Darcy smiled kindly. “It proved far more informative than I anticipated.”
Miss Mary lit up. “I told you the section regarding Henry V was particularly compelling.”
Miss Kitty, rising to leave the room as her mother directed sighed. “You say that about every section.”
“History is compelling.”
“Battles are compelling,” Miss Kitty corrected as she gathered her things.
The exchange drew a smile from Elizabeth, who sat near the fire with correspondence spread beside her.
Darcy’s gaze found her before he could prevent it. As always.
She raised her head and smiled in greeting. The effect upon him had become alarmingly immediate.
Bingley, meanwhile, had already crossed toward Miss Bennet with such transparent eagerness that even Mrs. Bennet appeared amused.
“You are much improved today,” he said.
Miss Bennet smiled. “I believe Mama intends to stop treating me as an invalid by next week.”
“A reckless decision.”
“Mr. Bingley thinks everyone fragile.”
“Only people worth worrying over.”
Darcy directed his attention elsewhere before private affection embarrassed them both.
The twins burst into the room at that moment carrying what appeared to be half a dismantled toy ship between them.
“Mr. Darcy!”
“You have arrived!”
Mrs. Bennet looked up. “Gentlemen.”
The twins halted.
“We are walking,” Thomas corrected.
“With speed,” Toby added.
“And indoor voices,” Mrs. Bennet replied.
The boys lowered their volume by perhaps one degree before hurrying toward Darcy anyway.
“You must come see our fort,” Toby announced.
“In the orchard,” Thomas clarified. “We have improved it.”
Darcy suspected improvement might be a dangerously flexible term where the twins were concerned.
“I fear,” he said gravely, “that my expertise in military architecture remains limited.”
“That has never stopped Papa.”
Mr. Bennet shifted in his chair near the hearth. “A cruel but accurate observation.”
