Elizabeth tilted her head, voice silken with feigned innocence. “Come, Mama—do tell us everything from your point of view.”
Mrs. Bennet’s face softened into unmistakable glee. “On the moment! Mr. Bingley is delightful—all smiles and amiability. He even laughed at your father’s jokes—which is no small feat.”
Jane blushed instantly, her gaze dropping to her hands.
Lydia let out a whoop of triumph. “Oh-ho! Jane’s smitten already!”
“Lydia!” Jane protested, mortified.
Mrs. Bennet ignored them, pressing on. “Young, handsome enough, exceptionally civil. He even listened to me properly—looked at me when I spoke, which I appreciate in a man. And he is quite eager to return the call.”
Kitty leaned forward, eyes round with anticipation. “And the other one? The rich one? Mr. Darcy?”
Mrs. Bennet’s mouth pinched with reluctant concession. “Tall. Serious. Very polite, mind you—but so unbending. He spoke little, and only when necessary—but every word carefully chosen.”
Elizabeth arched a brow. “That sounds almost like a compliment, Mama.”
Mrs. Bennet threw up her hands. “It was, I suppose. He was civil. Though he allowed that dreadful cat of yours to crawl all over him.”
“You let Sophocles in the room, Lizzy?” Mary demanded, scandalised.
Elizabeth winced. “He escaped his box, Mary. And then installed himself on Mr. Darcy’s shoulder.”
Kitty and Lydia collapsed into giggles.
“Oh, Lizzy!” Lydia shrieked. “Did you die of shame?”
Elizabeth lifted a hand, fighting laughter. “He was... remarkably patient. He even petted Sophocles and let him stay there.”
Kitty’s eyes went enormous. “A cat on his shoulder?”
Mrs. Bennet pressed a hand to her forehead, half-laughing, half-groaning. “Oh, I nearly expired on the spot. The mortification! But he was very gracious about it—which I suppose says something.”
Mary closed her eyes in moral judgment. “Animals know true character. If the cat approved, he cannot be all bad.”
Elizabeth pointed at her in mock triumph. “There! Even Mary agrees. Mr. Darcy is redeemable.”
Jane, still blushing, gave a shy smile. “They seemed... very nice.”
Lydia thumped the table. “I don’t care about nice. Are they coming back?”
Mrs. Bennet straightened immediately, eyes blazing with purpose. “Of course they are! Mr. Bingley promised. And they must all see you properly at the assembly.”
Kitty and Lydia squealed like children at a fair.
Mary picked up her book with a long-suffering sigh. “Assemblies. Frivolity and temptation.”
Elizabeth reached across to pat Jane’s hand. “Steady, dearest. We have survived being presented to two gentlemen at once—now we must just endure Mama’s retelling of it.”
Mrs. Bennet clapped her hands briskly. “Mark me—this is only the beginning! We must be agreeable. We must be charming. I will not see opportunity slip through our fingers!”
Elizabeth let her head fall back against the chair, eyes closing in exaggerated despair. “Heaven help us.”
Sophocles, lounging under the sideboard, rose with imperious slowness, stretched luxuriously, and padded out ofthe room without so much as a glance at the assembled Bennets—his verdict already decided.
Four
Though never known for grandeur, the Meryton Assembly Rooms were aglow with candles and humming with anticipation that evening. Waxed floors gleamed, polished mirrors doubled the light, and an earnest quartet of musicians did its best to supply the necessary elegance for a country ball.
