Page 37 of Her Whole Heart
“Oh, yes,” Amelia said. “I heard my aunt tell my uncle that if Mr. Darcy made an appearance at the lecture, she would invite him to Hyde Park with them. He seemed to think it a fine idea.”
“Amelia . . . did you give up your seat at the lecture so that Mr. Darcy would sit next to me?” Elizabeth inquired bluntly.
Her friend was not deterred. “I did. I know it was not a certain thing. He might not have come or someone else might have taken the seat, and I would have been very put out. But it worked splendidly, do not you think?”
“If I had wished to sit next to Mr. Darcy, then perhaps it would have been a kindness,” Elizabeth said reluctantly. “But please do not do that again, Amelia.”
Diana cocked her head to one side. “You do not like Mr. Darcy?”
Elizabeth sighed. “I have said too much.”
“It is not that Elizabeth does not like Mr. Darcy,” Jane offered. The glance she bestowed on Elizabeth was compassionate. “It is that she does not believe that he likes her.”
“Jane,” Elizabeth said warningly, and her sister shook her head.
“I believe you are wrong, Elizabeth, but I will say no more.”
“But you must,” Amelia said. “Mr. Darcy would be a splendid suitor. Even my aunt thinks so.”
“Then you may have him and all his insults,” Elizabeth said impertinently. “I am sure your aunt will be pleased, and you and Mr. Darcy will be very happy together.”
“Oh, no,” Amelia said, taking the idea rather too much to heart. “He intimidates me. But nothing intimidates you.”
Elizabeth took a deep breath to steady herself. She had begun to think the smallest bit better of the man, but this fantasy Amelia had devised was impossible.
“What is it you like so much about Mr. Bingley, Jane?” Diana asked, taking charge of the conversation. “How is he different from the other men?”
Elizabeth was deeply grateful to Diana for the diversion.
Jane pondered the question for a moment. “Mr. Bingley may ask for two dances when one is appropriate, but he does not sulk when I cannot grant it. He does not attempt to change my mind, but instead offers me the compliment of believing me.”
The dog barked, and the girls all jumped.
“That is a rare quality,” Miss Jacobsen said in a voice that sounded as though she was speaking through her nose. “Do not discount it, girls.”
When his errors were pointed out to him, Mr. Bingley was indeed willing to change his course. Elizabeth supposed that was to his credit.
“When he called, he introduced neutral topics of conversation until he found one that pleased me,” Jane continued. Wilson jumped down from Miss Jacobsen’s lap and stood in the centre of the floor, stretching.
Was that what Mr. Bingley had been doing? Elizabeth had to stifle a yawn just thinking about that visit.
Jane placed her teacup in its saucer. “His call went very well, and that is all I can know for now.”
Wilson trotted around the circle until he reached Jane, and then placed his front paws on the chair and leapt into her lap. Jane quickly set her teacup down and offered the spaniel the lavish attention heappeared to require.
“Oh, he likes you, Miss Bennet,” crooned Miss Jacobsen. “You must be a very good person indeed.”
Jane petted the dog and spoke softly to him. The little dog turned over on his back and presented his belly. Jane’s hand hovered over him uncertainly.
Miss Jacobsen clapped, and her dog reluctantly rolled himself back onto his stomach. “Miss Bennet is a proper lady, Wilson. Come here.”
Wilson whined but removed himself from Jane’s lap and returned to his mistress.
When they finished their repast and the tea things had been removed, Cordelia placed her hands in her lap and declared, “Well. I believe that may have been the most delightful hour I have ever spent in the company of other ladies. Shall we do this again soon?”
Chapter Twelve
On Saturday evening, Darcy eased himself down into his chair to finally go through his correspondence. His legs and shoulder were sore, but he would practice the movements again on his own tomorrow at a less frenetic rate, and then he would simply have to see how he fared on Monday. The arrow was a diabolical move and would have taken him completely by surprise. Darcy’s respect for Fitz had grown, if that were possible, but he would not allow his respect to be an obstacle to winning.
