Darcy followed her into the carriage, sitting beside her instead of across. She didn’t worry about the change. She had just taken a sleeping powder at the inn and thought she would drift off soon. Her husband would make an admirable pillow.

“May I rest my head on your shoulder? I should like to sleep,” she said.

Surprised, he said yes and she curled up next to him and he wrapped an arm around her, his hand resting on her lower back. Suddenly having an idea, she asked him, “Fitzwilliam, would you mind placing your hand just here?” She moved his hand to cover the sore spot on her back. “The heat of your hand eases my soreness.”

“Of course. I didn’t realize you were in pain. We could have stopped longer at the inn,” he said kindly.

“No, it isn’t necessary. A little rest will help immensely. I will feel much better when we reach the inn tonight and I can have a hot brick.”

He nodded, wondering what the problem was. She had been fine the day before. She was tired, certainly, but traveling had that effect on everyone and she had not gotten as much sleep as usual the last week. Another thing I am responsible for, he chastised himself. I must take better care of her. But this was not merely fatigue; she had said she was sore. Was it the carriage? He thought it was very well-sprung, though not as well as the larger one. Had he made a mistake in choosing this conveyance?

Just as he was working himself up into a fit of worry over his wife, she made a slight noise and burrowed her head into his chest. She was asleep already. He leaned himself back into the corner and pulled her so that her head was on his chest and her body between his and the backrest of the carriage. He kept his hand pressed into her back as she’d asked and placed a kiss on her head before closing his eyes and joining her in slumber. Sleep is a much better idea than fretting like an old biddy.

Several hours later, Elizabeth was still asleep but Darcy was awake. He’d opened a book and held it in one hand while the other gently stroked his wife’s back. He was surprised she was sleeping so long, but if it brought her relief, he supposed he should be glad. The sun was dipping toward the horizon and it would be full dark in less than two hours. They wouldn’t be driving much farther. Would she be able to sleep this night?