“Your affection is returned.” Miss Bennet replied, “She has an appalling adoration of your opinions. You have turned her into quite the idolater.”
Bingley said, “I thought you had declared truce?”
“I have.” Miss Bennet laughed. “But Mr. Darcy must confess his sister looks up too much to him.”
Mr. Bennet said, “Lizzy, what itseemsa man must admit to is oft a different matter entire from what hewilladmit to. Let us test the question: Darcy, does your sister look up too much to you?”
“No.” Darcy did not like to discuss his sister and he suspected they were questioning her character, and referring to how she had been seduced by Wickham. He stood stiffer and taller. She had been young, and he had failed to guard her.
He never would fail that way again. He would always be present with her to guide her and ensure Georgiana knew what to do.
“No offense! No offense!” Miss Bennet laughed. “I begin to read you. There is that stiffening in your posture. I do not know what you are thinking, but I mean no aspersion upon your sister. Sheisa fine young lady. But she ought to have more independence of mind at her age. She is sensible and she should not refer every time she is asked for her opinion on a matter of fashion, or politics, or books, or whether we shall call upon each other tomorrow, toyouropinions.”
Darcy tilted his head. “Is that all you meant?”
Miss Bennet and her father shared a long glance. Mr. Bennet twisted his mouth in a wry manner and Miss Bennet nodded. Darcy felt an odd envy for how she and her father seemed able to communicate without words.
He oddly wished to converse with her in that intimate manner.
Miss Bennet said, “I assure you, there was no hidden reference to the origin of your niece. I do not judge women of twenty for the actions of their fifteen-year-old selves.”
“My gratitude.”
“You are a prickly sort.” Miss Bennet laughed, throwing her head back and displaying the line of her white neck. “But you have earned your ill temper honestly. Yet seeking a hidden motive in everything said to you will lead you into much error.”
Darcy looked closely at Miss Bennet. She met his gaze frankly again. Perhaps she wasnottrying to seduce him. “I possibly am vain. What I said last night about only having pride…perhaps I was wrong.”
Miss Bennet clapped. “The examined life is the only one worth living.”
Darcy grimaced at her display of enthusiasm for his admission of wrongness, and her reference to Socrates. Too great learning in a woman led to mannish and immoral behavior, but it was also alluring. Like everything about the deuced woman. “I am no misogynist. The fair sex can be tender and honest. Harsh experience has shaded my attitudes, but I know not every woman is motivated solely by mercenary considerations.”
“My word!” She clapped her hand over her mouth, dramatically. “You are no longer convinced that my sole goal is to entrap you into marriage. I did notmeanto imply you should stop thinking that.”
Darcy raised his eyebrows at that. Was she flirting with him?
“Thinking every woman desires silver and the pretty things it can buy — which I do, most everyone does — that is not the entirety of misogyny. I see nothing to dislike in your sister, but I suspect you believe it isgoodthat she thinks too highly of your opinion.”
“She does not think too highly of my opinion, if her high regard is deserved by me.”
Miss Bennet had an open expression that invited him to say more. It also kept her eyes prettily on her face.
“She needs guardianship and protection. Her judgement can be led astray easily. But so long as she trusts me to know what is best for her, Georgiana will be safe from further errors.”
“You still judge her by the actions of the fifteen year old.”
“No! I judge her as I would if such an event not happened.”
“Your sister is twenty. Far too old to be swaddled as a child.”
“Women always need protection and guidance. No matter what their age.”
Miss Bennet grinned again, in a manner that almost was a snarl. Her eyes were dancing again, but with anger instead of amusement. “Protected and guided, no matter how old? Must we be?”
“My intent is not to offend you.”
“That, Mr. Darcy, is a terrible beginning to any speech which will be taken without offense. How much guidance doIneed from my guardian gentlemen?”
Some impulse Darcy did not understand took control of his mouth, as he wanted to see how her eyes would look if she became authentically annoyed. “Woman can make household decisions, but in matters of great moment the female incapacities will appear. I cannot look with approval on the modern fashion for romantic and passionate marriages. It is well for a man who can control his passions to choose a partner in life for himself, but once a woman’s affections are engaged her reason will always lose.”
