He stood in the doorway and took it. He did not deflect. He did not explain further. He just let her say it, because it was true and she was entitled to say it and the least he could do was stay in the room while she did.
Elizabeth watched him over her mug.
The television continued talking to itself.
"We are going out," Elizabeth said eventually. "To see a film. The late showing."
"All right," Darcy said, his face lighting up.
In her corner, Mia eyed him with mocking eyes.
"You do not need to wait up," Elizabeth announced.
Darcy shook his head. "I will drive you."
"I will drive."
"It is nearly nine o'clock. Aside that, you hate driving at night."
"I am aware of what time it is.” Elizabeth said almost before he finished “We’ll manage."
“She will manage,” Mia added in a childish, playful tone.
Darcy looked at them both. Elizabeth with her mug. Mia with her sweatshirt sleeves. The two of them arranged on the sofa with the easy alignment of people who had spent enough time together to take up the same space without negotiating it.
"I will come," he said. "I will not say a word. I will sit wherever you put me. I will not comment on the film or the popcorn or the driving. I will be completely silent."
"That would be a first," Elizabeth said.
"I am capable of silence."
"In theory."
He looked at Mia. She was still looking at the television but the corner of her mouth had moved. Slightly. Not a smile. The territory just before a smile, which was close enough.
"You can pay with your card," Mia said.
"Done."
"For everything."
"Everything."
"Popcorn. Drinks. Whatever they have at the counter."
"Whatever they have at the counter," he agreed.
Mia turned her head toward him slowly, with the measured consideration of someone granting an audience. "Anything we want?"
"Anything you want."
She looked at him for a moment longer, weighing this, her expression doing the quiet arithmetic of a fifteen-year-old deciding whether a concession was sufficient.
"Fine," she said, and turned back to the television.
It was the closest thing to forgiveness. Darcy decided he would take just that.
He looked at Elizabeth. She was looking at him with an expression he could not entirely read. There was a smile too, a mocking one that felt like she was being sorry for how gentle he was in apologising to Mia.
