“Lizzy, I insist you desist at once,” instructed Mrs. Bennet.
“Mama—” began Elizabeth, but her mother cut her off.
“No, Lizzy, that is enough. Though your contributions were invaluable in distracting Mr. Darcy away from Mr. Bingley and Jane, now that he is interested in a Bennet for a wife, you must step back and allow nature to take its course.”
“I am most curious, Mama,” said Elizabeth. “The notion of a child of fifteen interesting a man of Mr. Darcy’s maturity and stature is beyond my capacity to comprehend. How did you come by it?”
Mrs. Bennet’s visage darkened at the perceived disrespect. “That is enough from you, Miss Lizzy. Mr. Darcy is so dour—he requires a lively wife. Have you not heard me saying that?”
“Yes, Mama, Ihaveheard it. But I believe you have misunderstood—do you not suppose thatIam lively?”
Silence descended. The only response from Mrs. Bennet was a blink, for she seemed incapable of understanding. A moment later, she pulled herself from her stupor.
“You? What can you have to do with the matter?”
Elizabeth felt like screaming, but she kept her countenance. “Mama, have you ever seen Mr. Darcy show the slightest interest in Lydia?”
“No, and it is your fault!” cried Mrs. Bennet. “If you would not interfere, I am certain Mr. Darcy would propose to Lydia within a fortnight.”
“Nonsense!” retorted Elizabeth. “Mr. Darcy thinks of Lydia as a child. He has no interest in having her as a wife. Though you have schemed to push them together, Mr. Darcy appears to prefer another as a companion. If you think back on the past weeks, you will understand whom he prefers.”
Mrs. Bennet paused to consider this, then her eyes widened. “Mr. Darcy is always next to you!”
“Yes, he is. Do I often approach him, or does Mr. Darcy approach me?”
“Both,” replied Mrs. Bennet, still pondering the implications.
“That is true, but every time he must sit next to Lydia, he excuses himself. Am I not the recipient of his attentions the moment he is at liberty to bestow them?”
To Elizabeth’s surprise, Mrs. Bennet made no response. She considered Elizabeth for several moments, then departed from her bedchamber with nary a word. The next time in company, Elizabeth saw her mother watching them closely. Before long, Mrs. Bennet nodded to herself. She never inserted herself in their affairs again, for what she saw told her there was no need. From that moment forward, Mr. Darcy’s intentions were no longer in doubt. Lydia was not the only one who heaved a sigh of relief.
“WELL, LIZZY, YOU SEEMto have made a conquest of your own.”
Pulled from her contemplation of the gentleman, Elizabeth turned to regard Charlotte, noting her amusement mixed with something approaching self-satisfaction. Elizabeth knew what her friend would say—Charlotte had shown some greatness of mind for perceiving Mr. Darcy’s early interest in her.
“It is yet early,” said she, not wanting to give her friend fuel for her superior smile.
“And yet, Mr. Darcy appears besotted.” Charlotte nudged her. “The greater question in my mind is whatyouthink of the gentleman—which is curious, of course, considering your characters. I might have suspected the opposite.”
“I am . . . undecided,” replied Elizabeth.
“As you said, it is still early.”
Charlotte turned to face her, Elizabeth mirroring her action, noting her friend’s serious demeanor. “Lizzy, I know of your romantic nature, but I also remember your stubbornness. Your judgment of Mr. Darcy was so certain that I wonder if it has not, even now, blinded you to his true character.”
“Are you now an authority on Mr. Darcy?” asked Elizabeth, curious what her friend would say.
“You know that I am not,” replied Charlotte. “However, you must acknowledge that my opinion of him was never as poor as your own.”
“That much is certain.” Elizabeth paused and took her friend’s hands. “Do not concern yourself, Charlotte, for I am not of a mind to dismiss the gentleman out of hand.”
“Yet you are not presently considering his suit.”
Elizabeth sighed, wishing her friend would drop the subject. “I beg your pardon, Charlotte, for I mean no offense, but I cannot accept a man on so short a recommendation.”
“No offense taken, Lizzy,” replied Charlotte, offering a soft smile. “You arenotme, as you proved when you rejected Mr. Collins. I only mean to reassure myself that you remain open to Mr. Darcy’s interest.”
“I do, Charlotte,” replied Elizabeth. “At this moment, I am not entertaining Mr. Darcy’s suit, but that does not mean Iwillnot.”
