across her cheeks. She was pursing her
lips, trying to stifle a smile. A sideways glance at Georgiana revealed her
bottom lip was bitten in a desperate attempt at solemnity. Colonel Fitzwilliam
looked rather like a Cheshire cat that had just caught a particularly succulent
mouse.
A pain in his hand told him that he was squeezing his cutlery too hard, and
with a clang he set it down on the table just as Elizabeth let out a choking
sound. As Darcy sat surveying an entire table of people laughing at his
expense, all the while desperately trying to hide it, he couldn’t help but
release a small chuckle. Soon the room was filled with laughter.
Funny, I didn’t think Mr. Darcy could laugh
at himself. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him laugh before. But Wickham
did say he was agreeable enough in the company of equals. Well Mr. Darcy, am I
elevated to the level of equal now? No, I will not think this way! He has been
perfectly kind and civil to me and I am a guest in his home. I promised Aunt I
would be open-minded, and I shall be.
She took a breath to clear
her mind.
As all this was passing through her mind, Elizabeth had looked instinctually at
Darcy. As the laughter faded away, he met her gaze. For a moment, their eyes
locked and a small frisson shot through her. Surprised by the sudden intensity,
she quickly looked to her plate.
The remainder of dinner was passed in amiable conversation, mostly between
Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam, with Georgiana partaking occasionally and
Darcy barely at all. Colonel Fitzwilliam was all that was pleasant and
agreeable, ready to make conversation about a variety of subjects and clearly
not put off by the serious expression of his cousin.
Soon they were headed out of the dining room to the music room.
“Georgie, what are you going to play for me tonight?” asked Colonel
Fitzwilliam.
Georgiana looked down at her hands for a moment before looking up at the
Colonel with brightened eyes. “Miss Bennet and I have been working on a new
duet. Would you like to hear it?”
“Of course, dear, I’d be delighted.” The gentlemen seated themselves on a small
sofa, but not before Darcy noticed a small trace of anxiety cross Elizabeth’s
face.
Could she be nervous? I’ve heard
her play before, and in front of a much larger crowd than this. And she and
Georgiana have been playing together constantly since her arrival
.
He noticed Colonel Fitzwilliam in the corner of his eye.
Could it be that she’s nervous in front of
Richard? But he’s so congenial! Surely not! Unless… She couldn’t be developing
feelings for him already, could she?
Darcy didn’t like where this was going. He knew the feeling rising within him
and knew its name: jealousy, plain and simple. How could he be jealous of
Colonel Fitzwilliam when he had decided that he would not pursue her? He had
decided to give her up and seek someone more suitable, hadn’t he? Hadn’t that
been the purpose of his blasted trip to Somerset? To put her and Hertfordshire
and Bingley and all their ridiculous problems out of his mind? That had clearly
not gone as planned.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and focused on the difficult music in front of
her. Georgiana was far more advanced a player than she was, and she knew she
did not compare favorably.
Oh, well! I
have no one to impress here,
she thought.
And if Mr. Darcy tries to intimidate me, I will tease
him mercilessly. No! Be nice Elizabeth!
The ladies began to play as he and Richard relaxed on the divan. Richard leaned
over to him and whispered in his ear, “Pretty picture they make, isn't
it?"
"Yes, they certainly look well together." Neither noticed when
Elizabeth struck a wrong chord.
"Quite the scene of domestic bliss, eh? Sweet how they are dressed to
match, too."
“Hmmm? Dressed to match?"
"Yes, Georgiana is pink on green, Miss Bennet is green on pink. You didn't
notice?"
"No, I didn't. Whose idea was that, do you suppose?" asked Darcy.
"I
lips, trying to stifle a smile. A sideways glance at Georgiana revealed her
bottom lip was bitten in a desperate attempt at solemnity. Colonel Fitzwilliam
looked rather like a Cheshire cat that had just caught a particularly succulent
mouse.
A pain in his hand told him that he was squeezing his cutlery too hard, and
with a clang he set it down on the table just as Elizabeth let out a choking
sound. As Darcy sat surveying an entire table of people laughing at his
expense, all the while desperately trying to hide it, he couldn’t help but
release a small chuckle. Soon the room was filled with laughter.
Funny, I didn’t think Mr. Darcy could laugh
at himself. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him laugh before. But Wickham
did say he was agreeable enough in the company of equals. Well Mr. Darcy, am I
elevated to the level of equal now? No, I will not think this way! He has been
perfectly kind and civil to me and I am a guest in his home. I promised Aunt I
would be open-minded, and I shall be.
She took a breath to clear
her mind.
As all this was passing through her mind, Elizabeth had looked instinctually at
Darcy. As the laughter faded away, he met her gaze. For a moment, their eyes
locked and a small frisson shot through her. Surprised by the sudden intensity,
she quickly looked to her plate.
The remainder of dinner was passed in amiable conversation, mostly between
Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam, with Georgiana partaking occasionally and
Darcy barely at all. Colonel Fitzwilliam was all that was pleasant and
agreeable, ready to make conversation about a variety of subjects and clearly
not put off by the serious expression of his cousin.
Soon they were headed out of the dining room to the music room.
“Georgie, what are you going to play for me tonight?” asked Colonel
Fitzwilliam.
Georgiana looked down at her hands for a moment before looking up at the
Colonel with brightened eyes. “Miss Bennet and I have been working on a new
duet. Would you like to hear it?”
“Of course, dear, I’d be delighted.” The gentlemen seated themselves on a small
sofa, but not before Darcy noticed a small trace of anxiety cross Elizabeth’s
face.
Could she be nervous? I’ve heard
her play before, and in front of a much larger crowd than this. And she and
Georgiana have been playing together constantly since her arrival
.
He noticed Colonel Fitzwilliam in the corner of his eye.
Could it be that she’s nervous in front of
Richard? But he’s so congenial! Surely not! Unless… She couldn’t be developing
feelings for him already, could she?
Darcy didn’t like where this was going. He knew the feeling rising within him
and knew its name: jealousy, plain and simple. How could he be jealous of
Colonel Fitzwilliam when he had decided that he would not pursue her? He had
decided to give her up and seek someone more suitable, hadn’t he? Hadn’t that
been the purpose of his blasted trip to Somerset? To put her and Hertfordshire
and Bingley and all their ridiculous problems out of his mind? That had clearly
not gone as planned.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and focused on the difficult music in front of
her. Georgiana was far more advanced a player than she was, and she knew she
did not compare favorably.
Oh, well! I
have no one to impress here,
she thought.
And if Mr. Darcy tries to intimidate me, I will tease
him mercilessly. No! Be nice Elizabeth!
The ladies began to play as he and Richard relaxed on the divan. Richard leaned
over to him and whispered in his ear, “Pretty picture they make, isn't
it?"
"Yes, they certainly look well together." Neither noticed when
Elizabeth struck a wrong chord.
"Quite the scene of domestic bliss, eh? Sweet how they are dressed to
match, too."
“Hmmm? Dressed to match?"
"Yes, Georgiana is pink on green, Miss Bennet is green on pink. You didn't
notice?"
"No, I didn't. Whose idea was that, do you suppose?" asked Darcy.
"I
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