Page 138 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

“There is enough noise for the entire household.”

“That never stops you from adding sense to the racket.”

Elizabeth looked at her sister. Jane’s concern held no curiosity, so evasion seemed unkind. “I am considering what Mr. Darcy said.”

Jane followed her gaze. Darcy stood beside Georgiana, listening as she described what she had seen Sarah do. “He spoke with courage.”

“He spoke with accuracy.”

Jane waited.

“That may be the more inconvenient quality.”

“Because you expected neither?”

“Because I expected courage on behalf of his family and accuracy when judging everyone else. Today he defended ours and corrected himself.”

Jane’s expression softened. “You have always valued a person who can admit an error.”

“In theory. The practice asks more generosity than I expected.”

“Toward him or yourself?”

Elizabeth gave her a look. “You have become severe.”

“I have five sisters. It comes with practice.”

Jane’s smile spared Elizabeth from answering, but the question remained after Bingley called her to admire some arrangement Georgiana had made for Anne’s comfort. Elizabeth watched her go and wondered when her sister had learned to place a needle with such precision.

They left before dusk. Mrs. Bennet pressed food upon them until Bingley accepted a parcel to end the discussion. Georgiana said goodbye to Sarah at the door, then turned to Elizabeth.

“May I call again?”

“I hope you will,” Elizabeth said.

“Without Lady Catherine, I promise.”

“That would be a quieter visit,” Elizabeth replied.

Darcy’s expression changed, and Elizabeth felt heat rise before turning back to Georgiana to say goodbye.

After the carriage departed, Mrs. Bennet carried the story through the drawing room, the dining room, and halfway up the stairs, revising Lady Catherine’s insults with each repetition. Lydia insisted that Kitty’s remark had won the encounter, while Kitty denied any intention of wit and grew more pleased each time Lydia praised it. Bennet escaped to the library, Jane joined Mrs. Bennet in seeing to supper, and Elizabeth found Mary gathering the cups Hill had left on a side table.

“You need not do that,” Elizabeth said.

“Hill has enough to manage.” Mary placed two cups upon the tray. “Lady Catherine left disorder without taking any with her.”

Elizabeth picked up the sugar bowl. “She took a large portion.”

Mary considered the correction. “Then she possessed more than I estimated.”

They carried the tray toward the passage. Unlike Jane, Mary’s silence suggested that she had reached a conclusion and was waiting to test it.

“You may say it,” Elizabeth said.

“I have said nothing.”

“That never discourages you from preparing a speech.”