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"Of that I have no doubt," Darcy said. "She will be thrilled. I hope she will have my letter now and be on her way as soon as tomorrow. She will be very excited to meet you."

"And I her," Elizabeth said, glancing back out of the window.

◆◆◆

She needed to discern whether or not he was truly in love with her, for it would make everything different. And yet, how could one tell? He was polite, and he made sure she was comfortable, and he was excited for his sister to meet her, but she knew nothing beyond that.

And it was so hard.

Because the man that she saw before her, the man she had agreed to marry, the man she thought she could probably get along with tolerably, did keep reminding her of the fact that he was the reason Jane was sad and for that, she just could not forgive him.

It would be so hard for Jane to see Bingley, for him to be back in Meryton with her circumstances so reduced. And if he truly had no interest – or had been told not to have any interest…

She didn't want to cause her more pain.

But it was Darcy's wedding too. He was perfectly within his rights to invite whomever he wished.

Of course he was.

They travelled on for some time in silence, the young maid accompanying them having fallen asleep. Several times Elizabeth wondered about broaching the topic of Jane and Bingley, just to get it out in the open, to clear the air.

Finally, when she knew they were approaching an inn and therefore she would have time away from him should the conversation turn sour, she raised the notion.

"I worry it will be very hard on my sister to see Mr Bingley again."

The expression on Mr Darcy's face could only be read as surprise. "Oh?"

So he was going to force her to explain further. Very well, then. Let him know the damage he had wrought.

Or perhaps he didn't care.

But then, could she marry a man who truly didn't care?

"I don't think it can be a surprise to you that she expected their connection to turn into something more."

Darcy inclined his head. "Well, your mother made it very clear that she wished her to marry a man with money in the hopes that it would throw the rest of you in the paths of rich gentlemen."

Elizabeth swallowed. Well, she supposed that, in that, her mother had been correct. For was Elizabeth not now to marry the richest man they knew?

And that was without Jane even stepping down the aisle.

"My mother was of that opinion, yes," she said as evenly as she could. "But my sister's feelings towards the matter were entirely of the heart and not for financial gain."

Darcy nodded. "She held some affection for him, did she?"

"She held a great deal of affection for him," Elizabeth said, her tone becoming biting as his cool, calm demeanour began to irritate her. "I would go so far as to say she loved him. And it seemed the feeling was mutual.

"Until it wasn't."

"I never saw such affection," he said, making no apology for the matter.

"Do you claim to know my sister better than I?" she asked, raising her voice.

The maid jumped awake and looked between them before closing her eyes again, clearly preferring to feign sleep than be involved in this dispute.

"Of course not," Darcy said, looking rather uncomfortable on the opposite bench. "I merely meant—"

"You merely meant that you decided what was best for two people without actually having knowledge of their thoughts and feelings," she said coolly.