Jane squeezed Elizabeth’s hands. “And he has exceptional taste to fall in love with Lizzy above all others. Oh, my dearest, I am so happy for you!”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm. If convincing her sister and closest friend was this easy, nobody else would dare doubt the truth of her and Mr. Darcy’s sudden engagement. His plan had worked. They would have to marry. There truly was no way out of it now.
Quick to consider the more pleasant consequences, Elizabeth focused on Jane. According to her mother, Mr. Bingley had danced with her again. If Elizabeth’s betrothal smoothed the path for Jane and Mr. Bingley to marry, she was content. It would be a much simpler matter to create opportunities to put them in each other’s company now that she was engaged to Mr. Darcy. They would still require chaperones, and who better than Mr. Bingley and Jane?
From the corner of her eye, she saw Kitty and Lydia approaching a band of officers. She did not wish to believe them so malicious that they would entrap her with Mr. Darcy. As much as she loved them, they were not clever enough to contrive a successful compromise. But she had to know.
Carefully phrasing her inquiry so as not to kindle curiosity, she asked Charlotte, “Have you made any astute observations worth sharing this evening?”
Charlotte smiled. “Your engagement eclipses all my observations. Although I cannot help but observe how dissatisfied Miss Bingley and her sister look. Also, Mr. Collins seems to have disappeared. I have not seen the gentleman in at least an hour.”
“Much to the relief of every lady’s toes! Is that all? You have learned nothing shocking to share with your dearest friends?”
“Nothing which you do not already know.”
Those scheming, lying, vengeful brats!
Another dance was beginning, and Elizabeth slipped away before she could be claimed. Cutting a direct path over to her sisters, she tugged them away from the officers with a sharp, “One moment, please.”
Pulling them to the dreaded edge of the ballroom where those in want of a partner sat, Elizabeth whisper-hissed over her sisters’ protests. “Charlotte never asked you to meet me.”
Kitty and Lydia unanimously pinched their lips shut. Oh, they were guilty. So guilty!
Elizabeth restrained herself from shaking them. “Why did you send me to the study?”
“We only wanted to dance with the officers, and that was the farthest room I could think of. It was Lydia’s idea.”
Lydia stomped on Kitty’s slippered foot. “Hush, you ninny!”
Elizabeth took a deep breath and forced her clenched fists to loosen. She never would have believed her youngest sisters capable of arranging a successful compromise, but she had to know for sure. “You will tell me the truth Lydia, or I will keep you from your dance partners.”
Lydia’s eyes widened. “You would make me sit out a dance?”
“You would be in good company.” Elizabeth nodded at the older women and shelved ladies sitting along the wall.
“You would not dare!”
Crossing her arms, Elizabeth looked sternly at her sisters. “Do not provoke me.”
Jutting out her chin, Lydia finally replied, “I do not know why you are so cross. Who was I to know that you and Mr. Darcy had arranged a tryst?”
Elizabeth’s face flamed. She could not correct Lydia and risk casting doubt on the tale when her family’s honor hung in the balance.
“A secret engagement! How romantic!” swooned Kitty.
Elizabeth deeply wished to correct her. There was nothing romantic about her engagement.
“I only wanted to dance,” Lydia pouted. “Kitty was supposed to send you to the book room.”
“Book room, study, what is the difference? You said to get her away, and I did that, did I not?” Kitty plopped her fists on her hips, apparently having had her fill of Lydia’s criticisms.
“You forgot, and now Lizzy is engaged before me! If John Lucas were here, I could have secured an engagement before the end of the night. You ruined everything, Kitty!”
“You and your haughty designs!” Kitty flung back.
Lydia stood taller. “Two officers more, and I shall have danced with every uniformed gentleman in attendance! Who has Lizzy danced with tonight? I am far more desirable than she is!”
Kitty rolled her eyes. “A fine accomplishment!” More seriously, as though the thought had just occurred to her, she added, “Between you, Lizzy’s engagement, and Jane’s success with Mr. Bingley, Mama will not nag about my cough. She will be in raptures for days!”
