“A sacrifice to intellectual improvement.”
“I thought we had chosen distraction.”
“With you, Mr. Darcy, it appears the distinction is difficult to maintain.”
The moment the words were spoken, she realized they might be taken as too much. But he did not seem offended. Quite the opposite. His attention fixed upon her with a stillness that made her pulse beat faster.
“Is that a compliment?” he asked.
Elizabeth lifted her chin. “Observation.”
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then his smile appeared, slow and rare, and Elizabeth felt a warmth bloom through her that had nothing to do with the fire.
A knock at the door saved her from discovering what she might have said next. Mrs. Nicholls entered, curtsied, and looked unsurprised to find them together, which Elizabeth found both comforting and alarming.
“Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennet has stirred a little. She is asking for you.”
Elizabeth rose at once. “Of course.”
Mr. Darcy stood as well, the book still in his hand. “May I carry that for you?”
She looked down and realized she had taken the history of Hertfordshire without intending to. “To Jane’s room?”
“To the door, at least.”
“That would be very kind, though if anyone asks, I shall say you were overcome by a sudden passion for parish boundaries.”
“I shall endeavor to bear the scandal.”
Elizabeth laughed softly and allowed him to take the book. As they left the library, Mrs. Nicholls walking discreetly ahead, Elizabeth was aware of Mr. Darcy beside her, of the quiet dignity of his step, of the book in his hand, and of the strange lightness in her own chest.
Ten minutes, it seemed, could be a very dangerous gift when spent in the company of a handsome young man.
Chapter 19
Elizabeth spent nearly the whole of the day in Jane’s room.
It was not unpleasant employment, though it was anxious. Jane slept often, woke apologetic, drank what Elizabeth pressed upon her, and insisted at regular intervals that she was quite well enough to be no trouble. Elizabeth answered such declarations by smoothing her sister’s hair, changing the cool cloth upon her forehead, and reminding her that if she wished to convince anyone of her recovery, she must begin by ceasing to look like a pale angel expiring upon a pillow.
Jane had smiled at that, which Elizabeth considered a decided improvement.
In the afternoon, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst came up together. Elizabeth had expected elegance, condescension, and perhaps one or two speeches about the superior air of town houses, but Jane’s sweet gratitude seemed to soften even Miss Bingley. The sisters sat with her for nearly half an hour, spoke gently, adjusted the fire screen, praised her patience, and offered to send for anything that might amuse her when she felt equal to it. Mrs. Hurst even took Jane’s hand for a moment and said, with more feeling than Elizabeth had yet heard from her, that illness was always worse away from home.
Elizabeth, who had not wished to be grateful to them, was forced into it all the same.
By evening, Jane had fallen into a more settled sleep, and Susie agreed to remain with her while Elizabeth went down to dinner. “You need food, miss,” Susie said, with the same sternness Mrs. Nicholls employed when command wore the costume of concern. “And Miss Bennet will fret if she wakes and hears you have not eaten.”
That was enough to decide her.
Elizabeth changed quickly into a simple gown and descended with the uncomfortable awareness that she was more pleased than she ought to be at the prospect of seeing Darcy again. She told herself it was only because their conversation in the library had been agreeable. That was true, as far as it went. It was also not the whole truth, which made it less useful as a defense.
At dinner, Mr. Bingley asked after Jane with so much sincerity that Elizabeth’s hopes for her sister’s future happiness could not help but be raised.
“She has slept more peacefully this afternoon,” she told him. “Mr. Jones will not yet call her better, but he appears less solemn, which I take as encouragement.”
“Then I shall be encouraged as well,” Mr. Bingley said at once. “You must tell Miss Bennet that we all wish for her recovery.”
