She paused in her meal to hear what explanation he would offer.
Mr. Darcy's gaze shifted to Elizabeth, and she raised her eyebrows in question.
He cleared his throat.
"It was a mouse. I saw a mouse running along the floor and over my shoe."
Charles pushed his chair back so abruptly that it scraped against the floor. He immediately began searching beneath the table for the offending creature.
The two girls both sprang to their feet and moved away from the table, shaking out their skirts.
Once again, Elizabeth remained seated.
She took another forkful of salmon.
Mr. Darcy looked at her, and she saw realization in his eyes. He knew that she knew what had actually occurred.
His face flushed again.
Elizabeth took a small sip of her drink.
"Mr. Bingley, I am not concerned about a mere mouse. Every house has them. I am certain that little fellow will not dare show his face again. Kitty, Georgiana, sit down, girls. The salmon has been perfectly prepared."
Mr. Bingley resumed his seat and picked up his glass. Elizabeth watched him take a sip of the deep red wine. His hand was shaking.
Elizabeth spoke, hoping to provide a distraction. "Sir, if you wish, I would be happy to inoculate you and any member of your household who would accept it. I intend to do the same for my family and the Longbourn tenants."
Mr. Bingley looked at Elizabeth, his expression relieved.
"You are right, Mrs. Darcy. The little mouse should not overset such a fine dinner as this."
He motioned to a footman to clear away Miss Bingley's plate.
Then, turning back to her, he added, "I would very much like to be inoculated. If it offers protection against that devastating disease, I would be grateful to you. And I shall inform all my servants so that they too may benefit from the protection it provides."
That night, when Mr. Darcy joined Elizabeth in her bedchamber, he first went to the door and turned the key.
"I have locked my bedchamber door as well."
She raised a brow.
"Elizabeth, did I not warn you that by dinner time you would understand why I never took to Miss Bingley?"
"Sir, when I heard you say so, I assumed she was merely insufferably arrogant or grasping. I even thought perhaps she was such a toady that her sycophantic ways had disgusted you forever. I had no idea you meant that you would be required to endure such liberties."
He raised a brow, and Elizabeth could see that her teasing had gone a little too far.
"I apologize, sir. After all, you cannot help it if you are a handsome, virile gentleman."
He had clearly heard enough.
Elizabeth was seated on the edge of her bed, combing out her hair. In three long strides, he was standing before her, and before she knew what he intended, he had pushed her gently back onto the mattress.
Bracing himself on his elbows, he hovered over her and looked down into her eyes.
"Yes, Mrs. Darcy. You were saying?"
She started to giggle.
