“I have always thought the New Year was a tedious holiday. There is nothing festive about it, unlike Christmas, and all it does is mark the passage of another year.”
“Oh? Do you appreciate the greenery of the Christmas season?”
“I do, though one particular plant has me curious this year.”
Uncertain what he was saying, Elizabeth regarded him. “What plant do you miss?”
Mr. Darcy chuckled. “I do not say that Imissit, Miss Elizabeth. It is tradition to hang a bough of mistletoe, is it not?”
Understanding the thrust of his words, Elizabeth could not help the smile of amusement that reached her lips. “That is curious, Mr. Darcy, for I did not suppose you tended to the sort of frivolity that leads to catching young maidens under the mistletoe.”
“You are correct in that I have never done it.” Mr. Darcy regarded her. “This year, I wish I was at Longbourn, for the notion of what it would be like to catchyouunder the bough will not leave me.”
Shocked at his audacity, Elizabeth could only gape at him. The sight of the man’s lips twitching brought her back to herself.
“That is most curious, Mr. Darcy; it was my impression that you cared little for me.”
The gentleman regarded her with apparent dispassion. “Whence you gained that notion, I cannot say. Did you not observe how often I have watched you, especially when you were staying at Netherfield?”
Some retort about the slight at the first assembly entered Elizabeth’s mind, but the likely interpretation of his scrutiny and her insistence that his looks must be calculated to find fault returned, leaving her with no ability to respond. It was fortunate that he said nothing further, as Elizabeth would not have been certain she possessed the ability to respond.
“You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth at length when it became clear he would speak no more. “I have always made it a practice to avoid the kissing bough. As I wish to marry for love, I would prefer to reserve my first kiss for my future husband.”
“Then perhaps I yet have a chance.”
It was the first sign Elizabeth had of any interest Mr. Darcy possessed for her, and she could not help but wonder at it. Soon after, Mr. Darcy excused himself to stand with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Hurst, and while Mr. Bennet regarded him with curiosity, Mr. Hurst appeared distinctly knowing. For the rest of the evening, they enjoyed one another’s company, partook of an excellent dinner, and sang Auld Lang Syne when the year changed to the next. Elizabeth watched Mr. Darcy, wondering if he would give her any clearer sign of his regard. The gentleman remained difficult to read.
When the gentlemen left that night, Mr. Darcy bowed over her hand and said words of farewell. Elizabeth saw the extra moment he took with her, imperceptible to anyone else. The question then became whether she welcomed the gentleman’s interest. To Elizabeth’s surprise, she realized late that night, lying in bed, that rather than repulsing her, his interest was intriguing.
Chapter XII
“Miss Darcy,” said Mr. Bingley, a day after their engagement at Longbourn on New Year’s Eve, “what do you say about acting as Netherfield’s mistress while you are staying here?”
“Mistress?” asked Georgiana, nonplussed. “You wish me to act as your mistress?”
“I do,” replied Bingley with no hint of hesitation. “If you are willing.”
Georgiana did not appear to understand Bingley’s meaning, but Darcy understood it all too well. “Why do you suppose Bingley would wish for a mistress, Georgiana?”
When she turned to regard him, Darcy nodded toward Bingley. “Having a mistress in residence would allow Bingley much greater flexibility.”
Eyes wide, Georgiana turned back to their host. “You want to invite Miss Bennet’s family to Netherfield.”
Bingley grinned and did not deny it. “Wearea dinner at Netherfield in their debt. Perhaps it is a fiction, but I do not suppose the Bennets will begrudge us.”
“Mrs. Bennetwill not,” interjected Hurst, appearing amused. “Nor do I think Miss Bennet will object. Mr. Bennet and Miss Elizabeth will see through your fabrication, of course, but I doubt they will do anything other than laugh at it.”
“Then the path is clear.”
Bingley directed such a look of pleading at Georgiana that they all laughed at it, but she did not protest. “Very well, Mr. Bingley. I have enough experience managing my brother’s house that I suppose I can manage an evening in company with your lady and her family. Mrs. Annesley will assist me.”
The woman in question nodded, though she did not speak. Bingley beamed, his face as bright as a full moon.
“Excellent! I shall leave the details to you, Georgiana. Perhaps two or three days would be sufficient warning.”
Georgiana offered the invitation, and the Bennets accepted the dinner planned for three days after; then she began to make plans for the evening that very day. Bingley was not idle in the interim, visiting Longbourn daily, always jovial, always eager, spending most of his time with Miss Bennet, though he tore himself away to speak with Mr. Bennet occasionally.
Darcy enjoyed the visits himself, and more than he thought he would, given his assessment of these people only a few short weeks before. They were, he had to own, not so reprehensible as he had thought, though Mrs. Bennetwasan inveterate fortune hunter and the youngest girls were just short of wild. However, now that he understood Mrs. Bennet better, he knew she was not searching for riches—only for security. Her way of expressing herself was not the best, and she had a far too tenuous grasp on propriety, but she loved her daughters and wanted the best for them. That was enough to blunt Darcy’s discomfort with her frequent lapses—the rest of the time, he focused on Miss Elizabeth and ignored her mother. As for the younger girls, they were too lively, but he sensed they only needed guidance.
