Page 139 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

Mary set the tray on a narrow table and faced her. “You no longer speak of Mr. Darcy as you did.”

Elizabeth had expected a moral observation, not a fact stated so plain. “I spoke of him this afternoon.”

“You answered Lady Catherine. You did not describe Mr. Darcy.”

“There was little need. He described himself.”

“Yes.” Mary adjusted one cup that did not require it. “That is the change.”

Elizabeth leaned against the table. “Please explain.”

“Before, every action confirmed what you thought of him. If he spoke, he was proud, but if he remained silent, he was contemptuous. When he assisted someone, you suspected control, and if he withheld his aid, you called him selfish. You had one judgment and placed each fact beneath it.”

The charge would have angered Elizabeth a month before. Now it struck too near her own thoughts to dismiss. “You make me sound unreasonable.”

“You did not lack reasons.”

“A generous distinction.”

“An important one. He insulted you, and his manners offended many. Mr. Wickham’s account provided an explanation that suited your opinion.”

Elizabeth studied her sister. “When did you become an observer of character?”

“When everyone decided I observed nothing but books.”

The answer silenced her. Mary showed no triumph; she had just named a change Elizabeth could no longer hide from herself.

“What do I do now?” Elizabeth asked.

Mary’s brows rose. “You ask me?”

“Do not make the occasion unbearable.”

“I would separate his pride, his mistakes, and his character, then examine each.”

“You make that sound simple.”

“It is simple to state. I did not say it was easy to do.”

Elizabeth looked at the drawing room, where Lydia’s voice rose over Mrs. Bennet’s account of Lady Catherine’s cane. “His pride remains.”

“Yes.”

“He has made serious mistakes.”

“Yes.”

“And you think his character is better than either?”

Mary picked up the tray. “I think you believe it may be.”

Elizabeth stopped her before she could leave. “You have watched him less than I have.”

“Because I watched you more.”

“That is not an answer.”

“It is all the answer I have. Mr. Darcy’s conduct matters, but your treatment of it tells me what has changed. A month ago, you would have found vanity in his defense of Kitty and pride in his refusal to appease Lady Catherine. Today you objected to neither.”