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“If not, there is quince jam with which you may smother the taste.” Mrs. Larson laughed. “And there is something for Mr. Larson at the bottom of the basket as well,” Elizabeth said.
Mrs. Larson gave Elizabeth a meaningful look, and Darcy wondered what delicacy her husband would be partaking in. The woman bade Elizabeth farewell and hurried past Darcy without giving him a glance, continuing down the road.
Elizabeth greeted Darcy. “Mrs. Larson recently had a baby, and I want to make sure the family is well provided for.”
Darcy frowned. “Should not these duties fall to Mrs. Collins?”
Elizabeth gestured for him to accompany her into the house. “She is busy with little Robert, and I am more familiar with the tenants. It is no hardship.”
Is there anybody at Longbourn who Elizabeth does not take care of?
Darcy accompanied Elizabeth into the drawing room. Unfortunately, this visit did not have the good fortune to be graced with Mr. Collins’s absence. He hurried into the drawing room less than a minute after Darcy’s arrival. The other inhabitants of Longbourn filed into the room until nearly every seat was occupied. As Mrs. Collins served the tea, Kitty and Mrs. Bennet launched into an animated discussion about a ball that was to be held at Pelham Manor in a week’s time.
“It is sure to be very elegant and very grand!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “There is no house in the neighborhood with a ballroom to equal Pelham’s—except perhaps Netherfield…” She gave Darcy a speculative look, but he said nothing about whether Bingley planned to return.
“You must come to this ball, Lizzy,” Kitty entreated her sister. “You haven’t been to a ball in ages, and everything is more fun when you’re there.”
Charlotte nodded. “You have been working very hard. You should take some time to entertain yourself.”
Elizabeth colored a little and stared down at her hands. “We shall see.”
Collins had engaged Darcy in a conversation about Canada, but he could not help overhearing the sisters’ conversation. Or, more accurately, he could help overhearing, but he did not want to.
“You can wear the white silk gown this time,” Kitty said in a low voice. “Jane has worn it to the last three dances.” Darcy realized they were discussing the dress he had seen Jane wear at the assembly dance. No wonder Elizabeth had not attended; they were sharing a single ball gown! He wanted to stand and berate Collins for not supplying his cousins with a greater allowance.
“Kitty, we shall discuss it at another time,” Jane admonished in a low voice.
Kitty ignored her. “There is no reason Lizzy cannot attend the ball.” Her voice was loud enough to interrupt Collins’s conversation.
Her cousin cleared his throat ostentatiously. “Kitty, if you are attending the ball, then Elizabeth will be needed to watch little Robert.”
“I can tend him,” Mary volunteered. “I do not particularly care f
or balls.”
Collins’s eyes darted to Darcy. “I would prefer that Elizabeth watch him. She has more experience.” Did he believe Darcy would attend the ball?
“It is fine, Mary. I have no intention of attending the ball,” Elizabeth said with every appearance of equanimity.
However, Darcy noted that she did not, like Mary, declare a lack of interest in the event. Elizabeth would doubtless attend if she could; the lack of a suitable gown prevented her. A plan began to form in the back of his head.
“Mr. Darcy,” Collins asked loudly, “how much longer will your business keep you in Hertfordshire?”
“I return to London in the morning,” Darcy replied, careful not to glance in Elizabeth’s direction.
“What a shame!” Mrs. Bennet declared with copious hand fluttering. “You will miss the ball!” Collins, on the other hand, appeared quite pleased. If he believed Darcy would immediately ride to Rosings for Anne’s hand, he would be sorely disappointed.
He was inordinately pleased that Elizabeth’s gaze rested upon him. “When will you be returning to Meryton?” she asked in a soft voice.
“My business is not concluded,” he responded, giving her a small, conspiratorial smile. “So I will need to return soon.” Hopefully, by then she would have conceived of a way he might help her family.
The answering smile that shyly curved Elizabeth’s lips fascinated him more than a broad grin would have. How did she make such a small gesture so enchanting?
Collins cleared his throat noisily, breaking the mood. “I would hope, sir, that you will visit Rosings Park first. Your duty—”
The insolence of the man, dictating to me about my duty! “I am well aware of my responsibilities,” Darcy interrupted in a frosty voice.
“Forgive me,” the man gave an ingratiating smile. “Occasionally I forget that I am no longer a spiritual advisor.”
