Page 18

“How very singular,” Mrs. Bennet replied. “Mr. Bennet prefers coffee with plenty of cream and sugar.”

“Can it even be called coffee when the flavor is disguised by additions?” Mr. Bingley asked.

“I suppose that is a matter of opinion.” Mrs. Bennet went back to serving tea, and Darcy was happy to discover that the lemon cake was indeed the best he had ever tried. He had no qualms informing Mrs. Bennet and begging for the recipe.

“I should be pleased to get it from our cook, sir. Imagine that! One of my recipes served at a great house like Pemberley!”

The gentlemen left soon thereafter, and Jane followed Elizabeth upstairs to her room.

“Do you need me for something?” Elizabeth asked as she approached her door.

Jane followed her into her bedchamber and closed the door behind them.

“You like him,” Jane declared.

“Who?” Elizabeth asked innocently.

“Mr. Darcy! Elizabeth, there are sparks flying between you!”

Guilt gnawed at Elizabeth. She had already deduced that Mr. Darcy was one of the men who had scorned Jane over the years, but was unsure which one.

“I do not,” she said weakly. “I am merely keeping him occupied so you may speak with Mr. Bingley.”

“You need not avoid him on my account. I find it agreeable—the thought of you and him courting.”

“Truly?” Elizabeth did not believe it.

“You must. Elizabeth, I have no affection for Mr. Darcy, and neither does he have feelings for me.”

“But did you? Would it not be the ultimate act of betrayal to allow the attentions of a man who wounded my sister?”

Jane had no ready answer. “Do you need my blessing?” she finally asked.

“I suppose not. But I should like it all the same.”

Jane struggled with her reply. “You have it,” she said at last. She turned and left the room, leaving her sister confused and curious.

Elizabeth could not make a decision then. Mr. Darcy was the most agreeable man she had ever met, but was it right to allow him to show her such preference? To force her tender-hearted sister to question her own worth as he paid such attentions to her younger sister?

It is not as if he is courting me, Elizabeth reasoned. Who was she fooling? Mr. Darcy’s attentions felt very much like courting. If he was, was this how he had behaved with Jane? And if this was how he had behaved with Jane, would he treat Elizabeth with the same disregard in the end?

With no answers, Elizabeth resolved to take matters one day at a time. Mr. Darcy was kind and affable. His conversation was stimulating, and he was not above having a little fun. What harm could come from entertaining his company, especially if they were surrounded by other people? Soon, Jane and Mr. Bingley would be engaged. Perhaps then she would feel less guilty about enjoying Mr. Darcy’s company.

8

An Extremely Inconvenient Vow

Two mornings later, Miss Bingley attempted to convince her brother to return to town.

“The festive season is best spent in London,” she insisted. “There are ever so many things to do there. Why must we waste away in this country backwater instead of going to the theater or to Lady Sefton’s ball?”

“I have no desire to spend the festive season in town,” Bingley protested. “I leased this estate for a reason, Caroline.”

“Yet you have forgotten your reasons. Really, Charles, did you think I would not notice you chasing after Miss Jane Bennet? She is not for you.”

“Whyever not?”

“Because she has no dowry, no connections to speak of. Her uncle is in trade and lives within sight of his warehouses. Her family is scarcely better. She has four wild younger sisters, and her mother! Mrs. Bennet is vulgar.”