Page 28 of An Accidental Meeting
“Discerning?”
“Quite.”
“And he treats you well?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Then I think you must accept that if a clever, discerning man such as your brother loves you and treats you with respect, you are deserving of it. For he could not be wrong, could he?”
Miss Darcy worried her bottom lip while Elizabeth awaited an answer. Finally, she had it in Miss Darcy’s, “No, I do not believe so.”
Mrs. Annesley smiled to herself and resumed both her seat and her sewing.
Aunt Gardiner just smiled.
Chapter Eight
Bingley looked tired. “Back stairs, Darcy?”
“If you wish.”
“I do.”
“Bingley,” Darcy said as they exited the house through the conservatory, “before we join my uncle, I should tell you that we have additional guests.”
“Oh?” Bingley asked with little of his usual enthusiasm.
Darcy shook his head. “Bingley, you are still not yourself after all these months, and I fear I am to blame for it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that you are still in love with Jane Bennet.”
Bingley shrugged. “I cannot seem to conquer it, Darcy. I have tried.”
Darcy shook his head. “I should never have interfered,” he said solemnly. “I must beg your pardon.”
“Didyou interfere? My sisters told me that Miss Bennet was not interested in me, and when I asked for your advice, youagreed. Is that the extent of it? For if it is so, I cannot think it worth an apology.”
Darcy stopped, and after a half-step further, Bingley did as well. His friend turned back to face him, shielding his face from the sun with a raised hand.
“Your sisters later told me that Miss Jane Bennet came to London after Christmas. She was in town for some months. I knew, and I did not tell you.”
Bingley’s complexion reddened. “Whydid you not tell me, Darcy?” he asked, each word carefully enunciated.
Darcy thought that rather obvious. “Because I am an arse.”
The confession shocked Bingley into something like his old humour. “You are. But why did you not tell me?”
“I truly believed she showed you no particular favour.”
“And there we are. Why, then, would it matter whether you told me she was in London? Is there any particular reason you wish to torture me further on this subject?”
“Yes.” Darcy was becoming concerned that Bingley would not believe him even when he confessed. “Do you recall I was to visit Lady Catherine in April?”
“Of course. We were leaving for Huntington’s house party at the same time.”
“And from April until we met you in Northampton, you have not been in London.”
