“No.” He paused, then added, with quiet steadiness, “I do not think you need concern yourself with Miss Bingley’s opinion.”
Elizabeth glanced at him. “I do not know that I require protection in that quarter – but I am obliged to you for the offer.”
A faint change passed over his expression, though he did not immediately reply.
“She must be disappointed.” Elizabeth continued, after a moment. “I believe Miss Bingley and I cannot be admired for the same qualities.”
Elizabeth walked on a few steps more, then suddenly stopped. “Oh!”
Darcy turned at once. “Is anything amiss?”
She looked at him – half amused, half incredulous. “I have just remembered something.”
“Indeed?”
“At Netherfield – when Miss Bingley proposed that we should walk about the room.”
Darcy’s expression changed almost imperceptibly.
“You said,” she continued, “that you could admire us just as well from where you were sitting.” A faint colour rose to her cheeks, though her eyes sparkled. She tilted her head slightly. “Were you, at that moment, attempting to flirt with me, sir?”
For a brief instant, Darcy was taken entirely by surprise. “I…” He paused, then recovered himself. “I was not aware that I had succeeded, if I was.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You did not succeed at all. I thought you very disagreeable.”
“I have no doubt of it.”
She looked at him more closely. “But were you?”
Darcy met her gaze.
“If I was,” he said quietly, “it was in a manner very ill-suited to recommend me.”
“That,” she returned, “I can readily believe.”
A small smile touched his expression. “I have since endeavoured to improve.”
Elizabeth’s colour deepened slightly. “I think,” she said, resuming her walk, “you have chosen a more intelligible method.”
Darcy fell into step beside her once more. “I am glad you think so.”
***
After a short visit to Mrs. Phillips’s, where, to Elizabeth’s relief, her aunt was so affected by the presence of Mr. Darcy that her behaviour became unusually restrained, and the visit was consequently more pleasant than might have been expected, the party separated.
The ladies proceeded to the milliner’s, while Darcy, turned toward a tradesman’s shop a little further along the street where a respectable-looking shoemaker kept his shop.
He entered and was received with quick attention.
“What may I do for you, sir?”
“I require a pair of boots,” Darcy replied. “For riding.”
“Very good, sir. If you will step this way…”
He was seated, and the man set about his work with practised efficiency, taking the measure with care.
“You have come at a busy time, sir,” the shoemaker said, not without a note of satisfaction. “I have had more orders these past days than I have seen in some months.”
