Page 49 of Twice Chosen

Darcy looked toward his sister. "I used to order."

"You were frightened."

"That does not make it less tiring for the person being ordered."

Elizabeth smiled. "You have been listening."

"For fifty years."

"Not yet."

Darcy's eyes narrowed. "You enjoy that far too much."

"Immensely."

Georgiana's presence also changed Mary. The two began writing after discovering shared interests in music. Mary wrote long letters full of quotations. Georgiana answered more simply. Instead of being offended, Mary gradually imitated the brevity because Georgiana responded most warmly to the parts where Mary wrote plainly of herself.

One afternoon Elizabeth found Mary revising a letter.

"You crossed out half a page."

Mary looked defensive. "It was unnecessary."

"What was it?"

"A passage from Fordyce."

Elizabeth sat opposite. "And what are you writing instead?"

Mary hesitated. "That I was angry when Lydia interrupted my practice."

Elizabeth smiled. "That sounds more useful."

Mary frowned. "It is less elevated."

"Perhaps Miss Darcy already owns books if she wants elevated thoughts."

Mary considered this so seriously that Elizabeth had to look away to hide her smile.

At Netherfield Georgiana received the revised letter and laughed aloud at Mary's description of Lydia attempting to dance during a scale exercise.

Darcy heard from the hall.

He stopped.

Bingley nearly walked into him. "Why are we stopping?"

Darcy listened to his sister laugh again.

"No reason."

Bingley followed the sound and smiled. "She likes Hertfordshire."

"Yes."

"You should bring her here more often."

Darcy nodded.