Chapter 5

Darcy’s head fell back against the wall. He sighed heavily, reprimanding himself for how he’d ended what had been a very fun, easy conversation.

‘I know what you don’t like.’

When this all began, he had meant well. Elated that Elizabeth was single again and baffled by her willingness to try online dating, he’d seen his chance to ease their testy relationship and become friends, if only for the sake of Charlie and Jane.

Who was he kidding? He wanted Elizabeth to like him. To consider him, and ultimately, if things went well, be with him. He wasn’t playing Cupid for her to fall for some other guy. Still, he was sincere in going about this whole matchmaking scheme. He might not be motivated to find her the perfect man, someone she’d want to date, but he could prove that he was earnest and well-intentioned, not the rude, arrogant, interfering jerk she believed him to be. Once she got to know him, she could choose whether to accept him or reject him. At least her judgment would be fair.

The mere fact that she hadn’t stomped all over his idea—and his heart—and laughed at him meant something. If nothing else, it meant she could tolerate him and his inane attempts at conversation. Because if there was one thing he’d learned in the months he had been acquainted with Elizabeth Bennet, it was that she was always miles ahead of him in conversation. No one, and certainly no woman, had ever left him as tongue-tied as she did.

So why had he again stirred up the memory of that awful night and reminded her that not only did she not like him but had stated it aloud?

Darcy was determined to change that, and if she wanted to tease him for playing squash and any other ridiculous thing she deemed posh and privileged, then he would welcome her jibes. They were gently meant, and yet on point. Her teasing was an amazing mix of wit and imagination.

That’s why he’d quickly realized his mistake in setting her up with Hal Tilney. The guy was far too much like her—smart and clever and fun to be around. But he was unserious and self-indulgent: a man with a master’s degree in materials science who preferred bartending and stand-up comedy gigs. He was amusing and amiable and Elizabeth would like him too much and start dating him and then be trapped with a man-child. He could only thank the gods for the serendipity of Tilney missing his flight home from a late-night comedy gig in Jackson Hole.

Darcy had tried, honestly. The night they hatched their plan, he had furtively looked up Elizabeth’s not-yet-defunct dating profile and read what she said constituted her perfect match. Tilney had come too close. Collins was perfectly off the mark. Fortunately, he knew at least one more man who checked none of her ‘like’ boxes.

Darcy had sat through hundreds of tedious business meetings and presentations. As he endured today’s date, he thought of them almost fondly.

“How do you know Elizabeth?” she asked.

He stared across the table at Claire Elliot, whose eyes seemed to be assessing the value of his watch, calculating his net worth, and designing their future dream house all at once. He made his answer brief. “Her sister is dating a good friend of mine.”

“And she’s fixing you up on dates rather than making a play for you herself?” Claire smiled but her eyes remained cool. “Not that Elizabeth is in your league, of course.”

It took effort not to narrow his eyes but he managed a polite reply. “It was a bit of a joke between us that now is seeing itself to fruition.” His coffee had been too hot to drink a few minutes earlier, and as he reached for it now, a red-polished fingertip touched his hand.

“You are no joke, Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

He quickly lifted the cup and leaned back in his chair to sip it. “And how do you know Elizabeth?”

Claire ignored his tacit rejection and arched an eyebrow. “She’s done some freelance graphic design at my agency but now we’ve shifted everything in-house. I assume she wants to maintain the professional connection. Fixing me up with the most impressive man of her acquaintance is a good start.”

She grinned like a cat who’d eaten a cageful of canaries and a huge bowl of cream as a chaser. This woman could put Caroline to shame, thought Darcy. Whatever Elizabeth’s motivations for slotting this woman as his date, he would make sure not to injure their professional connection. But he hoped to never see Claire Elliot again.