head.
“If I thought we might have an opportunity to talk privately within company, then I certainly would have done so. As it is, with all the guests, I could not foresee such a possibility, and I did not know when you intended to return to Town. Indeed, I did not think you would have remained thus far.”
Darcy looked at her with an unreadable expression. “I wished to show my support for you . . . err . . . your family, by attending the funeral. I return to Town tomorrow.”
Elizabeth took in a deep breath. “Thank you for attending, though I do not know why you persist in putting yourself amongst company so disagreeable to you.”
Mr. Darcy closed his eyes and groaned. He pinched the bridge of his nose and said in exasperation, “I do not find the company disagreeable.”
Elizabeth mistook that his frustration was for her speaking so bluntly, not with himself for understanding her accusation. As such, she spoke heatedly. “Oh, please, sir. Despite your kind manners this week, we both know how you find the society in Hertfordshire. We are already breaking with propriety by meeting together; you might as well drop the pretense and speak plainly. I certainly intend to.”
“Miss Elizabeth” — Darcy waited until she met his eyes — “I . . . I do not find the company here disagreeable . . . anymore. Is that plain enough for you?”
Elizabeth looked away, embarrassed to see that he spoke the truth and sorry to have made him admit his fault, especially considering the remorse clearly written on his face.
“But you stood just moments ago with a scowl on your face as you looked around at my friends and family,” she said softly without understanding the discord between his recent words and earlier behavior in the parlor.
“Did it not occur to you that a funeral would not bring to mind memories most unpleasant to me?” he answered with some truth. It had reminded him of his parents’ funerals; also, he did not want to discuss Wickham with her at that moment.
Elizabeth moaned. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, forgive me; I did not think.” She slipped to the edge of her bench and closer to where he sat on his and, without forethought, took his hand in hers. “I am sorry, indeed, truly repentant for presuming . . . ”
As much as Darcy relished his sudden possession of her hand and as much as he wished to keep it, he suspected she seized his hand without any intention of intimacy. Knowing she would be mortified as soon as she became aware of her actions, he gently removed her hand from his and placed it tenderly back on her lap.
“Please, Miss Elizabeth. It is of no consequence.” After a few awkward moments, he continued. “Is my behavior the matter you wished to discuss with me?”
“No . . . well, yes . . . but not entirely.” She stood up, causing him to stand. She could not prevent a small smile at his gentlemanly manners and sat down again so he could sit. She tried to formulate her thoughts. For her sister’s sake, she had risked his censure, breaching all propriety to discuss what he knew of Mr. Bingley’s intentions. She wanted to be prepared to care for Jane in the eventuality that he may abandon her again.
She looked at him and saw that he was standing again. “Mr. Darcy, please. You may sit, sir.”
He smirked a little. “I cannot if you will not, Miss Elizabeth.”
It was then she realized that she had stood again and had resumed pacing. She laughed a little and acknowledged he was correct. She returned to her seat, chuckling with him as he took his once again.
She bit her bottom lip as she hesitated. “Mr. Darcy, could you please tell me what Mr. Bingley is about in returning to the neighborhood?”
Darcy raised his eyebrows in surprise. “What Mr. Bingley is about? He has come to show his support to your family.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I know that, sir. What I mean is, do you know whether he plans to stay in the neighborhood afterwards?”
Darcy was unsure what he ought to
“If I thought we might have an opportunity to talk privately within company, then I certainly would have done so. As it is, with all the guests, I could not foresee such a possibility, and I did not know when you intended to return to Town. Indeed, I did not think you would have remained thus far.”
Darcy looked at her with an unreadable expression. “I wished to show my support for you . . . err . . . your family, by attending the funeral. I return to Town tomorrow.”
Elizabeth took in a deep breath. “Thank you for attending, though I do not know why you persist in putting yourself amongst company so disagreeable to you.”
Mr. Darcy closed his eyes and groaned. He pinched the bridge of his nose and said in exasperation, “I do not find the company disagreeable.”
Elizabeth mistook that his frustration was for her speaking so bluntly, not with himself for understanding her accusation. As such, she spoke heatedly. “Oh, please, sir. Despite your kind manners this week, we both know how you find the society in Hertfordshire. We are already breaking with propriety by meeting together; you might as well drop the pretense and speak plainly. I certainly intend to.”
“Miss Elizabeth” — Darcy waited until she met his eyes — “I . . . I do not find the company here disagreeable . . . anymore. Is that plain enough for you?”
Elizabeth looked away, embarrassed to see that he spoke the truth and sorry to have made him admit his fault, especially considering the remorse clearly written on his face.
“But you stood just moments ago with a scowl on your face as you looked around at my friends and family,” she said softly without understanding the discord between his recent words and earlier behavior in the parlor.
“Did it not occur to you that a funeral would not bring to mind memories most unpleasant to me?” he answered with some truth. It had reminded him of his parents’ funerals; also, he did not want to discuss Wickham with her at that moment.
Elizabeth moaned. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, forgive me; I did not think.” She slipped to the edge of her bench and closer to where he sat on his and, without forethought, took his hand in hers. “I am sorry, indeed, truly repentant for presuming . . . ”
As much as Darcy relished his sudden possession of her hand and as much as he wished to keep it, he suspected she seized his hand without any intention of intimacy. Knowing she would be mortified as soon as she became aware of her actions, he gently removed her hand from his and placed it tenderly back on her lap.
“Please, Miss Elizabeth. It is of no consequence.” After a few awkward moments, he continued. “Is my behavior the matter you wished to discuss with me?”
“No . . . well, yes . . . but not entirely.” She stood up, causing him to stand. She could not prevent a small smile at his gentlemanly manners and sat down again so he could sit. She tried to formulate her thoughts. For her sister’s sake, she had risked his censure, breaching all propriety to discuss what he knew of Mr. Bingley’s intentions. She wanted to be prepared to care for Jane in the eventuality that he may abandon her again.
She looked at him and saw that he was standing again. “Mr. Darcy, please. You may sit, sir.”
He smirked a little. “I cannot if you will not, Miss Elizabeth.”
It was then she realized that she had stood again and had resumed pacing. She laughed a little and acknowledged he was correct. She returned to her seat, chuckling with him as he took his once again.
She bit her bottom lip as she hesitated. “Mr. Darcy, could you please tell me what Mr. Bingley is about in returning to the neighborhood?”
Darcy raised his eyebrows in surprise. “What Mr. Bingley is about? He has come to show his support to your family.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I know that, sir. What I mean is, do you know whether he plans to stay in the neighborhood afterwards?”
Darcy was unsure what he ought to
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