"He certainly had not been willing to consider lowering his own dignity to promote theirs. Nor… his brows furrowed deeply in pain… nor to promote Elizabeth’s happiness either. Not even for her."
Sigh...
Wow, what an amazing chapter, I think the best one yet. I felt every bit of Lizzy's humiliation and frustration, and Darcy's hurt and shame. I even felt bad for Mrs Bennet.
I was hoping at the end that Lizzy might try to comfort him as he had done while she was crying, but she was emotionally drained and probably wasn't sure what he was thinking or if he was angry. He wasn't even looking at her as she was talking. She was wise not only in the way she voiced her pov (the stories) but also recognizing that when he threw Wickham's name in her face that it was unresolved jealousy and not a reflection on her. She only knows half the cad Wickham is because he refuses to air it all. It says a lot (at least to me) that, though they were at odds, she felt comforted and soothed in Darcy's arms.
So anxious for what's next. Will he write her a letter, perhaps? Or try to release her from the engagement? Is it bad that I don't give a fig about what happens with Jane and Bingley?
