Page 136 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

Bennet looked over his book. “You may have that one, Mary.”

Darcy remained beside Georgiana. “Are you certain?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“You need not remain to prove anything.”

“I know.” She glanced toward Elizabeth.

Bingley answered before Darcy could. “Welcome.”

Jane’s expression warmed, and Mrs. Bennet began arranging rooms at Netherfield as though Bingley had asked her to manage the house.

Darcy turned toward Elizabeth. The room had filled with voices, yet the space between them held the words Lady Catherine had forced him to speak.

Elizabeth returned his gaze. “You have corrected your first impression with some thoroughness.”

“I had much to correct.”

“You did.”

He accepted the judgment. “I hope the admission caused less offense than the mistake.”

“It caused a different sort.”

He could not tell whether she meant embarrassment, surprise, or something she had not named. “I am sorry for placing you before my aunt’s attack.”

“You did not bring her.”

“My letters did.”

“Your letters brought Miss Darcy. I am not prepared to condemn them without distinction.”

Georgiana, within hearing, lowered her eyes, but a smile escaped her.

Elizabeth saw it and smiled in return. Darcy understood then that Lady Catherine had failed in the purpose that brought her to Hertfordshire. She had meant to expose every distance between Elizabeth and his family, yet she had given Georgiana cause to choose Elizabeth’s company, Bingley cause to oppose rank in his own house, and Darcy no choice but to speak the truth before all of them.

Sarah rose and crossed to Georgiana, stopping a pace away. Georgiana looked to Elizabeth, who gave a small nod, and held out her hand. Sarah touched it with her nose before sitting beside her.

Bennet watched the exchange. “There, Lady Catherine has lost the dog as well.”

This time no one hid the laughter.

Chapter 30

LADY CATHERINE’S CARRIAGE was gone, yet the words spoken outside remained with Elizabeth, stripped of the noise that had surrounded them.

Darcy had defended Longbourn without denying its faults, and when Lady Catherine used Kitty’s foolish remark against the family, he refused to let one mistake define her character. He had also named his own error without excuse. I have become less careless. The admission did not erase the assembly or the contempt with which he had judged Elizabeth tolerable, but it forced her to reconsider the man who had spoken.

She had taken him for someone who looked down upon others because he enjoyed the height. Pride still governed much of his conduct, yet the weeks since the assembly suggested armor, habit, and expectation rather than pleasure in another person’s humiliation. The distinction did not excuse the insult, but it made Darcy harder to dismiss.

Across the room, Mrs. Bennet questioned Bingley about which rooms Georgiana and Anne would have at Netherfield and whether the housekeeper understood the needs of young ladies. Bingley answered with patience as Mrs. Bennet proposed fires, supper trays, and changes of linen for rooms she did not manage.

“Mama,” Jane said, “Mr. Bingley’s housekeeper will know what is required.”

“Of course she will, my dear, but one cannot leave such matters to chance when Miss Darcy has chosen to remain among us.”

Georgiana glanced at Darcy. “I shall require very little.”