Page 32 of The Servants’ Matchmaking

"Your servants are very determined readers."

"They have exceeded their instructions."

"Only by a page or two."

Darcy met her gaze. "Will you permit it?"

She placed the list back inside, smoothing the cover down over it. "I shall read the recommendations and judge the offence afterwards."

"That seems fair."

The carriage moved away. Through the glass, Elizabeth saw Sarah and McKeever standing beneath the portico, side by side. They did not wave. Servants did not wave to departing guests, whatever they might be feeling.

They looked, all the same, thoroughly satisfied with themselves.

Longbourn received Jane with noise, as Longbourn received most things. Mrs. Bennet lamented the severity of her illness, the inadequacy of Netherfield's nursing, and the excellence of Mr. Bingley's carriage, all without pausing for breath between subjects. Mary recommended a sermon on gratitude that nobody had asked for. Kitty coughed again, for no reason anyone could determine. Lydia wanted to know whether any officers had called during Jane's confinement, as though this were the only question that mattered.

Mr. Bennet waited in the library, as he generally did when the house grew loud enough to require it. Elizabeth went to him once Jane was settled. He looked at her over the top of his spectacles.

"You have returned with one sister, two books, and a repaired shawl. I assume Netherfield charged no additional fee for the shawl."

"Mr. Hurst sent cordial. That may be punishment enough for the lot of us."

"How is Jane, truly?"

"Truly better. She must rest for several days yet."

His expression softened, the teasing dropping away for a moment. "And you?"

"Tired."

"Only tired?"

Mr. Bennet had watched Elizabeth conceal broken china at eight years old and a forbidden novel at twelve. Concealment had never once worked well upon him. He waited her out.

She sat opposite his desk, arranging her skirts to give her hands something to do. "Mr. Darcy offered me marriage."

His book closed with a soft thud.

"I refused him."

"The order of those two sentences is reassuring. Do go on."

Elizabeth gave him the whole account. She described the storm, the pavilion, the witnesses, and Darcy's fear of gossip. She repeated the terms of the proposal without cruelty, and the substance of his apology without praise it had not quite earned yet. Mr. Bennet listened all the way through without interrupting once, which was, for him, a considerable feat.

"Does your mother know?" he asked, when she had finished.

"No."

"Then civilisation may yet survive the night."

"He intends to call tomorrow, with Mr. Bingley."

"After being refused." His eyebrows climbed.

"He said he would make no second offer unless he had reason to think it welcome."

"A sensible position, for once. Are you likely to give him such a reason?"