Page 164 of Near Pemberley

Darcy immediately straightened a little. “Do not, for a moment, imagine that I merely stood there and allowed him to strike me.”

A faint smile touched her lips despite herself. “I had not imagined that.”

“Good.” He glanced away. “In the end, he was the one who remained on the floor.”

Elizabeth studied him. “And you?”

Darcy looked down at his injured hand. “I remained standing.”

The answer was so perfectly Darcy that she could not help but laugh softly. “My hero.”

The words were spoken lightly, but they affected him. Darcy tightened his fingers around hers – he was not amused, not proud; almost uncertain. “Your hero?”

“Why yes.” Elizabeth tilted her head slightly. “Though I confess, I had hoped my hero would possess a little more wisdom when it came to protecting himself.”

A reluctant smile appeared. “I shall endeavour to improve.”

“I hope you do.”

They simply looked at one another.

Then Darcy lowered his eyes. “I have spent much of my life believing that strength meant carrying everything alone.”

Elizabeth’s expression softened. “And now?”

“Now I begin to think I may have been mistaken.”

The quiet moment between them lasted only a few seconds longer. Then a whisper came from the corridor.

“Do not go in.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. Darcy looked towards the door. Light linens of clothing could be seen through the crack.

Another voice answered, equally quiet. “I only wish to see what they are doing.”

It was Lydia.

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, but the amusement in her expression betrayed her.

A second whisper followed. “Lydia, that is not proper.”

The words came from Georgiana in a whisper, though neither of them had made any serious attempt to leave.

“Help me stand,” Darcy said quietly, gesturing to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth eyed him with concern.

“Please.”

Carefully, she helped him rise. He moved slowly, favouring his injured side, but once he was standing, he turned towards the door.

Then, with his uninjured arm, he drew Elizabeth gently against him.

“What…?”

A spark of mischief appeared in his eyes. “Just play along.” He whispered and then called out.

Before she could question him further, he raised his voice. “Miss Lydia?”