Elizabeth turned her attention back to her plate, but her thoughts did not follow.
A mentor, she repeated inwardly.And cheerful company.
It was a new way of seeing him – and she did not like how easily it made sense.
Mrs. Bennet, who had been listening with increasing interest, now leaned forward again.
“And have you no other family, Mr. Darcy?” she asked. “I mean, besides your aunt, of course, whom we hear so much of. A gentleman of your position must surely have relations.”
“I have a sister,” Darcy replied. “Only one. She is considerably younger than I am.”
Mrs. Bennet clasped her hands at once. “A sister! Dear me, how charming. And unmarried, I suppose?”
“She is,” Darcy said. “And still very young.”
Lady Lucas smiled. “You must be quite devoted to her.”
Darcy did not hesitate. “Entirely. We are… close.”
There was something in the simplicity of the answer that drew attention.
“And where is she now?” Mrs. Bennet asked.
“She resides chiefly at Pemberley,” he answered, “under the care of a most excellent companion.”
“Tell us more about her.”
Darcy straightened in his chair. He looked far away as he spoke. “She has a quiet disposition, a fondness for music, and a particular delight in reading. Of late, she has taken an interest in botany, which occupies her very agreeably.”
“How nice. Lizzy, did you not use to press all the plants you could find?” Charlotte asked. “She has quite the collection, Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy’s questioning expression.
“Indeed, Miss Elizabeth?”
She swallowed. Instead of answering, she inclined her head.
Mrs. Bennet nodded vigorously. “Quite so. And music! How very proper. I always say a young lady cannot be too fond of music. It keeps them from idle thoughts.”
Lady Lucas added, “She must be much admired.”
Darcy’s expression softened, though only slightly. “She deserves admiration. Her temper is gentle, unassuming. Rather shy, I would say. She relies upon me for direction. I hope she will come to her own soon.”
Elizabeth, who had been listening in silence, felt a sudden and unwelcome disturbance.
A sister. Young. Gentle. Shy.
It was not the picture she had been given.
Her eyes moved, almost of their own accord, down the table.
Wickham sat opposite, engaged in conversation with Kitty and Mr. Denny, smiling readily, yet with a watchfulness she had not noticed before. At the mention of Darcy’s sister, his laughter faltered. He turned back to his plate and listened before resuming his former ease.
Elizabeth caught it.
The hesitation was slight, but it was there.
Darcy, meanwhile, continued, unaware of the observation he had provoked. “I am anxious that she should see as few of the world’s harsher lessons as possible.”
