Page 118 of What Change Entails

Every head turned.

A blue ribbon had somehow come loose from her sleeve and lay upon the grass. Lydia bent for it, taking such time to retrieve it that Georgiana escaped Miss Bingley’s hand and moved toward Miss Elizabeth for different advice.

Darcy saw the maneuver.

Miss Bingley saw Darcy see it.

The lady’s smile did not alter, but her eyes cooled.

Elizabeth approached the line then.

“I fear I shall disappoint Lydia,” she said, accepting a bow from Mr. Gardiner. “My hidden talent may remain hidden.”

“Or alarm us all,” Darcy replied.

She glanced sideways at him. “Do you often encourage ladies by predicting danger?”

“Since Miss Lydia’s attempt, it seems prudent.”

“I heard that,” Lydia called from the grass where she was still pretending to repair her ribbon.

“You were meant to.”

Elizabeth shrugged and positioned herself before the target.

Darcy intended to offer advice.

He did not. There was no need. Her stance was natural, balanced without stiffness. She adjusted her grip once, drew back the string, and released.

The arrow struck the target cleanly, not at the center, but close enough to make Bingley shout and Mr. Gardiner clap his hands together in delight.

Elizabeth stared at the target in astonishment.

Lydia sprang up. “Lizzy!”

Georgiana applauded. “That was splendid.”

Darcy forgot that he was expected to speak.

Elizabeth’s cheeks were touched with color and her eyes were alight. “Well?”

He recovered badly. “I have no correction to offer.”

“How disappointing. I had prepared myself to be improved.”

“You have no immediate need of it.”

Miss Bingley’s parasol tilted slightly.

Bingley leaned toward Darcy. “She shoots better than you did at fifteen—at least, according to the reports I have been given.”

Someone has been telling tales. Darcy smirked. “Thank you, Bingley.”

“Possibly at twenty.”

Darcy sent him a look.

Bingley grinned.