Darcy hesitated to bring up the recent exchange of notes, but he decided to take the plunge. “I saw that your mother requested to visit your sister downstairs. I hope you know that Bingley will try to do everything for your comfort, including hosting your parents and other sisters.”
“Thank you, sir, but Jane will do betternotseeing our parents.”
Her voice was strained, and Darcy could think of nothing else to say in response.
After a minute or so, she spoke again. “I apologise for sounding so vexed, but you confided in me some of your family troubles this morning, and I have to admit that my own family has an entirely different assortment of problems, although ours are self-inflicted.”
“No family is perfect. Even our host has a family member or two who could…behave better.”
Miss Elizabeth laughed. “You saycouldbehave better, but I am not so certain it is possible. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that at least one Bingleyought tobehave better.”
Shaking his head, Darcy laughed ruefully.
Miss Elizabeth changed the subject, saying, “Mr Bingley mentioned that you were able to tour parts of the continent. Can you tell me some of what you saw?”
“I love speaking of it—you shall have to alert me when you have had quite enough, Miss Elizabeth. First, my bear-leader and I crossed to Ostend, in Belgium….”
Darcy enjoyed the wandering talk about his tour. Elizabeth asked intelligent questions and evinced continued curiosity and striking previous knowledge of places and sights—all garnered through reading.
“I dearly hope I can see some of those sights someday,” she said with a sigh.
“As long as the little despot is finally vanquished, I am certain you will.”
Elizabeth shot him an ironic smile. “Certain? I do not think you are apprised of my very limited future prospects, sir.”
Deciding that he had to begin showing Elizabeth his feelings and wishes, Darcy said, “I am positive that, if you wish it, there is at least one future prospect.”
She was silent. The long pause as they strode the paths of Netherfield began to worry Darcy, although he often enjoyed silence. He worried that he had rushed things and desperately hoped he had not ruined any chance he may have had.
Elizabeth’s voice, when she finally spoke, was steady. “I feel it is safe to say that you need more time to discover my flaws and foibles, to see for yourself my…imperfect family and to weigh my character, before you should state any sort of opinion about my future prospects.”
Feeling relieved that she did not seem to be closing doors—that, instead, she seemed to think that there was a future for the two of them, when he might see more of her and her family, Darcy smiled. “Again, you display wisdom uncommon for one so young.”
“Might I say that you display recklessness unusual for one so…aged?” Laughter bubbled out to soften the insult into a tease.
“No one—no one—has ever accused me of recklessness before.” Darcy grinned. “I am not entirely certain I mind.”
The long loop of the garden path had led them back to an entrance to the house, and Elizabeth stated that she must hasten back to her sister. In a moment, she was gone.
CHAPTER 12
14 November 1811
ELIZABETH
As Elizabeth readied herself for dinner with Becky’s help, her mind replayed Mr Darcy’s words endlessly. She was astonished that he indicated such interest in her future, her “prospects.” She had interpreted him to mean that he wished to marry her. But surely….
She felt quite mortified that she had counselled Mr Darcy that he must take more time to learn about her and her family before speaking of her future. He certainly had not specified matrimony, had not used the word “marry” or “marriage.” There was—she now realised—more than one way to interpret, “I am positive that, if you wish it, there is at least one future prospect.”
Goodness, it was awful to consider at least one alternate interpretation.
But…everyone seemed to consider Mr Darcy to be very much a gentleman. And she would hope that a gentleman would not suggest to a gentlewoman….
Her face heated up as she considered the wordmistress. It seemed a very good word to her, for the most part. She would love to be the mistress of an estate someday, and marrying a man who owned an estate—who was the master—would give her that title. But there was thatothermeaning of the word….
She would act as if Mr Darcy had honourable intentions. She certainly would not agree to any dishonourable proposition, and thus she need not fear such a possibility.
Taking a deep breath, lifting her chin, she went down to dinner.
