“Why would Mr Darcy be jealous of your carriage?” Miss Bingley asked. The ladies had admired it politely, and he noticed they all had their arms around themselves to brace against the wind.
“I suspect it is because Darcy’s carriage is five years old if it is a day,” Utterson murmured, still walking about the new chariot.
“I thought your brother’s coach seemed new,” Mrs Annesley said to Georgiana.
She seemed to wish to encourage her charge to share an opinion, but when it was clear that his sister was unable or unwilling, Darcy answered. “It was refurbished this spring. Newly varnished, the brass plates replaced, and the cushions newly stuffed, and new carpet, too.”
“I thought you had said something or other last year about not bothering, and you would just wait until you married to buy a new one?” Bingley asked.
Darcy kept his attention firmly on Bingley and did not look to the woman who he had hoped would be the one to select that new carriage. “That was unlikely to happen any time soon, and mine needed new carpets and varnish. Nothing else was wrong with it.”
“You must wish for a new carriage like mine. I shall let you ride in it,” said Balfour, winking at him. Darcy rolled his eyes, and Balfour looked chagrined before he then called Georgiana and Mrs Annesley to sit in it and say what they thought of it.
Darcy noticed the ladies shift their feet, glance at one another, and then collectively come to some decision. A few nodded, and then they all complimented Balfour on his purchase and begged leave to return to the warmth of the house. They left, and when Darcy came to the other side of the chariot, he saw Elizabeth had turned to look over her shoulder. She watched him for a long moment before walking slowly towards the house.
The men continued to admire it, and Darcy stood with them out of politeness rather than interest. He hardly wanted to laud the foolish purchase, and certainly not after Balfour had claimed his warranted concern was rooted in jealousy.Let us hope that baseless claim does not give Elizabeth a reason to lose her good opinion of me.That would be a blow after the progress he felt he had made since the well dressing.
Bingley eventually claimed an errand, but Darcy suspected he preferred the private company of his wife. As Bingley hurried towards the hall door, rain drops began falling, but it was not enough to deter Hurst and Utterson from making more remarks about the chariot.
There was a rumble of thunder in the distance, and then the rain fell; finally, they all ran to the entrance nearest the stable yard. As they shook the rain from their hair and coats, when Darcy strode past Balfour, he gestured for Darcy to wait. The others continued into the house, whilst Darcy followed Balfour into the gunroom.
Balfour idly looked round at the rifles and pistol cases before he said, “I hope to go shooting after the twelfth.”
Darcy only stared.
“This weather! One needs to be web-footed like a drake to get anywhere.”
“Did you call me here for a purpose?”
Balfour sighed at his abrupt reply. “I do hate being on this side of your unyielding temper.”
For all his earnestness in conversation, Balfour could say flippant, disrespectful things. His cheerfulness made him a valued friend, but Darcy was hurt by his thoughtless ridicule, and in front of mixed company, no less. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest as Balfour paced.
“How long have we known each other?” Balfour asked.
“Near six years, I would say, not long before my father died.”
“I am grateful for whatever lucky circumstance that led to our fathers’ meeting. Did you know, after my father metyou, he said to me, ‘There is a fine, straight young fellow. He shall be a good influence on you, Lewis, if you shall let him.’ It is no fault of yours that my sprightly nature and being a spirited speaker gets me into trouble.”
“You are beyond all hope,” Darcy said, unable to help a small smile.
“Aye,weknow that, but no father wants to believe his wayward son won’t ever settle down. I hope you know me enough to know when I am sorry.” Balfour held out his hand. “I always know when I have done wrong, and as soon as I called you jealous, I knew it was a damned stupid thing to say, and in front of your sister, too.”
Darcy immediately took Balfour’s hand. Since Hunsford, he was resolved to be less resentful. “A shame, then, that you never know it before the words leave your mouth.”
Balfour gave a relieved laugh, and clasped Darcy’s hand with hisother in a warm grip before letting go. “Oh, aye, but you typically like how much I talk. It often saves you the trouble.” He added quietly, “Iknowyou do not have a jealous bone in your body. You were generous to allow me to make sport of you before the others, and I am sorry I did it.”
“All is forgiven. I was only worried that you had misspent your money, or had been taken advantage of.”
Balfour shook his head, laughed, and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “My dear Darcy, you are a good friend to worry for me.” They walked through the door, and had moved to go their separate ways when Balfour called his name. “All these years of friendship, and I know which one of us is the better for it.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Elizabeth crossed Jane’s sitting room to look out the window and saw that the gentlemen had only stopped admiring Mr Balfour’s travelling chariot once it had begun to rain.Why is it absolutely necessary that men admire another gentleman’s new carriage?It was always the same with men whether they had a new horse or a new gun. They must all stand around it, admire it, compare it to their own, learn the price paid, and predict how it shall perform.
“Mr Darcy has been very welcoming, Charles dear,” Jane said to Bingley after he entered, brushing the damp from his coat sleeves. “And Lizzy, I think there is some alteration in his manner since last autumn.”
“How do you mean?” Bingley asked.
