Page 45 of Miss Bingley’s Return

“An excellent woman, I should think,” insisted Darcy. “Though my friend may not be an option for you anymore, let me say that if the entire male half of the species cannot see you for the gem you are, there is no hope for us at all.”

Miss Bennet laughed, a light, effortless sound that told Darcy more than anything else that she was content with her situation and not pining for Bingley. It eased his heart and his conscience.

“Now you sound like Lizzy, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy’s gaze found Miss Elizabeth, speaking with his sister, though he noted frequent glances in his direction. “If she has influenced me, I can only suppose that it has been for the best, Miss Bennet. I hope that I am a better man because of it.”

“If those around us make us better, we cannot ask for anything more,” said she.

Soon thereafter, the Bennet sisters took their leave. As he watched the carriage disappear down the street, Darcy reflected on the exceptional women he was privileged to call friends, the same women he had not seen clearly those months before in Hertfordshire. How fortunate he was to have come to his senses.

Chapter XI

Acurious change took place over the next few days. Elizabeth had wondered about Miss Bingley’s apparent willingness to allow those days to pass without bringing Mr. Bingley together with Jane. When they resumed regular contact, Elizabeth noticed a new tactic.

It was some time before Elizabeth understood what she was seeing, as it was something she had not expected. Their first meeting in those days was during a morning visit in which the Bingleys came to Gracechurch Street. The second was at an evening dinner at an acquaintance. Thereafter, there were several more encounters, all in mixed society, all at events beyond Miss Bingley’s control. Only later did Elizabeth wonder if that explained her altered behavior.

“Excuse me, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth as she stood with the gentleman during an encounter with the Bingley siblings, “but does it seem to you that Miss Bingley is not so insistent as she was only a week ago?”

Mr. Darcy, who had not been present for the first morning visit but had attended each subsequent event, peered across the room, eyes missing nothing. Jane was near Mr. Bingley, but rather than speaking alone, they were part of a larger group. Miss Bingley was also part of that group, and while Elizabeth could not hear what she said, her attention was not so focused on the pair as it had been.

“Yes, I believe you are correct,” said Mr. Darcy at length.

“What do you make of it?”

The gentleman’s grin displayed his amusement. “You are asking me to divine the reason for anything Miss Bingley does?”

“If I am not mistaken, you were quite adept at doing so before,” rejoined Elizabeth, matching his mirth.

“About certain subjects, you are correct,” agreed Mr. Darcy. “In this instance, however, I fear I am not qualified to judge her actions.”

Then Mr. Darcy turned to her, mischievous like she had never seen before. “If I were to guess, I suspect it may be a bit of growing confidence on her part.”

Elizabeth turned to regard him with interest. “What do you mean?”

Mr. Darcy gestured to the other side of the room. Matters had shifted a little, and now Jane was standing by Mr. Bingley, though they were still speaking in a group. Mr. Bingley, she noted, appeared to be turned slightly toward her, suggesting the gentleman’s solicitude, but not to the extent he was in Hertfordshire.

“If you watch Miss Bingley,” said Mr. Darcy, “you may see something of satisfaction in her manner.”

Within moments, Elizabeth saw something of Mr. Darcy’s meaning. Miss Bingley was not far from her brother, and she was speaking with another lady, but it was easy to see her eyes did not often stray from him. When Mr. Bingley leaned over to say something to Jane, Miss Bingley’s lips curled just a little, and she turned back to her conversation.

“Yes, I can see what you mean,” said Elizabeth absently. “She does not know my sister so well as she supposes.”

It was Mr. Darcy’s turn to regard her, his expression asking after her meaning. Elizabeth did not hesitate to oblige.

“When Jane smiled at Mr. Bingley, it was her polite smile—friendship and warmth and nothing more.”

Mr. Darcy turned back to regard Jane and Mr. Bingley with a frown. “It appears that I am not so adept at reading your sister either, Miss Elizabeth, for the smile she offered him appeared the same as many others I have seen, including at the ball at Netherfield.”

“It is in her eyes and her bearing more than the expression,” replied Elizabeth. “To own the truth, I am yet learning it myself—Jane has had few sincere suitors though she has always had much attention. When she esteems a man and wishes for his attention, her eyes light up, and she leans in just a little. The response that so pleased Miss Bingley had nothing of those qualities. She was polite and nothing more.”

“Thank you for explaining, Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy. “Perhaps in time, I too shall understand your sister better.”

“Jane may be the study of a lifetime,” said Elizabeth, mischief and curiosity mingled. “Are you certain you will have such an opportunity? Or perhaps if Mr. Bingley bows out you have a closer connection with her in mind?”

“No, Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy, his gaze on her not altering a jot. “Though your sister is everything lovely, I do not suppose that she is for me. Besides, should Bingley bow out, I suspect there is already another who will take up his standard.”

Elizabeth followed Mr. Darcy’s gesture to where Mr. Harrington was standing, speaking with another man with whom Elizabeth was only a little acquainted. While Mr. Harrington’s attention was ostensibly on his partner, his eyes were often on Jane.