Page 99 of Twice Chosen

"Hertfordshire is more honest."

Mrs. Phillips arrived moments later and spent half an hour asking Darcy questions about Pemberley so transparent that even Mrs. Bennet attempted to redirect her.

Darcy answered with patience.

After she left, Mrs. Bennet sighed. "My sister can be terribly inquisitive."

The room went silent.

Elizabeth stared at her mother.

Mr. Bennet slowly lowered his newspaper.

Lydia choked on cake.

Mrs. Bennet frowned. "What?"

Elizabeth was the first to recover. "Nothing, Mama."

Darcy looked down at his tea to hide a smile.

Later, walking near the garden, Elizabeth said, "You were magnificent."

"I was interrogated about the number of fireplaces at Pemberley."

"You knew the answer."

"That is not the point."

Elizabeth slipped her hand through his arm. "My family will not become elegant because we know the future."

"I do not require elegance."

"I know."

"That is new."

She looked up.

Darcy considered. "No. The understanding is new. I once confused refinement with worth because refinement was easy for me to recognize."

Elizabeth squeezed his arm. "And now?"

"Now I recognize your aunt Phillips as a woman who loves gossip, talks too much, and brought your mother soup every day when she was ill last winter."

Elizabeth stopped walking.

Darcy looked at her.

She smiled slowly. "You noticed."

"I am learning."

That was exactly the answer she wanted.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Brighton Ends