Bingley stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You will not score any marks with Miss Elizabeth by kicking out her tenant in favour of an inexperienced lad with few prospects.”
“I do not intend to ‘kick’ anyone out. I am only seeking information.”
“Well, you have my support in your endeavour, whatever you discover. You ought to go. I can interview the maids when they arrive, and I will be certain to post someone at the door for propriety’s sake. You must not keep your lovely lady waiting.”
Darcy nodded. “Right, then. Will you come later to call on Miss Bennet?”
“Yes, I shall. Caroline will not ruin my entire day.” Bingley scowled. “Stay a moment. Would you carry her a note?” He leafed through the papers on top of his desk until he found a blank one.
Darcy left to grant him some privacy. He stepped outside to see if his horse was ready and once again nearly bumped into Sarah as she hurried to the door of the study.
“I’m sorry, Sir!” she squeaked timidly.
He gave her a quick greeting. “Do not be afraid, Sarah. Mr Bingley will see you in a moment. Thank you, Mr Dawson,” he acknowledged the butler. “Please wait with her.”
Bingley emerged almost immediately to hand Darcy his illegible note for his beloved—and fortunately very patient—angel. “Oh! Dawson, you are quick, man. Come in, come in. Good luck, Darcy!” he called to his friend as the latter turned to go.
Elizabethwas,onceagain,spending the morning in her father’s room. Mr Jones had come and gone already this morning, and Mrs Cooper had finished Mr Bennet’s morning breakfast. “Miss Elizabeth, would you help me to change the linens?” she asked.
Elizabeth frowned. “How are we to do it? We cannot move him, can we?”
“Oh,” the lady chuckled, “there are ways. Come, I will lift the lower sheet under his body, and you can slide the fresh one beneath.” Thanks to Mrs Cooper’s deft, practised fingers, they had the bed linens changed in good order. Elizabeth settled in her chair to read aloud again.
She was so engaged when there came a light knock upon the door. Mrs Gardiner opened it to Elizabeth’s summons. “Lizzy, Mr Darcy is here to see you.” She opened the door fully to reveal the tall man behind her, causing Elizabeth to start. “He expressed a wish to inquire after your father directly. I see no harm, do you?”
Elizabeth rose awkwardly. She had expected him to wait for her in the drawing-room. She could not hide her surprise that he had come upstairs to see her—she had not expected such meek informality on his part. Darcy bowed his thanks to Mrs Gardiner, who cast a firm look to her niece. She stood back, allowing him room to pass by her. Darcy stood still a little hesitantly in the doorway, his fingers twitching at his sides. Elizabeth sighed, resolving to make herself amenable. “Would you care to come in, Mr Darcy?”
Mrs Gardiner abandoned him there, retreating back down the hall. He bowed and entered the modest room, his inquisitive gaze finding Mr Bennet’s pale face. It was a reminder of the very real uncertainty which still lingered over his new friend and the instability wrought upon his beloved’s family.
“Mr Darcy, may I introduce you to Mrs Cooper?”
His attention rose back to the ladies facing him. Elizabeth’s expression was warmly welcoming. His eyes lingered on her, drinking in his first taste of her favour, for the space of an extra breath before he turned to greet Mrs Cooper. He found her very agreeable, with a competent air and a comfortable demeanour.
“I am right pleased to meet you, Mr Darcy, sir,” she curtseyed and met his gaze boldly. Though she had spent a great deal of her time shut away in this small room, the talk of Mr Darcy drifted through the door and permeated the servant’s kitchen where she took her meals. This, she knew, was her silent employerde facto, and it was clear to her at first glance that he had taken quite a fancy to her favourite of the Bennet girls.A very sensible man indeed,she decided.
Darcy smiled at the woman’s forthright manner. A servant from a great house—such as Pemberley, for instance—would not dare take such freedom in addressing him. Mrs Cooper, however, was a rustic sort of professional and thus an independent of sorts. He had a feeling that she greeted him exactly as she would the family or friend of any of her patients, and he found that thought somehow liberating.
Elizabeth was turning to the woman now. “Mrs Cooper, would you care to refresh yourself? Mr Darcy can help me keep watch over Papa for a while.”
Mrs Cooper hid a knowing smile, murmured her thanks, and slipped past him, discreetly leaving the door ajar.
Darcy turned back to Elizabeth in complete surprise. “You do not wish for her company as a chaperone?”
Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled impishly. “Mr Darcy, is not my father’s presence enough chaperonage? You would not accost a woman in her own father’s sickroom, surely!”
His mouth dropped open, drawing a peal of delighted laughter from Elizabeth. Did she know how alluring she was when she laughed and teased him so? “I am beginning to understand something about you, Miss Elizabeth.”
She arched a brow, her smile unflagging. “Oh? Pray tell, what is that?”
He moved more deeply into the room, poising himself near a chair but not taking it until invited to do so. “Why, that you seem to find the greatest delight in provoking me. If that is true, I beg you would not stop. I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours!”
Her smile broadened, and she took a seat with a gesture toward the chair he had intended to claim. He sat near her, leaning close so as not to miss a drop of whatever saucy remark she might make.
“Ah, but Mr Darcy, I thought it was impossible to laugh at you. We have established before that you have no faults but pride, and at that, I cannot laugh. However am I to amuse myself if I do not have any foibles or weaknesses in your character to exploit?”
He felt his face warming and stretching into an uncharacteristically droll expression. “I beg you would not take another’s opinion of me but form your own. I trustyourjudgement of my character as infinitely more accurate.”
She pursed her lips thoughtfully, her eyes still twinkling as she appraised him. “Perhaps I will begin my assessment by listing what I know of you. I might thereby identify some folly by which I may entertain myself.”
