Suspense & Sensibility by Carrie Bebris

Author:Carrie Bebris [Bebris, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: det_irony, det_history
Published: 2011-08-02T08:17:59+00:00

Fifteen

"His character is now before you; expensive, dissipated, and worse than both."

-- Colonel Brandon to Elinor,

Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 21

Elizabeth waited in the drawing room with Kitty and Geor-giana for the gentlemen to rejoin them. She expected Darcy and Harry would be closeted either a very short time or a very long time, depending on Mr. Dashwood's degree of inebriation. If their guest was too drunk for questioning, she doubted Darcy would have much else to say to him tonight.

"Lizzy, Mr. Dashwood seems so altered this evening. I feel as if I hardly know him."

Kitty's words echoed Elizabeth's thoughts. She wanted to reassure her sister, but hardly knew herself how to explain Harry's conduct. Drunkenness was no excuse -- he should not have so compromised himself in the first place, let alone called upon his fiancee in such a state. But beyond that, the changes in his manner seemed to exceed the effects of liquor. Elizabeth had not been exposed to many men that far gone into their cups, but even so, she sensed something different in Mr. Dashwood, a more fundamental alteration that had taken hold before the alcohol and that would remain after his head ceased to ache in the morning. She'd perceived it earlier today at Grafton House, and could not yet define it, but it was there.

To Kitty, she merely said, "I am sure his devotion to you is constant. Rest easy in that." But the statement rang hollow in her ears, echoing her own uneasiness.

Mr. Dashwood and Darcy soon entered. One look at Darcy revealed to her that they had argued -- she could read it in the tense line of his jaw. What an unpleasant evening this was turning into all around.

"Miss Bennet, I'm afraid I must take my leave."

Mr. Dashwood's announcement disconcerted Kitty, who glanced uncertainly from him to Darcy and back.

"So soon?"

"Unfortunately so." Harry raised Kitty's hand to his lips. He then turned it over and kissed the inside of her wrist, lingering over it long enough to make everyone in the room fidget. "Bon-soir, ma cherie."

Kitty turned deep scarlet. "Good -- good night, Mr. Dash-wood."

Harry next turned to Elizabeth. "Mrs. Darcy, I thank you for your hospitality." He reached for her hand.

Elizabeth hesitated, sincerely hoping her wrist wouldn't follow the same path as Kitty's, but Mr. Dashwood merely grasped her fingers in his palm. Nevertheless, she experienced a sense of revulsion at his touch -- a reaction, she presumed, to his unconscionable conduct all evening.

She masked her discomfort, but he regarded her curiously. There passed between them something unspoken. Again, she had the sense that a shift had taken place within him. He was at once more and less the Mr. Dashwood who had entertained them at Norland -- more intense in his address, more bold in his actions, more hungry in his pursuit of desires. Yet less disarming, less moderate, less kind. Where before his manner put one at ease, it now set one on edge. It was as if

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