Pride and Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1)(61)

“It’s rather late to worry about propriety,” she said. “We were locked in that records room together for at least twenty minutes. Imagine if all the society gossips caught wind of that.”

Lizzie’s words were all bravado, though—it was now dark, and a killer was on the loose. Even if she didn’t trust Darcy, she was glad for the company of an opponent she knew rather than an unfamiliar one. The moment they climbed into the carriage, she said, “When shall we meet tomorrow to build our case?”

“My case,” he corrected with a heavy sigh.

“You wouldn’t have a case to build without me.”

“You’ve contributed a great deal, but as unfair as it is, women aren’t allowed in court.”

“That’s untrue. Women are not encouraged in court.”

He gave her a baffled look. “You think that if you show up often enough, one day they’ll just call you to the bar?”

“Why not?” she fired back. “There’s no law banning me from practicing. In fact, the only obstacle I face is men who don’t think I’m capable.”

“I’m not belittling you, Miss Bennet,” Darcy said. He pressed his fingertips against his temple. “You distrust me, and that’s the real reason you can’t leave it to me.”

“I have reason to. What of the way you treated Mr. Wickham?”

Darcy simply shook his head and said quietly, “You have greatly misjudged me.”

“Have I?” Lizzie asked with a small laugh. “Will you challenge me to a duel over it?”

His expression darkened, but he met her gaze head-on. “If you wish to know anything about my past, all you need to do is ask. Despite the grievances you bring against my character, I promise to do you the courtesy of speaking the truth.”

“Did you challenge another man in an illegal duel?”

“Yes,” he said.

She was shocked at his honesty. “Why?”

“I cannot give you the reason. It concerns the reputation of someone I care about deeply, and whose trust I will not break.”

Before today, Lizzie might have thought this was just a convenient excuse. But something in his expression made her falter. “Did you—did you win?”

He gave a short, scornful laugh. “You could say I did, but does anyone really win a duel?”

Lizzie supposed he was alluding to the hit to his reputation, although did he not still retain a respectable position in society? Money? Influence? A future?

“Whom did you duel?”

At this, Darcy gave her a rather puzzled look. But before he could respond, the carriage lurched to a halt. She looked out the window and saw her own front door. When she looked back, Darcy was reaching for the carriage door. “Is your father in?”

“Why?” Lizzie asked, panic flaring in her. Darcy wasn’t going to haul her straight to her father and tell him his daughter was out of control, was he?

Darcy stepped down from the carriage and held out a hand to help Lizzie down. “You said he’s a business law expert. We need a barrister. He seems like the obvious choice for court, don’t you agree?”

Lizzie nodded and followed him, but she was dumbfounded.

“Will he take on this case?” Darcy asked.

Lizzie had no idea how Mr. Bennet would react to this development, but she’d take the gamble if it meant another chance at getting her hands on the evidence Darcy was carrying. “Come in and let’s see what he has to say.”

They hurried through the rain, which was slowing to a light drizzle, to the front door. Lizzie wondered if there was any way that she could whisk Darcy upstairs to her father’s study without her mother spotting them and going into a tizzy over the impropriety of Lizzie arriving home unchaperoned with a young man. On the bright side, this might be the blow to her reputation that got her out of pointless social engagements!

“You have a lovely home,” Darcy murmured to her as they entered, dripping rain on the carpet.

“Shhh, I don’t want—”

Kitty’s voice rang out. “Who is this?!”

Lizzie looked up to see her sister on the stairs, staring down at them, and cursed inwardly. “Kitty. This is Mr. Darcy. Is Papa in his study?”

Rather than answering, Kitty said, “Mama is in a state over you, Lizzie!”

“Why? Doesn’t she have four other daughters to torment?”

“You’ll be lucky if I don’t tell her you said that! No, you have a caller! A gentleman caller! Which is awfully exciting, and perhaps a bit scandalous, seeing as you just now brought a different gentleman home—are you finally taking an interest in marriage after all? It’s about time.”

Lizzie froze, conscious of Darcy’s gaze heavy on her back. She thought of Collins—was it Monday already? If he had come here hoping to sway Lizzie’s opinion on marrying him, and Mrs. Bennet discovered that Lizzie had received a proposal and not told anyone . . . God help her.

“Where’s Mama?” she asked.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, the drawing room door opened down the hall and she heard Mrs. Bennet’s voice drift out. “I’m sure she’ll be home very soon. She’s a very headstrong girl, but if you’ll just be patient a little while longer, I am sure that— Lizzie!”