Page 102 of What Change Entails

“To Miss Bennet, naturally.”

“You cannot leave for Hertfordshire now.”

“No, but I may begin planning.”

Darcy rubbed one hand across his forehead. “Sit down.”

Bingley remained standing but was marginally less prepared to bolt from the room.

“I intend,” Darcy said slowly, “to accompany the Gardiners when they return to London.”

Bingley’s brows rose.

“I shall continue afterward into Hertfordshire.”

Understanding dawned very quickly then. “Oh.”

Darcy very deliberately did not think about Elizabeth smiling at him on the path. “I hope to ask Miss Elizabeth to marry me,” he said.

Bingley appeared delighted. His expression was filled with uncomplicated pleasure. “You villain,” he declared. “And here I believed myself the romantic fool between us.”

Darcy smiled despite the absurdity of the accusation. “You have always been the greater optimist.”

“Yes, but clearly not the greater success.”

“That remains uncertain.”

Bingley waved this aside impatiently. “Nonsense. Miss Elizabeth looks at you as Jane looks at—” He stopped abruptly. “Well.”

Darcy’s pulse betrayed him slightly at that observation.

Bingley noticed, naturally.

“Oh, this is excellent,” he announced.

“It may yet become disastrous.”

“Probably. But still excellent.”

Darcy shook his head. “Come with me to Hertfordshire,” he said after a moment. “Instead of continuing north with your sisters and Hurst.”

Bingley blinked. “You mean it?”

“Yes.”

A grin spread across Bingley’s face so rapidly it transformed him completely. Then the grin faltered. “We had perhaps best not mention this to Caroline.”

“No,” Darcy agreed dryly. “That would be unwise.”

Bingley chuckled under his breath and finally reclaimed his chair, though barely. He appeared too restless now to remain still for long.

Darcy moved toward the window. The noise from outdoors drifted upward again. Miss Lydia was apparently attempting to teach Horace some unsuitable trick while Georgiana protested between bursts of laughter.

Strange. Months earlier Darcy would have found such disorder intolerable. Now the sound made Pemberley feel alive.

“I am angry with you,” Bingley said.

Darcy nodded. “You have every right.”