Chapter Eighteen #2
Darcy sat near the end of the gentlemen's sofa.
His conversation with Lady Hortensia had left him looking rather more sober than before, though when Elizabeth met his eye, the corner of his mouth lifted.
She tried to give her attention to Mr Pritchard and not to the memory of Darcy swinging her in his arms joyfully less than an hour earlier.
Mr Pritchard unfolded the first paper. "I possess four wings but never fly. I turn from morning until night without leaving my place, and before men may eat, I labour over their food. What am I?"
"A windmill," Miss Drummond called, at almost the same moment that James Blackwood said, "A mill."
Mr Pritchard considered them both. "Miss Drummond gave the more complete answer."
The ladies applauded, while James protested that a windmill was plainly a kind of mill and ought therefore to count.
"If I ask for the name of a gentleman," Lady Frances said, "and you answer only that he is a man, I do not think you will have been especially helpful."
"One point to the ladies," Mr Pritchard announced before the discussion could spread.
He opened the second paper. "I hold more words than any person could speak, and much learning may be found within me. I have many leaves, though I am not a tree, and I can be opened but never enter a room. What am I?"
"A library," Sir Geoffrey said confidently.
"A book," Miss Lacey answered over him.
Mr Pritchard inclined his head towards the ladies.
Sir Geoffrey frowned. "A library contains considerably more words than a single book."
"It does not have leaves, nor can it be held and opened," Darcy observed. "The answer is a book."
Sir Geoffrey looked dissatisfied with both the answer and the explanation. "It was imprecisely put."
"Two points to the ladies," said Mr Pritchard.
The gentlemen drew themselves together with greater purpose after that.
Mr Ashcombe urged them to answer more quickly, while Henry Blackwood pointed out that answering quickly had not yet been the difficulty, it was correctness that was tripping them up.
Across from them, Amelia lowered her eyes to hide a smile.
The third riddle was read in the same solemn tone. "I am tall and pale, but my life is short. I am of greatest use after dark, and those around me lament when I expire. What am I?"
"A glow-worm," Mr Hadley said.
Mrs Cartwright looked at him, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Tall?"
"A very well-nourished glow-worm."
"A candle," Jane answered through her laughter.
The ladies celebrated their third point with enough noise that Lady Hortensia was obliged to raise one hand. "We have four riddles remaining. The gentlemen are not yet entirely lost."
"That is generous of you," Mr Hadley said.
"It is not generosity, Mr Hadley. It is arithmetic. Now can you all quieten down. It is like I have returned to the school room."
Darcy looked across at Elizabeth and found her trying not to laugh. She failed as soon as their eyes met, and the sight of his answering smile made her forget for a moment that they were supposed to be opponents.
Mr Pritchard selected the next paper. "I run without feet, cut through stone without a blade and sing though I have no voice. What am I?"
"A carriage," Sir Geoffrey said.
"A carriage has wheels," Miss Drummond replied.
"It still runs."
"It does not cut through stone."
"It might if driven very badly."
"A storm," Harriet called.
Mr Pritchard shook his head.
Harriet frowned. "It runs across the country and certainly makes enough noise."
Before anyone could answer, Colonel Fitzwilliam rose from the gentlemen's sofa and crossed the space between the teams on the pretence of examining the view from the window. As he passed behind Jane, he bent and murmured something close to her ear.
Jane brightened. "A river."
"Correct," said Mr Pritchard.
Lady Hortensia lifted her cane before the ladies could celebrate. "No point."
Richard straightened. "Why not?"
"Because you supplied Miss Bennet with the answer."
"I merely passed behind her."
"You also whispered the word river into her ear."
Jane lowered her gaze, though she was smiling. "I am afraid he did."
Lady Hortensia regarded them both. "Colonel Fitzwilliam, you may assist Miss Bennet after the Challenge. For the present, return to your own team."
Richard obeyed without the least sign of regret. Mr Hadley looked at him as he resumed his seat. "You do understand that you have just given away our chance of a point?"
Richard glanced once more at Jane. "I am aware."
"And you do not care?"
"Not especially."
Mr Pritchard set the paper aside and selected another. "The point remains unawarded." He cleared his throat before continuing. "In spring I am finely dressed, in summer I wear still more, but as the weather grows colder I cast off my clothes and stand naked through winter. What am I?"
"A tree," Lady Frances and Darcy answered together.
The room broke into immediate protest before Mr Pritchard had said a word.
The ladies claimed Lady Frances had spoken first. The gentlemen insisted Darcy had, while Captain Fanshawe supported his captain with unusual firmness.
Harriet declared that Lady Frances had certainly been louder, and Sir Geoffrey argued that volume ought not to determine the matter.
Mr Pritchard waited until the noise diminished. "They spoke at the same moment."
Lady Hortensia looked at him. "Then no point."
"Surely half a point each," Mr Ashcombe said.
"I do not award fractions under any circumstances."
The answer was accepted with poor grace by both sides. Elizabeth caught Darcy's gaze again and mouthed, "We were first."
He shook his head. "Impossible."
She narrowed her eyes at him, though the effect was weakened by the fact that she was still smiling.
Mr Pritchard unfolded the sixth paper. "I have a face but no eyes, hands but no fingers, and though I never leave my place, I am always moving. What am I?"