Page 33 of One Good Sonnet

“Is she at your estate?” Elizabeth asked.

“No, she is in London with our aunt and uncle. I wrote back, of course, after asking Bingley if I could extend the invitation. My aunt and uncle will bring her.” He paused. “I told her about you.”

“All favorable things, I hope.”

He chuckled. “Of course. I cannot think of anything disparaging to tell her.”

“Give it time, sir, for I can be impertinent and cross.” She winked to soften her words. “Now, come with me to Papa’s library. I must retrieve a book I wished to show you.”

They stood and moved to the door. At the exact moment they reached it, a servant rounded the corner with a tea tray. The girl collided with Mr. Darcy, and a frosted cake ended up on the front of his jacket.

The maid, Molly, gasped. “I am so sorry, sir! Allow me to put this down, and I will clean your coat.”

Darcy took a napkin from the tray and used it to remove the cake. “There is no harm done,” he said. “It is a small mark.”

He shrugged out of his coat. “I should be much obliged if you would see it cleaned, however. I thank you for that.”

Poor Molly’s cheeks were as red as her hair, and she nodded. “I shall take this to the kitchen to be refreshed,” she said, lifting the tray. She hurried off, casting a glance over her shoulder and biting her lip.

“You will ensure she does not suffer for a mistake,” he asked her in low tones.

“Of course. Molly is a good girl. It is not her fault we chose to exit the room as she rounded a corner. Will your coat survive?”

“Yes, I am sure it will. If it is stained, my valet has a cleaning solution that works wonders.”

Elizabeth marveled at how kind he was to a lowly servant. She was used to thinking great men had no regard for those beneath them.

They continued to the library, and she was pleased to learn Mr. Darcy had read the volume in question. A lively debate ensued, and to her displeasure, she had to concede several of his points.

“How long is my probation to last?” he asked her as she flipped through the open book before them.

“I have not made that determination,” she said absently.

He sighed. “I gathered as much. Are there some rules I am to follow?”

“Yes.”

“But I am not aware of them.”

She looked up. “That is because I reserve the right to alter them.”

“Naturally.”

The little gathering disbanded soon after. Jane wasted no time asking Elizabeth how her evaluation of Mr. Darcy proceeded.

She answered evasively, for she had much on her mind. Before the revelation, she was attracted to Darcy. She realized now she had unknowingly measured him against the Poetical Villain and every other gentleman who had hurt her sister.

Knowing all had made her more comfortable with him. She could agree that he and Jane had been very young. Yes, Mr. Darcy could have behaved better, could have spared Jane, but the circumstances were extenuating. And he had admitted fault, apologized to Jane, and had become better.

Could she forgive him?

14

Christmas Eve

The Netherfield party were all invited to Longbourn for Christmas Eve. It was to be quite a gathering, according to Elizabeth. The family would stay up late celebrating together, and on Christmas Day, they exchanged gifts and had a grand feast.

Miss Bingley, regrettably, fell ill with a cold. Darcy would not have believed her illness to be real, but for Mrs. Hurst’s confirmation.