One
“She is tolerable, Isuppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
Elizabeth nearly choked on her punch.
Tolerable?Tolerable?
Her grip tightened around the glass, and for a brief, delicious moment, she imagined spilling the punch all over Mr. Darcy’s perfectly tailored coat. She wasn’t close enough to pull off the move, but oh, the satisfaction it would bring. He stood across the room, his voice low but clear enough to ring in her ears.
The ballroom seemed to still, the glaring humiliation of his words hanging in the air, stinging as sharply as if he’d directed them right at her. Elizabeth glanced toward Jane, who was entirely absorbed in conversation with Kitty, perfectly unaware of the insult that had just shattered her sister’s pride.
Elizabeth’s toes curled inside her slippers. She shifted her feet, trying to shake off the burning humiliation crawling up her spine.Not handsome enough?Well, if she had any doubts about the man’s character, they had just been soundly confirmed.
“Did you hear that?” Charlotte Lucas’s voice came from beside her, thick with restrained laughter.
“Every mortifying word,” Elizabeth muttered, setting her glass down on the nearest table with a bit more force than necessary. “I suppose I should be grateful he doesn’t think me a complete horror.”
Charlotte bit her lip, a sparkle of amusement in her eyes. “I never thought a man’s bad manners could be so entertaining.”
“Entertaining?” Elizabeth shot her a sharp look. “It is outrageous, and I have half a mind to—”
“To what? March up to him and correct his perception of your charms?” Charlotte tilted her head, an eyebrow lifting. “He might take that as a sign of interest, you know.”
Interest! Elizabeth would have laughed, but it… well, it wasn’t funny. Atall. She turned back toward Mr. Darcy, who stood brooding like a dark cloud over the festivities. As if anyone could inspire interest inthatman!
“No. A gentleman so full of himself is hardly worth the trouble,” she said, with a haughty lift of her chin. “I’m more likely toignorehim.”
Charlotte didn’t look convinced. “Well, if you’re ignoring him, you’re doing a poor job of it. You haven’t looked away since he insulted you.”
Elizabeth blinked. She hadn’t realized her eyes were still pinned to Mr. Darcy as though her gaze alone might convey all the contempt she felt. She pulled herself back, smoothing her skirts with a quick brush of her hands. “I don’t know why I care. It’s not as if I’ve any reason to impress him.”
“Exactly,” Charlotte said lightly, “and you’ve never been one to let some stranger’s opinion wound your pride.”
“I don’t believe it’s about my pride,” Elizabeth protested, but her words felt weak, even to herself. “It’s a matter of decency.”
Charlotte let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Well, if you say so.”
Elizabeth crossed her arms, but Charlotte’s amusement had already worked under her skin. Whydidshe care? A stranger’s insult—particularly one from a man as dull and disagreeable as Mr. Darcy—shouldn’t have any power over her. Yet here she was, turning three shades of crimson over his words as though they actually held weight.
As if sensing her thoughts, Charlotte stepped a little closer, her voice dropping into a teasing whisper. “In fact, I’d wager that if Mr. Darcy were forced to spend any real time with you, he’d fall quite desperately in love.”
Elizabeth let out a bark of laughter. “I think not! The man barely looks capable of emotion, let alone love.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Perhaps if he were shown the proper attention—”
Elizabeth shook her head, cutting her off. “I have no intention of wasting any attention on him. Nor do I care to tempt him, as you so amusingly suggest.”
“But that’s exactly what makes it interesting!” Charlotte’s eyes gleamed now, sensing a game. “I’ll bet you, Elizabeth.”
“No! No more betting. The last four times I have wagered against you, I have lost—lost more than my pride, too.”
“You certainly did.” Charlotte stretched forth her arm, rolling her wrist about. “By the by, how do you like my new gloves? And the ribbon on my gown—now, I daresay that green is not usually my color, but I could not let it go to waste, could I?”
Elizabeth grimaced. “I was sure Mama would recognize those and announce it for all the world to hear, but it seems the presence of two wealthy, single gentlemen tonight was quite enough to distract her from the topic of my ‘missing’ gloves.”
“Oh, come, Lizzy, it is not as if anyone is surprised. Ialwayswin my forfeits.”
“Which is why I am not betting against you.Youflirt with Mr. Darcy as much as you please. I have no intention of suffering further humiliation at his hands…oryours.”
