining in ignorance any longer. By midafternoon, he had worked himself up into such a fine state of agitation that he was not fit for human company. So naturally, he chose to visit his club.
Perhaps Kirkwood would be at the club, drowning his sorrows—or God forbid, celebrating. Darcy both desired to the see the man and desperately wished to avoid it.
Upon his arrival, he wandered through the rooms at White’s. He happened upon Lord Kirkwood, ensconced in a chair, behind that evening’s paper, and with a glass of port at his elbow. Not caring if he was intruding on the man’s privacy, Darcy seated himself opposite.
“Kirkwood, well met.”
The lord lowered his paper and gazed curiously at Darcy. He did not appear to be flushed with the joy of the newly affianced, but Darcy did not know the man well. Perhaps he was not particularly demonstrative. He did not seem especially distraught either. How could proposing to Elizabeth fail to provoke strong emotions? What was wrong with the man?
“Hello, Darcy,” Kirkwood said mildly.
“Kirkwood.” He paused, but the other man did not appear inclined to say any more. “Momentous day, eh?”
“Hmm?” Kirkwood blinked. “Oh. I suppose.” He reached for his glass. “Miss Bennet refused me.”
“I am sorry
to hear that.” Darcy had not realized how tense his entire body had been until all of his insides relaxed simultaneously. His body was suddenly so loose he felt he was in danger of sliding off the chair and onto the floor. He sent a little prayer of thanks to the heavens. “Did she say why?” The worst of his fears was past, but had Elizabeth mentioned Darcy’s morning visit to Kirkwood? No, then the other man’s expression would be quite different.
Kirkwood took a sip. “She does not feel the danger to her reputation, and she also cannot consider an offer of marriage so soon following Richard’s death.”
“Oh?” Darcy’s heart sank. She had not given that as a reason for rejecting him, but perhaps it was because of his close friendship with his cousin. What a fool he was to think she would contemplate replacing his cousin— even for the sake of security!
Darcy shifted in the chair, trying to find a comfortable position. He wanted nothing more than to escape the conversation, but he was eager for every shred of information he could obtain. “Was Miss Bennet angry about the proposal?” Darcy asked.
“Angry?” Kirkwood echoed in bemusement. “Why would she be angry? No, she was very gracious, said she was honored, and so on.” Kirkwood watched the port swirl in his glass. “In point of fact, she seemed rather … amused.”
“Amused?” Darcy echoed incredulously. His proposal to Elizabeth had provoked many emotions, but amusement was not among them.
Kirkwood shrugged. “She is apt to discover the humor in every situation. She said someday my wife would thank her for refusing me.” The slight smile on the lord’s lips transformed into a grimace.
It was hard to reconcile the reaction Kirkwood described with the tight-lipped anger Darcy had faced earlier. If he and Kirkwood had made substantially the same argument in favor of marriage, why should his proposal be received with anger and Kirkwood’s with amusement? Yes, Elizabeth would enjoy the irony of receiving two proposals in one day, but she should only grow angrier each time someone espoused the idea that she needed protection.
“Did you tell her you had spoken with me yesterday?” Darcy asked.
Kirkwood blinked. “Y-yes. I said I had discussed the proposal with you.”
Darcy barely caught himself before swearing aloud. Elizabeth would suspect he had proposed marriage only to steal the march from his rival. Just when he believed her opinion of him could not sink any lower.
“Actually,” Kirkwood mused, “she did seem a bit put out then. You would think she would be flattered.” He shrugged. “Eh, women!” He tossed back the rest of the port.
So she was angry when his name was mentioned. Darcy dropped his head into his hands. She must truly hate him. What a fool he was. Any relief he had experienced now dissolved into a new sense of anxiety. Would she even speak with him again?
“Darcy? I say, are you feeling ill?” Darcy looked up into Kirkwood’s concerned face.
“A touch of queasiness.” All too true. “Perhaps it is best if I go.” Darcy managed to push himself into a standing position and stumble out of the room with a modicum of dignity.
Once more in the privacy of his carriage, he dropped his head against the back of the seat and marveled at the mess he had made of his life.
***
Elizabeth stared at the door to Darcy House and breathed deeply, trying to calm the agitation in her stomach. She had, upon occasion, ignored some of the lesser rules of propriety but never one as large as this. An unmarried lady should never visit an unmarried gentleman alone. If Georgiana were home, Elizabeth’s visit would have a veneer of acceptability, but she could not say what she must in Georgiana’s presence.
After Lord Kirkwood’s departure, Elizabeth taken a long, vigorous walk, trying to untangle and decipher everything that had transpired that day. While she could easily believe Lord Kirkwood had been straightforward with her, she was still mystified about Mr. Darcy. Had he intended to preempt Lord Kirkwood, and if so, why?