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“We have already asked that question and received a favourable answer,” he said, kissing her hand.

“How very attentive of you, my dear!” she replied with a laugh, then turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, I am pleased to make your acquaintance at last. I understand you made quite an impression on my brother-in-law.”

“Colonel Fitzwilliam is far too kind in his praise,” Elizabeth replied with a slight blush and a laugh. “I assure you he had no reason to be impressed.”

“Well, you did not allow Lady Catherine to discourage you from speaking your mind. I should consider that reason enough,” Lady Wellford answered, leaving Elizabeth uncertain how to reply, for their aunt was hardly a safe subject to discuss with such new acquaintances.

“Miss Bennet is too modest, I assure you. Those who have had the pleasure of knowing her cannot fail to be impressed,” Darcy added earnestly, surprising Elizabeth with such words, but she did not turn towards him.

“If Darcy admits it, you need not doubt him. He is less lavish in his praise than I am,” the colonel added with a smile.

“Then you must value the compliment, Miss Bennet. Indeed, Darcy can be a severe judge,” Lady Wellford said playfully; Elizabeth joined in the teasing, smiling at the company as she replied, “Well, then, I feel privileged to receive a compliment!”

“My brother is always honest,” Miss Darcy said from Elizabeth’s right. “I am certain his praise is well deserved, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth met the young lady’s earnest blue eyes. She took her hand with genuine warmth, replying sincerely, “Miss Darcy, I have no reason to doubt your words. My acquaintance with Mr Darcy is limited, yet I do not doubt his honesty. I have also had occasion to experience it.”

She regretted her words immediately when Darcy’s expression grew troubled, and he seemed ready to intervene. Fortunately, the colonel restored the ease of the conversation. “Darcy, I see Miss Bennet is also eager to praise you!”

Darcy leaned towards his sister, whose hand Elizabeth still held, and spoke in her ear, though his words carried throughout the box. “You see, my dear, how they tease me. I shall repay Miss Bennet and our cousin during the next interval.” Elizabeth and Georgiana turned to him, surprised to see a mischievous smile on his lips and amusement in his dark eyes.

The second act began.

“Miss Bennet, are you well?” Darcy whispered in her ear, making Elizabeth start at his approach.

“I am very well. Perhaps the play has troubled me more than I realised,” she replied with composure and a measure of amusement.

“I have seen the play before, yet I am enjoying it again,” Miss Darcy confided, leaning towards Elizabeth, who merely nodded.

During the performance, Elizabeth grew more accustomed to the unexpected circumstances she found herself in. Until that afternoon, she had supposed that any meeting with Mr Darcy would be brief and awkward. Instead, she was seated close to him, with his sister and other members of his family.

Although she tried to attend to the stage, Elizabeth could not resist observing Lady Amelia. She alone remained silent and appeared displeased, occasionally looking at Darcy and speaking privately with her sister. The understanding between them seemed less close than Elizabeth had first supposed. It resembled Miss Bingley’s ‘intimate friendship’, and she wondered whether she had again been too quick to draw conclusions. The colonel’s remark about Darcy’s appeal to young ladies might have been deserved, even if Darcy did not appear to take pride in their attentions.

Elizabeth turned towards Mr Darcy when he leaned forward again and whispered, “Miss Bennet, I have a spare opera glass. Would you care to use it?”

“Yes, thank you,” she replied, accepting the glass. Their fingers brushed, and they both smiled.

She wondered what the others thought of his gesture. Miss Darcy, at least, found it quite natural and asked whether she could see the actors better. Elizabeth hoped she did not appear as embarrassed as she felt. She was pleased and flattered by his attention, though uncertain how to receive it, and tried to regard it as ordinary politeness. She attempted once more to concentrate on the play, for she could not remember ever taking so little interest in a performance.

During the later intervals, the gentlemen left the box to stretch their legs and converse over drinks and the ladies remained behind, discussing Derbyshire, with Lady Wellford taking the lead. Apart from Elizabeth, they all knew Pemberley and Lambton and were pleased to speak of them.

“All that Pemberley lacks is a woman’s presence, a mistress. If Darcy marries wisely, he may have a perfect home and a happy family,” Lady Wellford declared.

“My brother is always wise and makes the best choices,” Georgiana replied.

“Mr Darcy seems to resemble your father in many ways,” Mrs Gardiner offered, and Georgiana agreed heartily.

Elizabeth listened with some embarrassment. He had chosen her, though these ladies could hardly suspect it. She wondered what they, including Georgiana, would say if they knew he had proposed to her and she had refused him. Perhaps one of his cousins knew, though it seemed unlikely. Such a disappointment was hardly something he would wish to share.

“Tell me, Miss Bennet, how did you become acquainted with Mr Darcy? I understand you have never visited Derbyshire,” Lady Amelia asked.

“I met him in Hertfordshire. His friend, Mr Bingley, rented an estate within three miles of my father’s,” Elizabeth replied.

“Oh, Bingley. I have not seen him for months. I believe I saw him once during the Season,” Lady Wellford said. “What has become of him? Does he still reside in Hertfordshire?”

“No, he left last November,” Elizabeth answered.

“My brother told me that Mr Bingley is presently staying with a friend in Oxfordshire,” Georgiana added.