Then—on impulse—he extended his leg beneath the table, seeking hers.
A small, private reassurance.
His foot found another.
He gave the faintest, careful pressure.
There was a sharp intake of breath—
“Lydia!” came Kitty’s indignant whisper. “Do not kick me!”
Darcy froze.
“I did not!” Lydia protested at once. “Do not be ridiculous, Kitty, I have not touched you.”
“You most certainly did—”
Darcy withdrew his foot instantly.
Heat rose, quite unwillingly, to his face.
Across the table, Elizabeth’s eyes widened for the briefest moment—
Then dropped, her composure slipping just enough that he knew she understood exactly what had occurred.
He did not dare look at her again.
Mrs. Bennet, fortunately, was entirely oblivious. “And of course, Lydia will not be long in following her sisters, I am sure—such a lively girl cannot fail to attract attention—. And thenit will only be Kitty for whom I shall need to care when Mr. Bennet is gone.”
Mr. Bennet, without lifting his gaze from his plate, remarked that he might yet outlive them all and prove a considerable inconvenience.
Elizabeth nearly choked.
Darcy hid his amusement in his wine and spent the remainder of his meal determinedlynotmaking eye contact with his wife.
Fortunately, the meal concluded soon thereafter. Mr. Bennet made no move to separate the sexes, and Darcy suspected—strongly—that this was by design.
Mr. Bennet showed no inclination to be left alone with him, and Darcy, for his part, was content to allow the larger company to remain.
Apparently he does not consider Bingley’s good-natured presence to be a sufficient shield against my resentful nature.
The notion that Mr. Bennet was afraid of Darcy was a rather pleasant one.
As soon as the company gathered once more in the drawing room, cards were called for. Two tables were arranged, and the ladies and gentlemen mixed together in a manner that might have raised eyebrows in more formal company, but here passed without remark. Lydia declared for whist, Kitty followed, and Bingley—ever eager—readily joined them.
Darcy found himself at the second table, engaged in a game he scarcely followed.
His attention, against his better judgment, was elsewhere.
Elizabeth moved easily through the room, speaking here, laughing there—until at last she came to stand beside him.
“You appear very intent upon your hand, sir,” she said lightly.
Darcy did not immediately look up. “I assure you, I am giving it my utmost consideration.”
“Are you?” she returned. “For from where I stand, it appears you are plotting the downfall of my younger sister.”
Darcy’s head came up at once.
