Page 16 of A Question of Character

“Prudent,” he replied.

She sang a simple air, nothing ambitious, but pleasant enough. Her voice was not powerful, and she knew it. What she possessed was expression and a willingness not to ornament a song past recognition. When she finished, Georgiana thanked her with such sincerity that Elizabeth sat beside her again and agreed to examine another piece.

Later, while Mrs. Gardiner and Georgiana discussed music and Mr. Gardiner admired a small landscape above the mantel, Darcy came to stand near Elizabeth by a table arranged with books and a vase of early flowers.

“I believe my sister has claimed you,” he said.

“I am very willing to be claimed. She is charming.”

“She is often shy with strangers.”

“Then I am honored to have been promoted so quickly.”

Darcy studied the spine of a book without removing it from the table. “Mrs. Gardiner’s kindness helped. Georgiana remembers her from Derbyshire.”

“She spoke of your mother.”

“Yes.”

Elizabeth hesitated, then chose the safer path. “My aunt is very good at preserving people in affectionate memory.”

“She has that gift.”

A pause followed, filled by the faint sound of Georgiana’s voice across the room and Mr. Gardiner asking whether the landscape depicted Derbyshire.

Elizabeth touched one petal of the flowers in the vase. “May I ask you a very serious question, Mr. Darcy?”

His attention came back to her with gratifying readiness. “You may.”

“What is your favorite color?”

Whatever he had expected, it was not that. “My favorite color?”

“You see? Very serious.”

“I had not prepared an answer.”

“That is the advantage of the question. A prepared answer would be suspect.”

He considered with admirable gravity. “Dark green.”

“Derbyshire again?”

“Possibly. And yours?”

“Blue, though not every blue. Some blues are presumptuous.”

“Presumptuous colors. I had not considered the category.”

“You will now. Favorite food?”

“Roast beef, when done properly.”

“How patriotic.”

“And yours?”

“Raspberries.”