Page 176 of What Change Entails

“Your sister is happy,” Bingley said.

“Yes.”

“She and Miss Lydia are an unexpected pair.”

“Very.”

“I begin to think unexpected pairs are the most successful ones.”

Darcy looked at him.

Bingley gazed ahead where Elizabeth had just accepted Georgiana’s arm while Lydia tripped over Horace’s lead. His expression held more thought than usual.

“You are thinking of Miss Bennet,” Darcy said.

Bingley did not pretend otherwise. “Almost constantly.”

“You should write to her.”

“I should do more than write.”

Darcy let that rest between them.

Bingley looked toward him. “After Pemberley?”

“Yes.”

“If Caroline objects?”

“She will.”

Bingley’s face lost all expression. “Then she may object.”

It was not a declaration suited to poetry, but from Bingley it was a revolution.

Darcy clapped him once upon the shoulder.

Ahead, Lydia spun around. “Are you two conspiring? Miss Darcy, gentlemen are conspiring behind us.”

Georgiana peered back and called, “Then we must conspire faster.”

Darcy raised a brow at his sister.

She blushed and faced forward.

Lydia looked ready to burst from pride.

Later, while the party rested before dinner, Darcy found Georgiana and Lydia in the library attempting to hide a string beneath one of the smaller tables. Horace sat nearby with the expression of a dog who had already betrayed them and would do so again for a biscuit.

Darcy stopped in the doorway.

Lydia froze.

Georgiana hid the string behind her skirt, which was useless, as half of it remained visible near her foot.

“Do I wish to know?” Darcy asked.

“No,” Lydia said.