They came to a set of benches in the garden.
“Shall we sit?” Miss Bennet posed the question to the group.
Everyone was agreeable. The ladies sat together on one bench. Darcy and Bingley took the other.
“Miss Elizabeth, you mentioned that you enjoy the theatre. Have you seen any plays recently?” Darcy asked.
When she turned those fine eyes on him, for a moment Darcy thought he saw a look of suspicion in them. It was gone quickly, however, and replaced with a curious glint.
“The last play we attended wasThe Orphan Heir,” Miss Elizabeth said.
Darcy smiled. “What did you think of it?”
“I liked it very well. I understood it was a fairly new production at the time and was not performed by the most popular actors, but it was still very good.”
“I agree; it was very well done. I believe the same playwright is expected to have another production on stage in a few months. Perhaps you will have the chance to see it while you are in town.”
“Yes, perhaps.” Miss Elizabeth gave a polite smile, then looked away.
Bingley looked at Miss Bennet and asked, “Do you have plans to attend many balls and dinner parties?”
“I believe we do. Aunt Madeleine wrote in her last letter that she has replied to several invitations already,” Miss Bennet said.
As Bingley continued to speak with the ladies about London, Darcy quietly observed. He had to admit he would be sorry to seethem leave the area. Darcy could tell from Bingley’s reaction that he felt the same way.
After spending half an hour in the garden, they returned to the house. Darcy and Bingley expressed their desire to join Mr. Bennet, so the ladies showed them to his bookroom. Miss Elizabeth knocked on the door, then opened it at her father’s invitation.
Mr. Bennet looked up from the book he was reading as the gentlemen entered the room.
“Gentlemen, come in! Please make yourselves comfortable.”
“Do you need anything, Papa?” Miss Elizabeth asked.
“No, thank you, Lizzy.”
Darcy watched as Miss Elizabeth left the room, closing the door behind her. He and Bingley then sat down in the chairs in front of Mr. Bennet’s desk.
“Can I get you gentlemen a drink?” Mr. Bennet asked.
They each accepted a glass of port and took a sip.
“I say—” Bingley began.
“This is very fine port,” Darcy said, breathing in the notes of fruit, clove, and vanilla from his glass.
“Indeed, it is!” Bingley said.
Mr. Bennet grinned. “Yes, my brother Gardiner is able to get his hands on some exceptional vintage. He keeps me in good supply.”
“Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth mentioned they will be going to stay a couple of months with the Gardiners,” Bingley said.
“Yes, and I just received a letter from my sister-in-law requesting Mary be allowed to come with them on this visit,” he said, sitting back in his chair with a sigh, “which means I willbe losing my most sensible daughters to London for at least two months. I will miss them a great deal, especially my Lizzy.”
“Is that so?” Bingley asked with a grin.
“It is. A father should not have a favorite, but I do. I raised Lizzy like the son I never had.”
“In what way?” Darcy asked, curious.
