Elizabeth’s breath caught in her chest.
At last Darcy said, "Miss Elizabeth is a young woman of lively understanding.”
Bingley laughed softly. “Miss Elizabeth is a young woman of lively understanding! There, you see? You begin exactly where I expected. I have seen you admire women before. Any man with eyes could see you thought Miss Langley handsome, and I remember perfectly well your slight admiration for Lady Anne Morton's daughter, though you attempted to conceal it under an air of complete indifference. But admiration has never made you forget your own manners, and it has certainly never made you quarrel with a lady in a drawing room."
Darcy's expression darkened. "I have no wish to discuss that incident."
"No, I daresay not. But the fact remains that I have never known you so affected by any woman's words. Miss Elizabeth speaks and you attend. Miss Elizabeth laughs and you look round to discover the cause. Miss Elizabeth leaves a room and, before you are aware of it, your eyes follow her."
"Your imagination is unusually active this morning."
"My imagination has nothing to do with it. Jane sees it. Mrs Makepeace sees it. I strongly suspect Mrs Bennet sees it, though Heaven knows what use she intends to make of the information."
"That is a very pretty speech.”
"It is also true.”
"It is incomplete.”
"Then complete it.”
Darcy did not speak at once. When he did, his tone had changed. The warmth she had heard when he spoke of Jane, and the reluctant admiration that had entered his account of herself, withdrew behind something harder.
"I came to Lyme for Georgiana. You know why. Her peace is my first concern, and I will not have her made uneasy by any conduct of mine. She has already suffered more than sheought, and if this place offers her even a little recovery, I will not jeopardise it by indulging a passing inclination or becoming distracted by a pair of fine eyes”
"A passing inclination,” Bingley repeated, with disbelief.
"Yes.”
"I do not believe you.”
"That is your privilege.”
"Admiration may be sincere without being wise.”
"And is wisdom always to have the final word?”
"In my position, it must have a considerable one.”
Bingley seemed to hear it too, for his answer came with unusual sharpness. "Your position. Yes, I wondered how long it would be before Pemberley entered the room.”
"Pemberley is never out of it.”
"It is an estate, Darcy, not a jealous aunt.”
"It is a responsibility.”
"So is every estate.”
"Not every estate is Pemberley.”
Elizabeth could imagine his face as the words formed. His arrogant reserve a mask.
Bingley sighed. "Very well. Pemberley is Pemberley, and you are its much afflicted master. What has that to do with Miss Elizabeth?”
"Everything.”
"Nothing.”
