Page 31 of The Matchmaker’s Mistake

“Mr. Gardiner. Mrs. Gardiner,” she said warmly. “How lovely to meet you. Mr. Bingley assured me you would come, and I should have been quite cast down if you had not.”

Her uncle bowed, and Aunt Gardiner curtsied. “Lady Anne. We are honoured by your hospitality.”

“You are most welcome here.” She turned to Jane next. “Miss Bennet.”

“Lady Anne,” Jane said. She sounded perfectly calm, but there was a tiny tremor in her voice. Elizabeth was sure no one other than her and perhaps her aunt would notice.

But Lady Anne seemed to note it as well. “Mr. Bingley has spoken much of you, Miss Bennet. Forgive him; he has not been able to help himself.”

Jane flushed.

Lady Anne glanced across the room where Mr. Darcy was standing. He saw that his mother was speaking with them, and offered a courteous bow before returning to his guests.

“Miss Elizabeth,” Lady Anne said, “I have been most curious to make your acquaintance.”

The words were light, even friendly, and Elizabeth, who had spent time in a great many country drawing rooms, understood before she had completed her curtsy that the lady’s interest was genuine. What kind of interest, and why, she could not yet say.

“I am pleased to meet you, Lady Anne.”

“And I you, my dear.” Lady Anne smiled. “Mr. Bingley is just there, Miss Bennet, and is quite eager to see you. Mrs. Gardiner, may I trouble you to accompany us? Pardon me, Miss Elizabeth, I shall return shortly.”

Their party was thus introduced into the room not as parties finding their own footing in a sea of strangers, but as Lady Anne’s particular guests. Aunt Gardiner was carried off to a small grouping near the fire, and Uncle Gardiner remained with Elizabeth, though he inclined his head to a gentleman who seemed near his own age and was drawn into a conversation almost at once. Jane was led towards Mr. Bingley, who was situated nearest the fire.

Elizabeth was briefly left without a conversation partner. Sadly, it did not last.

“Miss Eliza,” said a familiar voice from her left, “how very pleasant it is to see you here.”

Elizabeth turned to see Miss Bingley sitting in a chair with an excellent view of the door, no doubt to evaluate each new guest as they arrived. She did not rise.

“Miss Bingley.”

“I see your uncle and aunt have come. Lady Anne has the most extraordinary way of opening her doors to those who would not, in the ordinary course of things, find themselves welcomed.”

Elizabeth had not missed the elegance with which Miss Bingley could transform drawing room conversation into an insult.

She glanced across the room to see her aunt receiving the deferential bow of an elderly gentleman in a brown coat who appeared perfectly delighted by her company.

Elizabeth took a breath. “We must both be indebted to Lady Anne, then.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Lady Anne, I gather, is less exacting than some about family connexions to trade.” She held Miss Bingley’s gaze and would not look away.

Miss Bingley’s smile disappeared. She seemed about to reply, but the words did not arrive in time. “I hardly know what you⁠—”

“Miss Elizabeth.” Lady Anne was at her elbow again. “Miss Bingley, you will forgive me for stealing her away.”

“Certainly, Lady Anne,” Miss Bingley said.

Elizabeth smiled at Miss Bingley before she was led to an alcove where a sideboard had been arranged with hot punch. A footman poured her a glass when Lady Anne nodded at it. Elizabeth accepted it with gratitude, for speaking with Miss Bingley was always thirsty work.

“Mr. Bingley has told me much of your sister,” Lady Anne said. “He praises her beauty and also your wit. Pray, what do you read, Miss Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth was reluctant to have her preferences sorted and interpreted like clues to her character. “Whatever falls into my hand, Lady Anne.”

“It cannot be so simple as that, I think.”

“You may take it that I read whatever my father does not forbid, which is a wider field than is generally conceded to young ladies.”