“Is it not yours?” demanded she. “I have seen you in her company, Mr. Darcy. You do not appreciate her, though I dare say Miss Bingley is the only one who does not understand it.”
The girl shrugged. “I care little for her opinion, for she is a spiteful woman.”
“In some ways, Miss Lydia,” said Darcy gravely, though he had to fight off the laughter that welled up, “I cannot disagree with you.”
Miss Lydia regarded him with more shrewdness than he might have thought her capable of displaying. “In a contest between my sister and Miss Bingley, I must suppose Lizzy comes out ahead in every category.”
Darcy paused for a moment, but he decided he did not care to hide it. “That is not accurate, for there is no contest.”
Though she appeared pleased and amused, Miss Lydia glanced to where Miss Bingley stood with her sister. Shewas speaking with some animation, but Mrs. Hurst appeared unaffected by her sister’s displeasure.
“In Miss Bingley’s eyes, thereis,” noted Miss Lydia.
“Yes, sheisrather blind in that respect,” agreed Darcy.
“Well, that is interesting to be certain.”
The girl offered a throaty little laugh, again striking Darcy with the resemblance to Miss Elizabeth. That was where the similarity ended, of course, for their characters were not at all alike. But in that resemblance, Darcy could see that the pretty, juvenile girl would turn heads when she gained maturity, and perhaps even a little sense and discretion.
“You would not do for me, of course,” said Miss Lydia, her manner offhand.
“Oh?” asked Darcy, arching an eyebrow, vastly amused. “And why is that, Miss Lydia?”
“Why, I prefer a livelier man,” said she, unconcerned.
“Like one of these officers about which you speak?”
Miss Lydia considered this. “Well, I suppose not,” said she after a moment, though it seemed to Darcy that the admission pained her. “After all, none of these officers can afford a wife.”
It was a bit of insight Darcy had not expected from the girl. He could not resist a slight tease.
“Then I must be a better option, for I can keep a woman in luxury all her life.”
Miss Lydia inspected him, then she offered a slow nod. “Yes, I suppose you must be correct, though you are still too sedate for me.” Then she brightened. “But you must have friends in London looking for wives. If you marry my sister, then you can introduce me to them.”
It was unexpected, but Darcy found himself charmed by her manner. “Should your sister accept me, we shall ensure your presentation in London.”
The way Miss Lydia offered a regal nod, Darcy knew she thought it nothing less than her due. As it was, Darcy thought it was not politic to say that she would receive no such introduction until she was eighteen, and that her manners must improve first. For the rest of the dance she chattered, her attention flitting from one subject to another without hesitation. This afforded Darcy the opportunity to remain silent, yet not appear aloof. So Darcy listened, agreed when necessary, and passed the time far more pleasantly than he expected.
ELIZABETH DID NOT ENVYMr. Darcy at all. Had Miss Bingley been any angrier, she might have thought the woman would burst where she stood. Several times throughout the course of the evening, Elizabeth saw her step close to Mr. Darcy to make a comment or a plea, but Mr. Darcy remained impervious to it all. Though Miss Bingley was the only one who could not see it, Mr. Darcy avoided her whenever possible, and excused himself at the first opportunity when it was unavoidable.
“I beg your pardon for saying it, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth when they were dancing the last set, “but I suspect Miss Bingley’s temper will not be easy to endure.”
“Perhaps,” said the gentleman, not bothering to contradict her—they both knew she was correct anyway. “Yet I find myself unmoved. Should she push me, I am prepared to disclaim any interest in her whatsoever.”
Elizabeth considered this then nodded. “It will give no one pain but herself, but perhaps it is the kindest thing you can do.”
Then Elizabeth grinned and gave him a saucy wink. “You must take great care, Mr. Darcy, for if you do not, you may find something—or someone—unexpected in your bedchamber.”
“For shame, Miss Elizabeth,” said the gentleman, though his eyes danced with mirth. “Do you not know that Miss Bingley isabove such intrigues? She is the preeminent lady in all the land, and would never descend to such paltry devices—why, she owns this herself!”
The laughter came easily. “Yes, I must suppose she does!”
“All jesting aside,” said Mr. Darcy when their mirth had run its course, “I do not suppose she will throw caution to the wind. Miss Bingley is determined to make a good marriage, but she will not abandon all decency.”
Elizabeth considered the woman, noting her by the side of the dance floor, her sister speaking to her. Whatever she was saying, Miss Bingley did not like it, but she did not respond.
“No, I do not suppose that she would,” agreed Elizabeth after a moment of watching her.
