He broke off.
Darcy remained composed. “I thought it right that you should be informed.”
Bingley stopped. “And Miss Bennet – does she believe it?”
“I cannot say with certainty. But she has had no reason to doubt it. When I visited, she had to be called for as she had stayed in her room.”
Bingley’s countenance darkened – more deeply than before.
“Then she must think me – what? Fickle? Indifferent? Capable of-of trifling with her feelings?” He turned away. “I never intended…”
Darcy said nothing.
After a moment, Bingley spoke again, more steadily, though not less affected.
“She deserved better than this.”
“Yes,” said Darcy.
That single word settled something.
Bingley drew a long breath. “Then it must be set right.”
Darcy inclined his head slightly. “I thought you would think so. I delivered your message and made it clear that we have no intention of quitting Hertfordshire. But such assurances must come from you.”
Bingley looked at him with renewed determination.
“I shall go to Longbourn tomorrow.” Yet he did not wholly trust himself to examine too closely how nearly he had been persuaded otherwise.
Darcy’s expression did not change, but there was a quiet satisfaction in it.
“I believe that would be the proper course.”
Bingley gave a short, decisive nod. “And I shall not be persuaded away again.”
He took up his cue and struck the first ball with more force than precision.
After a moment, he added, more thoughtfully, “Caroline – what am I to do with her?”
Darcy considered, then said with composed indifference, “I do not think there is a need to do anything.”
Bingley glanced at him.
“Your perseverance will speak more plainly than any argument… She will not misunderstand it.”
Bingley allowed himself a small, rueful smile. “She has misunderstood me before.”
“That,” Darcy returned, “may prove more difficult in the future.”
Bingley looked at him again. “She has lost you as well, you know.”
Darcy gave the slightest shake of his head as though dismissing the subject. “I would rather not discuss it.”
“You have quite surprised me, my friend – you and Miss Elizabeth. I had thought her disposed against you, particularly when she made so free with the seating cards. And yet – she has accepted you.”
“We had long understood one another imperfectly – though perhaps not entirely unconsciously. It was only a question of time before I determined that I could not be content without her.” Then, with a glance toward the table, “Now – yours, I believe.”
***
