Page 97 of A Question of Character

“Yes,” Bingley said after a pause. “She has. I never presumed you would meet them—you must know that.”

“I do not wish to wound her unnecessarily. I respect her as your sister, and I have no desire to create awkwardness in your household. But I will not encourage expectations I cannot satisfy.”

Bingley nodded once, though he did not give an immediate answer. He was a generous man, but generosity did not make a brother immune to discomfort. Darcy waited, giving him time to dislike the sentence without resenting the truth.

At length Bingley said, “Caroline will be disappointed. I suppose I ought to tell her. She will likely say cutting things about your taste, your judgment, my judgment, Hertfordshire, and any lady unlucky enough to be within five miles of you.”

“I had considered the possibility.” He would do everything in his power to protect Elizabeth from the barbs Miss Bingley would surely sling at her.

Bingley looked up then, and a rueful grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I must disagree, my friend. You have considered it in the abstract. I have breakfasted with Caroline after a disappointment. You cannot know.”

“That is a fair distinction.”

Bingley sought to reassure him. “I shall speak to her before we leave town.”

“I would be grateful.”

Bingley studied him with less levity now. “This attachment of yours is serious, then.”

“Yes.”

“Does the lady know?”

Darcy’s hand rested upon the mantel shelf. “Not the whole of it.” Elizabeth did not know Darcy would have no other, even if she refused him.

“That sounds like you.”

“I asked permission to call upon her in Hertfordshire.”

“Permission?” Bingley repeated, brightening in spite of himself. “Darcy, that is nearly romantic—for you.”

He protested, “It was proper.”

“It may have been both.”

Darcy gave him a warning look, which Bingley ignored with the ease of a man who had survived many such looks and found most of them less fatal than advertised.

“And she agreed?”

“She did.”

“Then you have excellent reason to come to Netherfield.”

“I have already said I shall come.”

Bingley chuckled once more. “Yes, but now I perceive you agreed with suspicious eagerness.”

Darcy allowed the corner of his mouth to rise. “I am glad you understand. Miss Bennet lives near the estate you have leased, so you have provided me with the perfect opportunity to pursue her.”

“There it is.” Bingley laughed, delighted. “A confession. I shall remember this day forever.”

“You will do nothing of the sort.”

“I shall write it down.”

“You will not.”

“I will tell Hurst. He will forget, but for a few minutes I shall have the satisfaction.”