“What the Corporal and I had was the understanding that I had a dowry and he needed it, and he seemed more good-natured than the other men I had danced with,” Elizabeth concluded with a shrug. “I truly don’t believe his feelings for me are a threat to your marriage.”
Amelia looked comforted. “Do you think he might grow to love me?”
“He would be a fool not to,” Elinor said.
“On the bright side, my writing has never been better. I guess all the anguish I feel has been a source of inspiration,” Amelia shared, and they all laughed.
“Does he know about the writing?” Lizzie asked.
“I haven’t told him yet. He saw me readingEmmaand asked about it. I was halfway into my explanation, and he saidOh, a novel,in a very mocking tone, I felt.”
“To be fair,Emmais a horrid book,” Lizzie said.
“No!” both her friends exclaimed.
“You cannot be serious!” Amelia said.
“I couldn’t even finish it,” Lizzie admitted.
“Please give it another chance, perhaps you were distracted while reading it the first time,” Elinor suggested.
Elizabeth remembered the period of her life when she’d picked up the book. “All right,” she agreed. “I’ll give it one more chance, only for you two!”
Before dinner, there was a knock on her door. It was her husband.
“Have I interrupted your rest?” he asked somewhat anxiously.
“No,” Elizabeth replied sincerely. “Please, come in.”
They were alone in her bedroom. Elizabeth felt restless.
“It’s Wednesday,” he said.
“I know,” she replied. “I’ve been thinking about some of the girls just before you came in.”
“I’ve grown accustomed to different Wednesdays since my injury, but I imagine it’s rather unusual for you.”
“Less than I thought it would, since we have a lot of company.”
“I’ve bought these for you in town,” Colin said as he handed her the box he was holding.
“Thank you,” she replied unthinkingly as she opened it.
It was filled with sweetmeats. The smile that overtook her face was genuine. “Thank you,” she replied, intentionally this time. He smiled back.
He looked around her room as she examined the sweets.
“What do we have here?” he asked teasingly as he noticed her discarded canvas from that morning.
“No, don’t look at that!” she pleaded, but it was too late.
“You know I’m a lover of art, wife,” he teased. “Why are you denying me this… unique artistic expression? Or should I say monstrosity?”
“Ha-ha,” Lizzie said, feigning coldness she didn’t feel. “I’ll have you know that Iaman artist, but with a thread and needle. And I shall be teaching everyone a new embroidery technique tomorrow, something that is far more useful and far more beautiful than drawing a silly bowl of fruit!”
“Teaching is your true artistry, I believe,” Colin said thoughtfully. “You seem at your most confident and natural when you are imparting knowledge, and you get this glow…” he stopped when he seemed to remember himself. “Well,” he cleared his throat awkwardly.
Elizabeth was almost stupidly flattered by his compliment, so, naturally, she said something unrelated, “Have you seen Thunder today?”
