Darcy could not bring himself to admit the other possibility. Surely it could not be that he was already feeling something that he had thought was only a distant eventuality? Infatuation and fascination, of the kind that might lead to real love… It had seemed like he might never find the right person to spend the rest of his days with. But perhaps it was happening now, catching him unawares as his mother had often told him it would.
“Now, let us show them what London manners are,” Miss Bingley instructed. “You especially, Charles. You want to make a good impression on Miss Elizabeth.”
Mr Bingley gave his sister a sideways glance just before the front door was opened to admit their guests. He said nothing, and his features changed immediately as Miss Jane Bennet entered first. She was extraordinarily beautiful, dressed in a light pink muslin. And while the style was simple, a bit of lace had been added around the empire waist to elevate it for the evening.
Darcy held his breath as Miss Bennet stepped out of the way to allow her sister to enter. She was also dressed in a muslin, but of a deep, emerald green shade. There was no lace on her dress; its only ornamentation was a silk black ribbon tied about the empire waist of her gown. The contrast was exceptionally effective in showcasing the sparkle of her dark eyes.
Mr Bingley stepped forward, along with his sisters, and greeted the ladies. “It is so good of you to accept our invitation, ladies. Please, do come in,” Mr Bingley said. He was all eyes for Miss Bennet.
“It was an honour to be invited, Mr Bingley, Miss Bingley. And Mrs Hurst, it is a pleasure to see you again,” Miss Bennet said, her voice soft but elegantly clear.
“Charmed,” Miss Bingley said. Darcy frowned at her curt incivility. In contrast to Miss Bennet’s tone, Miss Bingley’s dripped with insincerity, even sarcasm. “I hope the journey over was not too uncomfortable, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Not at all. Why should it be?” Miss Elizabeth asked.
“The carriage looked very small indeed, no bigger than a cart, really. Did your father have need of the main carriage this evening?” Miss Bingley asked.
Darcy wished he could step in and steer the conversation in a more appropriate direction. But this was not his house. It was Bingley’s place to rein in his sister, and one Darcy could not bring himself to usurp. Though Darcy doubted Bingley, as the youngest sibling, would have the fortitude to do so.
“This is our main carriage. And no, my father rarely dines out,” Miss Elizabeth said. She did not seem fazed by Miss Bingley’s rudeness. “Indeed, had I been left to my own devices, I might have wished to walk. It is only a few miles from Longbourn, and it is an unusually warm evening. And with not a rain cloud in sight, it would have been most enjoyable.” Her ironic smile gave ample evidence of how little she cared for Miss Bingley’s veiled criticisms.
“Shall we not go into the drawing room? I am sure supper will be announced any moment,” Mrs Hurst suggested, and they all moved in that direction.
Darcy made a point of hanging back so he might get a word in with Elizabeth as they walked down the corridor. “How do you do, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked.
“Good evening, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth replied briefly. “I am quite well.”
Darcy smiled to himself to hear her reply, so utterly free from coquetry or flirtation. Miss Bingley would have done well to follow her example, for it showed a much more appealing elegance than all her too-pointed attentions.
“Miss Elizabeth, do come see us. I have a question that I am certain needs your expertise,” Miss Bingley called as they reached the drawing room door.
“Oh?” Elizabeth replied. She glanced at Darcy, then gave a slight bow. “Excuse me.”
She walked up to the brother and sister, and they headed into the drawing room, settling near the hearth. “My brother has said he wished he read more, and I recall hearing that you are a great proponent of the arts and of literature especially,” Miss Bingley asked. “Is it true that you read as you walk? I think my brother would find so much more enjoyment in reading if he could do so out of doors.”
Miss Bingley stayed beside Mr Bingley and Miss Elizabeth only long enough to see that they conversed easily, then left them alone. She then pulled Miss Jane Bennet aside to ask her advice on some subject, leaving him to converse with Mrs Hurst. It was not more than a few minutes before Mr Hurst came in and asked to speak to his wife in private. Darcy was left alone, watching as Miss Bingley played hostess. If he was not mistaken, she seemed to be pairing them off — and leaving herself to be his mate.
“Jane!” Elizabeth said brightly. “I think we are in need of your expertise now. I have given every recommendation that I can, and now you must confirm what I have said to Mr Bingley, about the best places to go for walks about the countryside.” No sooner had her sister joined them than she stood aside so thepair of them could talk. Darcy took a deep breath, thinking that it was at last his turn to speak with Elizabeth.
Perversely, his luck seemed bad to the last. Darcy had not more than opened his mouth before supper was announced, and they were all herded into the dining room by Miss Bingley.
He watched her with a frown. Indeed, he was not imagining things. She seemed bent on separating Bingley and Miss Bennet at all costs and throwing Bingley and Miss Elizabeth together instead.For one who had expressed such concerns about her brother marrying with a woman of great consequence, it was highly peculiar.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth sat down to supper with feelings decidedly mixed. Perhaps it should not have surprised her after the interlude in the drawing room, but it did. Why had Miss Bingley seated her next to Mr Bingley, with Mr Hurst on her other side? Had Miss Bingley misread her brother’s feelings on the night of the assembly? Or were there other designs at work? Jane had been seated at the opposite end of the table, nearly as far from Mr Bingley as possible.To Elizabeth’s satisfaction, she was confident that Jane’s well-concealed disappointment could not have been perceived by anyone else.
Despite her disappointment on Jane’s behalf, Elizabeth found herself enjoying the lavish supper. Though Mrs Bennet enjoyed setting an ample table, she usually employedsomerestraint. Here, there seemed to be none. There was roast quail, duck, souffle, and scallops in a beautiful bechamel sauce. There seemed to be endless side dishes and a different wine with everycourse. Though Elizabeth had never longed for French chefs or elaborate courses, she had to admit that it was pleasant. During the fruit and cheese course, she sipped at a glass of watered wine but declined to take another bite of anything, for fear that she would burst her stays.
She was grateful when the meal came to a close and the ladies excused themselves to await the gentlemen in the drawing room. To her astonishment, it was not a quarter of an hour before the gentlemen joined them. Elizabeth looked them over curiously, for it seemed they seemed gone for too little time even for the usual drink and smoke. Even more to her surprise, Mr Darcy came to seek her out. He bowed, then looked about the room for an awkward moment.
“I hope you are enjoying the evening so far, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked.
“I am, thank you,” she replied. She watched as Mr Bingley went to speak with Jane as soon as they came through the door. If she had to endure a few hours of stiff conversation and stern judgement from Mr Darcy so Jane could have her moment with Mr Bingley, then so be it. Watching them, she thought again what a handsome pair they would make. “And you, Mr Darcy? Are you enjoying the evening?”
“I am, yes,” he said. “I was very intrigued by the discussion you and Bingley were having about reading and walking. Pray tell me, do you walk every day?”
“As much as possible. If only the weather would cooperate, I would walk every day. I will admit that I sometimes walk even with a little rain, but I never read on such occasions. I do not like to see books unnecessarily ruined.”
