“I did not know she would do that!I thought she would scream and rail at you for a while.Besides, would you have believed me if I had said it was possible?”
Darcy was about to retort when he paused and thought of what the colonel had said.“I do not know.But I will certainly remember this for the future.”
“Cousin, I doubt anyone will forget what happened today.”
“Charlotte, may I speak with you?”Elizabeth asked as she approached her friend in the parlor.
Charlotte was darning socks and smiled briefly at her friend.“Of course.”
Elizabeth settled onto the small sofa across from her friend’s chair.Charlotte looked very domestic, sitting in front of the window with her darning, a simple morning gown of pale blue bringing out similar flecks in her soft grey eyes.
“I have always envied your eyes, you know,” she said absently.
“What?”Charlotte asked, disbelief in her voice.“Whatever are you talking of?”
“You know how my mother has always spoken.She went on and on about Jane’s blue eyes—as blue as the sky, as blue as a cornflower.”She sighed.“Kitty and Lydia also have blue eyes, and even Mary’s are a soft green.”
Charlotte tilted her head in understanding.“And yours are brown.”
“Like shoe leather, or a dog’s fur, or burned gravy,” quipped Elizabeth, only partially teasing.
“Like your grandmother’s,” said Charlotte stringently.“Old Mrs.Bennet was a wonderful lady.She was always very kind to me.She used to buy me sweets at the shop in Meryton.”She went back to her mending and added, “Besides, when has your mother’s opinion ever set you on your head like this?”
Elizabeth sighed again.“I know you are right—I’m afraid I am not myself of late.”
“I wonder what could be responsible for that?”
Elizabeth ignored her friend’s teasing.“You know, it is funny, but I have not thought of any of this in ages.But when I saw you there, looking so pretty and contented, I couldn’t help but remember.”
Charlotte flushed at her friend’s compliment.“Well, you should forget it as quickly.You are one of the prettiest girls in Hertfordshire, second only to Jane in Meryton, as you well know.”
“But we are in Kent,” she said, her usual teasing tone returned.
Charlotte shook her head and tsked at her friend.“What have you truly come to talk to me about?”
“You know me too well, my friend.Mr.Darcy told me that he is going to speak to Lady Catherine today.I am afraid she may make things rather uncomfortable for you here.”
Charlotte looked thoughtful.“Yes, I fear you may be correct.”
“Would you wish to accompany us to Town?There will be plenty of room in Mr.Darcy’s carriage, and you may be our chaperone instead of the maid.You may stay on with me at the Gardiners’ if you wish or continue on to Meryton with Maria.I’m certain Mr.Darcy would send you in the carriage if I asked him.”
“Oh, he would, would he?”
Elizabeth flushed.“He is very generous.”
Charlotte pinched her lips to hold in her laugh.Oh, how Elizabeth’s tune had changed!“Perhaps I should.It is pleasant weather for traveling, and the more I think on it, the more I think Lady Catherine will be perfectly horrid when she hears of your engagement.”
“We are not engaged, Charlotte,” said Elizabeth gravely.
Charlotte waved off her concern.“It is only a formality at this point.”
Elizabeth sighed, knowing her friend could not be corrected, but also knowing that Charlotte would not bandy such statements about in public, making them harmless.“So shall you accompany us to London tomorrow?”
“I believe I shall.I must prepare.”
She immediately put away her darning and Elizabeth penned a note to her aunt and uncle, informing them of the change in plans.She must find a way to get it to Rosings so that Darcy could send it express for her.She was certain Mr.Collins would not go out of his way to assist her.
“Charlotte, could I find an express rider in the village?”
