Elizabeth cracked a sly smile in sudden comprehension. “And what, may I ask, do you think of Henry Fielding? I foundTom Jonesto be excessively diverting!”
Darcy’s face went ashen until he recognized her lilting drawl, a sure symptom of one of Elizabeth Bennet’s infamous teases. Darting a quick glance around to make sure they had not been overheard, he leaned a little nearer. “I sincerely hope, Miss Elizabeth, that…thatparticular novel has not been a part of your repertoire!”
She chuckled, enjoying his discomfiture. “No, but I believe Papa has a copy somewhere. Would you like to borrow it, or do you already have your own? You seem familiar enough with it.”
His eyes bulged, digesting this new side of the playful yet heretofore entirely modest Elizabeth Bennet. She lifted her glass, and sparkling eyes gazed at him contemplatively over the rim.Daring. Oh, sweet Elizabeth, how I would enjoy lifting your veil of innocence! I feel beyond it lies a very passionate woman indeed.A slow smile spread over his face. He could not disappoint her teasing provocation.
Not releasing her gaze for a second, he lowered his head, speaking nearly into her ear. “Indeed, I am familiar with the book. I have two copies: one in London and one at Pemberley—both gifts. I began to read it once but shelved it again, thinking it would be best to wait until I have an enchantingwifeto read it with. Itisrather comical, after all.” He drew back, grinning roguishly. He fully enjoyed the effect on her flushed countenance, the scandalized but laughing eyes.
Elizabeth quickly brought her napkin to her lips to hide her guilty amusement. Mr Darcy had a sense of humour! Quite a wicked one as well, if she could believe her ears. She watched him nonchalantly take a sip of wine, smirking playfully back at her as he caught her gaze. He lowered his glass, smiling a little more placidly, then turned to answer a question from Mrs Gardiner.
Elizabeth felt her heart fluttering queerly. What an enjoyable time she was having this night! Darcy had surpassed all her expectations as an agreeable companion. Why, the mancouldspeak, and pleasantly, too! She had already known him to be well-read, but that their tastes should match so exactly was a welcome surprise. She had anticipated that her little joke would entirely discompose him, but he had risen admirably to the challenge, parrying her playful jabs with a teasing thrust of his own. He had made it clear that he counted honour and integrity as paramount even in his choices of entertainment, but he was no stuffy prude.
Wonder at her new discovery held her silent for a few moments. Glancing to her left, she saw, to her great satisfaction, that Georgiana and Kitty were still busily engaged in chatter, with occasional input from Lydia. She nervously tossed the remaining ragout about her dish with her fork, her eyes rising across the table as she did so. Her little interchange with Darcy had not gone unnoticed. Caroline Bingley glowered icily, but Colonel Fitzwilliam tossed her a jaunty grin of encouragement.
Elizabeth smiled back to her plate. If she were to take her own former advice to herself regarding the opinions of people she trusted, she would side with the colonel. He seemed an honourable man, and he was clearly in favour of improving relations between herself and his cousin. Elizabeth’s own rebellious nature revelled in the probability of perturbing Caroline Bingley with her efforts to warm to Darcy.
She glanced back to the tall gentleman by her side, who happened at that moment to be peeking at her. He flashed her yet another hopeful smile, revealing a tiny dimple she had somehow never noticed. In that moment, Elizabeth made up her mind. She would give Fitzwilliam Darcy a chance to win her heart.
Chapter 17
Afterdinner,theentireparty adjourned to the drawing-room together. It had seemed awkward for the ladies to separate from the gentlemen when the master of the house was unable to be in attendance. Mrs Bennet, who had been unable to shower her future son with her affections during dinner, shadowed Darcy as diligently as ever Caroline Bingley had. Caroline, at least, had discreetly distanced herself from Mrs Bennet, so he only had one challenging woman to cope with.
Elizabeth, who had been requested by her mother to serve the coffee, eyed him with some concern. She could not easily come to his rescue, nor was she quite certain she wished to. Though her sentiments had begun to sway in his favour, she honestly wanted to see how he conducted himself with her very trying mother.
Darcy was not insensitive to her attention as he attempted pleasantries with Mrs Bennet. The lady was enough in awe of him that she did not entirely monopolize the conversation, allowing him to distract her from her rather pointed questions about Bingley and her eldest daughter. His gaze occasionally returned to Elizabeth, finding her inscrutable eyes on him each time. After a decent interval, he bowed to Mrs Bennet, excusing himself.
He made his way to Elizabeth, extending his cup for her ministrations. She looked up to him with sly appraisal. Leaning fractionally closer, he murmured to her quietly, “How am I doing?”
Surprised conviction flashed across her face. “What can you mean, sir?”
“Come now, Miss Elizabeth, I know you are waiting for my horns to sprout! In truth, you have every reason to do so. I regret to admit that I have been less than amiable since we first met. I hope I can remedy your first impressions of me.”
She arched a brow, amused at his frankness. “I appreciate your candour, sir. However, if that be the case, and your sudden transformation is the result of a desire to improve my opinion of you, I wonder if the shift in your manner can be genuine?”
“And well you ought. I understand that you have little real knowledge of my character, and I respect your desire to remain circumspect for now. However,” he gazed deeply into her chocolate brown eyes, his expression intently sincere, “disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. I am as you see me. Unfortunately, the pride you noted before is also a part of my character—one that I thought was under good regulation. You have taught me otherwise. I look forward, Miss Elizabeth, to whatever new revelations I may discover about myself under your tutelage.”
Elizabeth stared back at him, her mouth slightly agape in astonishment.My goodness, I have never heard a man speak as he does!Her lips began to curl into a hesitant smile. The smile grew until it encompassed her whole expression, and a gentle laugh bubbled forth. She dropped her gaze, blushing furiously, and gave him a little nod of sweet surrender. Not sure of what to say in reply, she turned her attention to his cup—not allowing herself to flinch, however, when he let his fingers brush hers incidentally as she handed it back.
Darcy released a deep breath of satisfaction. His gamble had worked. He had spent the day pondering how best to approach her. He was not good with elaborate or subtle discourse. What he did possess was a blunt plainness, and he had hoped desperately that Elizabeth would be a woman who could appreciate fearless honesty. The surprised delight still glowing from her face assured him that his words had pleased her.
He dared not say more in the same vein while in company, but he no longer feared speaking to her. The thorns she had so carefully erected against him before seemed no longer in evidence. He was grateful he had spoken his peace quickly, for his attentions to Elizabeth could not go unremarked.
Caroline Bingley moved in their direction, making a great show of her empty coffee cup. She was followed doggedly by a very determined Georgiana. Intimidating Miss Bingley might be, but she was not about to allow her adored new friend and cherished brother’s pleasant interlude to be completely disrupted!
Conversation waned, consisting mostly of the neighbourhood gossip and the weather. Darcy remarked that, though he had heard from a reliable source to expect a light winter in Hertfordshire this year, snow seemed likely within the next day or two. He and Elizabeth had exchanged an amused little smirk, and Georgiana giggled behind her hand. Caroline appeared mystified for a moment but shifted the topics back to those in which she could take part. Her companions responded civilly to her comments, then gradually drifted away to other conversations as was suitable.
Darcy was keenly interested in learning more about Mrs Gardiner. Tactfully leaving Georgiana with Kitty and Mary Bennet, he moved in her direction. She was speaking animatedly to Bingley and the Hursts, and he stood where he could attend her words. A few moments later, Jane had a question for Louisa Hurst, and Darcy was left alone with Bingley and Mrs Gardiner.
For her part, Mrs Gardiner was pleased to have the two men who favoured her nieces to herself for a moment. She had begun to develop high opinions of both of them and was in the way of thinking that her cherished girls had done well—very well, indeed.
Darcy, in particular, impressed her. His open earnestness appealed to her, though he did not speak as freely or as eloquently as his friend. She did not detect the haughtiness in his manner which had at first repelled Lizzy, but she did sense that the man might default to that posture when confronted with absurdity or banality. Her eyes flicked uncomfortably to her sister, who was energetically regaling Colonel Fitzwilliam with the local gossip. Yes, it was indeed understandable if the neighbourhood had at first taken the wrong impression of Mr Darcy.
Mrs Gardiner had no particular prejudice against the very rich, but she was not intimidated into obsequiousness either. She took Darcy as she found him and decided that she agreed with what his reputation in Derbyshire had bespoken of him. He seemed a reasonable, sincere fellow, not given to flights of fancy or exaggeration.
He was clearly possessed of a keen mind and a thoughtful nature. She had the distinct impression that more went on in his head than he ever let on.I can see why he might like Lizzy; she is not as easily seen through as most other young ladies. As for her, she might do very well with such a man, she thought to herself. It was true he lacked Elizabeth’s inimitable zest, but he was far from boring, and his acumen was very sharp. He would be a man her quick-witted niece could respect.
A swift intuition inspired her to manoeuvre the conversation back to Elizabeth. Her opportunity was perfect. Her reflections on her youth in Lambton and her mutual acquaintances with Darcy among the shopkeepers led to talk of a difficulty with one of his tenant farmers. Bingley interjected with an expression of woe, as he was still learning all the intricacies of being a landlord. Darcy nodded in commiseration, observing that a landlord’s abilities at stewardship could make or break an entire community.
