Page 49 of The Servants’ Matchmaking

"That is not the real reason."

"You have become demanding, Mr. Darcy."

"Only of accuracy."

Elizabeth crossed to the next place in the line and, on returning, said simply, "I wished to dance with you."

His step missed by less than an inch, a fraction nobody else in the room would have caught. Elizabeth caught it. He is not half so composed as he looks. Neither, come to think of it, am I.

"Thank you," he said.

The plainness of it pleased her far more than any grand speech could have done.

The two dances ended far too soon. Darcy returned her to Jane's side. Her sister glanced between the two of them and raised her brows in a way that asked a great many questions at once. Elizabeth refused to answer any of them with Bingley standing right there.

Mrs. Bennet answered for everyone instead, at considerable volume.

"You and Mr. Darcy made a very handsome pair, Lizzy! Ten thousand a year, and perhaps more, I hear!"

"Mamma."

"I am speaking only to Jane, my love."

So, Elizabeth thought, was a town crier, and with roughly the same regard for who else might be listening.

Darcy had not yet moved out of hearing. His face stayed composed, but Bingley studied the floor with sudden fascination. Jane took her mother's arm and asked whether she would like to inspect the supper arrangements.

"Not yet. Mr. Bingley has promised me the next two dances."

Bingley had promised no such thing, but he agreed at once and with real gallantry, bless him.

Elizabeth looked at Darcy, cheeks warm. "I am sorry."

"You did not say it."

"You heard it because of me."

"I heard your mother. Those are two separate facts, Miss Elizabeth."

It was exactly what she had needed to hear. He did not pretend the remark harmless, and he did not make it hers to carry, either. Something in her chest loosened at that, a small unclenching she had not known she needed.

Caroline drifted over in her silver silk. "Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Long was wondering whether you mean to dance the evening through, or merely astonish us all once and retire."

"Mrs. Long asked nothing of the kind," Elizabeth said.

Caroline smiled. That smile again, the one that started at her mouth and got no further. "Perhaps I misunderstood."

"You often do, when the misunderstanding proves useful," Darcy said.

He bowed to Elizabeth and moved off, leaving Caroline to watch him go with an expression she did not manage to smooth over in time.

"You have encouraged a dangerous degree of candour in him," she said.

"Mr. Darcy had opinions before he ever met me, Miss Bingley."

"His opinions are not promises."

Elizabeth felt the warning underneath it and declined it anyway. "Nor are dances."