Page 104 of What Change Entails

Miss Bingley blinked at her.

Lydia nearly kicked Georgiana beneath the table in delight.

“I merely observed,” Miss Bingley replied after a pause, “that for a provincial establishment, it might prove tolerable.”

“Then we ought certainly to go,” Lydia announced. She addressed Darcy once more. “Mr. Darcy, may we?”

Darcy lowered the letter now. “May you what?”

“Invade Lambton and bankrupt ourselves on ribbons.”

“I hardly think Lambton capable of bankrupting anyone.”

“You underestimate me gravely.”

That earned an actual laugh from him, low and brief.

Miss Bingley’s expression cooled another degree.

Elizabeth set down her cup. “I should like to see more of the village myself. We passed through so quickly before accepting Miss Darcy’s invitation.”

“You are all determined upon Lambton, then,” Mr. Bingley said cheerfully. “Excellent. I adore excursions.”

“Of course you do,” Mrs. Hurst muttered.

Darcy addressed Georgiana. “Would you enjoy going?”

Georgiana shot a look once toward Miss Bingley, then back toward her brother. “Very much.”

“Then I see no reason against it.”

Lydia clapped her hands once before propriety could stop her. “Excellent. We shall become very fashionable country ladies before dinner.”

Miss Bingley reached for her coffee with visible restraint. “One trembles to imagine the result.”

Lydia beamed at her. “You will not need to imagine it. You may witness it personally.”

Mr. Bingley grinned.

Darcy took refuge in his coffee.

Miss Bingley abandoned breakfast sooner than usual, claiming a need to prepare herself for public appearance. Lydia watched her leave with open satisfaction.

The instant the door closed, she leaned toward Georgiana.

“You were magnificent.”

Georgiana stared. “I merely repeated what she said.”

“Yes, but politely.” Lydia dropped her voice lower. “That makes it devastating.”

Color rose into Georgiana’s cheeks. “I ought not encourage you.”

“You absolutely ought.”

Darcy resumed reading his correspondence with suspicious concentration.

Lydia ignored him. “Do you suppose she still suspects we arranged the shawl catastrophe?”