"And I told you that I mean to remain where your swimming abilities are of no consequence."
"Then I shall have to find some other means of impressing you."
Mrs Cartwright lowered her gaze to her plate, but her smile remained. "I wish you every success, Mr Hadley."
Across the table, Amelia wore the altered gown. Without the heavy rows of yellow rosettes, the pale silk suited her far better, and she seemed more at ease in it. Henry Blackwood had noticed the change almost at once.
"Your gown is very becoming, Miss Harrington."
Amelia coloured. "You do not think it too plain?"
"Not at all. I thought it pretty before, but now one notices you rather than the trimming."
His elder brother made a choking sound into his wine. Henry turned towards him with a warning look, while Amelia's blush deepened.
"That was very well said," Harriet whispered loudly enough for several people to hear.
Henry looked as though he might retreat beneath the table, but Amelia laughed, and after a moment he did too.
Jane sat between Clara and Colonel Fitzwilliam. The colonel had begun the meal addressing both ladies with equal attention, but his efforts at impartiality did not survive the soup. By the time the second course arrived, he was speaking almost entirely to Jane. "You must allow me to defend my conduct this afternoon," he said. "I have been accused of applauding the opposing side."
"Only one member of it," Clara observed dryly.
Richard looked across Jane towards her. "I admired an excellent performance."
Jane laughed and shook her head indulgently at him, while Elizabeth watched from across the table with growing amusement. Her sister had never appeared so light. She answered the colonel without hesitation and received hisadmiration without the confusion it might once have caused her. Whatever caution Elizabeth had urged that morning, it was becoming difficult to maintain in the face of Jane's happiness.
Darcy sat beside Elizabeth, though neither had been responsible for the arrangement. Lady Hortensia had made the seating plan herself and had looked far too pleased when directing them to their chairs. For the first part of the meal their conversation remained safely upon the Challenge. They agreed that Lady Frances had fenced remarkably well, disagreed over whether Mr Ashcombe's apology had been sufficiently humble and debated which event Lady Hortensia might choose for the following day.
His manner was easier than it had been that morning, and she found herself responding to it despite all her efforts in her room. The ladies had spoken nonsense. Darcy did not love her. He was merely more agreeable when he was not scowling, and she was merely relieved that any tension between them had passed.
That explanation became harder to maintain when his attention remained fixed upon her while she spoke. He listened without glancing towards the rest of the table, and when she laughed, his expression warmed in a manner that made her lose the thread of what she had been saying.
"You were telling me why the ladies should receive an additional point for Lady Frances's courage," he prompted.
"I no longer remember," she admitted.
"Then I have distracted you," he smiled.
Elizabeth looked down at her wine before he could see how much that answer had affected her. "You need not sound so pleased."
At the head of the table, Lady Hortensia called for another bottle to be opened. "We have endured two full days of competition without serious injury to body or reputation, which is more than I expected. I believe that deserves celebration."
Mr Pritchard, standing near the sideboard, inclined his head. "The physician remains available, my lady."
"Let us hope he continues to be disappointed."
A fresh round of laughter followed. The servants cleared the final dishes and brought in syllabubs, fruit and small almond cakes. Conversation became louder as chairs shifted and neighbours spoke across one another. Miss Lacey passed her drawing of Mr Ashcombe down the table, provoking his protest that his nose had been made considerably too large.
Lady Frances examined the picture. "I believe she has been generous."
Mr Ashcombe gave her a wounded look. "Must I be defeated twice in one day, my lady?"
"Only if you continue arguing with the artist."
He surrendered the drawing with a sigh, though he was smiling again.
When the last course had been removed, Lady Hortensia remained at the table rather than leading the ladies away. She looked along both sides with an expression of great satisfaction.
