Page 41 of Attempted Compromises
Rebecca’s voice broke the silence. “She’s quite a remarkable lady, sir,” she said softly.
Darcy looked down at his son, who gazed up at him with wide, trusting eyes. A small smile curved his lips as he replied, “Yes, she is.”
∞∞∞
In the carriage, Elizabeth looked back at Netherfield before turning to face her sister.
“Well, Jane? How do you feel?”
“I am doing well, Lizzy. Quite recovered.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Elizabeth replied with a smirk, her teasing tone unmistakable. “Shall I be calling you Mrs. Bingley soon?”
Jane’s cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink, and she shook her head. “Lizzy, you must not tease me so.”
“Tease you? I?” Elizabeth exclaimed in mock indignation. “Never!”
Jane turned her gaze to the window, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward in a faint smile. “He is very kind, I admit. But you mustn’t presume anything, Lizzy. There are no assurances of anything beyond his kindness.”
Elizabeth leaned forward, her expression softening. “Jane, you are the very picture of modesty. But I know what I saw, and what I saw was a man entirely smitten. I daresay he’d have proposed already if he’d had the courage.”
Jane laughed lightly, though her blush deepened. “You are incorrigible. Mr. Bingley is a friend, nothing more.”
Elizabeth leaned back, folding her arms across her chest with an air of mock resignation. “Well, if you insist on denying it, I suppose I’ll just have to wait until Mr. Bingley himself tells me he adores you. And when he does, I hope you’ll remember I told you first. In the meantime, I shall content myself with imagining you as mistress of Netherfield, while I… well, I shall be quitecontent as the spinster aunt, making scathing remarks about society from the comfort of your drawing room.”
Jane laughed again, the sound clear and unguarded, her earlier shyness momentarily forgotten. “You, Lizzy, a spinster? I think not. You have a charm that cannot help but draw attention—even from Mr. Darcy.”
In an effort to mask her discomfort, Elizabeth tossed her head and said in a light tone. “You mean he might be persuaded to give attention to young ladies who are only tolerable?”
“Be serious, Lizzy.” Jane gave her sister as stern a look as was possible. “What did you think of Mr. Darcy and his family during our stay?”
Elizabeth hesitated, her brow furrowing slightly. “Mr. Darcy… surprised me,” she admitted. “I expected him to be aloof and unpleasant, but he was neither. He was loving towards Andrew, attentive to his sister, and considerate to me.”
Jane’s smile grew. “You seem to have spent quite a bit of time observing him.”
“I couldn’t help it,” Elizabeth replied, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. “He is… a curious man. Reserved, certainly, but not unfeeling. And he cares for his family deeply—that much is obvious. He is very serious, however.”
Jane’s expression turned knowing. “Sometimes seriousness can conceal a very warm heart.”
Elizabeth considered this, her lips curving slightly. “You may be right. He was not at all disagreeable to me—quite the opposite,in fact. And yet, I cannot imagine him… softening. Not truly. It is as though he is holding something back, even when he is kind.”
Jane’s smile returned. “It could be that he is waiting for the right person to help him let go of whatever it is.”
Elizabeth laughed lightly. “If so, I hope that person arrives soon. It must be exhausting to carry such weight.”
“Perchance you might be that person?”
“I highly doubt that, Jane,” Elizabeth scoffed. “For all of Mr. Darcy’s good qualities, he is much too solemn for me. If I am to be swept off my feet, I’d much prefer someone with a sense of humor.”
Jane’s smile widened, though she said nothing further.
As the carriage continued its journey, Elizabeth allowed her thoughts to wander. Though she would never admit it aloud, she could not entirely dismiss Mr. Darcy from her mind. His unexpected warmth and quiet attentiveness during their stay at Netherfield had left an impression—one she was not yet ready to examine too closely.
For now, she resolved to focus on her family and her sister’s happiness. Whatever lay ahead, she would face it with the same resilience and wit that had always served her so well.
Chapter 11
The Bennet family sat down to breakfast the morning after Jane and Elizabeth’s return from Netherfield. The house was unusually quiet—at least by Longbourn standards—as Kitty and Lydia had chosen to sleep later than their wont. That peace, however, was short-lived.
