Page 106 of Her Whole Heart
Mr. Kershaw turned his gaze on Diana and smiled. “C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer, Mlle Loughty.”
Diana’s eyes brightened. “Le plaisir est pour moi, Monsieur Kershaw. Je suis impatiente d'en apprendre davantage sur vos voyages.”
He blinked. “Your accent is perfection, Miss Loughty. And I would be glad to share some of my adventures, if you are truly interested. Fala português?”
“Eu.”
He beamed. “Excellent. For this story is best told in Portuguese.”
The two quickly fell into a lively exchange, their conversation flowing seamlessly from Portuguese to French, and then to Spanish, at which point, Elizabeth wandered away.
“Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy said, offering his arm and escorting her to a group that included Mr. Bingley and Jane as well as Lord Milton andAmelia. “We were beginning to discuss the regency, and as I know you have a specific interest in the topic, I was sent to find you.”
She laughed softly. As they joined their friends, she fired the first salvo. “While I understand the necessity of the Regency Act, given the king’s illness, I cannot help but feel it sets a dangerous precedent. Should the power of the monarchy be so easily transferred?”
“It is a time of crisis,” Lord Milton replied. “It took a great deal of manoeuvring to persuade Parliament to act.”
“While I agree with Miss Elizabeth—”
Elizabeth smiled up at Mr. Darcy.
“To a point, that is—”
She narrowed her eyes.
“I do think the regency, while not agoodsolution, may be the best one we are able to conceive.”
“The Prince Regent does have his flaws,” Lord Milton added, “but he is capable of leading the country until the king’s health improves.”
“And I suppose if the king’s health does not improve, he would become the king in any case,” Jane said.
“So long as he does not bankrupt us in the meantime,” Mr. Bingley said.
Elizabeth glanced at her sister’s intended with some surprise. She had never heard him take a stand in a debate before. Jane was having a good influence already.
“What?” Mr. Bingley was asking, looking at Mr. Darcy who was apparently giving him the same look as Elizabeth. “Ihaveopinions, you know.”
Mr. Darcy’s smile was fleeting, but he nodded at his friend. “I do now.”
Lord Milton guffawed at that and exclaimed, “To King Bing!”
Elizabeth did not understand. Neither did Jane, from the looks of it, but Mr. Darcy bit his lip and Mr. Bingley flushed a deep red.
To alleviate the awkwardness of the moment, Elizabeth turned to Mr. Darcy. “Is it not the duty of a government to ensure the smooth functioning of its nation, even in the face of adversity? A regency, while imperfect, allows for the continuity of leadership and the stability of the realm.”
“Hold a minute,” Lord Milton said with a laugh, “you have changed sides now!”
“I suspect that Miss Elizabeth at times professes beliefs that are not her own in the name of a good debate,” Mr. Darcy said, his eyes catching hers and holding them.
“My goodness,” Elizabeth replied, arching one brow, “you will teach those present not to believe a word I say. That is ungallant of him, is it not, Mr. Bingley?”
“Indeed it is, Darcy,” Bingley said with a laugh of his own.
Other guests began to wander over their way.
Mr. Darcy nodded. “Very well, Miss Elizabeth. I will accept your challenge. While the Regency Act may have been the best of a bad situation, if a regent tends to extravagance and excess, it would hardly inspire confidence in his ability to govern responsibly.”
Elizabeth leaned in a little closer. “Then perhaps the question is not whether a regent is fit to govern, but whether Parliament acted in the best interests of the nation by passing the Regency Act.”
