Page 55 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

Caroline was quick to recover. “I hope we may become so. You are Jane’s sister, and I value Jane.”

“Then perhaps your warning concerns her.”

“Jane requires no warning.”

The answer came too fast. Caroline heard it and tried to repair the mistake. “Her situation is different.”

“In what respect?”

“My brother declares his regard in everything but words.”

Elizabeth said nothing. Caroline had not intended to admit so much, and her sister’s expression confirmed it.

Caroline set her cup down. “Mr. Darcy is not my brother.”

“No.”

“He keeps to himself by nature. His notice may seem significant when he means nothing by it.”

Elizabeth understood the insult now, despite its polish. Caroline meant her to understand that Darcy’s attention was too valuable to be interpreted by someone of Elizabeth’s position and too slight to carry the meaning she might assign to it.

“You fear I have misunderstood him,” Elizabeth said.

“I fear others may believe you have.”

“Which others?”

Caroline gestured toward the windows, as though all Hertfordshire waited beyond them with ears pressed to the glass. “People observe. They repeat. A walk, a conversation, an accidental meeting may become something else before it reaches the next drawing room.”

“You know of no walk.”

“No arranged walk.”

“And no private conversation.”

“Not private by design.”

Elizabeth almost admired the distinction.

“The lane was public enough for six sheep and a frightened horse,” she said. “Mr. Darcy helped and I thanked him. If anyone constructs a courtship from that, the fault lies with the builder.”

Caroline’s color rose. “I do not speak of courtship.”

“No. You speak around it.”

Louisa stood. “I believe I shall see whether the fire in the morning room is lit.”

Caroline looked at her sister. “There is no need.”

“I find this room cold.”

She left without waiting for an answer.

Elizabeth watched the door close. “Your sister has been less fortunate than I in surviving the conversation.”

Caroline drew herself upright. “Louisa dislikes disagreement.”

“She must find the world exhausting.”