Page 12 of The Servants’ Matchmaking

"It is a numerical one."

She accepted the coat despite herself. It carried the faint scent of rain and wool and, underneath both, something warmer that she suspected was simply him. His body heat still lingered in the lining. Elizabeth fixed her attention hard upon the brass buttons. They were considerably safer to look at than gratitude, or whatever this feeling was that had lodged just under her ribs.

"Mr. Darcy, if we are discovered here, people may talk."

"Yes."

"You say that very calmly."

"I am not calm."

The admission changed the air in the little shelter more thoroughly than the thunder had done.

"I will ensure no blame attaches to you."

"You cannot command gossip."

"No. I can command my response to it."

The storm closed around the pavilion entirely now, rain striking the roof with enough force to make conversation private, though the open doorway kept them visible to anyone who reached the path.

Elizabeth pulled Darcy's coat closer around her shoulders. "What response would that be?"

"The truth."

Elizabeth watched the rain curtain the path in silver. "Truth has poor influence over people who prefer scandal."

Darcy glanced towards the open doorway, jaw tight. "Then I would give them consequence."

"You cannot challenge every matron in Hertfordshire."

He frowned, as though revising a list of possible opponents in his head. "I had not considered matrons."

"Your courage fails early, then."

His expression softened, though the concern did not leave it. "If any man spoke of you dishonourably, he would answer to me."

"That would make the story larger."

"Perhaps."

"And make you its hero."

The softness vanished at once, replaced by something more guarded. "That is not my intention."

Elizabeth regretted the sharpness even as she held the warning behind it. "A woman's reputation is rarely improved by two gentlemen fighting over its remains."

Darcy stepped back from the doorway, absorbing that. "Then tell me what would improve it."

"The people who know the truth should repeat it without drama. Mr. Bingley should say the path flooded. Miss Bingley should say she saw us leave in full view of the drawing room. The servants should say the door stood open the whole while."

"And I should say nothing?"

"You should say precisely the same as everyone else."

He considered this for a long moment. "You do not want rescue."

"I want an ally who does not turn me into a cause."