Again, Elizabeth felt her cheeks flush.What a goose I am being!“He would be missed, but it would be exciting for him, and we would be a disagreeable lot if we were not pleased for that reason alone.”
He nodded, but did not seem to know what to say next any more than she did. After a pause, she said she should return to Longbourn. “My mother does not like it if I am not there at the start of breakfast.”
“Would you—that is to say, if you do not object, I shall walk with you part of the way.”
She could be mistaken, but Elizabeth thoughthemight feel as awkward as she did. In their present situation, it would not be so strange, she supposed. They hardly knew each other. Why should they know what to talk about? That he seemed desirous of prolonging their time together sent a thrill through her.
They walked together for some time. It usually took Elizabeth a quarter of an hour or thereabouts to reach Longbourn from the clearing, but she estimated it took at least that long just to reach the place where they parted, and then another ten minutes for her to get to the house. Along the way, she told him about the neighbourhood and places he and the Bingleys might like to visit. They talked about other topics, too, though she could not remember them all by the time she raced up the stairs to her bedchamber to refresh herself before joining her family for the morning meal.
All I know for certain is that Mr Darcy is a very likeable gentleman. Very likeable indeed.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Caroline looked up and down the corridor to ensure there were no servants nearby, then entered her brother’s study and closed the door behind her. Servants were horrid creatures, always listening at doors. If she could do without every last one of them, she would. What she had to say to her brother was private. It would not do for any of it to be overheard and repeated to Mr Darcy’s people. No doubt, it was one of Mr Hurst’s footmen or maids who had told him what Caroline and Louisa had said about him. Because of that, Mr Hurst would not allow his wife’s own sister and brother to see her! It added urgency to Caroline’s quest to make Mr Darcy marry her. If Mr Hurst were to tell him what had happened, he would end his friendship with Bingley, and all their effort to secure Mr and Miss Darcy would have been for nothing. Caroline might find herself forced to marry someone like her brother-in-law, rather than the estimable Mr Darcy.
Bingley watched her from his seat at the mahogany desk and, when she jerked her head to indicate the sofa by the window, rose and met her there.
“Mr Darcy hasfinallyreturned,” she said. “He went to his apartment to prepare for breakfast.”
Bingley pulled his watch from his waistcoat pocket. “He was gone a long time.”
She nodded. “He is…pleased. Happy. I cannot account for it. Why would a ride aboutthisneighbourhood make him so cheerful?” When her brother’s eyes went to the door, she continued. “No one is there. I checked.”
“I imagine Darcy is in a good mood because the weather is agreeable. Perhaps he finds the surroundings to his liking.”
She sighed. “You are right. I know you are, yet I am not happy at how yesterday ended. That awful assembly! You know I am never comfortable in such countryish gatherings. Until I saw him dancing with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, it was tolerable, I suppose. During our set, he said almost nothing. Then, after not standing up with any other lady all night, he askedher! Did you see them together, or were you too occupied staring at Miss Bennet?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” he demanded, straightening his shoulders.
She slapped his arm. “You danced with her twice.Twice!Have a care, Charles.” He rolled his eyes, and she very nearly hit him again. “What did you and she talk about? It appeared you had a great deal to say to her, especially considering you only just met.”
“You need not sound so accusing. I did nothing wrong, and I can hardly recall everything we said. It was the usual ballroom nonsense. She told me about the neighbourhood, we discovered we both prefer beef to fish, and she favours the colour purple. Beyond that, I do not remember. She is very beautiful.”
“I agree, she is lovely, and you have always preferred fair ladies, but be careful,” Caroline implored him.
Scratching the back of his neck, clearly to give him an excuse not to meet her eye, Bingley said, “Miss Bennet is kind and gentle.”
“And unsuitable. Good lord, her mother is ridiculous.”
Bingley nodded slowly. “Ours was not so different, from what I recollect.”
Their mother had died when Caroline was four. She hardly remembered the woman.
“Whatever charms Miss Bennet possesses—” Caroline said.
“I know, I know. You need not remind me that I am not searching for a wife. I have already selected one, and I am unlikely to find another with such a fortune and connexions who also happens to be within my grasp. I am only having a bit of fun with Miss Bennet—flirting a little.”
“It is an art you practise too often for my liking. What if Mr Darcy learnt of everything you get up to in town or when we are in Yorkshire?”
Bingley waved a dismissive hand. “I doubt he even noticed with whom I danced last night, and as for any…dalliances I have elsewhere, I am too careful for him to ever find out. But, I promise I shall be cautious. I enjoyed Miss Bennet’s company, and I must have someone to talk to while you are making Darcy see he cannot live without you as his wife. I have not, and shall not, forget our goal, and I shall not do anything to make Darcy hesitate to approve of my marriage to his sister.”
Caroline allowed his reassurances to calm her, but her agitation was by no means banished. “While you are in her company, learn what you can about her family, especially about her sister. I do not like that he danced with Eliza Bennet. Why would he single her out that way?”
“It was one dance on one night. A lady like Miss Elizabeth would never earn his regard. Trust me. If Darcy so much as suspected he felt the tiniesttendrefor her, he would run to Derbyshire to avoid entangling himself. Him, choose a country miss?” Bingley scoffed, which helped further alleviate her harsher sentiments.
She paused. “I shall remember. What attractions does someone like her have, especially compared to me?”
“Exactly! You have education, a fine fortune, acquaintances in the right circles, and you happen to be his dear friend’s sister. To add to it, his beloved sister is fond of you.”
