Elizabeth folded her arms. “Does this man have a name, or are we meant to refer to him as ‘he’ all night?”
“Darcy.”
Everything stopped.
Jane looked up from her letter.
Mary turned a page.
Elizabeth was fairly certain her heart fell stone dead in her chest.
“Mr. Darcy,” Charlotte repeated. “From Derbyshire, I heard. Why, Lizzy, you look as though you have heard the name before. Have you met?”
Elizabeth blinked. “We have… encountered.”
Mrs. Bennet was too thrilled to notice her daughter’s tone. “Darcy! What a grand name! And so distinguished!”
“Pompous,” Elizabeth muttered.
“You must all look your best,” her mother declared, waving her hand like a battle standard. “There is no telling what might happen at this assembly. Jane, where is that ivory ribbon? And Lizzy—Lizzy! Do not wear that gray muslin again. It makes you look like a governess.”
Elizabeth stood. “Then I shall pair it with spectacles and a contract of employment.”
“Wear the plum,” Charlotte said. “It makes you look dangerous.”
Elizabeth arched a brow. “Do I not always?”
But her smile had thinned.
Darcy. Here.
With only a few months to go…
And of course, he would attend the Assembly. Of course he would. The man was bound by duty, honor, and possibly some supernatural compulsion to interfere with her peace.
Elizabeth had never likedthe Meryton Assembly. The room was too small, the floorboards often snagged herslippers, and the punch always tasted faintly of soap—thanks to Lady Lucas’s obsession with orange flower.
Tonight, it was also far too warm. The windows were fogging from the press of dancers and chattering neighbors, and her mother had already elbowed two ladies away from the card table in search of better seating.
Elizabeth hovered near the edges, pretending to examine the floral arrangements. Charlotte stood beside her, leaning close.
“The new tenants from Netherfield have arrived,” she murmured, eyes flicking toward the entrance.
Elizabeth did not look.
“They brought a party. Oh, Papa was right. Mr. Bingleyishandsome.”
“And the sister? You said he had one, yes?”
“Two, but the younger one is the unmarried one. That must be her there, smiling like she invented politeness.”
Elizabeth sipped her punch. “That sounds exhausting.”
“Be kind. You may end up dancing with one of the gentlemen.”
“Heaven preserve me.”
A ripple passed through the room as the newcomers were greeted and fussed over. Elizabeth kept her eyes fixed firmly on the flowers.
