“Not at all!Why would you think such a thing?”
“Mr.Bingley seemed nervous, did he not?I think the change in my behavior disturbed him.”She chewed her lip, a bad habit she had not exhibited since she was eleven and Mrs.Bennet had told her it was unladylike.
Elizabeth stifled a laugh.“I do not think he was disturbed at all, Jane.He looked very happy to be with you and thrilled you returned his attention.”
“He did?”
Jane’s hopeful look quashed any laughter that threatened to bubble up.“He did.”She ran the brush through Jane’s long, honey-colored tresses.“Do not worry.All will be well.Continue on as you have done, and he will not fail to know your heart.It will become easier with practice.”
Jane sighed.“You are right.”She reached up to her shoulder and clasped her sister’s hand.“Thank you, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth kissed her sister’s head.“You are welcome, Jane.”
Darcy joined Bingley in the library for a brandy after the ladies had retired.He relaxed in a chair by the fire with his feet propped on a stool and a comfortable cushion behind him.
“It was a lovely evening, was it not?”Bingley asked jovially.
Darcy glanced towards his friend.“Yes, it was.You seemed to enjoy Miss Bennet’s company.”
“She is an angel!She has been ill all this time, and yet she has not complained.And she made very few requests of the servants.Caroline would have had the entire house waiting on her hand and foot, but Hannah says she has been no trouble at all.”
“Hannah?”
“The maid Caroline assigned to attend her.”
“Ah.”
Bingley stared into the flames dreamily.“I think I will propose to Miss Bennet.”
Darcy started and his brandy nearly sloshed out of his glass.“What?”
“I love her, I am sure of it.And I believe she loves me.”
Darcy blinked at him, his mouth falling open.“You cannot marry a woman you have known little more than a month, Bingley.”
“It has been six weeks, and I do not see why not.Plenty of our acquaintance have only seen their wives a dozen times before they wed them, and I doubt they have had as many conversations as I have had with Miss Bennet.”
Darcy stared at his friend.“Those acquaintances you reference were marrying for fortune and connections, not affection.They might be fond of their wives, but I doubt it is any more than that.”
“All the more reason to marry a lady one loves.They are in for a nasty surprise if they get six months into the marriage and find their wives cannot hold a decent conversation and have terrible taste in wallpaper.”
Darcy nearly choked.“Wallpaper?”
“Have you been to Wallace’s house?The paper in the dining room is covered in enormous exotic birds with menacing expressions.One fears one’s eyes may be pecked out while eating.Have you truly not seen it?”
Darcy felt an odd urge to both laugh and scream.“As unfortunate as bad taste in wallpaper may be, it is not a good reason to forego an otherwise suitable bride.Nor would the presence of good taste be a reason to choose a lady.”
“Darcy, you miss the point.”
“What point is that?”
“Marrying a lady for her fortune may be enough to make some men perfectly content, but I am not one of them.I have enough money.I wish to be happy.”
Darcy could not deny the earnestness in his friend’s expression or the truth of his statement.He knew plenty of unhappy marriages between wealthy members of the ton.It was not something he was in a hurry to experience and why he had avoided ladies so assiduously.He was not looking forward to giving up what contentment he had.
“I cannot say you are wrong, Bingley.However, I will say that being in an unequal union could be difficult.I would imagine it is quite painful.I would hate to see it happen to you.If you married a well-dowered lady with good connections, at least you would gain something tangible from the union.”
“That is rather cynical.”
