She said it because she truly was not offended if he used her usual name, but also to let him know, subtly, that Jane remained unmarried. He, of course, need not know that; but considering how acrimonious their last meeting in Hertfordshire had been, and that his best friend remained very much in her brown books, it might be useful.
However, as her thoughts ran down far too many tangents, she supposed it was time to reply. “To answer your question, it depends on how you definefavourite.I suppose I could say this walk isa favourite, but notthe favourite. I have 3 walks that all have equal favour.”
Darcy chuckled. “I assume you have a tally and some equations to back that up, Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth noticed the reversion to her usual name and wondered about it. In most men, she would call it laziness. He had accustomed himself to calling her that, and changing was more trouble than sticking with habit. However, that did not match what she had begun to think was his nature.
Elizabeth had talked to various people at Rosings about the gentleman, including parishioners, tenants, and even a few pensioners. It was wonderful how much access she had to people as the sister of the parson’s wife. Everyone, without exception, spoke of his care in all his dealings. According to everyone she asked, he was a good master, scrupulous in his conduct, fair in his dealings, and trustworthy in every way. Of course, Lady Catherine ran the estate, and Mr Darcy was simply there to aidhis aunt, but he took the job seriously. Colonel Fitzwilliam visited the parsonage often because he wasboredwhile Mr Darcy wasbusy.
A stray thought struck Elizabeth, halting her steps.
“Miss Elizabeth?” Mr Darcy asked sweetly.
Abandoning plain speaking, for Elizabeth didnotwant to discuss her thoughts, she said, “A momentary stumble. All is well!”
She matched deeds to words and tugged him back into motion. He wore hishaughtyperplexedexpression.
The thought that so confused her was mathematical in nature. She loved percentages. They were so simple, any child could understand them, and they told a wonderful story—almost painted it in words.
The problem was, she could easily imagine the number of people sheshould,or typicallywould,talk to about a man with such a thin connection to herself, and not an auspicious one at that.
If she recalledallthe conversation she hadactuallyhad about the man, it amounted to 350-450% of the usual. Yes, it was clear and undisputed: Elizabeth Bennet wasgossiping…about Mr Darcy—enough to put her mother to shame.
Chagrined, she tried to change the topic. “I rode out with your cousin, Miss de Bourgh, yesterday. It was fascinating.”
“Did you learn anything unexpected?”
“I have never known someone who was chronically ill, soeverythingwas unexpected. I will not break her confidence—”
“Of course not. I respect that.”
“But there is one thing I do not believe she would mind my telling you.”
He gave her his full attention.
“I hope you do not consider this gossip or prying, but she does not seem very inclined to marry you.”
“That is a relief,” Darcy said, chuckling, “as I have no intention of marrying her. I wish I could make her happy, but since marrying her would create the opposite of her happiness, it seems a bad strategy. In your favourite mathematical terms, it would be an action of the correctmagnitudebut incorrectpolarity.”
Elizabeth smiled; the interchange pleased her too much for comfort. “She assured me you understood her. Do you know what bothers her most about itnow?”
“To my shame, I have no idea.”
“What bothers her now is that everyone she knows isaccustomedto her being ill, and they all seem to take it as a given that it has always been so and always will be. Nobodyexpectsany more of her, and—”
Elizabeth paused again. “I should not tell you this. I have no idea why I am gossiping with you—”
To her surprise, Mr Darcy put his hand over hers, which still somehow rested on his elbow.
“Be at ease, madam. I can see you are more concerned for my cousin than curious—”
“How can you say that?” Elizabeth asked, perplexed by the turn of conversation.
“Because you are a caring person. When you talk about Anne, you use the same tone you use for your sisters. It is simple deduction, really.”
Elizabeth raised one eyebrow in either amazement or consternation. She would decide later; for the moment, it was time to answer.
Stuttering, she said, “She says she does not even expect it of herself.”
