Darcy hesitated. “I would not wish to impose.”
“Not at all, not at all,” Mrs. Bennet said quickly. “You must remain. Indeed, you shall remain. It would be the strangest thing in the world if you came all the way from Netherfield only to ride away again before luncheon.”
Jane smiled gently. “I believe Papa will not be long.”
Elizabeth said nothing.
Mrs. Bennet, however, was already arranging matters with great determination. “Well then! Since Mr. Darcy must wait a littlewhile, we must provide him with some entertainment. Lizzy, my dear, take Mr. Darcy into the other room. I am sure he would enjoy a little music.”
Elizabeth looked up with mild astonishment.
“Mama…”
“My dear child, you know Mr. Darcy admires music.”
Darcy, who had not said any such thing, inclined his head politely.
Elizabeth rose, though not without a faint look of amusement. “Very well. Follow me, sir.”
Mrs. Bennet settled herself with evident satisfaction. “There. Music is the very thing to enliven the day – one scarcely feels the time pass at all. Jane, dear, take some tea and biscuits for Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth opened the music and sat down. For a moment, she did not begin to play. Instead, she glanced briefly toward Darcy. “You must forgive me, Mr. Darcy,” she said lightly. “I have not practised… well, I shall do my best to entertain you.”
Darcy allowed himself the smallest smile. “In that case, Miss Elizabeth, I feel myself greatly honoured.”
Elizabeth began to play.
The piece was lively and confident, though not performed with the studied perfection which some ladies affected. Elizabeth seemed less concerned with displaying her skill than with enjoying the music itself.
Darcy seated himself a little to the side of the instrument.
Jane placed a small tray before him. He accepted the tea with a quiet word of thanks.
At first, he listened with proper attention. Yet his thoughts soon wandered.
If he truly intended to pursue Miss Elizabeth, he could not rely upon chance meetings and accidental conversations. A man who wished to win a lady’s regard must proceed with more design.
He frowned slightly at this reflection.
How, precisely, was a man to court a woman?
He had often witnessed such things in society, yet the methods he had observed had rarely impressed him. Many gentlemen seemed content with empty compliments, excessive attentions, and a great deal of vanity. None of it recommended itself to his judgement.
Miss Elizabeth, he was quite certain, would value none of it. But then he hesitated.
His eyes returned to her.
She was leaning slightly forward as she played, her attention entirely fixed upon the music. A small curl had escaped the arrangement of her hair and rested against her cheek. From time to time, she brushed it away with an impatient movement of her hand, only for it to fall back again a moment later.
Darcy found himself watching this small struggle with growing interest.
It occurred to him that Elizabeth Bennet was not a woman who could be won by display. She must be understood, properly.
At that moment, she turned a page of the music and glanced briefly in his direction.
Their eyes met.
Elizabeth raised one eyebrow with a look that seemed to say she was perfectly aware that she was being observed.
