CHAPTER 3 #2
Elizabeth’s eyebrows lifted at this reply, and she responded in kind, "I am determined to call it what it was, sir, which I think a fault only insofar as you appear unwilling to own it as one.
I am not offended, Mr. Darcy, or very little offended, in any case, since the mistake has furnished me with considerably more amusement than injury, but I think you will find, if you examine the sentence again, that it wanted a good deal of courtesy. "
Darcy was silent for a moment, simply looking at her with an unguarded directness that Elizabeth found disconcerting. She had expected a retort, perhaps a further defense of his conduct, but not this quiet examination. His stare grew more and more uncomfortable, as his eyes looked boldly into hers.
In fact, the longer he remained silent, the more conscious she became of his attention.
And, she soon felt a faint warmth begin to rise in her cheeks, much to her annoyance, for she was entirely unaccustomed to being made self-conscious by a gentleman who had, only moments before, been the object of her own criticism.
Finally, he said, with a curt observation. "You argue your case very thoroughly, Miss Bennet."
Elizabeth raised her chin slightly, her composure returning as quickly as it had faltered. If Mr. Darcy wishes to measure my patience, I would not deny him the opportunity, but neither would I allow him to believe he has won the exchange.
She decided on her next discourse, and simply stated, "I have had a great deal of practice, sir." Her tone was confident, and she let out the faintest hint of amusement in her voice.
Resigning to her declaration, Mr. Darcy continued. "And do you find, generally, that your arguments prevail?"
"Generally, sir, I find that my opponents concede the point and privately resent me for it.
" The words made it clear she had no intention of retreating from them.
Yet, the moment they had left her lips, Elizabeth realized she had ventured beyond teasing.
It was a tart reply, perhaps more pointed than the occasion required, but she could not recall the last time a gentleman had so thoroughly invited correction while being so unwilling to accept it.
He is stubborn as an ox, she thought, although she knew she should have softened her speech. And yet, the satisfaction of seeing the man before her momentarily unsettled proved too tempting to resist.
"That is fortunate," said Darcy after a pause, his expression remaining carefully composed, though his eyes betrayed the faintest flicker of reluctant amusement. "For I must confess myself uncertain, at this moment, whether I like you at all."
It was not the answer he had intended to give, as it was unkind.
And yet, the woman before him, standing there with a becoming flush upon her cheeks and that unmistakable spark of defiance still present in her eyes, had unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
Somehow, she had drawn from him honesty and an equal measure of sharpness, both before he had considered whether either was wise to offer.
She laughed at him. "Then we are in perfect agreement, Mr. Darcy, for I find myself equally uncertain upon the same subject with regard to you. Though I will allow that uncertainty is a far more interesting state than the settled dislike I had nearly reached a moment ago.”
A silence followed her reply, though it was not the silence of anger nor quite the comfort of agreement.
This silence was strangely charged, as though neither Mr. Darcy nor Elizabeth was entirely certain whether the conversation had ended in victory or compromise.
The only thing that was certain was that neither looked away first; she meeting his gaze with the same unflinching directness she had brought to the whole of their exchange, and he regarding her with an expression between irritation and a reluctant and unwilling type of respect.
It was into that delicate pause that Bingley's voice from the doorway. He was cheerful and unguarded, and his tone carried a warmth that was altogether different than the one they had just concluded.
Elizabeth could not help but think that Mr. Bingley had arrived at precisely the moment when his presence was most needed, though he was almost certainly unaware of the service he had performed.
"Darcy! There you are! I have been calling for you these ten minutes.” He looked between Darcy and Elizabeth and said, “Well, I see that you and Miss Elizabeth are getting acquainted. Very good!"
"Yes, Bingley," said Darcy, his eyes not leaving Elizabeth's. "Miss Bennet and I have lately become acquainted. She has been good enough to inform me of the exact state of her opinion regarding the acquaintance, and at some length."
"Some faults merit thoroughness, Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth, "when the offender declines to attend to them the first time they are mentioned."
"I had a great deal of opinion to convey, Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth, "and but a short acquaintance in which to convey it. You must forgive me if I did not trouble to economise."
"I have noticed no such economy in you yet, Miss Bennet," said Darcy, "on any subject whatsoever. I confess I begin to wonder whether the fault lies in the acquaintance being short, or simply in its being conducted with you."
Elizabeth laughed outright at that, and Bingley, who had witnessed the whole exchange and understood perhaps rather less of it than either of his companions credited him with, looked between the two of them with open uncertainty and delight.
"Well, I am glad to see someone has finally got the better of you in conversation, Darcy.
I had begun to think it could not be done.
Miss Elizabeth, you must teach me your method, for I have been trying these three years and have never yet managed it above once, and that only because you'd had a fever at the time and weren't attending properly. "
"I attend to everything, Bingley," said Darcy. "It is a very great fault of mine.”
He did not, in saying it, look away from Elizabeth at all.