Page 51 of The Servants’ Matchmaking

The logic was sound, however much Elizabeth disliked being managed. She was not about to damage her own defence out of stubbornness.

"Very well. Tell Mrs. Nicholls the shawl is missing. Do not confront Miss Bingley yourself."

"Mr. Darcy gave the very same order, miss."

"That is both reassuring and irritating in equal measure."

Sarah very nearly smiled, and for a moment looked almost like herself again.

They returned separately. Elizabeth entered the ballroom through the main door and made quite certain that Mrs. Long, Lady Lucas, and her own mother all saw her come in.

Darcy stood near the card room. McKeever approached him with the studied stillness of a man delivering some perfectly ordinary request about the wine or the candles. Darcy's gaze crossed the room and found Elizabeth at once. He looked at her bare shoulders. There was no shawl, no covering. He understood everything in that single glance.

She gave him one small nod.

He understood.

Bingley joined him a moment later, and the two men left together, McKeever a few steps behind.

Louisa appeared at the opposite door with two married ladies and a footman carrying candles, and glanced towards the east corridor with the particular alertness of a woman waiting for a cue. Her expression changed the instant she saw Elizabeth standing in the ballroom in plain view.

The plan had run into its own contradiction rather sooner than intended.

Louisa excused herself and hurried after the men.

Jane came to her side at once. "What has happened?"

"Caroline has borrowed my shawl."

"Without asking?"

"That is the very smallest part of it."

Elizabeth told her the rest in a low, quick voice. Jane's gentleness did not stop her from feeling anger. It only made the anger precise and focused, without any heat on the surface.

"She meant to hurt you," Jane said.

"She meant to force Mr. Darcy's hand. I was only meant to supply the costume."

"And Mr. Bingley knows all of it?"

"Yes."

Jane looked towards the corridor, where the light had dimmed. Bingley had left his own ball, on his own evening, to go and confront his sister. Whatever this cost Caroline, it would not be Caroline alone who paid it.

"I should go to him," Jane said.

"Not yet. He needs to act as master of this house tonight, Jane — not as the man who loves you."

Jane turned to look at her then. Neither of them remarked on the word Elizabeth had let slip, though it hung there between them all the same.

The musicians struck up another set. People went looking for partners. Mrs. Bennet waved to draw two gentlemen from Lucas Lodge in her daughters' direction. Elizabeth accepted the next two dances. Jane did the same. Both of them stayed exactly where the whole room could see them.

Through the figures of the dance, Elizabeth found herself watching the room as though it were a witness box. Mrs. Long saw her. Sir William saw her. Caroline was nowhere to be found. Darcy was absent, with Bingley. Louisa had followed after.

Nobody could place Elizabeth anywhere near the east saloon, and that, she thought, was rather the entire point.

The pair ended. Darcy returned alone.