Page 96 of The Matchmaker’s Mistake

“Is either the sunrise or a fire in the rigging. I cannot tell which, and I do not think Mr. Robertson could either.”

Georgiana was already standing beside Miss Elizabeth as they studied a view of hills and water. She must have heard the men—not a difficult endeavour—because she asked, “Do you think the artist uses the light well?” She tipped her head first one way and then the other.

“I have not yet decided,” Miss Elizabeth replied. “I am attempting to determine whether the light improves the landscape or merely persuades us not to notice its faults.”

Darcy almost smiled. He stepped closer. “Miss Elizabeth, I believe this is one of the Derbyshire views.”

She turned to him. “Is it?”

“Yes. The valley beyond the water is near⁠—”

“Lizzy,” Miss Bennet called from a few feet away. “You must come and see this one. Aunt Gardiner knows the prospect and says the view is remarkably well done.”

Miss Elizabeth looked between them. “I would not wish to keep my aunt waiting.”

“Of course.”

She offered him a small smile, the kind one might offer a slight acquaintance, offered Georgiana her arm, and went to join Miss Bennet and her aunt.

Darcy remained before the painting.

Richard appeared beside him a moment later, hands folded behind his back and his eyes on the landscape.

“You appear to be having some difficulty.”

“I am looking at the landscape.”

“Are you? I had thought you were attempting to determine why a certain lady has become less inclined to look at you.”

Darcy glanced at him. “This is not helpful.”

“That is because I have not yet begun to help.” Richard turned towards the party, waited exactly long enough to make Darcy suspect him of planning something, and then crossed to Mrs. Gardiner.

“Mrs. Gardiner,” Richard said, with a bow. “Darcy knows this view better than any of us. He can tell you whether the painter has been faithful.”

Mrs. Gardiner looked amused. “And is Mr. Darcy often severe with painters?”

“Only when they have been careless enough to paint places he knows.”

Miss Elizabeth’s eyes came to Darcy then, unwillingly perhaps, but with interest.

Darcy could either murder his cousin in a public gallery or offer his insight. It was a nearer thing than it ought to have been.

“The road is accurate enough,” he said. “But the slope beyond it has been softened. It is steeper, and the bridge lies lower. The painter has made the whole scene less wild and untamed than it is.”

“A common kindness in art,” Miss Elizabeth said. “Though I imagine it is more typically applied to portraits.” It was the first remark she had offered him without being pressed.

Darcy turned to her. “Do you think art should be kind?”

“Not always. But it need not be a looking glass. The best part of art is when it shows us more than we see on our own.”

Richard looked at the painting again. “I knew I liked art.”

Georgiana laughed. Miss Bennet smiled, and Mrs. Gardiner turned her attention to the painting with a determinedly innocent expression, not unlike the one she had worn in the park the day he apologised.

Miss Elizabeth did not laugh, but her countenance softened just a bit. It was not much, but it made Darcy forget, briefly, that she was avoiding him.

“Do you know this place well?” Georgiana asked him.