Page 64 of The Engagement at Longbourn

“Good. One sensible answer between you should be sufficient.”

Bingley laughed.

Mr. Bennet’s eyes softened. He embraced Jane longer than he usually embraced anyone. “My dear girl.”

Elizabeth waited until the room became too noisy, then pulled Jane into the hallway. “You are happy?”

Jane’s face answered before her words. “Very.”

Elizabeth hugged her. “I am glad.”

Jane held her tightly. “Your turn.”

Elizabeth drew back. “Do not become Mama.”

“I said two words.”

“They were dangerous words.”

Jane smiled serenely. “You love him.”

Elizabeth looked toward the drawing-room door. Darcy was inside, speaking with Bingley. His cane leaned against his chair. Georgiana sat nearby with Kitty. Richard was stealing a piece of cake before Cook had officially served it.

“I am not sure when it happened,” Elizabeth said.

Jane squeezed her hand. “Does it matter?”

“I thought him everything disagreeable.”

“You thought Wickham agreeable.”

“Cruel.”

“True.”

Elizabeth laughed softly.

Jane said, “I think you began loving Mr. Darcy when you stopped needing him to be wrong.”

Elizabeth stared at her.

Jane’s smile was gentle. “I do observe things, Lizzy.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “I begin to understand that.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

An Argument Worth Having

Elizabeth and Darcy’s worst quarrel occurred after they had both admitted privately that they expected to marry.

This seemed, to Elizabeth, very like them.

The cause was money. More precisely, the cause was Darcy’s intention to settle ten thousand pounds upon Elizabeth immediately and increase the marriage settlement beyond what Mr. Bennet considered necessary. Elizabeth learned of it accidentally when she entered the library and found her father and Darcy bent over papers.

“No,” Mr. Bennet was saying. “You are already settling thirty thousand upon her. I will not allow you to turn the marriage articles into an apology.”

Darcy’s face went still.