Page 19 of The Matchmaker’s Mistake

Uncle Gardiner frowned. “That was rather ungallant of him. I admit, I am surprised.”

“I will not pretend I was wounded, Uncle, though it is never pleasant to hear ill of oneself. We had not even been introduced, and I laughed at the time. But I was bothered.”

“Hmm.” Aunt Gardiner nodded. “And the second, Lizzy?”

“Mr. Darcy asked me for a dance at Netherfield. We took the floor.”

She paused and shared a look with Jane, who finished for her. “Mr. Darcy did not finish the set with Lizzy. He bowed before the end of it and walked off the floor leaving her standing there. He quitted the room shortly afterward.”

Elizabeth attempted to pretend she had not been mortified. “We were at the bottom of the line, so not many people noticed.”

“A few people noticed,” Jane said quietly. “Thankfully, our mother was not one of them, nor anyone likely to tell her.”

“Did you quarrel?” Aunt Gardiner inquired.

Uncle Gardiner said, “I do not believe it matters. That is something a gentleman does not do.”

Elizabeth sighed. “You are correct in most cases, Uncle Gardiner, but Aunt is also correct. We did have words, so I must own my share of the blame. But it seemed—it still feels to me a more severe response than the situation warranted.”

“And yet he called upon you here as though no such thing had occurred.”

“He was not calling upon me, for I doubt he even knew I was in London. He came to support Mr. Bingley in his call upon Jane. Although why Mr. Bingley would require his support, I cannot say.”

“I do not know what to make of it, my dear,” Aunt Gardiner said. “I can only tell you that the man who looked at you across this room was not indifferent to you.”

“Yes, intense dislike is not indifference.”

Her uncle and aunt glanced at one another.

“And you, Jane?” Aunt Gardiner said gently. “We have heard a great deal of Lizzy’s part. Was it as you had hoped, that Mr. Bingley should come?”

Jane was quiet a moment. “It was as I had not allowed myself to hope, Aunt. I had very nearly persuaded myself I should not see him in town at all. He had said he would return to Netherfield in a few days, but the entire house was shut up very quickly. Then Miss Bingley’s letter arrived, relating that Mr. Bingley was in fact courting Mr. Darcy’s sister. In addition, she and Mrs. Hurst have yet to return our call. In truth, I was trying to set my mind to other things.”

“And now?”

Jane looked at her hands. After a moment she looked up, and her eyes were rather bright. “He came as soon as he knew I was in town. He sat by me. He seemed just as he did in Hertfordshire. I shall not pretend I have not felt it.”

“Good,” said Elizabeth, simply.

Her sister took a breath and smoothed her skirt with her hands. “I meant what I said in the carriage, Lizzy. I shall let Mr. Bingley show me who he is before I commit my heart any further. But he came, and I am pleased that he did.”

Aunt Gardiner reached across and took Jane’s hand. “That is very wise, my dear. I believe we can all agree that Mr. Bingley’s temperament is excellent. It is his resolution that requires trying.”

Uncle Gardiner stood. “I am for the warehouse.” He kissed his wife’s hand, and then Jane’s, and then Elizabeth’s. “Margaret, my love, settle the rest as you see fit.”

The door closed behind him.

“Lizzy,” her aunt said, “the children are above, and they were promised you would tell them a story. Jane and I shall sit a little longer.”

She was being kindly dismissed. Elizabeth entered the passage and crossed to one of the windows. The street below was busy, but Mr. Bingley’s conveyance was nowhere in sight. It had likely turned the corner long ago, taking with it his warmth for Jane and the colder manners of his friend. The insult at the assembly she did not dwell on overmuch anymore, but the slight at the ball, after he had known her some weeks—that embarrassment was greater and newer, and thus still rankled.

Forgive me, Miss Bennet. I ought not to have asked you to stand up with me.

Above her, on the second floor, she heard the small thump of one of her cousins’ shoes hitting the floor and then her cousin Maggie’s very emphatic voice instructing her brother that he could not have her doll.

Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment, put on a smile, and went up.

CHAPTER 5