Page 28 of A Question of Character

“Do what?”

“Rescue people.”

“I do nothing remarkable.”

“You rescue children whose horses have fallen in battle.”

He smiled.

“You remember that?”

“You prevent servants from being scolded.”

“I merely prevented unnecessary work.”

“You invent missing music to save ladies from tedious gentlemen.”

He coughed discreetly.

“I am uncertain that ought to be included.”

“And now you have preserved Lady Matlock’s carpet from a sticky demise.”

She folded her hands before her.

“I begin to suspect you enjoy taking care of people.”

For perhaps the first time since she had known him, Darcy did not answer.

Music drifted across the room.

Voices mingled.

Someone laughed near the fireplace.

At last he said absently, “Only those who matter to me.”

The words were so simply spoken that Elizabeth could not determine whether he had intended her to hear them.

Before she could decide, Lady Matlock called everyone together for one final piece.

The company arranged themselves around the musicians.

Georgiana accepted the invitation to perform with another young lady and played beautifully, earning sincere applause that left her cheeks delightfully pink.

When the evening drew to its close and the Gardiners prepared to depart, Georgiana embraced Mrs. Gardiner with unaffected affection.

“I hope we shall meet again very soon.”

“So do I, my dear,” Mrs. Gardiner replied. “You must come and see us.”

“I should like that very much.”

Darcy escorted the party to the front steps.

The spring air had become pleasantly cool.

As the footman opened the carriage door, Elizabeth gathered her skirts. One silver button upon her glove slipped loose and fell unnoticed onto the stone.