“We crossed paths on our way to the bookshop,” Darcy replied. “Miss Bingley tried to snub Miss Elizabeth by not greeting her, but she and Georgiana cut Miss Bingley and entered the bookshop without a backwards glance.”
Fitz smirked. “I would have paid to see that! Then what happened? I cannot imagine Caroline Bingley meekly took her medicine.”
“No, she made a scene. Fortunately, the music from the pantomime masked her shrieking,” Darcy said, irritated.
“Shrieking? What was that termagant saying?” Fitz asked, frowning.
“That I should not allow Georgiana to be friends with Miss Elizabeth. That she and Miss Bennet were only seeking to secure Bingley and me.”
“William, do you remember what Mr. Bingley said at that point?” Georgiana asked, urging him forward.
“He told her neither of us were pursuing the Bennet ladies and that she was making something out of nothing. It is not surprising that Bingley would say that. He is unaware of my feelings for Miss Elizabeth.”
“Yes, I realized he did not know better when he said the words because you had told me of your feelings for her,” Georgianasaid. “However, when Elizabeth heard him say it, and you did not dispute them, I could only imagine what she must have been feeling, what she must have been thinking. She became so quiet, and she really did not say much after that.”
Darcy looked at her with pinched brows. “She heard him?”
“Yes, William, we both did. There was a window open in the bookshop right across from you. We heard everything, the entire conversation. Brother, she heard his words, but more importantly, she heard your silence.”
Darcy felt sick. How had he let this happen?
“I knew something was wrong. I could see it in her eyes. I could feel it.”
“William, I hope you see why I insisted that you not attempt to ride back to Gracechurch Street with her,” Georgiana said gently. “I do not think she would have been comfortable with it.”
Darcy did not speak, only rubbed his hand down his face and stared at nothing.
“Brother?”
He glanced at his sister and gave a small smile for her benefit. “Yes, Georgiana, I understand. Truly, it was fortunate that I told you of my feelings for her earlier today. It put you in a position to realize what was happening so you could warn me. I am grateful.”
She hugged him as the carriage pulled up in front of Darcy House. He assured her he would do everything in his power to make things right with Miss Elizabeth.
Twenty minutes later, Fitz found Darcy standing at a window in his study, again staring out at nothing. He closed the door and walked to his cousin.
“You could not have foreseen this, Darcy.”
Darcy sighed. “No, but I cannot fathom how I allowed it to happen. If I had been more careful, more aware, I might have mitigated the damage.”
“How so?”
“Had I known she overheard the conversation and was injured by it, I would have assured her of my feelings and explained that I did not correct Bingley because I had not yet spoken to her and because Miss Bingley is not entitled to know my private concerns.”
Fitz nodded. “I understand. However, the fact remains that even now you still must explain all of that and more. You should also do it without delay, Cousin.”
“I know. I have been trying to figure out how to go about it. What if I write to her uncle explaining the incivility of Miss Bingley and my belief that Miss Elizabeth walked away from the encounter with a misunderstanding of my character that I wish to clear up?”
“I like where you are going with this, cousin,” Fitz said, pointing at Darcy as he sat down. “You want to clear up the misunderstanding . . . and?”
“And . . . I will ask him if I may have a private audience with her tomorrow, as well as a moment of his time after I speak with her.”
“Brilliant!” Fitz declared. “Write that, Darcy. This way, if she is hesitant about meeting with you, her uncle will persuade her. You have shown him respect before now, and you continue to do so. That alone will induce him to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
Darcy fell into his desk chair, laid his head back, and looked at the ceiling.
“Things had been going so well between us—getting to know her in Hertfordshire, time spent with her at the ball, our outing today . . .” Darcy considered these things thoughtfully before raising his head back up to look at Fitz. “Then along comes Caroline Bingley with her pettiness and her jealousy. Bingley then spouts forth with words meant to calm her, but that havethe power to injure Miss Elizabeth and her sister. When you think about it, Bingley was even more thoughtless than I was, to say such a thing knowing Miss Elizabeth was just inside!”
“What was he thinking? Does his sister normally rattle him to such an extent?” Fitz asked.
