Page 30 of His Dark Heart
“More than you realize,” he replied enigmatically and was gone.
* * *
She stared at the painting, tears seeping into her eyes. It was very likely the most beautiful portrait she had ever painted. The one of Hill had not captured the nurse remotely and the portrait of Mr. Bennet had not been of his face, but of his back as he stared out the window of his library and into the gardens. The portrait of Darcy, though, was magnificent. She had worked feverishly and had not even realized it was evening until Jane appeared.
“My lady Elizabeth?”
She started and peeked around her easel, then offered a weak smile at Jane’s presence even though her body drooped.
“He is gone, is he not?”
“He left hours ago, my lady.”
“We have fallen back to the beginning, Jane.”
“I doubt that, Elizabeth,” Jane replied, holding her arms open for the girl. “If you had, you would not be nearly so upset.”
Elizabeth fell into the hug. “I am not mourning his leaving, but to go to another woman before he makes vows to me! My god, does he not have an ounce of decency?”
Jane let go of her mistress and walked behind the easel. She pursed her lips, still looking at Elizabeth. “I am sorry that you feel you have regressed in your relationship, but you must talk to each other.Youmust stop assuming the worst of him.”
She sighed and the corners of her lips turned up slightly.
“And your betrothed must not let his temper get the best of him.”
Elizabeth nodded sheepishly.
Suddenly, in the dim candlelight, Jane's breath caught.
“What do ye think?” Elizabeth asked.
“I think you have reminded me of the man I knew ten years ago, before he became High Lord, before he grew distant.”
Elizabeth studied the portrait then looked at Jane again. “Really?”
“This is the man who asked me to marry him.”
“He proposed to ye?”
Jane nodded, smiling at Elizabeth. “It was a long time ago, and he never loved me. You have to understand, Elizabeth, that greedy women have been pitching themselves in his path all his life. They knew he had power even before he was a man.
“He asked me to marry him because he knew he could trust me. I wanted to marry for love, which I did, but William has been wary of the blessed union ever since.”
“Then why do ye think he is marrying now?”
“Any number of reasons, but I shall not answer for him. You may ask him yourself.”
“He did not propose to me.”
Jane remained silent, waiting for Elizabeth to finish. When she did not, the lady wrapped her fingers through Elizabeth’s and squeezed them gently.
“Your marriage will be special; I am certain of it. I think you see him in a way very few people ever have, my lady. He needs you and I believe you need him.”
Elizabeth gazed at Jane with doubt and let go of her hand. To busy herself, she prepared to put the painting away. Even if Darcy was gone, she could not take the chance that he might return early and sneak into the atrium to steal a glance at the image.
“Many thanks to you, Jane. I shall spend the days until the ceremony considering how to be the best wife I can.”
Chapter Seven
