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Elizabeth grinned at him. “As you may remember, the scenes on the estate interest me most, so we might have come anyway.”

“Will you stay long?”

“Another four days. My uncle has leased a lodge on Lake Windermere where we shall stay for two weeks. Then our steps will take us back to Hertfordshire, for my uncle and aunt’s children are staying at Longbourn.”

This was a topic more palatable to Mr. Bingley. “I hope all your family is well?”

“To the best of my knowledge, they are,” said Elizabeth, wondering how to break the news to him, intelligence he desperately wished to hear. It was fortunate, then, that he gave her a perfect opening.

“Are your sisters all at Longbourn?”

Elizabeth felt desolate at needing to bring such an amiable man pain, but she did not shirk her duty.

“All but one. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia are at Longbourn, but Jane now lives in Warwickshire with her husband. They were married in May.”

All the blood drained from Mr. Bingley’s face, and he stared at her as if disbelieving.

In his features, she saw a mixture of anguish, incredulity, incomprehension, and a whole host of other emotions she could not name.

For a long and painful moment, the man did not speak, and Elizabeth thought he might flee.

Then he plucked up his composure and offered her a sickly smile.

“That is . . . well, that is . . . remarkable . . . indeed. P-Please accept my . . . congratulations to M . . . your sister.”

“My sister is Mrs. Harrington now, Mr. Bingley,” said Elizabeth gently.

“O-Oh,” said the gentleman, not coherently. “That is . . . f-fortunate for her . . . i-indeed.”

Though Elizabeth was certain it was anything but fortunate in Mr. Bingley’s mind, she opted to say nothing more, and Mr. Bingley remained silent, lost in his misery.

Elizabeth watched him and noted his despondency, but if she were honest with herself, she wondered how deep it went.

Unconfirmed though her opinion was, Elizabeth was still certain his sisters and friend had kept Mr. Bingley away; had he loved Jane, or had she been an infatuation?

Elizabeth recalled Jane’s words about her realization that she had not loved Mr. Bingley, though Elizabeth was certain that if matters had progressed between them, Jane could have reached that state with him.

Perhaps Mr. Bingley was the same; Elizabeth would take the opportunity, if such presented itself, to point that out to him.

Elizabeth also noted that Mr. Darcy was watching them and appearing concerned, as well he might.

Depending on how much he had influenced Mr. Bingley, this episode might put a strain on their friendship.

Elizabeth suspected Mr. Darcy’s concern was as much for his friend’s peace of mind, but on that score, she could do nothing.

At length, the time for the Darcy party to depart arrived, though they did not go without an invitation for Elizabeth and her uncle.

“We have other friends staying at Pemberley, as Mr. Bingley can attest,” said Georgiana, glancing at him with a smile. Mr. Bingley mustered a response, but anyone looking could see how sickly it was. “Yet, I cannot but wish to keep your company while we may. Shall you dine at Pemberley tonight?”

“If it will not be an imposition,” said Mrs. Gardiner, “we should be happy to dine with you.”

“No, Mrs. Gardiner,” said Mr. Bingley, “do not consider it an imposition on our account. I, for one, should be happy to have your company tonight.”

“Then we will attend.”

With that decision, the Darcy party rose to depart, Elizabeth and her relations escorting them through the inn to the waiting carriage.

It did not escape Elizabeth’s attention that Mr. Darcy put himself by her side as they walked, and when they reached outside where the Gardiners stood with a recovered Mr. Bingley and Georgiana, the gentleman took the opportunity to address her.

“Miss Bennet, I will confess that I heard something of your conversation with Bingley. Your sister is married?”

“In May, Mr. Darcy,” confirmed Elizabeth. “I apologize for not speaking of it, but I did not think it a bit of news to drop unceremoniously. It was also best, I believe, that I did not impose upon you to communicate my sister’s changed circumstances to your friend.”

Mr. Darcy searched her eyes as if trying to understand. “When we were in Hertfordshire, I had no notion of anyone other than my friend paying her attention.”

“Jane did not meet Mr. Harrington until January, Mr. Darcy. It was an instant connection between them.”

“Then I offer my felicitations. It is just...”

“Trust me, Mr. Darcy, I understand. I did not relish breaking the news to Mr. Bingley; I suspected he would not take it well.”

“Of course, you did,” replied Mr. Darcy. “I know of your powers of observation, and Bingley’s behavior screamed his interest.”

Elizabeth nodded. “There is no time to discuss the matter in detail, Mr. Darcy, but I am not averse to sharing it with you when the opportunity permits.”

“Then I am interested to hear of it. Tonight, there will be no opportunity in company, but perhaps we may speak of it tomorrow.”

Which spoke to Mr. Darcy’s determination that their acquaintance would have a tomorrow.

The gentleman’s behavior all but assured his intentions, and yet the open acknowledgment of it was a surprise to Elizabeth.

The time for misunderstanding this gentleman must end, she resolved, for it appeared he would not soon vanish from her life.

“That would be acceptable.”

Within a few more moments, the travelers boarded the carriage, and it soon departed for Pemberley in the distance.

To Pemberley, Elizabeth was to go again that night with her aunt and uncle, and for the first time, she looked on the prospect of being in Mr. Darcy’s company again with anticipation.

The evening would no doubt bring trials with Miss Bingley’s presence, but Elizabeth did not concern herself with that.

Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Mr. Bingley were the important members of the party, people whom anyone could esteem.