Page 8 of Darcy's Disguise (The Bennet and Darcy Chronicles #3)

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E lizabeth had nottruly considered the consequencesof inviting Mr. Dawson to dinner last week—at least, not until he wasseated at the Bennet family table, listening to Kitty’s ceaseless chatter while Mr. Bennet smirked at him over his wine.

She had hoped—perhaps foolishly—that her family mightcontain themselves, just for one evening.

But, of course they did not.

It began, predictably, withLydia. "Oh, Mr. Dawson, did you know I am a mostaccomplished dancer?" She declared before they had even finished their first course. "Why, at the last assembly, I had no fewer than six partners!"

Kitty nodded eagerly. "And I would have had more, had Lydia not stolen so many of them."

"Stolen!" Lydia jabbed her finger into Kitty’s shoulder. "You cannot steal what is freely given!"

“When you walk by fluttering your eyelashes while they are talking to me, that’s stealing Lydia, you know it is.”

Elizabethpressed her fingers to her temple.

Darcy, however,merely smiled. "You must enjoy the assemblies here, then.”

Lydialeaned forward."Oh, indeed! And you must come to the next one! I daresay I would allow you a dance, sir."

Elizabethnearly choked on her wine.

Darcy, for his part,inclined his head graciously. "I am honored by the offer, Miss Lydia."

Elizabethblinked. He was handlingLydia’s dramatics with complete ease.

She did not know whether to be impressed or concerned.

As the meal continued,Mr. Bennet, always eager to amuse himself, turned his attention to their guest. "So, Mr. Dawson," he said, peering over his plate. "You are a tutor, are you?"

Darcy nodded. "Yes, sir."

Mr. Bennet swirled his wine. "And tell me, do you findyoung minds to be a delight or a disaster?"

Darcy’s lips twitched. "Both, I believe, for some. The disaster comes first—the delight follows, if one is patient enough."

Mr. Bennetlet out a sharp laugh."Ah! A tutor who understands patience. A rare thing indeed!"

Elizabethstole a glance at Darcy.

He wasunbothered, perfectly composed.

Even asher mother loudly extolled Jane’s beautyto him.

Even asMary recited an unnecessarily long passage from Fordyce’s sermons.

Even asLydia giggled over the wine she was not supposed to be drinking.

By the time the meal was over,Elizabeth was thoroughly mortified.

And yet as they stepped into the garden for a walk, Darcy seemed entirely at ease.

Elizabeth wrapped her shawl tighter around herself as they walked along thewinding hedgerows. "I must apologize for my family," she said finally, unable to keep it in any longer.

Darcy glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly. "Apologize?"

Sheexhaled slowly."You must think them completely ridiculous. I tried to warn you." She waited, ready to hear confirmation of what she most feared, that he would be wholly unimpressed. But to her utter shock, he smiled.

"Miss Bennet," he said, "I do not think them ridiculous."

Elizabeth stopped walking. "You do not?"

He shook his head. "They are young," he said simply. "Your younger sisters—they are lively, playful, eager for life. That is not a crime."

Elizabeth stared at him almost disbelieving and then partly wondering if his brain was addled. "But surely," she said hesitantly, "you must find their behavior improper at times?"

Darcy was quiet for a long moment. "I haven’t always felt this way. Recently I’ve experienced the complete exhaustion of expectations and tasks to complete and the attention that comes from…” He stopped as if to correct himself. “I think that the pressure to always be proper is… sometimes too high." He looked out over the garden, his gaze distant. "Not all are raised to be perfect examples of society," he continued. "And I do not think it fair that some are punished simply for being young."

Elizabeth’s hearttwisted. She’d long been tormented by the embarrassment of her family’s behavior. Could she have found a man who would give them grace? Who would defendher family?

"You surprise me, Mr. Dawson," she admitted, her voice quiet.

"Do I?"

She met his gaze,searching his face. "You are not what I expected," she admitted.

Darcy studied her for a long moment. “I would hope, Miss Bennet," he said, “to continue to surprise you in the best possible ways.”

That night, as Elizabethbrushed out her hair, Jane sat on the edge of the bed, smiling at her through the mirror.

"You must admit," Jane said, "he is a remarkable man."

Elizabethset down her brush. "He is… different than anyone I’ve ever known.”

Jane smiled. "He seems very well suited to you."

Elizabeth scoffed, shaking her head. "Jane, he is a tutor."

Jane tilted her head. "And if he were not?" She watched Lizzie carefully. "You admire him," she said gently.

Elizabeth exhaled, rubbing her temples. "I cannot admire a man who has no fortune, Jane."

"But if he did?" Jane asked.

Elizabeth stared at her hands.

Jane reached over, taking themgently in her own. "If circumstances were different," she whispered, "would you love him?"

Elizabeth’s throat tightened. “Why torment me so? It doesn’t matter what I would do. Circumstances are not different. He’s a tutor.”