Mrs Bennet smiled faintly. "I think it has made a friend of me."
"I am beginning to suspect Lyme has improved everyone."
"It has improved you a little."
"An outrageous accusation."
"I thought so."
The smile lingered.
Mr Bennet looked out towards the water. "I have been thinking."
Mrs Bennet laughed. "That is always dangerous."
"I am surrounded by critics."
"You have spent twenty-three years encouraging them."
"I cannot deny it."
She glanced at him then, amusement still softening her expression.
"I thought," he said, "that perhaps we ought to begin considering our return."
Mrs Bennet was quiet for a moment."Because of Jane?"
"Partly."
"And because of Lizzy."
Mr Bennet sighed. "That young man appears incapable of understanding discouragement."
Mrs Bennet looked back towards the sea. "I do not think he has been very discouraged."
"No. That is rather the problem."
He picked up a small stone and tossed it towards the waves. "When I left Longbourn I had one daughter who appeared perfectly content without a suitor and another who believed herself immune to all romantic folly. I arrive in Lyme and discover that Mr Bingley has practically attached himself to our family and Mr Darcy appears determined to conduct a siege."
"A siege?"
"That is certainly how it looks from where I am standing."
Mrs Bennet laughed. "Poor Mr Darcy."
"I assure you I feel no particular pity for Mr Darcy."
"No?"
"No. He is a very wealthy man, a very determined man, and by all appearances a man who is not especially accustomed to hearing the word no."
The laughter faded a little. "You are genuinely worried."
"I am."
Mrs Bennet turned towards him.
Mr Bennet took a moment before continuing. "The difficulty is that I do not dislike him. Indeed, I should find the whole matter considerably easier if I did. He appears sensible. He is attentive to his sister. Everybody whose judgement I trust seems inclined to think well of him. Even you think well of him, which surprises me rather."
