She met his gaze then, more fully. “I am not uneasy,” she said – then, after the smallest pause, “only… unaccustomed.”
“That is easily remedied,” he replied.
Elizabeth’s lips curved, though faintly. “You speak as though it were a simple matter.”
“I believe it may become so.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, from behind them, Mrs. Bennet’s voice rose again:
“Mr. Darcy, you must not delay! The ground will only worsen!”
Darcy inclined his head slightly, though his eyes remained on Elizabeth longer.
“I must go.”
Elizabeth stepped back, though reluctantly. “Yes.”
He bowed to the company, then to her.
Elizabeth returned it, though not without a slight hesitation.
The door was opened. A breath of cool, damp air entered the hall.
Darcy paused only once more, just at the threshold. “Till next time, Miss Elizabeth.”
Her heart gave a small, unexpected movement. “Till next time, sir.”
He was gone.
Elizabeth stood for a moment longer, her gaze fixed upon the closed door. Then, becoming aware of herself, she turned back to the room though not quite as she had left it.
***
Miss Bingley had rarely found the prospect of Sunday service so little agreeable. “We have scarcely seen Mr. Darcy these past days,” she said, arranging her gloves with more precision than was necessary. “And now I am told he has taken to riding out again – in such weather. It is quite unaccountable.”
Mr. Hurst, who had just seated himself with visible reluctance, gave a faint shrug. “Perhaps he prefers the exercise.”
“To what?” Caroline returned. “To rational society?”
Mrs. Hurst, who had already perceived the direction of her sister’s temper, interposed gently. “My dear Caroline, you must not exaggerate. Mr. Darcy has always been fond of riding.”
“I do not exaggerate,” said Caroline coolly. “I observe.”
At that moment, the church door opened. Caroline turned at once.
Mr. Darcy had arrived.
Her expression brightened – only to change the very next instant. For, without so much as a passing glance toward their pew, Darcy moved with quiet decision across the aisle.
To the Bennets.
Caroline sat perfectly still.
“What,” she said at last, very quietly, “can he be about?”
Mr. Hurst followed her gaze. “Paying his respects, I suppose.”
