Charlotte sighed, then chuckled, as my eyes scoured every corner of the room, hoping to find a hidden sprig of mistletoe tucked away somewhere. “Miss Bingley has truly outdone herself.”
I grabbed her arm, and in a hushed voice said, “It must be here somewhere. Miss Bingley would not have overlookedthat. Her pride would not let her make such an omission. Besides, surely she wants to trap Mr. Darcy under the bough. I suspect she only has hidden it away, in fear that her brother and Jane might stumble under it.”
We spread out through the house, trying to look inconspicuous as we wandered from room to room. Charlotte and I slipped behind doors, searched along wall corners, and even took to checking ceiling moldings—all without success. Eventually, we had to concede defeat.
“At least we are not the only ones to remark on its absence,” Charlotte said. “Look there—one couple, at least, has decided to pretend it is hanging in the arch, even though it is not.”
I glanced at the doorway leading out to the hall. And indeed, two people I did not know had paused, and the gentleman plucked a red holly berry from the decor to serve the office. “Ingenious,” I remarked. “But I’m afraid it will not do for our purposes. They look like they were already betrothed and needed no inducement.”
“Probably,” Charlotte sighed. “Well, it is a silly notion, anyway. I am going to seek some punch and a quiet seat in the corner.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No.” Charlotte turned and set her hand on my arm, her expression firm. “No more mistletoe hunting tonight. No more fussing over my health or finding some gentleman to amuse me. Find something to make yourself merry, Elizabeth. I’ll be just there, like always.”
“But Charlotte, please, let me—“
“Go, Lizzy. Have some fun for yourself.” Her face sagged in weariness. “I will not permit you to waste the night sitting beside me.”
She wandered off, and I stood there in her wake, my heart bleeding for her. The best thing I could do would be to find my uncle and ask him to take us home. But I didn’t think she would permit that, either. So, what could I do, instead, to cheer her? I could ask the quartet to play her favorite song. Bring her a bit of wine to embolden her blood. Or…
A tall figure caught my eye—Mr. Darcy, still brooding in solitude near the hearth. An idea struck me and I straightened my spine, gathering my nerve. The man owed me some civility, after all, and perhaps I could manipulate him into conversing with poor Charlotte.
I approached him in a rush from the side before he could find a chance to withdraw. “Mr. Darcy,” I declared, sweeping over in a froth of billowing skirts. “You must be longing for intelligent discourse in this dreadful crush.”
He turned, one sardonic brow arched. “Intelligent discourse in such a gathering is rather hard to come by… but not impossible.”
“A man of hope! Indeed, you will do nicely.”
“You have a purpose in seeking me out, do you?” His lips twitched into a challenging look, and he sipped of his glass. “Do you mean to enlighten me?”
“In due course. Tell me, do you agree that it is the season of goodwill, and we must exert ourselves some little for our fellow man?”
“Hmm,” he grunted, turning to set his glass on the mantel. “Is it compliments you seek? In that case, let me say…” He paused to scrutinize my appearance. It took him rather a while to come up with something, too. “Your eyes are particularly bright this evening, Miss Elizabeth.”
I bristled at his impertinence but kept my tone sweet. “You are too kind, sir, but I am not the lady to force the confession of compliments.”
“Then you come to seek a favor. Out with it, Miss Elizabeth.”
I shook my head, my brows arching, and smiled. “Oh, I cannot bethatblunt. And risk embarrassing someone else? Insupportable. No, no. Perhaps we could… wanderthisway. And we might discuss more cheerful subjects—the delightful snow we’ve been having, or the latest on-dits?”
“On-dits?” He leaned in, eyes glinting as he ignored my suggestion to move toward Charlotte. “As in idle gossip and tittle-tattle? Do not lower yourself tothatstandard, Miss Elizabeth.”
The nerve of the man! I narrowed my eyes. “I only propose conversation. A way to pass the evening in something other than stiff boredom.”
“And as I have said before, I am happy to oblige. What shall we speak of?”
I thinned my lips. The man was impossible. “Perhaps you could satisfy my curiosity about one or two points. Why does Miss Bingley forbid dancing at her party when she has a splendid floor and a talented group of musicians? And where has all the mistletoe gone?”
Darcy blinked, then gave a short laugh. “You think I am privy to the inner workings of Miss Bingley’s mind? I assure you, I am as baffled as you by the lack of ‘merriment’ here.” He tipped his head across the room toward where Charlotte sat. “Though it seems some are determined to be merry, despite Miss Bingley’s edicts.”
I followed his glance, and that was when I noticed that Mr. Van der Meer had found her out and they were laughing about something. Charlottedidlook happier now. Still, I wished I could have engineered that moment for her myself.
Darcy leaned close again, voice low. “Do not look so vexed, Miss Bennet. The night is still young. I am certain you will manage to procure some Christmas cheer for your friend.”
His breath was warm on my ear. For a moment, I could not speak, tangled in sensations I did not understand. At last, I stepped back, inclining my head. “You presume a great deal, sir.”
“Do I?” He reclaimed his empty wineglass and held it up for a passing footman, then collected two more glasses from the tray and offered one to me. “Then perhaps you could tell me something, Miss Elizabeth. I recall well your friendship with Miss Lucas from Hertfordshire. Thick as thieves you were, always laughing about something together. But it seems that here in London, the laughter is not so abundant as it was, and you have scarcely permitted her out of your sight. You dote on her most prodigiously—more so, even, than your own sister. Why would that be? Have you determined to play matchmaker? Was that your intent in seeking me out—to oblige me to pay court to the lady?”
