Page 29 of His Dark Heart
“I shall not, William, and if you ever use that tone with me again, I shall have Finn serve you a cold dish of horseshit.”
“I am incredibly tired of strong-willed women,” Darcy muttered, facing his friend.
“We are not half as exhausting as childish men,” countered Jane. “What was the latest quarrel about? Things had been going so well of late.”
“They were going well until Elizabeth made more assumptions. I told her I had to depart until the wedding, and she simply knew I was leaving to be with another woman.”
“For a woman who does not care whether you are alive or dead she certainly becomes easily irritated with the possibility of you being with another.”
Darcy shrugged, leaning against the wall near the door. “I do not care.”
Scoffing, Jane took a seat and stared hard at him. He shifted uncomfortably, finding he disliked being under the intense scrutiny of the first woman he had ever noticed. Jane knew some of his secrets, the ones that would not tarnish his image in her eyes. To Jane Gardiner, High Lord William Darcy was the same gangly boy she had kissed under the Spinning Oak by the lake. Suddenly, he was aware of how utterly disappointed in him she would be if she knew the methods he had used for acquiring Elizabeth as his bride. In moments, the ruthless prince who regretted nothing told himself he could never let his oldest friend learn the truth.
“You do care, or you would not be feigning otherwise.”
“Jane, pray, watch her and quit asking questions.”
“You are not my prince right now. You are my friend, and I want—”
His gaze narrowed and he glared at her. “This has nothing to do with whatyouwant, Jane.”
She flew out of the chair and levelled a finger between his eyes. “How would you like your horseshit served, old friend?” She pushed him roughly towards the wall and put her hand on the door handle. “In moments like these, William, I can see why your bride hates you. You need to understand that she is not a possession, but a person who should be treated as such.
“I have watched you harden over the years and have bitten my tongue. I have tried my best to be there for you, but damn you, you make it impossible for me on occasion. Either you tell me why Elizabeth is angry, or I withdraw my friendship.”
He looked away. Jane had never been so incensed with him before, but this time, he had given her plenty of reason and opportunity. He wrapped his arms around her small form and kissed the crown of her head.
“Do not threaten so. I apologise.”
“I am merely trying to help, William.”
“She hates me, and it bothers me, Jane, more than I care to admit. The truce was working, and now it is not.”
“Be honest with me. Are you going whoring? You are taking my husband with you, so you had better have the correct answer.”
“No. I swear on my father's grave. Elizabeth is not a horsewoman, and I have been searching all about for the best piece of horseflesh I can find to help her adjust to riding. We finally found her, but she is a day's ride, and I want to escort her personally.”
“She thinks you are leaving her for another woman, and you are getting her wedding gift. Why did you not say as much?”
“At first I wanted it to be a surprise and then she. . .” His fists balled and his whole body tensed. “She made me so angry, I did not want to tell her the truth! If she has been this long in my company and not realized that I have not been in any bed but my own, she is mad!”
“William, she is young. She does not understand men. From what I have gathered, her former betrothed was nothing more than a boy.”
“You are correct in that regard.”
“When have I ever been wrong?” Jane asked plainly. “This girl has a spark, my friend. I knew you would find the perfect girl to marry when I told you to go to hell. I did, however, think you would seek a woman who loved you.”
“Women who love me are a dime a dozen, Lady Jane,” he muttered.
“Indeed, they are, and I have never known you to shy from a challenge.” Jane’s voice was the impossible combination of sweet and sarcastic all at once.
“I must go. Do not tell her the truth.”
“Because she deserves to be punished or because you want to surprise her?”
“Perhaps a little bit of both.”
“You are a despicable man.”
