A Touch of Night Read Online Free PDF

her head. It had been such a compelling idea that she had wanted to believe it, but Elizabeth must be right. How would the were have come to her and known her? It was a dream. No more than a foolish romantic dream. And yet . . .
    "Do not worry about it," said Elizabeth, stroking Jane's cheek. "You sleep, dearest, and get well. I will be here by your side."
    * * * *
    The doctor was called to see Jane and his advice was that she not be moved, though both Elizabeth and Jane were anxious to return to Longbourn. Caroline, seeing that she had no choice but offer her hospitality to Jane until she was well enough to return home, invited Elizabeth to stay and nurse her, thus relieving herself of the burden she had no wish to take part in. Miss Jane Bennet was a dear, sweet girl, but she and Louisa had better things to do than cater to the wishes of a country nobody.
    Elizabeth spent the rest of the day with Jane and only went below stairs to partake of the evening meal with the family. Mr. Bingley asked after her sister in a most solicitous manner, offering anything that was in his power to provide for her comfort, and even Mr. Darcy politely said that he hoped Miss Bennet was feeling better. Caroline and Louisa declared how desperately sorry they were for their friend and then began to speak of the latest London fashions, and Mr. Hurst had no time for anything but his food. Elizabeth could not return to Jane fast enough. She was so fast, in fact, that she had omitted to bring some new reading material, and the volume Miss Bingley had provided on Jane's night table, Of Witches, Weres, and Warlocks , did not appeal to her in the least.
    It was quite late and Jane was at last sleeping peacefully, when Elizabeth made the decision to find her way through the slumbering household to the library. She pulled her robe close about her and held her candlestick up high. Silently she followed the corridors to the main staircase and then descended. If she was not mistaken, the Netherfield library was next door to the drawing room. There was a chill draught running through the lower hallways, and as she passed an open door, her candle blew out. She almost stumbled as darkness enclosed her, but after taking a deep breath and letting her eyes become accustomed to the looming shadows, she started forward again. Then she heard a noise -- a slight scuffling and an earnest whisper. Light glowed dimly from the open doorway. She stopped, unsure whether to retrace her steps or continue on to the library. The whispers became more distinct.
    "Listen to me. You are with me now -- let me hold you till the urge passes."
    "I can't help myself. It is strong. So strong."
    "You can overcome it."
    "Darcy -- you don't understand. There is a desire that fills me more than ever before."
    "I understand your desire. Do you think I do not have it? But now is not the time. Think of your sisters and your guests -- they must never even guess at this thing we share."
    Through the doorframe, silhouetted against the banked fire, Elizabeth could see two men in what could only be construed as an ardent embrace. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley! The impassioned words that had gone between them spoke of something far deeper than mere friendship. Elizabeth blushed furiously at the thought of what that must mean and then turned tail and ran upstairs to the safety of her sister's bedside.
    * * * *

    In the morning, with the bright winter sun shining in through the bedchamber window, Elizabeth could hardly credit what she had seen the night before. Could that walk through the darkened house have been all in her imagination? A dream? It was too gothic to be real -- the snuffed candle, the mysterious voices, the image of two men in close embrace. She looked at the discarded book upon the nightstand. She had not read much of it, but what she had read, and her previous suspicions of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley being engaged in some kind of nefarious activities, might possibly have brought on confused