“A wise choice.” He looked away, then, almost as if he were dismissing her.
Elizabeth flipped idly through the book she had grabbed, casting a sidelong glance at Darcy. There must besomethingshe could say to provoke him. Something to coax a confession of sorts from him, so she could learn how much of the day’s gossip was true. She landed on a weak prospect and gave it rein.
“I do not suppose I have told you, Mr. Darcy, but my aunt hails from Derbyshire.”
“You have not said that, no.” He never even looked up.
“She often speaks of the beauty of the area. I imagine she would be familiar with your home if I asked her. After all, according to Miss Bingley, Pemberley is the finest jewel in the county.”
He blinked, and she saw a flicker where his jaw muscles clenched, then relaxed, but his only sound was a noncommittal hum.
Something she said was stirring him, though she could not know whether for good or ill. But she had no better ideas, so she stepped a little closer. “It must be quite something to managea great estate like Pemberley. Constantly coming and going, letters to write, people to manage…” She trailed off casually, letting the words hang just long enough to seem natural.
Darcy, who had been pretending to examine the titles on the shelf beside him, turned slightly toward her, a hint of curiosity in his gaze. “It is a responsibility, yes. But a necessary one.”
“I suppose it leaves little time for more... leisurely pursuits. Travel, for example?”
Darcy’s brow lifted slightly, a reaction so subtle that had she not been watching closely, she might have missed it. “I travel only when it is required.”
“Or when your presence is requested by a friend? That is, after all, why you are at Netherfield, I suppose.”
“Just so.”
Elizabeth nodded slowly, turning a page without reading it. “And yet, all the tittle-tattle says you may soon be required to leave Hertfordshire.”
There it was—the bait.
Darcy did not react as she expected. No startled denial, no accidental confirmation. Instead, his lips curved ever so slightly in what could only be described as a knowing smile.
Darcy gave a slight bow. “Curiosity, after all, is what makes life interesting. And can there be a more perfect expression of curiosity than the local gossip?”
Elizabeth arched a brow. “In a town like Meryton, gossip is practically currency. And at present, you seem to be quite the valuable commodity.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “I am not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed.”
“Perhaps both,” she replied lightly, then, with a seemingly casual air, added, “I suppose it is inevitable when someone of your standing—so full of... mystery—lingers in the neighborhood.”
Darcy’s lips curved slightly, though whether it was amusement or irritation, Elizabeth could not tell. “Mystery, Miss Bennet, is often simply another word for discretion.”
“And discretion often invites speculation,” she countered. “You cannot be surprised that people are curious. Especially when there are whispers of you leaving, possibly to visit... significant acquaintances.”
She saw it—a flicker of something in his expression before he masked it. “Significant?”
“Oh, come now, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, tilting her head. “I know not how many people have heard of your sister, but that is not the nature of the general speculation. It is hardly a secret that Lady Catherine de Bourgh wishes to see you... settled.”
Darcy’s gaze sharpened, though his tone remained maddeningly calm. “I had not realized your interest extended to my personal arrangements.”
Elizabeth suppressed a smile. “Merely idle curiosity. After all, if you do plan to leave, it would only be fair to warn the town. There are bets riding on how long you shall remain.”
“Bets?” he repeated, incredulous.
“Of course,” she said sweetly. “It is Meryton, after all. Though,” she added, with mock gravity, “if you were to leave before the ball, I imagine you would disappoint a great many people.”
“And would you count yourself among them, Miss Bennet?”
The question was delivered with such quiet force that it gave her pause. Elizabeth blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before regaining her composure. “I would count myself among those curious to see how you manage an evening among such tedious company. I, for one, am entirely certain you will do all in your power to avoid it.”
His jaw flexed. “You may rest assured, Miss Bennet, that should I attend, I will strive not to disappoint.”
