Page 87 of The Matchmaker’s Mistake

“Mamma,” Miss Finch said, with some urgency, taking her mother’s arm. “The carriage will be waiting, and you know Papa is expecting us.”

They made their farewells and Miss Finch led her mother towards the door of the room and out into the hall. Lady Finch had one foot on the stairs when she gathered herself enough to say, “Perhaps we might have the pleasure of seeing you at a little card party next⁠—”

Miss Finch tightened her hand on her mother’s sleeve and kept them both walking. “Good day, Lady Anne,” she called over her shoulder, and the rest of Lady Finch’s invitation went down the stairs with them.

When the door had closed, his mother descended the stairs as well. He followed as she stepped to the window and watched Lady Finch’s carriage pull away.

His mother turned slowly to look at him. “Fitzwilliam, whatever did you do to that poor girl?”

Darcy laughed. “Nothing at all, I assure you.”

“She all but fled the house. Whatever happened?”

“I said very little to her. Miss Finch did nearly all the talking.”

“That is not an explanation.”

“Miss Finch does not wish to be married, and I do not wish to be matched. That is the only explanation I possess.”

His mother’s brows rose. “Indeed?”

“Miss Finch and I understand one another perfectly. She has declared us friends, no more, and I am very happy to accept that honour.”

“Friends,” his mother repeated, as though she had tasted something sour.

“Friends,” he said. “Nothing more.”

“And this satisfies you?”

“It satisfies me,” he said. Regarding Miss Finch, that was.

“Fitzwilliam.”

He looked back at her, already bracing for some final salvo.

“I promise you that I did not arrange any of this. Now, please tell me truthfully. You have not offended Miss Finch?”

Darcy shook his head. “I have not, Mother, I can promise you that.” He held out his arm and his mother took it. “Miss Finch was brought here because you and Lady Finch wished to see whether we might suit, but she has no more desire to be handed about this season than I have. She spoke about her mare and her wish to be left alone. We have agreed upon friendship, and she escaped just now because she did not wish either of you to arrange another meeting. She is an estimable lady, but she is not for me, and clearly I am not for her.”

His mother’s mouth tightened, though whether she was disappointed or amused was difficult to discern.

“Miss Finch knows what she wants,” he added.

His mother looked up at him. “And you? Do you know?”

He thought of Miss Elizabeth in the conservatory and the new start between them.

“No,” he said. “But I am making progress.”

“Hmm,” she said, and released his arm to return to her letters.

Darcy was left alone in the hall, with the door closed before him and a hope he almost dared not feel.

Georgiana played until late in the afternoon and then came to ask him about the visit. “Did Miss Finch see the camellias?”

“She did, but she finds the red and white ones too disordered for her taste.”

Georgiana laughed and gathered her music against her, half out the door already. “Do you think Miss Elizabeth will like the sonata?”