Then Mr. Gardiner gestured for Georgiana to sit next to Elizabeth.
Darcy minded very much, because the way the seating was set up made it impossible to conduct any private conversation with Miss Bennet. One would think they wanted to protect Miss Bennet from him. Besides, if it was an informal family dinner, which was the only way Georgiana could have attended, what was Mr. Millett doing here? He seemed to have somehow weaseled his way into the household, so that he was now regarded as family.
Darcy did not trust Mr. Millett’s motives at all.
There was nothing to be done but take his seat gracefully and accept the inevitable. He tried not to look constantly at Elizabeth, but his gaze was drawn to her despite himself. She was looking uncommonly pretty, in an informal dress with a green sash. though he felt a sharp pang at seeing her smile directed towards Mr. Millett.
Georgiana was looking pleased to be sitting at a grown-up table with people who were not members of her family, even if there were much younger children there.
“Are you not happy I told you to come?” her eyes seemed to say.
There was no answer to that. He was both happy and unhappy. It was exhilarating to be in Miss Bennet’s presence. Yet at the same time, he felt wretched watching her chatter with Mr. Millett.
He smiled back at his sister. Being in a free, informal family setting with children around them seemed to have a good effect on her, perhaps because she had not grown up with a family around them.
He could feel it himself. Nothing was expected of him. He had already proposed to Miss Bennet, and she had already declined, and there were no hard feelings at either end.
If only he could be content with that.
Unfortunately, he was unable to settle down and enjoy the food the Gardiners were providing, because watching Miss Bennet across the table with Mr. Millett made his stomach queasy.
Still, he did not want to be uncivil. “I must complement you on this excellent dinner, Mrs. Gardiner. I have been remiss so far.”
“How kind of you,” said Mrs. Gardiner, with a twinkle in her eye, eyeing his bowl of soup. It was almost full. “Though itisonly the first course. I will pass on your compliments to the cook.”
He noticed from the corner of his eye that Miss Bennet was looking in his direction. He was about to make a half-laughing statement about how lucky she was to dine like this on a daily basis, but as he opened his mouth, Mr. Gardiner began to speak, and the opportunity was lost. Miss Bennet went back to speaking with Mr. Millett.
“What is your opinion of the recent debate in Parliament on timber duties, Mr. Darcy?” said Mr. Gardiner. “I have heard the discussions have been very heated.”
“Timber beauties?” he asked, absently, straining to hear what Elizabeth was saying.
A smothered laugh brought Darcy’s attention to Mrs. Gardiner, who had covered her mouth with a napkin and turned a bright shade of red.
Darcy’s ears burned as he realized his mistake. “I meantduties,” he corrected hastily. “I know very little about the discussions.”
“But do you not attend parliament?” said Mr. Gardiner, insistently. “It is a matter of grave concern for those of us who are involved in shipping.”
Darcy wished Mr. Gardiner would ask Mr. Millett. Unfortunately, Darcy could not ignore Mr. Gardiner’s question without being rude. Besides, Mr. Gardiner already viewed Mr. Millett favorably. Darcy did not want him to push Miss Bennet even further in that direction. He forced himself to pay attention.
“I have not attended those debates. It has become particularly tiresome to try and convince certain parties that increasing taxes to finance the war with Napoleon does not benefit our economy.”
There, he hopedthatwould satisfy Mr. Gardiner.
“It certainly does not,” said Mr. Gardiner. “This infernal war! Will it never end?”
Darcy had no interest in discussing the war or anything else for that matter. If only Mr. Gardiner was the kind of person who droned on endlessly, requiring nothing but a polite nod or a grunt every now and then. But no, he seemed adamant about engaging Darcy in real conversation. It was deuced inconvenient when all Darcy wanted to do was speak to Miss Bennet.
A burst of laughter from across the table had him squirming. What could Mr. Millett possibly have said to Miss Bennet to elicit such a reaction? He was tempted to call across the table like his aunt Catherine would have done and ask them what they were saying. However, tempted as he was, he knew it would be ill mannered. Darcy did intend to start a new conversation, however, the moment Mr. Gardiner ceased asking him questions about Parliament. Did Mr. Millett really think he could corner her for the whole evening?
Finally, there was a pause in the conversation.
Darcy did not hesitate. “Miss Bennet, I meant to ask you if you have felt any ill effects from your dunking last week.”
From across the table, her gaze met his. He was captivated, and without noticing, he leaned forward, as if to listen to every word she uttered.
“Fortunately, I have not,” she said brightly. “I have a strong constitution.” He remembered her saying the same thing thatday in the park. “Neither has Maggie. You are the only one who was afflicted, but that is because you were the first in water, and you made the most effort.”
Carrying her, she meant. He did not want to think aboutthat.
