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“Your assertion is curious, Caroline,” said Mr. Bingley, his tone again pointed.

“I have it on excellent authority that Darcy here introduced Miss Darcy to Miss Elizabeth’s acquaintance, the authority of my own eyes!

In fact, he could not wait to do so. Had he been any more eager, he might have taken Miss Darcy to Lambton last night ! ”

“The notion occurred to me, but I did not wish to interrupt their evening repast, nor did I think it was appropriate to visit so late in the day.”

Miss Bingley did not like the inference, but Georgiana did not allow her to state her opinion again.

“Regardless, it is too late, for I will not rescind an invitation once given. I cannot wait to be in Miss Elizabeth’s presence again, for I esteemed her without reservation.”

“This is most—”

“Yes, Caroline, we understand your opinion,” interjected her brother, “for you have stated it without cessation. It would be best if you recalled that this is Pemberley, where Darcy is the master and his sister the mistress. As such, they can invite whomever they please without reference to you or me or anyone else.”

The way Miss Bingley regarded her brother suggested she did not know what to make of him.

For that matter, Georgiana had never seen him behave as he was, for he had always been a mild, pleasant sort of man.

The version of Mr. Bingley before them all was anything but friendly and directed much of his hostility at his sister.

For all this, he had not yet finished speaking.

“I will own to some curiosity, though, Caroline, for I spoke with Miss Bennet for a time when we visited. As I recall, you promised to write to her sister after we left, and you claimed to know something about Miss Bennet’s sentiments. Can I assume nothing has changed on that front?”

“I know not of what you speak, Charles.” Miss Bingley affected a haughty unconcern. “If Miss Eliza spoke of such subjects, I cannot but suppose she lied to you.”

“Is that so?” This time, the frosty nature of Mr. Bingley’s voice was unmistakable. “I was not aware of your felicity for reading the minds of those who are not even before you, considering I said nothing about our conversation.”

Miss Bingley turned an ugly sneer on her brother. “It takes no great insight, for I consider her the most untruthful of women.”

“Trust me, Caroline,” retorted her brother, “of all the women I know, I do not consider Miss Elizabeth as being untruthful. Fortunately, I have no more desire to discuss this subject at present.

“I will, however, offer instruction since you appear little capable of civility. We are guests at Pemberley, the same as Miss Elizabeth and her relations will be, thus I expect you to display your best behavior.”

The only response Mr. Bingley was to receive was a sniff of disdain—it appeared he considered it sufficient for the moment, though Georgiana did not suppose Miss Bingley would refrain from little underhanded comments designed to ridicule.

Mr. Bingley, Georgiana noted, appeared to suspect some untruth on his sister’s part, no doubt concerning their departure from Hertfordshire.

Georgiana knew little on the subject, for William had said nothing and she had never heard the Bingleys speak about it before.

There was a measure of discomfort in the company thereafter, for Miss Bingley sat close to her sister, their whispered conversation coupled with her surreptitious glances about the company suggesting an attitude of plotting.

Mr. Bingley watched them as if his opinion was aligned with Georgiana’s, and if Miss Bingley attempted to ignore it, his scrutiny suggested he would tolerate no insubordination.

For the first time, Georgiana wished her brother had not invited the Bingleys to stay at Pemberley, for their visit with Miss Bennet would be much more agreeable without Miss Bingley poisoning the well.

THE QUESTION OF HOW Miss Bingley would react to the knowledge of Elizabeth’s presence in Derbyshire did not remain unanswered for long.

The moment they entered the room where the Bingley party waited—Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Mr. Bingley had greeted them at Pemberley’s entrance—spoke volumes.

Whereas Mr. Hurst appeared uncaring, Miss Bingley’s contempt lay over the room like some stormy cloud heavy with lashing rain, while Mrs. Hurst appeared to affect the same disdain.

Of the two, Elizabeth judged the former far more toxic; Mrs. Hurst supported her sister, though she appeared more than a little uncomfortable.

Mr. Bingley performed the introductions to the Gardiners, and if Miss Bingley curtseyed as was proper, it was slight and more than a little insolent.

Mr. Bingley’s jaw tightened at this show of disdain, but there was little he could do without making a scene.

How she could not see it was beyond Elizabeth’s understanding, but Mr. Bingley’s displeasure with his sister was far beyond anything Elizabeth had ever seen from the gentleman.

“Come, Miss Elizabeth,” said Georgiana, drawing her attention away from the rude woman, “let us sit together and you may tell me how you occupied yourself today.”

“Of course, my friend. I shall be happy to regale you with tales of our doings.”

As it turned out, Elizabeth’s reference to friendship was inspired, though what ensued displeased Miss Bingley again. “As we are friends, perhaps we should dispense with formality?”

Happy to acquiesce, Elizabeth said: “I have no objection. My family all call me Lizzy; I should be happy if you do too.”

Georgiana grinned and nodded. “No one but my cousin shortens my name, and he does so only to tease.”

“Then you shall be Georgiana to me.”

For several moments thereafter, Elizabeth and Georgiana carried on a lively conversation, though not much of it concerned the day’s activities.

Mr. Darcy, she noted, was engaged with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Gardiner, while Mrs. Gardiner sat close to Elizabeth and Georgiana and contributed to their conversation.

Mr. Hurst was as uncommunicative as ever, and the Bingley sisters sat looking about the room with discontent, saying nothing to anyone.

This changed before Elizabeth might have wished.

“Miss Eliza,” said Miss Bingley, her voice dripping insincerity, “how fortunate you are to be afforded the privilege of seeing Derbyshire and Pemberley. Your appearance was the greatest shock, for I had never thought... Well, let us say I had not expected such forthrightness from you.”

“When you speak my name, you infuse it with such... interesting connotations, Miss Bingley,” observed Elizabeth.

She turned back to Georgiana and said: “The only other person of my acquaintance who uses the moniker is my close friend, Charlotte Lucas, though I suppose her father, Sir William, also uses it occasionally.”

“I prefer Lizzy,” said Georgiana in apparent defiance.

Elizabeth nodded and turned her attention back to Miss Bingley.

“Forthrightness has nothing to do with it, Miss Bingley. My aunt and uncle were to travel this summer, and I accepted their invitation. The lakes was their destination, though I was aware of their intention to stop in Lambton; before I came, I had no notion of Pemberley’s location.

“Now that you mention it, however,” added Elizabeth, hoping to tweak Miss Bingley’s nose, “I do appreciate the opportunity to reunite with excellent and longstanding friends. The encounter was most propitious.”

Miss Bingley’s nose rose further into the air. “Yes, I suppose it must seem that way to you. Tell me, for I am curious, why did your sisters not accompany you?”

“Because we did not invite them, Miss Bingley,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “As Jane was unavailable and Elizabeth is our closest niece, it was only natural for us to invite her.”

“Mary might have enjoyed it,” said Elizabeth, “but Kitty and Lydia are yet young and would not appreciate such a tour so much as I do.”

“Oh, yes, of course!” exclaimed Miss Bingley as if she had just recalled. “Your youngest sisters are of such exuberant characters. Tell me, are the officers of the militia still favorites?”

“Not any longer,” replied Elizabeth. “The regiment relocated to their summer encampment in Brighton in May.”

“That must be a true loss for your family.” The woman oozed insincerity and impudence.

“Why you suppose that is so, I cannot say,” replied Elizabeth. “The militia’s presence was welcome in certain respects, for it broadened the opportunity for new society. No one in Meryton, however, became so close to those men as to regret their absence so much as you suggest.”

“That is curious, for my observation was quite the opposite.”

Miss Bingley looked down her nose at Elizabeth as if considering her; in reality, Elizabeth suspected she was uncertain how to best make her case. Whatever discretion she possessed was lost to her need to make Elizabeth appear ill by comparison to herself.

“As I recall, you delighted in the company of Mr. Wickham. That gentleman’s absence did not provoke unique pangs?”

Several things happened at once. Mr. Darcy’s watchful gaze became furious at the mention of Mr. Wickham, and Georgiana turned pale.

Mr. Bingley scowled at his sister, and even Mrs. Hurst regarded her through wide eyes, as if not understanding her temerity.

Before anyone else could respond, Elizabeth determined to mollify them all, though Miss Bingley’s comment aroused her curiosity about Mr. Wickham tenfold.

“I have no notion of your meaning. Mr. Wickham is a man of the regiment and nothing more, and I have not exchanged more than a few words with him since soon after he arrived.”

“Nor should you speak with Mr. Wickham, Lizzy,” said Georgiana, appearing to recover something of her composure. “He is a most disagreeable man, one whom any lady of quality would be wise to avoid.”