Richard raised his glass again. “To Darcy’s complete and utter capitulation. May it be spectacular and deeply embarrassing.”
“And may we never be foolish enough to follow his example,” Malcolm added with a grin.
Charles leaned back in his chair. “You know, it’s still Christmas . . .”
“A bit late to go the shops now, Charles,” Darcy said.
“You can still show her that you were thinking about more than her noisy flat.” Malcolm lifted his eyebrows expectantly.
Richard nodded. “You must havesomeway to show her you’d like her to have your babies.”
Malcolm gave Darcy a slow, pointed smile, and Richard tipped his glass in a mock toast.
“Yes,” Charles said. “Veryromantic. Ignore them, Darcy. Just be honest, like she is with you. Tell her how you feel.”
Darcy looked around at his friend and cousins. Hehadbeen playing it safe, holding back, waiting for a guarantee that didn’t exist. Elizabeth had been characteristically direct, giving him something made with her own hands, something that had taken time and thought and care. And he had responded with excellent audio equipment.
“Right then.” He raised his glass. “To not playing it safe.”
“To not playing it safe,” the others echoed, and for once, the teasing was absent from their voices.
Outside, snow had started to fall. In the next room, Elizabeth was laughing at something Jane had told her. And Darcy found himself thinking that Bingley was right.
When you knew, you knew.
Chapter Fifteen
“Well.” Caroline paused at the front door as Louisa retrieved their coats, “what a delightfullyauthenticChristmas experience.”
Elizabeth felt her jaw tighten, but Jane stepped forward with her usual grace. “Thank you both for coming. Drive safely and enjoy the remainder of the holiday.”
“Oh, I’m sure we will,” Caroline replied, adjusting her designer scarf with practiced precision. “We’re attending the Ashworths’ winter soirée tomorrow evening—you know, the one at their estate in Gloucestershire? Such a civilized affair. String quartet, proper champagne, novigorousdinner entertainments.” She glanced to the part of the room where Waffles had staged his Christmas cracker rebellion.
“How lovely for you,” Jane said. The words were were pleasant, even kind.
Elizabeth marvelled, not for the first time, at her eldest sister’s particular genius. Jane never set out to deliver cutting remarks—she genuinely wished people well and meant every polite word she spoke. But somehow, Caroline’s superiority simply dissolved against Jane’s serene good wishes.
Louisa returned, breaking up the moment. “Such colourful family traditions you have.” She handed Caroline her outerwear.
After Caroline donned her coat, she turned to Elizabeth with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You know, Elizabeth, it’s so refreshing to see Darcy embracing new experiences this year. There’s something quite admirable about a man secure enough in himself to step outside his usual circle. I’m sure it’s beenenrichingfor him.”
The words were complimentary, but Elizabeth felt the chill beneath them. Caroline was again suggesting that Elizabeth was merely a novelty, an interesting detour from Darcy’s normal life that would inevitably run its course. The implication hung in the air like expensive perfume: temporary, decorative, ultimately disposable.
“How generous of you to take such an interest in his personal growth,” Elizabeth replied.
“Oh, one can’t help but notice when dear friends are exploring,” Caroline's laugh was high and tight. “It’s all natural, even expected, of course.” Her gaze drifted back to Elizabeth, lingering a fraction too long on the cuff of Elizabeth’s jumper, the one Waffles had put a hole in, the one she’d had to wear because she’d got grease on the navy blue.
“Such a pretty shade of green.” Caroline's smile was polite, but the edge was unmistakable. “Though the best things are those with enduring worth. Excellence always endures, don’t you think?”
This was beyond enough. She might not be sure of Darcy’s intentions, but she wouldn’t allow Caroline to continue shooting verbal arrows at her. “Some things endure because they’re worth keeping.” She held Caroline’s gaze. “Some aren’t ever worth having in the first place.”
The moment the Range Rover disappeared down the drive, Elizabeth felt her shoulders drop several inches. She hadn’t realized quite how tenseshe’d been until the Bingley sisters were safely gone, taking their pointed observations about “authentic experiences” with them.
“Finally,” Lydia announced, launching herself backward onto the sofa with all the grace of a felled tree. “Can wepleasediscuss what the actual bloody hell just happened at that dinner table? And I don’t mean Waffles.”
“Language, Lydia.” Mary arranged herself cross-legged on the Persian rug with a notebook, three pens, and the focused expression of someone preparing for academic warfare.
“Oh, sorry. Can we please discuss what the actual bloody heck just happened?” Lydia’s grin was unrepentant. “Better?”
