Page 24 of Mr Darcy’s Quizzing Glass

“No, it means he is unmarried.” Elizabeth, laughing, turned around briefly to look at the man himself, walking some distance behind them.

Elinor sighed. “He is very tall as well.”

A moment passed as they watched Mr Bingley swinging little Robert Gardiner in the air, and then the girl spoke again, this time in a pleading voice.

“Mr Darcy, may I look through your little spyglass?”

Elizabeth turned to find Mr Darcy standing next to them. He gazed down at the girl, clearly uneasy. Much as she wished to hear his reply to the challenge, Elizabeth’s manners took precedence. Taking hold of Elinor’s hand, she said, “No, dear girl. I believe it is a quizzing glass, delicate and meant solely for the eye it is designed to assist. Apparently, Mr Darcy has great need of it for his vision.”

Mr Darcy glanced at her, visibly flushed; she met his look with a curious one of her own.

EIGHTEEN

Darcy slipped the black ribbon over his head and tucked the quizzing glass into his waistcoat. While in the past, he had relied on it in crowds such as he would encounter at the theatre, he had been quite the idiot wearing it to the Gardiners’ home two days prior. They are Elizabeth’s favourite relations. You should not have doubted they were good, decent people. Yet, he berated himself, you thought to put the glass to your eye in the cramped parlour of a small house?

He thanked God he had not done so. The Gardiners’ home had not been cramped nor even especially small. Rather, it was a comfortable, well-furnished townhouse occupied by well-spoken, well-dressed people. He had had no rationale for wearing the glass there beyond his desperate need to understand the infernal tug he felt towards Elizabeth, and it had been such a sunny day, and so bright in the room where they met, he had been half-blind; clearly so had Elizabeth, who had peered at him oddly.

It was not merely the sun, he acknowledged. She saw the quizzing glass. Yet if she thought me a vain, ill-sighted fool, why did she encourage me to use it?

He did not know and should not care—but he did care, far too much. Nevertheless, he was in town, and the glass was part and parcel of his armour when with the ton. This evening at the theatre, surrounded by those demanding so much from him, required he wear it. Memories of his first months in town with the quizzing glass surged in his mind.

Better I appear pompous than suffer unfortunate introductions and allow Elizabeth and her family to be set upon by the ton’s worst vultures, as I was.

At least, that was the excuse he gave himself.

Darcy refrained from putting the glass to his eye at the theatre, touching the satin ribbon only a few times when he grew restless with the performance and wished he could speak to Elizabeth. He could not, of course—not when so many others were gazing at his box and whispering about the two unknown, handsome young ladies within it. His proximity to her would draw more attention than she had already garnered simply by sitting in his box. She was the most striking lady in there, the loveliest lady he had ever seen, one who was attentive to others yet seemed to have no awareness of the notice she had drawn—or of his usual struggles in her presence.

She was so happily enjoying the performance, smiling, her fingers or toes tapping along to the lively music, he was more than content to observe her from his chair behind her and Mrs Gardiner.

It was not until the final notes died and the crowd stirred for intermission that Elizabeth realised how much she needed refreshment. As the ladies strolled about the ante-rooms, the gentlemen departed to fetch lemonade for her, Jane, Mrs Gardiner, and Miss Bingley, who pointedly stepped a few paces away, undoubtedly eager to find ‘better’ company.

When the men returned, Mr Darcy handed Elizabeth a glass of cool lemonade and stood protectively nearby. “I hope Mozart has lived up to your expectations.”

“He has exceeded them,” she said gaily. “Although I lack your sister’s trained ear or full understanding of his work, the music is superb.”

Evidently amused by her display of giddiness, he leant his head closer. “I must bring her here, do you think?”

His scent, his nearness, and his low voice combined to make Elizabeth lightheaded. “I believe you must, sir. I shall satisfy my own sisters with a full recounting of the production. Kitty will wish to know of the costumes, Lydia will ask whether the soldiers are handsome, and Mary will beg me to hum all the music.”

He smiled warmly. “Perhaps they will have an opportunity to come to town and see it as well. My box is yours, if so.”

Elizabeth caught her aunt’s look of surprise, realising she, too, had heard the invitation. “I-I thank you. Even more so because you have met my sisters and understand the...um, enthusiasm they would bring to such an evening.”

“Oh I say, Darcy,” said Mr Bingley abruptly. “There is a man over there, Mr Tremblay, whom I would like you to meet. He says he knew my father and has some investments in India he would like to share with both of us.” He gestured towards a bald man standing near a large pillar, deep in conversation with two portly gentlemen.

Mr Darcy’s smile was replaced by a frown. Elizabeth watched as he reached for the quizzing glass and lifted it to his eye.

“Faith, are your eyes so tired?” his friend laughed.

Mr Darcy turned brusquely back to their little group. “There is no need to introduce us, Bingley.”

“You are acquainted with Tremblay?”

“No. I have no wish to do business with the man.”

Mr Bingley looked ashen. “But my father...”

In a low voice surely meant only for his friend’s ears, Mr Darcy said, “Truly, I doubt your father was acquainted with him, and if so, I certainly hope he did not invest with him.”