Darcy’s care for his niece was sweet. That for his sister was cloying.
Georgiana glanced at Elizabeth as she smiled. “Very well. We played and talked. I do like Miss Bennet.”
“You do?” Darcy smiled at Elizabeth. “Then I must thank you again.”
“She has promised to think more nicely of you.”
Elizabeth bit her lip and then smiled very widely. “That was notpreciselywhat I promised — you made a promise of your own!”
“Oh.” Georgiana blushed and looked down. “You did say you would look for Fitzwilliam’s better features.”
Elizabeth looked at the gentleman. Goodness, that grin was averysuperior feature. And he was almost a foot taller than herself. And such well-muscled arms. And those deep eyes when he looked at her.
“And what, Miss Bennet, are my better features?”
“Your tall figure.” Elizabeth clapped a hand over her mouth and giggled as both Georgiana and Darcy looked at her. Anne squirmed to be set down by Darcy.
“This is why I must remain clear on what yourfailingsare.” Elizabeth shook her head. “Else you will place me at quite a disadvantage.”
Was his face a little red? Or was that disapproval of her accidental forwardness?
Darcy said, “I would not wish you at a disadvantage.”
“You would.”
He intently studied her and said in a low, vibrating voice. “Perhaps I would need you at a disadvantage, if I were to best you.”
No wonder Wickham had turned out so charming, with this as his competition. Despite his rudeness and every other failing, she was fluttering. “You hope for us to engage more often?”
“And for me to win.” His voice was soft.
“Then, you will need every advantage.”
“I know.”
“You do not reason much better than the usual, for an educated man.”
“And you reason exceptionally well, for a learned woman.”
“I detect the scorn inthat. You do not approve of too much learning in a woman.”
“Here you defeat me once more. I always considered learned women to lose some part of their feminine grace and charm — Miss Bennet, you possess every feminine charm.”
Elizabeth’s face flushed at the way he said that. She would soon be at a terrible disadvantage. To be able to look away from his magnetic eyes she gestured to the couch and they all sat.
“I will not let you gain my good graces through flattery.” Elizabeth sternly wagged a finger in front of Darcy’s face.
“I do not expect to be in your good graces — no matter how I might wish to be.”
“A man who does not believe in learning in a woman — I am the most learned woman of my acquaintance, I must take that as scorn against me personally.”
There was a soft smirk on Darcy’s face. “It does strike against you.”
“Fitzwilliam,” Georgiana said in a cautious voice, evidently a little confused by the conversation. “You must not… Miss Bennet, he does not mean he disapproves of learning. He has always encouraged me to study, and to do anything I might to improve myself.”
“Oho! What knowings are admissible to the tender, weak, and easily influenced mind of a female creature.”
Darcy began, “We both admit men are not always paragons of reason and virtue—”
