Page 114

“I should like to say it before anybody discovers another necessity on my behalf. If you think of providing anything further, will you speak to me about what you intend before putting the arrangement in motion?”

Darcy glanced toward the door. Had Reynolds sent something beyond what Elizabeth ordered? He could not imagine her doing so after their conversation.

“I understood that nothing was ordered without your agreement.”

“Nothing was. I chose every garment. I do not wish to pretend I was made to accept them.”

“Then I do not quite understand.”

Elizabeth considered her answer. He made himself wait, though he would have found it easier to assure her at once that the expense was immaterial.

“When I first wrote home, I wanted things which were already mine. Then you wrote to Papa, and Mrs. Reynolds found Mrs. Mercer, and I was asked to choose the clothes which would make me comfortable here. Everybody was considerate. Yet by the time I came to choose, there was already an arrangement, and it was a larger one than I had imagined when I asked for my old shawl.”

“You might have declined.”

“I know. And I did not wish to decline. That is what makes it difficult to explain without appearing ungrateful.” She met his eyes. “I am asking about the next time. Let me help determine what is offered, before I must determine whether to accept it.”

“You would have preferred that I spoke to you before writing to your father.”

“Yes.”

The simplicity of the answer relieved him. He need not guess at a meaning she refused to state.

“Very well. I shall.”

Elizabeth’s fingers loosened upon the letter.

“Thank you.”

“I did not mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“You have made me extremely comfortable. I walked farther this afternoon because I was warm.”

He smiled. “Then I may be permitted to consider some part of the undertaking successful.”

“Most of it. I am reserving the right to object to the next part before you undertake it.”

“That seems reasonable.”

“It does to me, but I have the advantage of knowing what I am likely to object to.”

“I begin to suspect you enjoy that advantage over most people.”

Elizabeth laughed. He had missed that laugh even while hearing it across a room. There was a difference when she gave it to him without appearing immediately to regret it.

She unfolded the letter.

“My father found a different deficiency in your arrangements. I ought to warn you before he writes to you directly.”

“Is that a new letter?”

“No. The answer to mine about the books. I have been keeping his recommendation to myself, but perhaps you should hear it.”

“If it concerns another repair to the house, I would prefer to hear it before winter.”

“I believe it can be accomplished without disturbing the roof.”

She found the paragraph, and Darcy watched her expression change as she read the words silently before repeating them aloud.