Page 64 of A Most Unwelcome Acquaintance

“You should play again,” he said. “Your attention was elsewhere during the last game.”

“I won.”

“That proves nothing. Goulding played as though the cards offended him,” he said, moving away before Darcy could answer.

Elizabeth watched him go. “Mr. Hurst observes more than he admits.”

“He admits little.”

“That leaves him ample room.”

Darcy looked toward Caroline, who stood with Louisa near the supper table. Caroline's posture had regained its ease, but her attention had not left them.

“Some observations serve no one,” he said.

“Then they should remain unspoken.”

“We agree.”

Mary approached with Mr. Allen on her arm. “Mr. Allen wishes to sit near the window, but Lady Lucas has placed a table in the way.”

Darcy moved the table before Elizabeth or Mary could respond. He shifted two chairs, opened a clear path, and offered Mr. Allen the seat nearest the window.

“You anticipate need, sir,” Mr. Allen said. “A dangerous habit. People may begin to expect it.”

“Then I shall disappoint them when necessary.”

“Good. Consistency exhausts a man.”

Mary waited until Darcy returned to the others.

“He had nothing to gain,” she said.

Elizabeth knew the remark belonged to their earlier discussion. “Must every decent action purchase something?”

“You seem to think his must.”

“I said that good manners do not erase contempt.”

Mary looked toward Darcy. “True, and contempt does not erase everything else.”

Elizabeth set down her glass. “He helped Mr. Allen, and I do not deny it. That does not change his opinion of my family.”

“I did not say it should.”

“Then what are you saying?”

“That you allow him no action which does not confirm your opinion.”

Elizabeth met her gaze. “That is not true.”

When Mary said nothing, Elizabeth reached for her glass again. “You need not look so doubtful.”

Mary held her sister’s look for a moment, then turned toward the supper table.

Bingley offered Jane a seat beside him and Sir William placed Darcy near Mr. Allen, which left Elizabeth across from Wickham and Kitty. Caroline sat beside Darcy and spoke to him whenever the conversation allowed, but his answers were brief. Twice his attention crossed the table toward Elizabeth., and on the second occasion, Caroline stopped speaking in the middle of a sentence.

Louisa noticed. Hurst noticed Louisa noticing.