“Oh, Mr. Darcy, how good of you to walk with my girls!”
The small company dissolved naturally into the broader congregation.
Darcy lingered for a moment to see Bramble secured.
He looked back only once.
His eyes met hers.
She did not look away at once – and, though the moment passed almost immediately, she was conscious, as she turned from it, that her opinion was no longer so easily arranged as before.
Chapter 8
Between Lanes and Parlours
The congregation dispersed slowly into the pale noon light. Mrs. Bennet emerged with unmistakable satisfaction when she observed that Mr. Bingley had attached himself at once to Jane’s side.
Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst lingered apart; Mr. Hurst appeared guided chiefly by the direction of least resistance.
“You are walking or taking the carriage?” Mr. Bingley asked Jane.
“I think I shall join Elizabeth and walk home with her. We generally do, when the weather permits.”
Elizabeth smiled and nodded.
“Then I shall join you, if I may.”
Mr. Bennet, who had overheard, inclined his head. “The lane is public, sir.”
Mr. Bingley laughed, uncertain whether he had been encouraged or warned.
“Darcy, you will walk with us?”
Mr. Darcy had not anticipated the invitation. His glance moved, involuntarily, toward Elizabeth.
“Yes,” he said after a moment.
The word was scarcely spoken before he found himself wondering at it. He had not intended to accept. Indeed, he could not quite determine what impulse had governed him, for he had already walked with her and her sisters before church, and propriety alone might have furnished him with sufficient reason to decline a second engagement of the same nature.
Yet he had agreed.
He drew a quiet breath, as though the air itself might offer some explanation. It would have been far more consistent – more prudent, even – to excuse himself, to preserve that careful distance he had lately resolved to maintain. And yet, when the moment had come, he had not hesitated long enough to refuse.
His eyes lifted again, almost in spite of himself, and rested briefly upon Elizabeth. There was nothing in her manner that solicited his compliance; no expectation, no design. She stood as she ever did – composed, attentive, and entirely unaware of the small disorder she occasioned.
That, perhaps, was reason enough – though he would not have willingly owned it.
Bingley gave brief instructions that his horse should be brought to Longbourn before turning back at once to Jane.
At that moment, Lydia caught sight of her aunt near the churchyard gate.
“There is Aunt Phillips!”
Kitty required no further persuasion. Within moments, both girls were entreating to remain a little in the village.
Mrs. Bennet hesitated only long enough to confirm that Mr. Bingley was still beside Jane. “Very well – but do not detain your uncle.”
And so the party rearranged itself.
