Georgiana stifled a small laugh. “I am not sure I ought to tell you, if you are not clever enough to discover it yourself.”
Elizabeth smiled faintly and took a sip from her glass.
He raised his brows. “I begin to think the Bennet ladies are having an influence on you.”
When the meal concluded, Lady Matlock rose, and the ladies withdrew to the drawing room.
***
The servants placed the port before the gentlemen, and Darcy had only just settled himself when his uncle turned to him. "Tell me, why are they staying at your house?”
Darcy had expected the question. He met his uncle’s gaze calmly. “Because I invited them.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed lightly. “It is because of that lively one.”
Darcy felt Fitzwilliam’s gaze sharpen with interest. He turned toward him. “What leads you to that conclusion?”
Colonel Fitzwilliam shrugged. “You have never been drawn to the quiet ones, though I will say the eldest Miss Bennet is quite beautiful.”
“Bingley is very much interested in Miss Bennet,” Darcy replied evenly. “I doubt he would welcome your interference.”
The Earl took a measured sip of his wine. “That does not answer my question.”
Darcy exhaled quietly. “There was a fire at their home. They had been staying at Netherfield, but Miss Bingley made her displeasure known. They intended to go to their relations in London, though it would have been a crowded arrangement.”
The Earl gave a slight shrug. “Miss Bingley may have had a point. It was an imposition.”
Darcy shook his head. “Bingley did not consider it so, even before they forgave the remaining rent owed.”
His uncle looked at him more closely. “Forgave the rent?”
“It was their property. Bingley was leasing Netherfield, though he was not aware of the owners. So no, he did not feel them an imposition.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam added, “Miss Elizabeth mentioned that the house is to be repaired.”
Darcy nodded. “Yes, though it will take several months.”
Fitzwilliam frowned slightly. “How did it come about?”
Darcy's composure tightened as he answered. “Their cousin, who is also Lady Catherine’s clergyman, was visiting. He was searching Mr. Bennet’s book room and accidentally started the fire. He then left the house without waking anyone.”
Fitzwilliam stared at him. “You cannot be serious.”
“He confessed it some days after.”
Fitzwilliam rose. “Well, let us join the ladies.”
When the gentlemen rejoined them, Darcy’s attention moved at once to Elizabeth. She was seated at the pianoforte, playing, while Georgiana turned the pages for her.
Fitzwilliam took a seat near Anne and began speaking quietly with her.
Darcy moved to the pianoforte and stood beside it, listening as Elizabeth played.
When the piece concluded, she glanced up at him.
“You approve, then?” she asked lightly.
“Very much,” he replied. “Though I suspect I should have done so regardless.”
