Page 29 of The Servants’ Matchmaking

He set it down. "Are you certain?"

"Entirely."

"It may be too near the fire."

"Charles," Caroline said, with the weary patience of a woman explaining the obvious to a child, "Miss Bennet has answered you."

Bingley sat, chastened for perhaps four seconds. Jane looked pleased by the fuss rather than oppressed by it. Darcy noted the difference. Solicitude stopped being kind, he thought, the moment it refused to accept an answer.

Elizabeth chose a chair beside her sister. Sarah laid the blue shawl across Jane's knees, then left with the empty tray. McKeever passed her in the hall carrying letters. Neither of them so much as paused. Their restraint had become, Darcy thought, nearly as noticeable as their interference ever was.

Caroline had watched Sarah place the shawl. Her gaze rested a beat too long on the bright blue fringe. Unmistakable, even across a room, even to someone who had every reason not to notice it.

Mrs. Hurst proposed music. Caroline played with exact accomplishment and continued rather longer than the company strictly required. When she finished, Bingley applauded with generous relief.

"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said, "do you play?"

"Poorly enough to give others confidence."

"That is a social gift."

"Miss Eliza undervalues herself," Caroline said. "She played at Lucas Lodge, if I recall."

"You remember every failure but your own," Elizabeth said.

Jane touched her arm. Elizabeth had gone a step too far, and knew it the moment the words left her mouth. Caroline's face tightened like a fist.

Darcy could defend Elizabeth and turn the whole exchange into a contest. Or he could move the room somewhere else.

"Bingley," he said, "you promised to show Miss Bennet the miniature of your mother."

"I did. It is in the cabinet." Bingley, grateful for something to do, went to fetch it.

Jane admired the likeness. Caroline supplied the date and the artist's name, unable to resist the chance to be useful and correct at once. The tension in the room loosened by degrees.

Elizabeth looked at Darcy. "Another diversion."

"Kindness, I hope."

"Both, more likely."

He accepted the answer without argument.

Later, while Jane and Bingley examined the miniature together, Elizabeth moved to the book table. Darcy joined her, staying within easy sight of the rest of the room.

"You did not agree with me when I was unkind."

"No."

"You did not correct me in front of everyone."

"You had already corrected yourself."

"Jane corrected me."

"You listened."

Elizabeth turned a small volume over in her hands, not really reading its title. "Do you always observe so closely?"