“If you want to write to Miss Charlotte Lucas, you should be expeditious. I doubt she will retain that name much longer.”
“Oh, what might you expect it to become?”
“Mrs Oakley.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Good for her. Good for both of them.”
“You know Oakley?” Darcy asked in confusion.
“Yes, I met him at a ball. I am proud to say I introduced them.”
“Of course you did.”
Mr Gardiner said, “Might we come back to the literal-versus-figurative question? We seem to have gone astray.”
Elizabeth continued, “Mr Darcy answered,‘Como usted prefiera, puesto que ambas interpretaciones son correctas’:‘As you wish, because both interpretations are correct.’”
Nearly everyone in the group looked puzzled.
At long last, Mr Gardiner asked the obvious question. “All right, Elizabeth… perhaps you need to translate from English to English, for I do not quite follow.”
“Uncle, it is very simple. I asked if he meant literally or figuratively? and he said, in effect, both. Let us begin with the obvious. Thefigurativepart was Mr Darcy inviting us to stay at Pemberley for as long and as often as we like.”
“That stretches what was said a great deal.”
“No, Mr Gardiner, it is not a stretch of any sort. Miss Bennet understands my character well enough that she perfectly comprehends what I think, better than I do myself. Be assured that you are welcome. My friends arealwayswelcome in my home, though if I must quibble, I would forwardly request you bring your children next time. Pemberley has not had the sound of little running feet for entirely too long.”
Mr Gardiner had not quite regained his equilibrium, but Mrs Gardiner said, “We shall happily comply at our next opportunity. Should we bring Kitty and Lydia to look after them?”
Darcy laughed. “Aha, I can see where Miss Bennet gets her impertinence from. Bring both if you please. Perhaps Mr and Mrs Bennet as well.”
Gardiner choked down a laugh. “Let us not get carried away.”
Elizabeth smiled, quite enjoying the banter, while the Bingleys just stared about in a stupid manner.
Mrs Gardiner said, “That seems to take care of thefigurativeinterpretation. How about theliteral? I presume you were not offering my niece employment?”
Everyone else almost stopped breathing, staring at Elizabeth.
She smiled, looking to Darcy for permission. He smiled and nodded.
“That one is easily understood in broad outlines, but the specifics are a touch vague. Mr Darcy asked for either a formal courtship or my hand in marriage. It is difficult to tell when speaking metaphorically, ambiguously, and in another language.”
Everyone gasped except Darcy, who smiled at Elizabeth, and was most gratified to see her smile in return.
“Did I misinterpret your suggestion?”
“You did not.”
“Might you resolve the ambiguity, since I offered two potential interpretations?”
“Mr Gardiner, might you write down today’s date,” Darcy said. “It may be important later.”
“How so?” Gardiner asked, looking either out of sorts or thoroughly amused.
“Two things of note happened today: I believe I bested Miss Elizabeth Bennet in a logic contest, which I doubt will ever happen again, and she also complained of ambiguity, though I believe she thrives in it and finds clarity tedious.”
Elizabeth had almost forgotten the Bingleys—or actually, entirely forgotten them—until a screech pierced the air.
