Page 58 of The Briar Bargain
It was rather ironic, Elizabeth thought, to feel a swell of pride in her sister’s quiet ruminations on humility, but she did. The others in the room all appeared to be reflecting seriously on Jane’s words. Only Miss Bingley shifted in her seat, her fingers drumming lightly against her cushion.
The game continued with various degrees of hilarity. Mr. Hurst did not like his question and was commanded to recite the alphabet backwards, which he accomplished only with considerable assistance from his wineglass and much good-natured encouragement from the company. His performance was engagingly awful, involving several false starts and creative reinterpretations of the established order of letters.
Mr. Bingley likewise declined his question and was made to stand upon one leg whilst singing the first verse of "God Save the King," which he accomplished with such enthusiasm that even Mr. Darcy's lips turned up in a genuine smile. Mr. Bingley's voice was pleasant enough, though his balance left something to be desired, and he swayed alarmingly during the more ambitious notes.
Mrs. Hurst was required to pronounce one compliment for each person present, which she did with kindness. When she reached her sister, she hesitated an instant too long before pronouncing that she admired Caroline’s “determination.” Miss Bingley’s smile did not falter, but her eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
Elizabeth did not know what to make of it all. Had the sisters quarrelled? It seemed unlikely.
At last, it was Mr. Darcy’s turn.
But Miss Bingley did not allow him to select from the nearly empty bowl. “Here is a question most fitting, sir,” she said, unfolding a slip with a smile that was both sweet and sharp. “Do you believe true friendship between men and women possible?” She held out the paper to him, and he rose to take it.
Elizabeth’s breath caught. Miss Bingley’s design was plain. If Mr. Darcy answered in the affirmative, she would claim the distinction for herself; if in the negative, he risked appearing both ungenerous and unkind. Elizabeth’s gaze flicked instinctively to his, wondering how he would extricate himself.
Mr. Darcy regarded Miss Bingley steadily, then folded the slip in half with deliberate composure. “I shall take the command instead.”
A murmur of interest ran through the party. Bingley clapped his hands together in delight. “Excellent! Excellent! Let us see what fate has in store for you, Darcy.” Mrs. Hurst, her eyes locked with her sister’s, held out a slip to her brother, who read it aloud. “‘Recite a nursery rhyme in the manner of an oration.’ Ha! Nothing could be better.”
Darcy rose at once. He drew himself to his full height, shoulders squared, his expression the very image of solemn dignity. The room fell into expectant silence as he began, his voice resonant and stately, as though delivering a speech before the House of Lords.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Four score Men, and Four score more,
Could not set Humpty Dumpty where he was before.
The words, absurd in themselves, gained a majestic grandeur from his delivery. Elizabeth pressed her handkerchief to her lips, struggling to contain her laughter. Mr. Hurst gave a convulsive laugh, nearly losing his glass in the process. Mr. Bingley doubled over, tears of mirth streaming from his eyes. Even Jane laughed behind her hand.
Mr. Darcy, unmoved, concluded the rhyme solemnly and resumed his seat without so much as a twitch of amusement. Only the faintest movement at the corner of his mouth betrayed his awareness of the absurdity.
Elizabeth could not be more delighted. She could scarcely believe it that Mr. Darcy, of all men, should not onlyknowsuch a childish rhyme, but have it so readily at command and recite it with such deliberate gravity! It was beyond imagining. She felt her cheeks grow warm as she stole a glance at him. How thoroughly she had misjudged him at first. First impressions, she knew now, could be highly unreliable.
As the attention of the room turned away from him, he leaned over to say, very quietly, “I do believe that it is possible for men and women to be friends, Miss Elizabeth, particularly when there is a similarity of mind between them.”
Was Mr. Darcy confirming that they were friends and no more?
If he was, it was only in the most Mr. Darcy way imaginable.
She smiled to herself. Insufferable man.
Miss Bingley lifted the final slip from the bowl, frowned, and turned it over to reveal—nothing. “How curious,” she said with a tight smile. “It seems my own slip has gone astray. How unfortunate.”
Elizabeth, who had already suspected that Miss Bingley had saved herself for last in hopes of closing the evening with a glittering witticism, made no comment. Nor did Jane, who folded her hands in her lap and looked serenely into the fire.
It might have ended there, awkward but unspoken, had not Mrs. Hurst stirred from her seat.
“That is all right, Caroline,” she said, her voice mild. “I wrote a few extra questions, just in case.”
Miss Bingley turned, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “Did you? How diligent of you.”
“Indeed.” Mrs. Hurst reached into her reticule and produced a folded slip.
Elizabeth wondered whether Mrs. Hurst had in fact writtenallthe questions. Other than the one Miss Bingley had selected for Mr. Darcy, of course.
Mrs. Hurst read the question aloud. “If you knew that another’s pursuit of admiration was rapidly becoming their own undoing, would you speak candidly, or let them continue?”
