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Darcy eyed his friend, not wishing to speak but knowing he had no choice. “Bingley, I do not speak to injure, but when I spoke with Miss Bennet on the subject, she referenced the state of her sister’s sentiments.”

“That is the most damaging part of this entire business,” said Bingley. With a sigh, he rested against the back of his chair, his expression pained. “Miss Bennet also mentioned that to me and challenged me on the strength of my admiration; that provoked much contemplation last night.”

“And what were your conclusions?” asked Darcy.

“That I had not been in love with her,” said Bingley.

He put his chin into his hand and leaned against it, the very picture of dejection.

“I shall tell you what I told Miss Bennet last night. Though I was not in love with Mrs. Harrington, I was interested enough to wonder where it all might lead. Had I returned as I intended, I have every right to believe we would have come together as I wished. Miss Bennet also spoke of her certainty that her sister would have found love in her heart had I not abandoned her.”

“Then you were not ready to propose when you returned, but wished to know her better.”

“That is a succinct expression of my feelings, Darcy,” agreed Bingley.

“Yet it is all gone now, for she is beyond my reach. I cannot know if our acquaintance would have led to marriage, but Caroline ensured I would never have the chance to discover it. While I will forgive Caroline, it will take some time to forget, and I shall never trust her as I once did.”

Distracted, Darcy nodded. “With no other option, you must now put Mrs. Harrington in the past and accept another future.”

Bingley’s shrug spoke with eloquence about his feelings.

“That may be the easiest part of this, Darcy, for we were sundered eight months ago. This event has torn open old wounds, but they had already healed to a certain extent. If I am honest, I am far more offended that Caroline presumed to dictate my future for me rather than morose over the loss of Mrs. Harrington, though that is a facet of my feelings.”

After a pause, Bingley chuckled and said: “I must confess that were there a possibility of pursuing her now, I would already be astride my horse heading for the south. As it is, there is nothing for me to do but contemplate imprecise notions of what I might have lost to my sister’s duplicity.

“For you, however, all is not lost.” Bingley offered a grin that was more in keeping with his irrepressible character.

“Miss Bennet and her family will move on to the lakes in a few days, leaving you pining after her. I know it is small consolation now, but what say you about returning to Netherfield next month?”

The suggestion was akin to a stiff wind blowing clouds away, leaving the sun in all its shining splendor. “You know me well enough to know my answer in advance. What of your sisters?”

“What of them? Caroline despises Meryton, and I do not wish to be in her company. Netherfield is an estate I have leased, but paid little attention to it, though I meant to become familiar with estate management. You need a place to stay while you woo your young lady. We both have a reason to go there, while my sister has none. Let us allow her to stew in her own juices for a time.”

“With such an offer, anyone would consider it churlish to refuse.”

“DO NOT SUGGEST THAT Miss Bennet is lying, Caroline,” said Bingley later that morning when they were in company with his sister.

“She is,” insisted Miss Bingley, much to Darcy’s disgust. Bingley did not appear any happier with her than Darcy was. “The letter I wrote was so clear that I cannot imagine anyone misinterpreting it.”

Bingley shook his head, having had enough of her protestations of innocence. “What plausible reason could Miss Bennet have to lie? Her sister is already married!”

“Why, it is obvious,” sniffed Miss Bingley. “These Bennet girls are all artful adventuresses—I suspect that with her sister’s success, Miss Eliza now has her eye on your fortune.”

“That is ridiculous, Caroline,” retorted Bingley. “Not only is she now Miss Bennet because of her sister’s marriage, but she never looked at me twice. I esteem her as an excellent woman, but I have no interest in marrying her.”

“Good,” said Miss Bingley. “That is the first sensible thing you have said since her surprising appearance, though I must wonder at your assertion that she is an excellent woman.” Miss Bingley turned to Darcy and, in a voice distant and calculated for nonchalance, she said: “The only other interpretation is that she means to acquire Mr. Darcy’s fortune. ”

“No, Caroline, she is not you .”

Miss Bingley gasped at the affront, and Darcy was no less shocked.

For all that it was the truth, and they all knew it, he had not supposed that Bingley would say such a thing.

Now, when her brother had shocked her enough to render her silent, the opportunity to disabuse her of the delusions she harbored had come.

“Miss Bennet has never looked at me twice either.” Knowing he had her attention, Darcy’s gaze fixed on her, making her appear uncomfortable. “Should anything happen between Miss Bennet and me, I suspect it would happen because of my insistence and not the reverse.”

The sudden paleness of Miss Bingley’s features showed her shock more than Bingley’s insult had done, and captured her attention. As she could not find her tongue, another interjected her opinion into the conversation.

“That would be lovely, Brother.” Georgiana offered him a warm smile. “I have only been acquainted for a day, but I already like Miss Bennet very well.”

“The truth comes out, Darcy,” mused Bingley. “To own the truth, I do not think you could have chosen better, for I must suppose that Miss Bennet would be good for you.”

Miss Bingley’s response could not have been more different from her brother’s, for her astonishment turned to contempt in an instant. “It is nonsensical to speak in such a way, Mr. Darcy! What would your excellent relations say if they heard you espousing such things?”

“Much less than they would say if I chose one who was not even born a gentlewoman.”

Perhaps it was beneath him to say such a thing to Miss Bingley’s face, but her sudden confusion carried its own reward.

Darcy was not so foolish as to suppose that he had silenced her forever, but the momentary freedom from her opinions was more than welcome.

Bingley, the good sort that he was, grinned and nodded at Darcy, and while he suspected his friend might not appreciate such remarks in other situations, at present his anger with her allowed him a sort of grim satisfaction.

With any luck, Miss Bingley’s silence would last throughout the visit today, for Miss Bennet was to come to Pemberley before long.

TO LACK CURIOSITY ABOUT present circumstances was impossible, but Elizabeth was far too well-bred to ask after the state of Miss Bingley’s silence.

When Elizabeth arrived at Pemberley in her aunt’s company, her uncle having already joined the gentlemen for some fishing on Pemberley’s grounds, there was no way she could not notice the change in Miss Bingley’s demeanor, for it was both more aggravated and less demonstrative than it had been the previous day.

“Miss Bennet, Mrs. Gardiner,” said Georgiana the moment they entered the room, showing a bit more pluck than she had before. “How wonderful it is to see you again. Shall you not sit with us?”

A soft snort reached Elizabeth’s ears, a testament to Miss Bingley’s continued displeasure. It was no trial to ignore her, which Elizabeth did with aplomb. Instead, she focused on Georgiana, showing her a wry smile.

“Tell me, Miss Darcy , did we not agree to a more informal mode of address?”

“That we did,” was Georgiana’s cheerful reply.

“Then I must insist upon it, my friend.”

Though Miss Bingley opened her mouth to comment on the subject—and Elizabeth suspected she knew what the woman would say—her sister prevented her with a subtle motion of her leg touching her sister’s, almost imperceptible if one was not looking.

Miss Bingley subsided, appearing more than a little sulky, a revelation as it was.

The woman had always promoted the impression of her ability to command any situation, though whether that was real or feigned, Elizabeth would not venture an opinion.

For a time, she concentrated on her conversation with Miss Darcy, which, while not of great importance, was still interesting to two individuals who were still becoming acquainted.

Mrs. Gardiner sat next to Elizabeth and added to their discourse, though she was not as involved, and Mrs. Hurst proved she was of a more governable temperament than her sister by offering a few opinions of her own.

It did not escape Elizabeth’s attention that when she did so, her sister would glare at her, though it did not appear efficacious in bending Mrs. Hurst to her will.

All it did was make Miss Bingley appear foolish and petulant.

When tea and cakes, and a plate full of succulent fruits of the season arrived, that contributed to the group’s amity, for even if some remained aloof from the conversation, no one protested the comestibles prepared for them.

Even Miss Bingley lost a little of her sour expression for a time, though every time she glanced at Elizabeth, there was poison in her glare.

In this manner, they passed the time until the gentlemen were to return and enliven the company.

When they entered the room, the camaraderie was clear between them, proving the gentlemen’s ability to bond over such things as sport.

Even Mr. Hurst, who Elizabeth had never known to be of much interest, was speaking with Mr. Gardiner, their conversation appearing to center on business.

This also was no balm to Miss Bingley’s temper, though she did not make a fool of herself for the moment.