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“They are kind and gentle, and without any apparent guile. I had rather hoped Georgie would like them. They have been a positive influence on Miss Bingley, even if I mistrust her motives. I believe this is a case of some delicacy.”

“If you wish her to befriend them, I have no doubt they will be a vast deal more suitable companions than my sisters. But perhaps it may be best for them to meet on their own. Let Georgie come to like the lady before she learns that Bingley is courting her.”

“I agree,” Darcy said with a nod. “If the Gardiners prove agreeable people, I may suggest Georgiana accompany them on a shopping trip. Surely a day of telling one another they would look well in this bonnet or that dress will foster some sentiments of friendship.”

Richard chortled. “What a pretty picture you paint. May I go along, too?”

Darcy gave his cousin a wry smile. “Miss Bingley would like nothing better, I am sure.”

“She would if she knew - well, let us speak no more of that .” Richard clapped Darcy on the shoulder. “But I do hope I am invited to dine with you tonight. Rosamund’s intended is to bring his relations to Matlock House tonight, and my stepmother will rejoice at my absence.”

“I wonder you should willingly oblige her.”

“I must! I am dying to meet these Bennet sisters and their relations of ambiguous quality. And you must know I yearn to see the newly improved Miss Bingley.”

Darcy agreed that Miss Bingley would appreciate Richard’s presence, which would even out their numbers at dinner.

Bingley deemed eight a very intimate number for a family meal and was delighted to receive Richard and Darcy at the appointed hour.

Introductions were made all around; Darcy thought the Gardiners were a charming and affable couple, and was pleased to discover that Miss Bingley appeared to think the same.

Richard, as ever, was immediately popular among those he had just met.

He was all japery with Bingley and Mr. Gardiner, and flattered all four ladies with cheerful and impudent eloquence.

He was happily seated beside Miss Bennet and across from Miss Elizabeth at dinner, and delighted them each in turn.

Darcy found himself at Miss Bingley’s left hand, with Miss Elizabeth on his other side. He was less comfortably positioned than his cousin, and he remained suspicious throughout the meal as Miss Bingley spoke over him to Miss Elizabeth on a variety of subjects.

When Mrs. Gardiner, seated on Miss Bingley’s other side, happened to claim their hostess’s attention, Darcy said but little to Miss Elizabeth, who was frequently engaged by Richard.

She laughed at all his jests and shocked him with a few fine pieces of irreverence, and Darcy fought his disappointment as he watched her shine for his cousin.

Darcy sometimes listened to Mrs. Gardiner speak with Miss Bingley.

The lady was younger than he would have expected anybody’s aunt to be, and she was full of anecdotes about the Miss Bennets in their youth.

The eldest, by her telling, had always been a benevolent angel; Miss Elizabeth had been a feral hellcat at the age of ten, when Mrs. Gardiner had wed her husband.

“Bless me! I thought her mother would have a fit of apoplexy at my wedding to Edward! Such thick, beautiful dark curls she has, do not you think!”

“Oh, yes! They compliment her fine, dark eyes,” Miss Bingley agreed with a sly glance at Darcy.

“Well, that morning Mrs. Bennet discovered she had shorn it all off! Her hair was as short as Mr. Darcy’s, indeed it was!

It was rather fetching once Miss Lucas evened it out, the dear girl - I presume you are acquainted with her?

Very sensible girl, and so devoted to Jane and Lizzy.

But her hair - good heavens. And then - oh! ”

Mrs. Gardiner turned around to address Richard, who had been exchanging teasing glances with Miss Elizabeth across the table as they eavesdropped on her aunt.

“And you should know this, too, Colonel. Lizzy told her parents that she had cut her hair and borrowed trousers from Johnny Lucas, and that she meant to join the army.”

“It was the navy, Aunt. If you mean to slander me, you must do so with accuracy. I wished to see the world.” Though her cheerful countenance was very pink, Miss Elizabeth gave them all a defiant smile.

A flicker of sorrow shaded Richard’s gaze before he recovered and brought his left hand to his heart.

“What, too good for the army, Miss Elizabeth?”

“You would have made an excellent sailor, Lizzy,” Miss Bingley cried.

Darcy could not determine whether Miss Bingley was in earnest, or if she merely meant to expose some defect in a perceived rival. He frowned at her, and then at his cousin, who once again commanded Miss Elizabeth’s attention.

“Did your parents not warn you of the many dangers, as my own did? Surely they would have preferred to see you study the law, or take orders.”

Miss Elizabeth chortled. “As prone as I am to arguing, I am surprised they did not present the law as a pleasing alternative. But I had no intention of distinguishing myself in a career; I thought only of amusement - and perhaps a moderate amount of piracy. Nothing out of the common way.”

The raillery continued throughout the meal, and as ever, Darcy said little but listened a vast deal.

Miss Bingley continued on as she had begun, giving Darcy no further insight to what she was about.

Richard spoke so much to Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth that Darcy wondered if his cousin had eaten a bite at all.

He was pleased, however, that Bingley appeared to get on well with Mr. Gardiner.

Bingley had, however, kept one eye on Miss Bennet throughout the meal, and appeared a little envious of every moment that Richard held Miss Bennet’s placid attention.

When the Gardiners and their nieces departed, Bingley invited Darcy and Richard to stay and have a drink with him, and Miss Bingley was unusually compliant in leaving the gentleman to their occupation.

“Well, Bingley, you have outdone yourself,” Richard declared. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet is an absolute delight.”

Bingley looked quizzically at Richard for a moment before laughing until he nearly choked on his brandy. “Miss Elizabeth! Well, I ought to have known you would take a liking to her. She is most agreeable, though she is clever in a way that frightens me a little. But her sister Jane is an angel.”

“Her sister?” Richard laughed. “I see - well, I am relieved to hear we will not need to call for pistols at dawn. Miss Bennet is a charming young lady - indeed, I can see how her disposition might suit you. I believe I misunderstood - well, never mind.”

Darcy found himself screaming internally. Richard, who had always believed he would need to marry prudently, now faced a tragic turn of circumstances which would allow him the liberty of choice. Darcy despised the notion that Richard’s choice might be her .

Bingley grinned at Richard with wicked curiosity. “What was the nature of your mistake?”

“Well, I thought that you preferred the sister more similar to your own open disposition, and that your sister disapproved of your choice, and deliberately seated the quieter sister beside you. I supposed she had placed Miss Elizabeth near herself and then incited the aunt to tell stories that would mortify the lady. Of course, she is a charming girl, and was gracious about it all, but I cannot be sure if Miss Bingley’s comments were meant in friendship or out of some intent to discomfit Miss Elizabeth. ”

“I confess, I had thought the same,” Darcy replied.

Bingley looked momentarily affronted, and then confused, and then contemplative.

He swirled his brandy in his glass for a moment and then took a drink.

“You are both dear friends, but I believe you entirely mistake my sister. She likes both the Miss Bennets very well. To be sure, she is not as fond of the rest of the Bennets, though she seems pleased by the Gardiners - are they not exceedingly affable? But Caroline has spoken very favorably of Jane and Miss Elizabeth, in unguarded moments at home as well as in their presence. I believe we put paid to her mischief, Darcy.”

Darcy and his cousin were both taken aback by Bingley’s solemn defense of his sister; Darcy was also rather impressed by it. “Of course - forgive me. I do wish to believe that your sister has learned to be content with your choice, and with her new friends.”

Richard’s eyes gleamed as he scented the mischief. “But how did you put paid to her mischief?”

Bingley grinned and refilled his drink before launching into an account of how he had urged Darcy to speak of his resolution never to marry Miss Bingley on the night that she and her sister had eavesdropped on them.

Richard howled with laughter, but insisted Miss Bingley could not possibly have learned her lesson from the experience.

“Forgive me, but you must both be on your guard with Miss Bingley. It seems to me that she has observed the superior manners of the Bennet sisters, and wishes to demonstrate that she is capable of being equally charming. Or perhaps she hoped the Gardiners would prove to be exceedingly vulgar.”

Bingley whimpered. “How could she not like Jane? She is the kindest, most agreeable creature.”

“I shall grant you that, but you may be required to remind your sister that you have not come to London to discover Georgiana Darcy a superior creature to Jane Bennet.”

“Miss Darcy is a dear girl, but she is like another sister to me - a much younger sister. No, Colonel, we must agree to disagree. I have been vastly contented by the changes to my sister’s disposition since going to Netherfield, and I shall not interfere.”

“I should like to see how you all get on at Netherfield,” Richard mused.

“Then come and see,” Bingley said warmly. “You are very welcome, and I daresay Miss Elizabeth would agree.”

“And your sister will not object?”

“She is charmingly reformed,” Bingley declared.

“Excellent! What do you say, Darcy? You are very quiet. I hear there are several Miss Bennets - is there not one for you, perchance?”

Bingley snorted. “Think again! He declared them all unsuitable even to dance with, our first week in Hertfordshire. He flatly refused to stand up with Miss Elizabeth at the assembly.”

Darcy set down his brandy for fear he would shatter the glass in his hand.

He would have to find a way to apologize to Miss Elizabeth, and soon.

He could not admit to anything beyond an appreciation for her beauty and her clever wit, and the way her teasing mirth seemed to captivate every room she walked into.

Beyond this, he would not better not to think of her at all, lest he be tied to her ghastly family.

But Darcy could not bear to think of her as attached to his cousin, forever in his life and thinking ill of him.