Page 39 of The Crown’s Gift

Elizabeth rose. "Mr Bingley."

Mary's hands left the keys. Georgiana looked between the adults.

Bingley struggled visibly. "Is your sister well?"

"Jane is at my uncle's house."

"In Gracechurch Street?"

"Yes."

"How long has she been there?"

"Twelve days."

His face changed. "I did not know."

Elizabeth believed him, which made his ignorance no less damning.

"She wrote to Miss Bingley."

"I learned that only this morning."

Darcy stepped forward. "Bingley, not here."

"Why not? Miss Elizabeth has a right to know that I did not ignore her sister knowingly."

"Jane had a right to expect you would discover where she was," Elizabeth said.

Bingley flinched. "Yes."

The simple acceptance checked her anger.

"I thought she did not care for me," he continued. "I was told her manner showed only kindness. That she would be equally serene if I never returned."

Elizabeth met Darcy's gaze.

He did not evade her gaze.

"I advised him so," Darcy said.

Mary drew a quiet breath. Georgiana's hands tightened in her lap.

Elizabeth wanted to speak with the full force of weeks of anger. The presence of the younger women restrained her.

"Then you mistook reserve for indifference," she said.

"I did."

"And believed yourself entitled to decide what your friend should risk."

Darcy's face went pale but remained open. "Yes."

Bingley turned toward him. "You told me her family expected the match."

"They did. That did not prove her feelings."

"You told me Caroline believed Jane relieved by our departure."