Page 156 of Pride and Prejudice Resolutions

"For Society," Richard said through gritted teeth. "Miss Bingley is a menace. Someone had to contain her before she caused mass casualties at Almack's."

"A menace," Jane said softly, and every head turned towards her. The Viscountess rarely interrupted, and when she did, people listened. "Miss Bingley is not a menace. She is lonely."

Silence fell over the table like snow.

Richard stared at his soup.

Robert leaned to his wife, his voice a stage whisper that carried beautifully. "Did you hear that? Jane just defended Caroline Bingley. And Richard looks as though he has discovered his horse can talk."

"Robert," Jane chided gently, though her eyes were kind. "Miss Bingley has not been kind to me, I know that. But she is sharper than most give her credit for, and she has been treated poorly by Society. I think Richard sees that."

"I see nothing," Richard muttered into his wine.

"Liar," Robert said cheerfully. "You see everything. You are trained to observe enemy positions. The question is, do you consider Miss Bingley the enemy, or the objective?"

"I refuse to answer on the grounds that this entire conversation is absurd."

The Earl banged his fist on the table, rattling the silverware. "Stop dithering, boy. Are you courting the girl or not?"

"No!"

"Then what in blazes are you doing with her?"

Richard opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. No sound emerged.

Elizabeth leaned back in her chair, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Darling, your cousin appears to have broken. Should we send for smelling salts?"

"He is not broken," Darcy observed. "He is cornered."

"Cornered by what?" the Earl demanded.

"By the truth, I suspect." Elizabeth's smile widened. "But do go on, Richard. We are all fascinated by your charitable work with Miss Bingley."

"It is not charity—"

"Then what is it?" the Countess asked, her voice slicing through his protest like a scalpel. "You attend balls you despise. You dance with a woman you claim to find intolerable. You refuse to introduce her to eligible men, Robert told me about Lord Fawlton, by the way. Very protective of you."

"Fawlton is a disaster!"

"So you have said. Repeatedly." She sipped her wine. "One might almost think you did not want Miss Bingley to marry anyone at all."

Richard's knuckles went white around his spoon.

Georgiana, who had been silent through the entire exchange, cleared her throat. Every eye turned to her. She flushed pink but lifted her chin with the determination of a Darcy facing down opposition.

"Richard saved Miss Bingley at the opera," she said quietly.

The table erupted.

"What?" Darcy straightened.

"The opera?" Elizabeth's eyes went wide.

"When was this?" Robert demanded.

"What happened?" Jane's hand flew to her throat.

The Earl's bushy eyebrows rose. "Explain. Now."