It had been a pleasant day. Most of them appeared in no particular haste to see it end.
Elizabeth could not say the same of the Bingley sisters.
Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst seemed to regard every additional quarter hour as an unnecessary trial. Neither was particularly successful in concealing it. There were glances exchanged whenever Elizabeth and Georgiana became absorbed in conversation, and on the few occasions either sister joined the discussion, it was generally to offer a question that felt suspiciously like a challenge or an observation that bordered upon a criticism.
Elizabeth found it easiest to ignore them.
It was perhaps half past four when the gentlemen returned from their engagement with Colonel Forster.
Mr. Bingley entered first and he made directly for Jane.
Mr. Darcy followed, with Mr. Hurst a short distance behind.
Elizabeth noticed the difference immediately. Though he greeted the company with perfect civility, there was a gravity about him that had not been there that morning at Oakham mount. He was polite, composed, and entirely attentive to those around him, yet some part of him seemed elsewhere.
She had seen it before.
At the Meryton assembly, before she had known anything of him, he had stood in his corner with precisely that same quality. Like a man physically present whilst his thoughts occupied another place entirely.
Elizabeth found herself wondering what could have occasioned the change.
She had scarcely begun considering the question when Mr. Hurst inquired of his wife when dinner would be served.
Elizabeth nearly laughed.
The gentlemen had only just returned from a lengthy luncheon, and yet Mr. Hurst already appeared concerned with the next meal.
A short time later Jane rose and smoothed her skirts.
"We ought to think of returning home," she said. "It will be dark before long."
"Nonsense." Bingley stood immediately. "You must stay for dinner. Both of you." He smiled with all the openness that made refusal nearly impossible. "The evening is still young, and I am certain the cook has prepared more than enough for a larger party. Pray remain."
Jane looked towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's eyes moved first to Mr. Darcy.
He offered a polite smile, though it did little to dispel the seriousness she had observed since his arrival. Georgiana nodded encouragingly too.
"We should be very happy to stay," Elizabeth said.
Dinner was laid at a quarter past five.
Bingley took his place at the head of the table, Darcy at the other end. Georgiana sat to Elizabeth's left, Miss Bingley to her right, with Jane beside Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst occupying the remaining seats.
The first course passed pleasantly enough. Georgiana drew Elizabeth into a conversation about Oakham Mount which occupied most of it. Bingley contributed warmly whenever his attention could be spared from Jane. Darcy was quieter than usual, present but not entirely so.
The second course was brought in and served. It was soup.
After a few minutes, Miss Bingley, who had accepted only a token portion when the soup was first offered, caught the eye of a maid and indicated that she wished to be served again.
Elizabeth was in the midst of answering a question from Georgiana. She saw the maid approach in her peripheral vision and thought nothing of it.
Gradually, however, she became aware of a curious stillness at her end of the table.
Several pairs of eyes appeared to have settled upon her. Namely, Mrs. Hurst's and her husband's.
Elizabeth turned from Georgiana towards her right.
