Page 142 of What Change Entails

Miss Bingley relaxed visibly.

That alone nearly made Elizabeth laugh. Whatever truth Miss Bingley had spoken, she had chosen each one for its power to wound. Elizabeth could no longer mistake jealousy for concern.

A branch cracked somewhere beyond the trees.

Both women turned.

Darcy stood several yards away upon the orchard path.

He had clearly arrived recently. No expression betrayed whether he had heard anything.

Yet the instant he saw Elizabeth, his face changed.

He crossed toward them.

“Miss Bingley.” His tone remained perfectly civil. “Mrs. Hurst has been searching for you.”

Miss Bingley hesitated.

Darcy waited.

Nothing in his posture invited argument.

At length she inclined her head slightly. “Then I must not delay her further.”

She departed without acknowledging Elizabeth further.

Silence followed.

Elizabeth could not endure his eyes upon her just then. She moved toward the bridge railings instead, gripping the worn wood harder than necessary.

Darcy stopped beside her.

“What has happened?”

“Nothing.”

A terrible answer.

She knew it the instant it escaped.

Darcy knew it too.

“Elizabeth.”

The use of her name nearly undid her.

She watched the stream again. “Your tenants appear very devoted to you.”

“That has no relation to whatever Miss Bingley said.”

Her fingers gripped the railing.

Too perceptive.

Always too perceptive where she mattered.

“She merely advised me against misunderstanding your attentions.”