She reached for his hand and pressed it.
“I will, sir. I shall not attempt to force anything, but will keep my mind and my heart open.”
Bennet cleared his throat.
“Lizzy, since we shall be one person short at dinner, I mean to send Mr. Hill to invite my friend Hettie Talbot. She and I have known one another all our lives, and there was a time when I wished to marry her. I was seventeen, deeply in love, and I believed she returned the sentiment.”
When she saw the pain in his eyes, Elizabeth took his hand in both of hers and held it fast.
“But she left me for another. An older gentleman who swept her off her feet. It was not many months into the marriage that she realized they were ill-suited, and she was not happily married. Years later, when I married, I too made an ill-suited choice. However, both of us persevered and raised our children.” He sighed long and deep, his gaze fixed upon the distance as his thoughts wandered far into the past.
“I have often considered what might have been had we married. I would not now be the father of five beautiful daughters. I would not have you, Elizabeth. Hettie had only one daughter in all those years. Whether the difficulty lay with her or with her husband, I cannot say, but had it been with her, and had I married her, I might have no family now. My life would be very bleak indeed.”
Neither spoke for a time, both lost in reflection.
“Who can say which man will bring you the greater happiness, my girl. Love will find its way.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
“What say you, my dear? Will you be uncomfortable if I invite Hettie and Mary to dine with us this evening? Mrs. Talbot is fond of the classics and is presently reading Sophocles, and has read the Aeneid several times over the years. Her mind is astute. I believe you would take pleasure in hearing her thoughts.”
Elizabeth was surprised by the history of her father and Mrs. Talbot.
“Pray do invite her and Mary. You had best send Mr. Hill now so that they may have time to reply and prepare. Shall you send the carriage for them?”
“I shall.”
Lizzy rose.
“I must order the menu for our dinner, then change for our tenant visits. I am now mentoring two young ladies rather than just one. Wish me good fortune and patience, Papa.”
He chuckled, and she left him.
That evening, when Mr. Allen was presented in the drawing room, Elizabeth’s eyes brightened at the sight of him. His own crinkled at the corners as he bowed. Thomas Bennet introduced the other guests, and soon they divided into pairs for conversation.
“Miss Bennet, you look very lovely this evening.”
“Sir, since I am in half-mourning, my gowns appear much the same. I chose white this evening, for my only other choices are gray or lavender. Since those mournful shades do not suit my coloring, it will appear to you that I wear the same gown always. I assure you, I do not.”
He grinned.
“Miss Bennet, have you not yet discovered that a man does not care a fig what a woman wears? Most often, he does not notice her gown or her hair. He is occupied with her eyes, her expressions, and her words. Everything else fades into the background.”
“Sir, you jest.”
“No, ma’am. It is the truth. You may ask your father, and he will confirm my observation.”
They were then summoned to dinner. The lamb was prepared to perfection, the potatoes were well seasoned, and the bread was hot from the oven. The fish was fresh, and the pudding most agreeable. When Elizabeth rose to lead the ladies from the table, Mr. Allen’s gaze followed her.
The two gentlemen soon joined the ladies, and Mr. Bennet said, “Allen, do you know that Lizzy sings? You will not have had an opportunity to hear her yet.”
“No, sir. I did not know there was a songbird among us.”
“Oh yes. My little Lizzy is a gifted vocalist.”
“Lizzy, sing my brother’s favorite,” Georgiana begged. “The one about the Elfin Knight.”
Mr. Allen frowned slightly at the mention of Mr. Darcy, though the expression was so fleeting that no one marked it.
