Page 125 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

Lady Catherine saw them cross the lawn. “That dog entered the drive as though it belonged here.”

Hurst spoke from behind her. “The dog waited for permission.”

Lady Catherine turned.

He folded his newspaper beneath one arm. “That places her ahead of most visitors.”

Louisa looked away and Anne smiled. Georgiana met Caroline’s eyes and saw the relief gone from them.

Lady Catherine returned to the drawing room and chose the largest chair. “How long has this familiarity continued?”

Caroline followed. “Miss Eliza has visited Netherfield before.”

“And Darcy was here when she came.”

“He was.” Caroline sat near Lady Catherine, ready to supply each fact that might support her case. “He encountered Miss Eliza before the assembly, though he did not know her name. Since then, she has found cause to attract his notice at every gathering.”

Georgiana heard the distortion at once. Darcy’s letters had described no pursuit. He wrote of meetings, arguments, mistakes, and his own failure to understand Elizabeth. Caroline had turned his attention into Elizabeth’s design.

“Miss Elizabeth has not sought him,” Georgiana said.

Caroline looked at her. “You cannot know that.”

“My brother would know.”

Lady Catherine struck the carpet with her cane. “Your brother sees what this girl wishes him to see.”

Anne took the chair beside Georgiana. “That would require Miss Elizabeth to control both his eyes and his judgment.”

“She controls enough,” Caroline said. “He watches for her entrance and listens when she speaks. He has begun to excuse conduct he once condemned.”

Louisa set the tea things in order. “He has also begun to question judgments he formed without knowledge. That may not count as corruption.”

Caroline turned. “You have seen the same change.”

“I have seen a change. We differ on its cause.”

Lady Catherine fixed Louisa with a stare. “You permit this under your brother’s roof?”

“Charles owns Netherfield. He receives whom he chooses.”

“Mr. Bingley appears governed by every warm feeling that crosses his mind.”

Hurst lowered himself into his chair and opened the newspaper. “That is why people like him.”

“No one asked you,” Caroline said.

“That does not stop me from venturing an opinion.”

Lady Catherine ignored him. “Darcy should have left when he saw the character of the neighborhood.”

Georgiana thought of the letters hidden at Rosings and the care with which Darcy had admitted each error. “He may have stayed because his first judgment was wrong.”

“Darcy does not require correction from a country girl.”

“Then she cannot have changed him,” Anne said. “You cannot claim both.”

Caroline rose and went to the window. The path to Longbourn remained visible between the trees, though Jane, Elizabeth, and Sarah had passed from sight. “Whatever Miss Eliza intends, Mr. Darcy’s position makes caution necessary.”