Page 81 of The Matchmaker’s Mistake

“Why tell me this now?” Elizabeth asked.

“Because I should have told you before,” he said. “Alas, there has been little opportunity. My mother knew I had behaved badly and forbade me to seek you out at her parties. I believe she has softened on that point, provided I remember myself.”

Elizabeth could hardly keep from laughing. The great Mr. Darcy, master of Pemberley, sent to his own mother’s parties with a warning to be on his best behaviour. It was a wonder he had come at all. She found she was not sorry that he had.

All she said was “That sounds like Lady Anne.”

“It does.” He clasped his hands behind his back as they walked. “But her kindness to your sister does not undo my insult to you. Nor does your sister’s decision as regards Bingley absolve me of my part in leaving Netherfield.”

Her heart gave a quick, uncomfortable beat. “You advised him to leave?”

“I did not. But neither did I oppose his sisters when they insisted upon closing the house. I was only able to see that the servants, who had the expectation of a year’s place, did not suffer for the loss of it.”

Here was another part of his character she would not have expected. “That was kind of you, to act in Mr. Bingley’s stead.”

“It was the first question he asked of me when we met in town.”

After a moment, she said, “You have surprised me.”

They had reached the point where the path curved into the trees. Elizabeth turned, as her aunt had instructed, and began to head back towards the bench.

“I was churlish to you at the assembly,” Mr. Darcy said.

Elizabeth looked straight ahead. “At the assembly?”

“Yes.” His voice was even, but not easy. “I spoke of you to Bingley, but I was aware that you could hear me.”

“Indeed, I could.”

“It was shameful, to say what I did. And utterly untrue.”

She did not reply. It was so direct an admission she could offer no parry.

“I was angry that evening. Not at you, of course. I had been pressed on all sides, and instead of bearing it like a gentleman, I took refuge in being disagreeable.”

“Pressed?” she asked.

He nodded. “Gossip about my income, of course. But primarily Miss Bingley.”

Elizabeth’s brows rose.

“My mother had sent her into Hertfordshire with expectations I had not authorised. Miss Bingley believed herself very near to an understanding with me. I was angry with her for assuming so much, and angrier with my mother for allowing her to assume it. I entered the assembly already out of temper.”

“And I was the person you chose to punish for it?”

His colour rose. “Yes. Although you give me too much credit to say I chose. No matter who had been sitting in that chair, I would have used them as badly as I did you.”

After a moment, she said, “That was not very just.”

“It was not just at all.”

“Nor very sensible.”

“Not my finest performance, to be sure.”

“Nor particularly flattering to Miss Bingley.” Elizabeth swallowed the response she wished to offer on the matter. It would not do to appear to be enjoying herself quite so much.

“I do not mean to make her ridiculous,” Mr. Darcy said. “She had encouragement. Not from me, but enough from others to think herself secure.”