Read Mr. Darcy's Refuge for Free Online

you in half an hour, madam.” He turned on his heel without even a proper bow and left the room.
     

 
     
    Chapter 4
     
    Darcy discovered quickly that Elizabeth was not being modest when she described herself as a poor rider. Her back was ramrod straight, but given the death grip she had on the pommel of the sidesaddle, it was more likely out of fear rather than an attempt at proper posture. He had already instructed her twice to give the mare more slack on the reins, and again she was making the horse restive by pulling them too tight. If she continued to sit that way, she would be stiff and sore tomorrow. She would need to improve her seat when… he cut off the train of thought before it could begin. It was better not to even think of the future.
     
    At least the rain had stopped for the moment. The road was in sorry shape, pitted with mudholes and covered in deep puddles whenever it dipped into the valley, but it was passable. No doubt it added to Elizabeth’s anxiety, though. His own horse was sure-footed, but Darcy kept a close eye on the mare who had stumbled more than once.
     
    He could not believe he had lost his temper with her yet again this morning. There had been a few hours last evening when he had thought they had a happy future ahead of them, and he had been shaken into fury that night when he discovered his error. As he lay sleepless in Mr. Collins’s bed, he had resolved that in the morning he would calmly explain the truth about George Wickham to Elizabeth, and she would see reason. But when he finally had a moment to speak to her alone, it had taken only one ill-timed question from her to turn him into a raging beast again. His goals were more modest now. Maintaining a distant politeness seemed the best he could hope for.
     
    It took over two hours to travel the five miles to the town, which they spent in silence apart from his occasional suggestions about her riding. He had taken his cue from her when she came downstairs ready to travel, but apparently quite unable to look in his direction or to say more than a bare minimum for the sake of civility. The pathetic thing was that it had hurt that she would avoid dealing with him. How much a fool could he be?
     
    Once they reached the turnpike road at the top of the ridge, the last mile went quickly, and for the first time since leaving the parsonage, they seemed to have reached an area unaffected by the flooding. Coaches passed them going in both directions, and Darcy was acutely aware of the stares they were receiving from some of the passengers. Fortunately, Elizabeth seemed not to notice that she was the recipient of most of them, riding Mr. Collins’s swaybacked mare beside his own thoroughbred hunter. He hoped no one would recognize him.
     
    In town, Elizabeth finally seemed to take an interest in the surroundings, peering down lanes of workshops and houses. Darcy found the way to the provisions shop that the maid had recommended without difficulty. At least Elizabeth was willing to accept his help in dismounting; that was something, he supposed.
     
    ***
     
    Darcy found Elizabeth looking over shelves hung with dried herbs. “We have a little time while they load the saddlebags. Would you care to stroll the Parade while we wait? There is a colonnaded walkway if the rain should start again.”
     
    To his surprise, she gave him one of her bewitchingly arch smiles. “That would be lovely.”
     
    What had changed her mood? Raising an eyebrow, he gestured toward the door. He decided it would be wisest not to offer her his arm, given the likelihood that she might refuse it. “It is just around the corner.”
     
    She cocked her head. “Well, sir, you have convinced me of one thing.”
     
    “What is that?” He hoped she was teasing, whatever it was.
     
    “You are not in the habit of asking for credit.”
     
    “Was it so obvious?”
     
    She paused, her eyes sparkling even if her face was solemn. “Three repetitions of the name of