I crawled between the sheets with an apprehensive mind, for thoughts of Mr. Darcy’s dark mood nagged at me. From Colonel Fitzwilliam’s expression and behaviour, the earlier disagreement between the two men had appeared resolved; so what demon prodded Mr. Darcy to drink such an unusual measure of brandy? I had not seen him in similar dark spirits since I happened upon him beside the stream at Longbourn.I wrestled with the dilemma for some time. At last, I closed my eyes and vowed to banish all thoughts from my mind. Immediately, I felt his arms around me as we rode his great horse. Back and forth, our bodies swayed in unison to the natural rhythm of the stallion’s gait. I grew warm at the memory and threw off the blanket from my shoulder.“Do not do this, Lizzy!” I said aloud.I would not allow myself to enter into the pleasure of that remembrance, for I knew it to be forbidden. Would I never be free of the former affection in which I held Mr. Darcy? Obviously, he had kept his resolution to think of me as his sibling.
