Page 8 of The Crown’s Gift

At dinner Bingley sat beside Jane and forgot three times to eat what was placed before him. Mr Hurst compensated on behalf of the company. Mary answered Mrs Hurst's questions softly but sensibly. Miss Bingley attempted to determine whether the Bennets' Court connections were significant and received nothing more useful than Lady Bennet's opinion of the Queen's taste in lace.

Darcy spoke little.

When Elizabeth asked whether he preferred town or country, he said, "Each has advantages which the other cannot imitate."

"A diplomatic answer."

"A true one."

"Truth and diplomacy are not enemies, then?"

His eyes turned fully toward her. They were darker than she had expected and more attentive.

"Not necessarily. Though they are not always introduced."

"Perhaps they require a mutual acquaintance."

For an instant, his mouth nearly softened. "And who would you appoint?"

"Good sense, if it can be persuaded to attend."

Across the table, her father lowered his wineglass to hide a smile.

Later, while the ladies waited for the gentlemen, Miss Bingley asked Jane about her presentation. Jane answered without vanity. Mrs Hurst recalled seeing her at a ball. Mary grew quiet when the coming spring was mentioned.

Elizabeth shifted closer until their sleeves touched.

Darcy entered in time to observe the movement. His gaze rested first upon Mary, then upon Elizabeth's hand lying near hers. Something in his expression changed—not warmth precisely, but reconsideration.

Elizabeth noticed because she had already decided he was a man who reconsidered very little.

When the party departed, Bingley pressed Sir Thomas's invitation to the Meryton assembly upon his sisters as though he had invented dancing.

"He is agreeable," Lady Bennet declared before the door had fully closed. "Very agreeable. And Jane, he scarcely looked away from you."

Jane's cheeks colored. "He was attentive to everyone."

"Not in that manner," Mary said.

All eyes turned toward her.

Mary looked up from behind her spectacles. "Was I mistaken?"

Jane laughed and kissed her cheek.

Sir Thomas remained near the window, watching the carriage lamps descend the drive toward Longbourn. His tenant was charming. His tenant's friend was proud, observant, and perhaps not quite as indifferent as he wished to appear.

The old Thomas Bennet would have retreated to his library and waited to be entertained by whatever followed.

Sir Thomas rang for Hill and asked whether Jane's mare had been exercised.

CHAPTER TWO

An Assembly Reversed

The Meryton assembly had changed less in ten years than the Bennets had. The chandeliers still smoked. The musicians still argued between sets. Mrs Long still placed her nieces where every entering gentleman must pass them, and Aunt Phillips still knew precisely who had arrived before the door opened.

Yet the room responded differently when Lady Bennet entered.