Elizabeth laughed. “Oh, nonsense. Pippin met his greyhound, Apollo, and the town has mistaken their friendship for ours.”
At the sound of her name, Pippin lifted her head from her corner, tail thumping cheerfully.
“See?” Elizabeth said. “She is the one who has fallen in love.”
“With Mr. Darcy’s dog?” Charlotte asked, laughing.
“With Apollo, yes. Their affections are unbounded. The day after the assembly, Pippin and I met Mr. Darcy on a walk, and the two dogs promptly knocked him off his feet.”
Charlotte gasped and covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. “Forgive me, but I can hardly imagine it. He must have been furious.”
“On the contrary, he was more startled than angry. I think he was shocked his dog could behave so wildly.”
“Pride before a fall indeed,” Charlotte said, smiling.
“He did not act proud that day,” Elizabeth admitted. “Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy called here the following morning, and a few days later I met him again on the green—or rather, Pippin met Apollo. They knocked down poor Mr. Rancliff, the shoemaker.”
“Mr. Rancliff? Dear me!” Charlotte laughed. “And what did you do?”
“We apologised profusely, of course. Mr. Darcy even fetched the man’s hat from the hedge. Then we spoke for a while before parting.”
“Providence, surely,” Charlotte said. “It seems fate is determined to throw you together.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Or perhaps our dogs simply enjoy mischief.”
“Perhaps,” Charlotte replied. “But I think Pippin may be a better matchmaker than she appears.”
Elizabeth reached down to stroke the spaniel’s head. “Then she shall be disappointed. Mr. Darcy may be improved upon acquaintance, but I have no designs in that quarter.”
Charlotte tilted her head. “No designs, but some admiration, perhaps?”
Elizabeth smiled faintly. “He is less proud than I believed him and perhaps kinder, yet still far too solemn for my taste.”
Charlotte chuckled. “Well, solemn gentlemen sometimes surprise us.”
Elizabeth only laughed and shook her head.
Charlotte then said, “I hear your cousin has quite settled himself at Longbourn.”
Elizabeth groaned. “Too comfortably. Since Mama redirected his affections from Jane, he has transferred them—with all the grace of a sermon—to me. I fear his intentions are becoming serious.”
Charlotte’s eyes brightened. “Serious? How excellent!”
“Excellent?” Elizabeth sighed. “He is a solemn fool, forever quoting his patroness as if she were the Gospel.”
Charlotte smothered a laugh. “Surely he is not that bad.”
“He is worse. Heaven forbid that I end up with such a man.”
“Is he at least plain? It would make refusal easier.”
“No,” Elizabeth said with a grimace. “Only insufferable.”
“And without employment?”
“He is a clergyman, quite comfortable, with a generous patroness in Kent.”
“Then really, Lizzy, you must think of him seriously. He offers comfort and stability.”
