Page 15

Across the table from Caroline, Elizabeth, too, was suffering through the supper at Matlock House.

Mostly, she was suffering on Jane’s behalf, for though her sister appeared serene, Elizabeth could sense the subtle hints of her discomfort.

To Jane’s left, Miss Darcy was focusing all her attention diagonally across the table at Mr. Bingley, blatantly ignoring Jane and effectively preventing her from saying a word to her beau.

Elizabeth could see that Mr. Bingley did not return the girl’s youthful infatuation, just as she had seen it the previous day, though her attempts to bolster Jane’s confidence had done little good since Jane would not admit to being distressed by Miss Darcy’s behavior.

But the slight was undeniable. Mr. Darcy had called at Gracechurch Street that morning to exchange books with Elizabeth, and his sister had not accompanied him.

It was a shame, for Elizabeth had rather liked Miss Darcy when first they met, and so had Jane; it had even seemed as if she was eager for their acquaintance, until Mr. Bingley’s marked attentions to Jane had aroused Miss Darcy’s envy.

Elizabeth had hinted of it to Mr. Darcy at Hyde Park, and again that morning as he chatted amiably with the sisters and their aunt about the beauties of Derbyshire.

She had hoped he might do something , for he had given every appearance of approving of Mr. Bingley’s interest in Jane.

He had even gone as far as inviting the Gardiners and Elizabeth to stay at Pemberley when they travelled north to the Lake District the following summer.

Of course, this was likely a compliment to Miss Bingley, who may by then be mistress of the estate.

But surely Mr. Darcy had ample reason of his own to wish for harmony between his sister and Jane, for when Mr. Darcy did marry Caroline, it would only increase the intimacy between their families.

Elizabeth resolved to speak to him again about the matter; she may seem to be nagging him, but she cared more for her sister’s comfort than the opinion of a man who had called her merely tolerable.

And yet, he had apologized so sincerely, had actually spent the entire day wishing for a chance to do so.

Elizabeth regretted that she had not received his apology more earnestly.

It must be no small thing for a gentleman of his situation in life to apologize to a country miss of little standing, and she had only teased him in return.

In truth, she had skirted the line of flirting with him; she felt traitorous even admitting it to herself.

She was grateful for the large floral arrangement that blocked Caroline from seeing her, for had she been able to, surely the guilt was written on Elizabeth’s face. She had liked flirting with Mr. Darcy.

Of course, she had liked flirting with Colonel Fitzwilliam, too.

Yet somehow, it felt different. The colonel, she suspected, flirted with everyone.

He had certainly paid Jane enough attention to arouse Mr. Bingley’s rather adorable indignation, and Elizabeth had even spied the colonel making a few saucy expressions at Miss Bingley, who had only sneers for her future relation.

But Mr. Darcy did not give the impression of being a gentleman who was as adept as his cousin in flirtation and flattery.

His good opinion, she supposed, was more worth the earning.

She privately laughed at herself as she realized that she was more inclined to think well of him now that he had withdrawn his insult and flattered her instead.

She played over their banter in her mind, realizing that he had not actually praised her, though it must be a compliment of sorts that he had asked her for a dance at the ball.

But then there had been something about the way he had looked at her when he exchanged their books that morning.

She had felt the distinction of his sharing with her what Miss Darcy said was a tradition between the siblings.

Elizabeth cast a longing gaze down the table, but there were three other people seated between herself and Mr. Darcy.

She wished she might see him, might puzzle something out in the way that he stared at her.

Jane sat silently beside her, ignoring her dessert and gazing at Mr. Bingley with hope and doubt and longing.

Elizabeth started at the thought that she was beginning to do the same.

She pushed the thoughts of Mr. Darcy from her mind and spoke to her sister.

“I am looking forward to our final fittings at the modiste tomorrow. I heard Mr. Bingley say that pale blue is his favorite color.”

“Did he?”

Elizabeth grinned. “I heard him say so because I asked him directly when we were at the gallery. And later, I heard him ask you for the first and the supper set, because I was shamelessly eavesdropping.”

Jane smiled a little. “I am looking forward to it - and to returning to Meryton.”

“But it has been pleasant to spend time with our relations. Our friends certainly seem to think well of them.” Elizabeth winked at her sister.

“It was pleasing indeed to see Mr. Darcy speak so warmly with our aunt. And it is a relief to think well of him, now that he has apologized to you. Miss Bingley has grown so fond of us - and especially you, Lizzy - that I am sure it will be a relief for her that you and he are to begin on better terms.”

In an instant, Elizabeth felt as if something within herself had come crashing down. But of course Mr. Darcy was inclined to exert himself now that Miss Bingley had shown her such friendship. She forced a smile. “Quite a relief, yes. It does make sense.”

The ladies soon withdrew to the parlor, where the countess entreated her niece to play for them.

Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief that Jane might be a little easier with Miss Darcy thus occupied.

Her relief was short lived, for the countess and her daughters seated themselves around Miss Bingley in such a way as to exclude Elizabeth and Jane.

They were relegated to a sofa at enough of a distance that even Caroline seemed affronted at the obvious slight.

Elizabeth lamented that the Gardiners had not accompanied them, having a previous engagement that evening.

Their exclusion, however, quickly turned to their advantage, for the gentlemen entered the room not five minutes later.

“What are cigars and brandy when there are so many lovely ladies in the parlor?” Colonel Fitzwilliam greeted them all warmly before leading Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy toward the open seats near Jane and Elizabeth.

As the gentlemen seated themselves, Colonel Fitzwilliam leaned in as if to whisper a great secret.

“In truth, we had so long been placed at a disadvantage that we relished the chance to finally speak with the charming Bennet sisters. Never have I been so displeased by beautiful flowers - the ones that graced the table, and not the two exquisite roses before me.”

Mr. Bingley smiled, though he seemed hesitant to outright lament the company forced upon him during the meal. He smiled at Jane and said, “Indeed, Lady Matlock’s table is so grand that I felt myself nearly in another county, and missing my friends from Hertfordshire.”

“Ha! Bingley is all politeness,” Colonel Fitzwilliam drawled.

“What he means to say, lovely Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, is that he envied your position - and my own - at the furthest possible remove from my sisters. It is a common feeling to experience, and I see you have been twice blessed by such distance.”

As the colonel gave a teasing wink, Lady Matlock called out to him. “Richard, do come and hear Miss Bingley’s clever jest - what a bright girl your sister is, Mr. Bingley.”

With his back to the countess, Richard screwed up his face. “Shall I indulge my stepmother, ladies? Could you bear it if I left you with these two old bores to go oblige the countess by flirting with Miss Bingley? Will you consent to miss me?”

Elizabeth laughed. “At least one of those questions ought to be directed at Mr. Bingley, sir.”

“Quite right,” Mr. Bingley agreed. “And I shall not miss you at all - off with you!”

Even Mr. Darcy shared in their mirth. “You are fortunate that you need only be pleased by Miss Bingley. You do not have to please her , else I should fear for your success.”

Elizabeth smirked; from the tone of Caroline’s voice across the room, it did not seem that any of the Fitzwilliams had pleased her, though Mr. Darcy did not seem to mind.

The colonel stuck out his tongue at Mr. Darcy before turning away from them to join the other group across the room. Elizabeth watched Mr. Darcy for any trace of envy, for it was apparent that the countess hoped the heiress would catch the colonel’s eye.

Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth with the trace of a smile. “My aunt must be feeling merciful, for no doubt you were subjected to enough of my cousin’s nonsense over supper.”

“Quite the contrary - the placement of the flowers made any conversation across the table quite impossible. Surely your cousin was obliged to please Caroline over the meal.” Elizabeth bit back a comment about Caroline and the colonel sharing a delightfully spiky disposition that must make for invigorating conversation.

“Poor Caroline,” Mr. Bingley laughed. “The pair of them have spent years sniping at one another, to everyone’s amusement but their own. A pity they had no audience tonight.”