Page 22 of Near Pemberley

“Then I shall trust your judgement.”

Darcy, standing a little apart, found himself watching her more closely than he had intended. The bonnet was becoming, but it was not the bonnet that held his attention. There was something particularly pleasing in seeing Elizabeth so entirely at ease – laughing with his sister, allowing herself to be persuaded into trying one hat after another, her eyes bright with amusement whenever Georgiana offered another opinion. The softness of the ribbons suited her, but so did the expression upon her face.

For a moment he allowed himself to imagine how she might look in similar circumstances at Pemberley – choosing flowers for a room, advising Georgiana upon a gown, perhaps standing before a mirror while some household servant waited patiently for her decision.

The thought was so natural that he almost failed to notice how dangerous it was.

He looked away.

Elizabeth caught the movement in the mirror. “Mr. Darcy, you have not offered an opinion.”

“I was not certain I was invited to do so.”

“You are being spared the responsibility of choosing.”

“A considerable relief.”

She turned towards him, the bonnet still upon her head. “And if I insisted on an opinion?”

Darcy regarded her for a moment.

“I should say that you look very well.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Only very well?”

The words escaped her with such easy playfulness that she seemed not to realise what she had said until the moment after it was spoken. A faint colour touched her cheeks. She lowered her eyes, suddenly occupied with the ribbon beneath her chin.

Darcy, however, had heard the question perfectly. He inclined his head, as though considering the matter with unnecessary care.

“Extremely well,” he replied.

Georgiana looked between them and smiled to herself.

When at last they left the shop, the Gardiners had not yet returned from the church. Georgiana proposed walking a little further along the street to meet them. “I shall not be long,” she assured her brother, though with a look which suggested she understood more than she expressed.

Darcy hesitated only briefly before consenting. “Do not go far.”

“No, brother.”

And with another timid but pleased glance towards Elizabeth, Georgiana withdrew.

The moment she departed, a slight awkwardness returned.

For a few steps, neither Darcy nor Elizabeth spoke. The ease which Georgiana’s presence had produced seemed to vanish with her, leaving both more conscious than before of all that remained unresolved between them.

They turned at length towards the inn.

Darcy walked beside her in silence for several moments before speaking. “My sister is much obliged to you.”

“She required very little assistance.”

“From anyone else, perhaps not. From you, I think she valued it greatly.”

Elizabeth glanced at him briefly. “Miss Darcy is very amiable.” A faint softness appeared in his expression. “She is deserving of every kindness.”

“I think so too.”

Another silence followed, though less uncomfortable than the first.