Page 5

Darcy walked down the hall after having greeted their hosts. As the front foyer had limited space, only Mr and Mrs Bennet and Miss Bennet had been there to welcome their guests. Bingley wanted to dawdle behind with Miss Bennet, but he urged his friend onward with a subtle pull on the elbow. His ears were then subjected to his friend rattling on about Miss Bennet and the whispered comments from Miss Bingley to her sister about the décor. Behind them, he could hear Hurst’s wheezing and labored breathing, no doubt he was thinking about where and when he could acquire a drink. The faint sound of music was coming from their destination. As the party entered the room they were greeted by Sir William.

“It is a pleasure to see you again,” he said cheerfully. Bingley stepped forward and stuck out his hand to give a cheery hello.

“It is a pleasure to see you again, Sir William,” Bingley said enthusiastically. “I am sure it is going to be a wonderful evening.”

“Indeed it will be. One can always count on one of Mrs Bennet’s soirées to be the talk of the town. By those who attended and equally by those who did not. She sets a most excellent table.” Sir William looked around and leaned in closer. “Lady Lucas could learn a thing or two from her, I am certain of that.”

“Sir William, I am shocked you would say such a thing,” Bingley replied in jest.

“I only tell the truth,” the man replied smiling, his cheeks already rosy from wine.

“Where can one find a drink,” Hurst asked, stepping around his wife and her sister.

“Ah, Mr Hurst, I did not see you behind those two lovely women.” He said with a nod of his head in their direction. “I shall take you there personally, as I think I might have another.”

Darcy barely listened to the conversation next to him as he surveyed the room. He was trying to put names to the faces of those he had been introduced to at the assembly. Bingley had left him once Miss Bennet entered the room, having finished her duty of greeting the arriving guests. It had taken him some time to slip away from the hovering Miss Bingley. He accomplished it by making his way near Mrs Gould. He knew she enjoyed discussing the latest fashion from overhearing her at the assembly. Once Miss Bingley had begun her list of the best shops in London, he excused himself and made his escape.

“You look like a hawk choosing its prey, Mr Darcy.”

While Darcy was startled by the unexpected voice, he did not betray it with any motion. He looked to his side to see the one person he had hoped to see. Miss Elizabeth smiled up at him.

“Trying to place names with faces from the assembly,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“Oh,” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I did not expecting that answer from you.”

“Why is that?”

“You barely spoke to anyone that night. So why would you care to remember names when it is my understanding you are only here temporarily.”

“Yes, that is true.”

“Which one are you admitting to? I know one to be a fact. The other is mere speculation.”

“Do you always speak so freely?”

“Yes, my mother disapproves as well.”

He did not know what to make of her. “I admit I am very poor at small talk with those I do not know.”

“Again, you surprise me with your answer. I would have expected one of your education and station in life to excel at conversation. But what about the other?”

“It is Bingley’s estate, not mine. That still does not mitigate the fact that one must know one’s neighbors even if they are temporary.”

“So you believe it is a punishment of sorts.”

Darcy looked at the woman next to him with curiosity.

“Perhaps I chose my words incorrectly.”

“Only one word.”

“Are you always this forthcoming?”

“I believe you have already asked me that. I can see where small talk might be a problem if you keep asking the same question. Perhaps I should elaborate on my previous answer.” She paused for a moment. “My mother thinks my candidness to be one of my many flaws,” she replied, smiling.

Darcy was surprised. Only his cousin Richard talked to him in such a manner. While once again intrigued by her, he could not help that his thoughts turned to his cousin. Richard would enjoy her company and unlike himself felt at ease even with strangers.

“For some strange reason, she believes men only want to hear what they already believe to be true. At least until…”

“Miss Elizabeth, it is a pleasure to see you again,” Miss Bingley said, inserting herself between the two. “What a delightful little home you have here.”

“Thank you. It has been in our family for more generations than I care to count.”

Darcy raised his brows at the set down that went above Miss Bingley’s head.

“My father had considered purchasing an estate in the north, but that has now fallen to my brother. He did not consult me when he took Netherfield Park, as I would have advised him to consider one closer to London.”

Darcy watched with amusement as Elizabeth pressed her lips together, gave Miss Bingley a serious look, and nodded in agreement before answering.

“Yes, not being close to town is the fatal flaw of most country homes,” she said in mock commiseration. “Meryton has all one needs for country living. While our fashion is not as fresh as the fish mongers wares, we make do as best we can.”

Miss Bingley was shocked when Darcy let out a short laugh, which she had never heard him utter in public. She was about to reply with what she believed to be a witty set down when he shocked her once again.

“I beg to differ, Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy drawled. “Shortly before I arrived, I took my sister on an outing to acquire new dresses as she has outgrown her wardrobe since going into mourning…”

“Oh, how I miss seeing Miss Darcy,” Miss Bingley exclaimed, interrupting him. “Has she grown?”

Darcy could not help but wonder why, despite her education, her early common upbringing came through so many times.

“She is about Miss Elizabeth’s height now, I should think,” he replied before looking directly at her. The blue cloth of her dress enhanced her dark, lively eyes. “As I was about to say, I believe the material you are wearing was shown to my sister as having just arrived from India.”

Elizabeth blushed at the examination he gave her but smiled.

“How astute of you, Mr Darcy.”

“I recall my sister commenting on the subtle pattern.”

“We have a direct connection with the importer, so we are often gifted with material.”

“Gifted?” Miss Bingley said with disdain.

Elizabeth ignored the woman. “And did she purchase the cloth?”

“As her cousin is still in mourning, she decided on darker colors. If not for that circumstance, I believe she might have. If you two would excuse me, I must speak with Bingley.”

Elizabeth noticed Miss Bingley’s stare at his retreating form. It reminded her of a cat watching a mouse, ready to pounce for the catch. She then followed her eye and watched as well before looking away. That was no mouse, she thought blushing with embarrassment.

“That poor man,” Elizabeth stated to take her mind off the unbidden thoughts that had come to mind.

“Poor? He is far from poor and one of the most sought after bachelors,” Miss Bingley said with amusement at the woman’s lack of understanding.

“I was referring to the situation with his sister and cousin,” Elizabeth replied.

“They want for nothing and have dowries that will bring them a good match.”

While she did not let it show, Elizabeth looked at the with lady distain. How she could be so callous baffled her.

If her parents died, Lydia and Kitty would be sent to their uncle. The rest would be at the mercy of a cousin they had never met or in the hedgerows as her mother feared.

“I was referring to him having to care for them because of the loss of their parents. It is a terrible tragedy at such an age.”

“I was orphaned last year and have found it has not affected me at all. Though I will admit from time to time, I miss my mother.”

Miss Bingley was saved from a savage retort with the dinner announcement. Without a word, Elizabeth turned away, thinking what an insufferable woman she was for all her fancy clothes and airs of superiority.

To his satisfaction, Darcy found Miss Bingley seated on the opposite side of the table and out of polite conversation range. To his left was Lady Lucas, and on his right was Miss Elizabeth.

“We meet again, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said.

“So we do.”

His first thought was that the mother was perhaps trying to make a match of them, as most mothers with single daughters are inclined. However, the lady was giving all her attention to Bingley and Jane.

“You need not worry.”

“About what?” He asked, thinking she had deduced his thoughts.

She leaned a little closer. “There are no balconies here at Longbourn.”

He could not tell by her countenance if she was being serious or making a joke. Then he saw the look of mischievousness in her eyes.

“I am relieved to hear that.”

She stifled her laugh but still gained an ire look from her mother as if she had done wrong.