Elizabeth began to see why Mr.Darcy said Sir Daniel reminded him of Mr.Bennet.
“I suppose you are right,” she said.
“We old judges often are, Miss Elizabeth.”
She could not help but laugh at that.“Thank you, Sir Daniel.”
“Whatever for?”
“For the good company.”
He smiled and nodded, and she turned back to the countess for the next round of questioning.
“Miss Elizabeth, do you play the pianoforte?”
It would be a long evening.
Dinner was interminable.Elizabeth told Lady Hopewell about her childhood—wild and country-bound; her education—indifferent and unfeminine; and her family—unconnected and untitled.Lady Hopewell was more than a little shocked by the fact that Elizabeth had neither had a governess nor gone to school.She was unimpressed by the country tutors her father had hired.She was appalled that Mr.Bennet had thought it valuable that his daughters learn to swim but had not insisted they all learn to ride.
Elizabeth did not tell her that his young cousin had drowned when she was only seven years of age and that his sister had been thrown from a horse so many times his father had been forced to sell the poor beast.Mr.Bennet had his reasons for his choices, but Elizabeth doubted Lady Hopewell would understand them.She would not debase herself or her father by justifying his decisions to someone so wholly unconnected to them.
When the courses changed—there were seven in total—she turned her attention to Sir Daniel.He was entertaining and inquisitive, and after an hour of conversation, she found his mind well-informed and his curiosity as rabid as he had claimed it to be.He asked her questions about herself, but of a different variety than his niece.He wished to know about her relationship with her father.What sort of holiday traditions she enjoyed.What kind of books she favored and whether or not she was musical.
He too had reasons for his questions.He knew his great-nephew to be fond of music and to enjoy reading, and Fitzwilliam’s happiness would be greater if his wife indulged him in such things.He asked if she enjoyed the country or town more and if she was looking forward to being the mistress of an estate.He asked her about her sisters and how she spent her free time, and why her aunt and uncle in London were her favorite relations.Overall, he seemed happy with her responses, or so she thought.
“There is only one thing left to do, Miss Elizabeth.”
“What is that, Sir Daniel?”She smiled brightly at him, feeling a pleasant kinship and the beginnings of familial affection for him.
“Be careful with that smile, young lady.You will fell more than one young man if you are not more judicious.”
She laughed delightedly.Mr.Darcy finally looked her way, but she was too focused on his great-uncle to notice.
“You are a flatterer, Sir.I am surprised.I had thought all judges to be too stodgy for such things.”
“Ah, but I am retired, my dear.”
She shook her head fondly.“You must tell me what I should do now.I am all curiosity.”
“Now, you must meet my daughter, Lady Hightower.”
“Another lady!I had no idea Mr.Darcy’s relations were all so grand.”
“Well, the poor dear did not do it apurpose.She married a barrister with a modest income and was quite happy with her choice.Then his elder brother, the viscount, died and left only daughters, and her husband inherited the title.”He spoke with his eyes downcast, as if a great tragedy had befallen his daughter in the form of an inheritance and a title.
“If she is anything like her father, I shall be pleased to meet her.”
“Now who is the flatterer?”
Elizabeth smiled back innocently.“I speak as I find, Sir.”
He shook his head.“She is in the country at present.She is only a few years older than young Fitzwilliam.”She nodded towards Mr.Darcy.“I married rather late in life.She will come to Town for a few weeks at the end of the month.I will introduce you then.”
“I shall look forward to it.”
She was not certain how it had happened, but she knew she had just passed some sort of test and was feeling rather pleased with herself.She looked to Mr.Darcy with a smile, hoping to share in her victory.He met her gaze for what felt like the first time all evening and seemed surprised to see her looking so pleased.He returned her smile and for a minute, it was just the two of them, sharing a stolen moment.
Then the door to the dining room burst open and a loud voice cried out, “Mother, I forgot you had guests this evening.”
