Darcy hadnotbeen sincere then. He was not entirely sincere now. Miss Bennet probablywasdesperate for a husband at her age. He looked at the women again. Her white hands were waving about. Georgiana nodded eagerly as Miss Bennet spoke. There she was, trying to befriend Georgiana, no doubt to impress him.
“Well?” Mr. Bennet’s catlike smile was back.
“I…it was entirely my fault that I failed to apologize properly.”
Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrows, making a pretense of being dissatisfied by Darcy’s half apology. However, Mr. Bennet radiated amusement. Ill-tempered irritation rose again, and Darcy took an extra second before speaking to rein it in, so he would speak evenly. “I was wrong to call Miss Bennet a spinster where she could hear. And I was impolitic when I defended myself, instead of admitting that I simply should not have said what I said. I can admit wrongdoing, and I will say nothing further on the subject.”
"Only should not have been said — you yet believe her old, mercenary, and desperate."
Darcy despised this sort of expectation of polite dishonesty. He did notknowif Miss Bennet was desperate for a husband, but his was not an unreasonable guess.
“Far more delightful than the usual run of rich, arrogant gentlemen." Mr. Bennet grinned and rubbed his hands together with unalloyed amusement. "Lizzy notedthataright.”
“Now, Bennet,” Bingley looked uncomfortable, “Darcy apologized. This was sincere. No need for your teasing manner towards him.”
Both men looked at the youngest of the three.
“I forget — my son despises disputes.” Mr. Bennet extended his hand to Darcy. “Then, for my part, the apology is accepted. Pray, forgive my treatment of you. Elizabeth is a most beloved daughter.”
“I do sincerely hope she was not injured.”
Mr. Bennet smiled, less harshly. “Lizzy found nothing but amusement in what you said; thus no harm done.”
Darcy glanced at the women again. Miss Bennet was looking at him and their eyes met. She frankly looked at him with that mischievous twist to her lips and her dancing dark eyes. Darcy felt himself begin to flush and he turned away. He did not like being an object of amusement to her.
“Pray tell,” Mr. Bennet asked, “how do you stave off the horrors of boredom and the Byronic ennui which affect all cursed with any sense and born to too much wealth — besides bringing middle-aged ladies to tears.”
“Your daughter is not middle aged.”
Mr. Bennet glanced at the ladies. He did so quickly and lowered his voice, smirking slyly. “You brought mywifeto tears with your aspersion on Lizzy’s looks.”
“I said nothing against your daughter’s appearance.” Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrows. Darcy quickly added, “She is an exceptionally attractive woman.”
“Who is excessively attractive?” Miss Bennet’s bell-like voice interrupted them.
Darcy flushed and looked down.Keep a grip upon yourself.
Bingley laughingly said, “You, my dear sister — he admires you, but still has the schoolroom belief that pulling a girl’s hair is the best way to show his admiration.”
“I do not!”
They all looked at him. Darcy realized he was becoming unsettled again by her presence and losing his usual firm control of himself. He’d secluded himself for so long, and avoided women. He was simply not used to being near a woman who attracted him.
“I shall assume that he meant he is not attracted to me, for it is clear hedoesthink pulling a girl’s hair will attract her.” Miss Bennet laughed. “Had any of my vanity survived the previous night, it would be crushed bythis. I haveneverhad a man so sharply reject metwice. But I fortunately only have pride, not vanity.”
“Miss Bennet, I beg you to allow me to apologize to you once more. What I said the previous day absolutely should not have been said.”
“None ofthat! You still believe I am desperate for a husband. I empathize with your distaste of women, such as me, and every single other single lady, who have set their caps for you. I despise such polite niceties. You are an original and I quite prefer your open misogyny to polite nothings.”
“I must apologize, for I did not speak to you in a gentlemanly manner.”
“Fah! Gentlemanly manner— the most gentlemanly speaking man I ever saw was the worst.”
“You see,” Mr. Bennet said, “my Lizzy is herself an ‘original’. If you wish to court her, insultingherwill go far better than pretty nothings.”
“I do not wish to court her!”
Miss Bennet looked at him frankly with her intense eyes. He flushed again, but this time refused to look away. The connection between their eyes roiled in his stomach. Their gazes lingered. Something changed in her eyes, and it was she who looked down with a reddening face. Darcy wanted to explain himself to her, to take back the expression of disinterest and to say something pretty to her.
