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“I had reason to believe that you wished for an offer. I ought not to let you continue hoping for one merely because the silence was convenient to me.”

She looked at him again. “Convenient.”

“Yes.”

“How flattering.”

Darcy bore the reproach. He could not call her company agreeable now without making the injury worse.

“Have I embarrassed you before other people?” Caroline asked.

“No.”

“Has someone said that I have?”

“No. I am speaking for myself.”

She glanced toward the door through which Elizabeth had gone.

“Miss Bennet has supplied you with a remarkable number of opinions since her arrival.”

“She has supplied none of what I have said to you tonight.”

“I find that difficult to believe.”

“I have known that I could not return your attachment for much longer than I have known Miss Bennet. I should have said so sooner.”

Caroline’s eyes shone, though she held her head steadily. He had seen her angry and scornful. He had not seen her struggle to prevent him from knowing that he had hurt her.

“Is it her, then?”

Darcy did not answer at once. He would not deny what he felt for Elizabeth to make the conversation easier, and he would not describe a hope she had not yet agreed to share.

“I cannot offer you what you wish,” he said. “That would remain true if Miss Bennet had never come here.”

“You are very determined to preserve her from any unpleasantness.”

“I am trying to give you an honest answer.”

“Then give me time to dislike it.”

“Of course.”

He stepped back. Caroline lifted the cover as though she meant to open it, then laid it down again. One corner had folded beneath it. She smoothed that corner with more care than the paper required.

Darcy looked away, allowing her what privacy he could while remaining in the room.

After a moment she spoke in her usual voice.

“I have promised Charles to assist with his gathering. I shall keep the promise.”

“Thank you.”

“I do not do so because you have thanked me.”

“No.”

“And I should prefer that you did not report this conversation to my brother as though I were a difficulty he must undertake to settle.”