Page 72 of Compromise & Consequence
“Mrs. Darcyhas no need to answer such intrusive questions and I ask that you desist,” Darcy answered the presumptuous question in a hard voice. “It is enough thatImarried for love.”
At his declaration, Elizabeth thought for certain Caroline would swoon, right there on the settee. Unfortunately, that did not stop her from turning her attention back to Jane. She critiqued the cut and color of her gown, to the way she styled her hair. Nothing escaped her notice. Through it all, Jane remained frightfully quiet, and still. Oh, so very still. Finally, Elizabeth had enough.
“Colonel, would you help me with something?”
“What might that be, Mrs. Darcy? A more handsome husband? A larger home?”
“I do not need another husband, nor a larger house. Earlier this evening, in penning a note to your mother, I was stymied over a word selection.”
“You, stymied?” Mr. Bingley exclaimed. “You are the most well-read lady I have ever come across.”
“I needed a word for caustic language or unwarranted criticism. It was on the tip of my tongue, swirling about, but I cannot, for the life of me, remember that word.”
“Vitriol, dearest,” Jane said from her chair and almost everyone swiveled to look at her. These were the first words she’d spoken voluntarily all evening. “The word you are looking for is vitriol.”
“Of course! How could I forget, given the company we are in this evening?” Elizabeth turned her hard gaze to Caroline who had become as still as a hunted mouse. “I am certain you have heard this word before Miss Bingley, in your travels about town and visits to obscure little tea shops.”
From the corner of her eye, she noticed her husband’s raised brow at the warning shot she lobbed across the bow of Miss Bingley’s boat and cared not. He allowed this viper in their home and more the fool was he if he did not think she’d protect her family from its deadly venom of hatred and contempt.
“I am not sure I have, Mrs. Darcy.” Miss Bingley replied, her chin jutting out in defiance.
Good, the little snake knew exactly what she inferred.
“Fear not, Miss Bingley. I will not belabor the matter. Instead, I need not send the note as I will see her ladyship tomorrow evening at the theater. Aunt Lucinda is such a delightful person, very caring and protective ofherfamily.” Elizabeth turned her attention to the colonel who watched with ill-concealed glee. “Is that not so, Colonel?”
“Very protective, Mrs. Darcy. In that regard, you have much in common.” Upon that declaration, he approached Jane. “Would you care to take a turn about the room with me, Miss Bennet?”
The relief and appreciation in Jane’s eyes touched Elizabeth’s heart. She was so thankful she had asked Mr. Darcy to invite his cousin. With great pleasure, she noted the way the colonel tucked Jane’s arm against his body and covered her delicate hand with his large one. It appeared the colonel was just as smitten with her cousin as she was with him.
“What play are you attending, Darcy?” Mr. Bingley asked, his gaze following Jane and the colonel. “Mayhap we could join you.”
“My…ourbox is at capacity,” Mr. Darcy amended with a contrite look in Elizabeth’s direction. “Both Georgiana and Richard have consented to join us for the evening along with Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle.”
“We shall be such a merry party,” Elizabeth enthused.
“Is that your family fromCheapside, Eliza?”
“They are my cousin Jane’s family,Caro.”
“I do not understand. Are you not Miss Bennet’s sister?”
“Mr. Bennet is my late father’s elder brother. The connection to the Gardiners is through Mrs. Bennet, although I think of them as my flesh and blood.” Elizabeth slid her glance to Jane to see how she fared, relieved to see the return of her familiar serenity. “Regardless of how we are acquainted, I love them dearly.”
“My goodness. So many aunts, uncles, and cousins trotting about,” Miss Bingley tittered, apparently feeling that the wrath of Lady Matlock and the danger to her social standing had passed. “What next, a disclosure that you are somehow relatedto Mr. Wickham?”
Elizabeth knew it was her overactive imagination, but she almost heard her husband snap to attention at the mention of Mr. Wickham. What a ninny-hammer Miss Bingley was, trying to cause more trouble by mentioning the name of that man in her husband’s presence.
“Mrs. Darcy,” the colonel interjected smoothly from the far side of the room, showing that even though he walked with Jane he had not tuned out their conversation. “Have you any information concerning your estate? Have you found new tenants to lease the property?”
What a delightful rogue. He was aware of her holdings.
“What! You own property!”
Miss Bingley’s mouth hung open in surprise, but she caught herself and clamped it shut.
“I inherited an estate from my father when he died.”
“How clever to lease the property. There are plenty of people who seek small estates to lend themselves an air of credibility.”
