Elizabeth found her mother from across the room, an affection that was sometimes difficult to feel welling up within her breast. A difficult woman though she could be, her mother was not vicious or reprehensible—she was a woman who had married above her station and had never learned how to move in the circles she now kept.
“My father is not a wicked man,” said Elizabeth, turning back to Mr. Darcy. “Though dissatisfied with his marriage, he has never, to the best of my knowledge, found comfort in another woman’s arms. The truth, however, is that he has little affection for her. Given the discord I see daily, how do you suppose I view the estate of marriage?”
Mr. Darcy looked on her with shock. “You do not wish to marry?”
With a laugh, Elizabeth reached out to touch his hand, a gesture of affection she could not have imagined making only a few short weeks before. “That is not what I mean, Mr. Darcy, though I understand how you would think that. Jane and I both wish to marry, but we will only do it if a suitor meets certain conditions.”
Comprehension dawned in Mr. Darcy’s eyes. “Then you will not tolerate a marriage that mirrors what your parents have.”
“Exactly,” replied Elizabeth. “To ensure we enter the sort of marriages that we want, Jane and I have agreed that only the deepest love, respect, and trust will induce us into matrimony.
“It was for this reason that I refused Mr. Collins.” Elizabeth paused and grinned, prompting a response from the gentleman. “Well, that isnot entirely true, for the notion of living with Mr. Collins for a lifetime filled me with revulsion. But the rest is in force. I do not love Mr. Collins, do not respect for his abilities, and do not trust that he will make a good husband. With all these deficiencies, there was no possibility that I would accept him.”
Mr. Darcy pondered this. “If Miss Bennet feels the same way...”
“You are correct, Mr. Darcy. Jane would not have accepted Mr. Bingley unless she felt herself in love with him, but also that he returned her sentiments.”
“While I commend your principles, Miss Elizabeth, one can never know what may happen in the future. You might believe yourself in love, only to discover the regard was fleeting, or that the man was false.”
Elizabeth nodded agreeably. “Thatisa problem. Yet we can only do our best, and Jane and I support each other.” Recalling an evening in October, Elizabeth laughed. “Not long after you came to the neighborhood, I told Jane that I gave her leave to like Mr. Bingley as much as she wished. That was not entirely in jest, Mr. Darcy. Had matters proceeded enough that we suspected Mr. Bingley of wishing to propose to Jane, I would have offered my opinion to her again.”
“Then you have given your opinion about my cousin?”
“I have, and without reservation.”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “How does this relate to Bingley?”
“My growing conviction that all has worked out for the best for my sister.” Elizabeth smiled. “Please do not suppose that I judge Mr. Bingley, for I do not. Yet I understand the deficiency of his behavior. Perhaps he could have made Jane happy, but I believe your cousin is the stronger match. Though I sympathize with Mr. Bingley’s situation, I cannot but rejoice that my sister has found a man who will treat her the way she deserves, who will be the protector she requires.
“The one other factor in this is the surety we must feel before we can take that step. As you might suppose, Jane’s experience with Mr. Bingley was a hard lesson—she believed herself in love, but now knows she was not. We must both take great care, else we may mistake infatuation, inclination, or even esteem for the deepest love.”
Now that the gentleman understood, he nodded, though he still did not appear happy. “When you put it that way, Miss Elizabeth, I understand your point. That does not change the situation, but I cannot say you are incorrect.”
“Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth, her voice gentle, “I understand your concerns. However, I advise you to remember that Mr. Bingleychoseto leave Jane and Meryton behind of his own accord—Miss Bingley’s intrigues or your advice may or may not have influenced him, but the decision washis. If Mr. Bingley does not acknowledge this and ends your friendship on that account, I may truthfully say that it is his own doing.”
Mr. Darcy regarded her, respect shining in his eyes. “How did you become so wise, Miss Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth offered him a saucy grin. “Did you not know? All impertinent misses are wise, for it helps us know when to exercise our wit.”
Their shared laughter drew the attention of the room. Though Jane looked on with indulgence, Elizabeth noted her mother’s shock and then sudden realization. Given Mr. Darcy’s attention of late, his preference for her company that had grown more pronounced the longer he remained in Hertfordshire, Elizabeth wondered why she had not seen it before. She could only ascribe it to her previous antipathy for him and the notion that Elizabeth was distracting him to allow Colonel Fitzwilliam to remain with Jane. Now that Mrs. Bennet had seen something of it, Elizabeth knew her mother’s behavior would change.
“I see that your mother has seen something of our recent closeness,” murmured Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth threw him an amused glance. “Are you ready to endure all her officious civilities, Mr. Darcy? Now that she sees you as a possible suitor, it will be her purpose to ensure you do not depart without a proposal.”
“She is neither the first nor the worst matchmaking mother I have seen.”
“Unless I am incorrect, you have never been interested in a young woman before.”
“No, you are not.”
“Then that makes all the difference, Mr. Darcy. Unless, of course, I have misread your recent actions.”
“I apologize, Miss Elizabeth. When I was here in the autumn, I found myself increasingly drawn to you, but convinced I needed to make a match that society expected for me.”
“And I return your apology with one of my own,” replied Elizabeth. “I thought you proud and haughty when you were only uncomfortable.”
“It was more than that,” said the gentleman. “I am capable of pride when the mood strikes. Please do not assume more than Imean—I judge it still too early to make any declaration. Let me only say that my interest is engaged.”
