Mrs. Gardiner waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, nonsense, Lizzy. A simple dinner is all. I am certain they shall be as dry as dust, but perhaps you will find it in your heart to entertain them a little. You know how your uncle does like to keep up his contacts.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. It was not the sudden announcement of a dinner party, nor the fact that her uncle would be entertaining business guests. It was the odd way Jane was pursing her lips and running her fingers over the rim of her trunk, and something in the way her aunt was holding her breath as she made the announcement.
“When was this arranged, Aunt?” Elizabeth asked casually.
“Hmm? Oh! Perhaps yesterday, I should think. I am sorry, Lizzy, I ought to have said something sooner. I hope it will not be too much bother to find your new blue gown. It is not at the bottom of your trunk, is it?”
“Theverybottom,” Elizabeth confirmed. “As I felt it would be positively the last gown I should have need of for the foreseeable future. What of my plum-colored one, Aunt? I think I can draw that one out with little trouble.”
There it was again. The way Mrs. Gardiner caught Jane’s eye, and the way Jane sucked her top lip between her teeth and looked innocently away.
“Ah… well, whatever you think, Lizzy,” Mrs. Gardiner replied hesitantly. “Oh, but I did fancy the things that blue one does for your eyes. You havesuchrare eyes, you know. Not one in ten girls with hair of such rich ebony as yours also have blue eyes—like ice crystals they are, and that gown sets them off so dazzlingly well.”
Elizabeth arched a brow. “I thought these were merely business friends of my uncle’s. Why should they be looking at my gown at all? Assuming, of course, it serves its office of covering those parts of me which must be covered for decency’s sake.”
Jane coughed. “No reason at all, Lizzy. But… are yousurethe new blue gown is at the bottom? I thought I saw you put it in close to the last.”
Elizabeth crossed her arms. “Aunt, Jane, whatareyou two scheming?”
“Scheming! Why, Lizzy, you do me too much credit,” her aunt laughed. “They are your uncle’s guests, not mine. How should I have anything to do with the timing of their invitation?”
Elizabeth’s mouth tugged to the side as her eyes slid to her sister. “Jane, open that trunk.”
Jane swallowed. “Oh, but Lizzy, I have only just locked it. Let me see, what did I do with that key?” She slipped her hands into the pockets hidden in her day dress, then withdrew them to pat down her reticule, which lay flat on the bed. When that yielded nothing, she dropped to her knees to perform a quick search under the bed. “Oh, dear. What could I have done…?”
“Is it this key you are looking for?” Elizabeth asked, picking up the small brass thing from the vanity. “Truly, Jane, if you are going to put me on, you will have to try abitharder than that.”
Jane shot their aunt a shame-faced glance, then took the key from Elizabeth’s fingers. “What was it you wished to see, Lizzy?” she asked innocently.
Elizabeth made a flipping motion with her hand and arched a brow.
Jane sighed, then turned to her trunk to unlock it and lift the lid on creaking hinges.
“Ah-hah.” Elizabeth strode closer and plucked the very top gown out of the trunk. It was a frothy pink confection, perfectly suited to Jane’s fair features and rosy blushes… but not atallsuited for travel tomorrow or dinner at Longbourn once they arrived.
“How odd that, knowing we would be setting out in the morning, you chose to put this gown at the very top.”
“Do not be silly, Lizzy! I simply put my gown in last because I like admiring it so.” Jane’s cheeks colored faintly, though she kept her head down, fussing with the silk ribbons on her gown. Elizabeth, however, caught it, and her suspicions only grew.
“I see,” Elizabeth said slowly, her gaze lingering on her sister a moment longer. “And how many of these… business contacts should we expect, Aunt?”
“Oh, just two. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. Fine men, both of them, I believe,” Mrs. Gardiner replied, her tone carefully even—as though Elizabeth had not already pieced together some bits of the puzzle. “Your uncle speaks quite highly of them, you know.”
“Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley?” Elizabeth repeated, her lips curving into a faint smile. “These gentlemen sound… familiar. Why, I believe I have heard mention of them somewhere. Ah… yes, in fact, I have! At nearly every party we have attended with you and Uncle—”
“Oh, Lizzy, you must not make so much of—”
“—for the lastfiveyears.” Elizabeth finished. “Two of the wealthiest bachelors in London, the ones half the females in Town are setting their caps for, whose reclusive natures have kept them largely out of the public eye since their meteoric rise to wealth. Have I got it right, Aunt?”
“Rise to wealth,” Mrs. Gardiner repeated with a laugh. “You make it sound as if they were not already wealthy, which, I assure you, both were.”
“A minor detail. Tell me, Aunt, why should such gentlemen wish to spend an evening withus? Surely, they have livelier options for entertainment.”
“Oh, Lizzy, not everyone finds the charms of elaborate soirées or even gambling dens quite so irresistible as you seem to think. I dare say they might even find our company refreshing.”
“Yes, so refreshing that they might fall asleep in their soup. And tell me, Aunt, should I be worried that you and Jane have taken it upon yourselves to secure me in the company of any gentleman who happens to be in town?”
Mrs. Gardiner gave her a reproachful look, though the twinkle in her eyes remained. “Why, Lizzy, what on earth could have given you such an idea?”
