Page 48 of The Crown’s Gift

"I do not know."

That was the difficulty. She had known when she disliked him. She had known when anger over Jane demanded distance. But he had admitted fault, aided Bingley's return, welcomed Mary to Georgiana, and looked at Elizabeth as if her wit were not performance but invitation.

She had also not forgotten Wickham, though Sir Thomas's inquiries had raised grave doubts. The documents confirmed the three-thousand-pound settlement. Colonel Fitzwilliam's letter described debts and dishonesty. Yet some part of the story remained hidden, and Darcy's secrecy made room for suspicion.

At Rosings, Darcy's aunt displayed the world that had formed him. Lady Catherine interrupted, judged, instructed, and called it benevolence. Darcy sometimes resisted her; sometimes he fell silent with the habit of long practice.

One evening Lady Catherine insisted Elizabeth play.

"You will find my instrument superior to Mrs Collins's. Darcy, move that screen. Miss Elizabeth, sit straight."

Elizabeth played tolerably and without Mary's feeling. Darcy stood near enough to turn pages.

"You mean to frighten me," she said softly, "by coming in all this state to hear me. But I will not be alarmed, though your sister plays so well."

"I know you find great enjoyment in professing opinions which are not your own."

She looked up. "And you find great enjoyment in discovering them?"

"Only yours."

The page beneath her fingers blurred for one beat.

Lady Catherine called from across the room, "What are you saying to Miss Elizabeth, Darcy?"

"That she plays with expression."

"She would play better if she practiced."

Elizabeth finished the piece. Darcy's hand rested upon the edge of the pianoforte near hers, not touching. When she rose, the distance between their bodies was improper only in sensation. She stepped aside.

The colonel joined her the next day on a walk through the grove. He spoke of younger sons, army expenses, and Darcy's character.

"He takes prodigious care of those he loves," he said. "Sometimes more care than they request."

"Mr Bingley might agree."

The colonel glanced at her. "Ah. You know."

"That Mr Darcy separated my sister and Mr Bingley? Yes."

"He rejoices in their engagement now."

"Repentance is useful after damage. Less useful before it."

"You are severe."

"Jane cried."

Colonel Fitzwilliam's expression sobered. "Then perhaps not."

They returned to find Darcy waiting at the parsonage gate. His gaze rested upon Elizabeth's face, then moved to his cousin with unmistakable unease.

That evening he came again.

Elizabeth was alone. Charlotte and Maria had gone to the village, and Mr Collins dined at Rosings to assist with a list of chimney repairs. Darcy entered, learned the circumstances, and ought to have departed.

He did not.