Chapter 5
Elizabeth was grateful when dinner finally ended and everyone retired for the night.
The news about Mr Darcy had reduced her appetite and her spirits, replacing it with a silly anxiety, as she called it.
Why such agitation over a mere meeting with an old acquaintance?
They would greet each other, and that should be all.
Why would she feel uncomfortable? There was nothing to embarrass her and even less to distress her; she had acted according to the circumstances at the time, and she should mind her manners upon seeing him again. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Dear Lizzy, what do you say about such a coincidence?” Jane enquired before she fell asleep. “Mr Darcy is here, in Hertfordshire? How astonishing.”
“I am as surprised as you are, but I suppose he was as likely to be in Hertfordshire as anywhere else in the country. Gentlemen of his situation must travel frequently.”
“True, but still — the first time you met him was under the strangest of circumstances. If you had made his acquaintance in London while staying with Uncle Gardiner, for instance, it would have been unremarkable. But the fact that he is a friend of the gentleman who has let the estate only three miles from Longbourn — that is strange. You cannot deny it.”
Jane’s face revealed her amusement, and Elizabeth forced a smile.
“What is it, Lizzy? You do not seem entertained at all. Did I say something wrong?”
“No, no, dearest. I absolutely agree — a spell must have been cast upon me twisting my every encounter with Mr Darcy into a peculiar incident.” She added a laugh at the end of her reply that put Jane at ease.
“I just hope he knows not to reveal the details of our previous encounters. The last thing I want is Mama bragging about it to the whole of Meryton.”
“I am sure Uncle Gardiner warned him. Besides, from the little we know about him, I doubt Mr Darcy is inclined to gossip about such delicate matters.”
“You are probably right.”
“Lizzy, I just realised I do not know Mr Darcy at all. I mean, we have spoken of him many times, but I have never seen his face nor met him in person. Do you remember him? Will you recognise him?”
“Of course I shall,” she answered, though not quite convincingly. If she were forced to draw him, she would probably fail. But she would certainly recognise him when they were standing face to face.
“Now let us sleep. It is very late,” Elizabeth said, drawing a close to the conversation.
Shortly afterwards, silence fell over the room, broken only by Jane’s steady breathing, and Elizabeth sighed in relief. She would rather be alone with her thoughts than share her distress, even with her sister.
She would certainly recognise Mr Darcy, and he would remember her once they were introduced.
But would he know her if they happened to meet by accident?
Probably not. He had not shown any interest in meeting her in three whole years, but it had been kind of him to introduce himself to the Gardiners and not hide his acquaintance with them.
His actions had been quite gentlemanlike — as expected — while she was still nervous and silly.
Thankfully, nobody could guess her mind was so agitated, and she prayed she could recover some of her usual spirits overnight; still, the night was nothing but anxiety and restlessness, and she awoke in the morning tired, with dark circles around her eyes, a heavy heart, and the conviction that she was a simpleton indeed.
∞∞∞
Mrs Bennet’s distress at the prospect of Mr Bingley and his friend’s visit was evident even before breakfast. The lady was mostly preoccupied with having her eldest daughter look her best; to her mind, Jane had the best chance of attracting a worthy gentleman’s admiration.
“And you, Lizzy, do not dare go far from the house! Mr Bingley will surely believe your behaviour is that of a savage and form an ill first opinion about our family!”
“Do not worry, Mama. I shall go no farther than the gardens. May I be of some help to you?”
“Just be sure you look as pretty as possible and be on your best behaviour! That applies to all of you, girls!”
Elizabeth and her sisters knew better than to argue with their mother when she was in such an agitated state. Mr Bennet, however, could not help teasing her until breakfast ended and he withdrew to his library.
While the gentlemen had not mentioned a particular time for their call, as the hours passed, the agitation at Longbourn increased until finally Kitty cried from her seat by the window, “Mama, look, they are here! They are here!”
Glancing out, Elizabeth’s heart began to pound from her disconcerting emotions.
The two riders stopped and dismounted, walking towards the door.
All six ladies took a seat, waiting for the servant to announce the visitors.
A few minutes later, it was Mr Bennet who entered, followed by the two gentlemen.
“Mrs Bennet, girls, allow me to introduce you to Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy. They have been kind enough to call on us, and we shall go to the library for a drink.”
The ladies immediately stood, while the gentlemen bowed.
Mr Bingley wore a large smile and expressed his delight in meeting them.
Mr Darcy remained a step behind; he greeted them politely, yet his manner seemed cold and distant.
Elizabeth gazed at him with great interest, but his eyes only met hers for a moment.
Whatever the reason, Mr Darcy looked far less pleased to be there compared with his friend.
And if he recognised Elizabeth — as he should have after the introduction — he betrayed no sign of it.
After exchanging some more pleasantries, the gentlemen withdrew, allowing the ladies the liberty to comment.
“Mr Bingley is everything a young man should be!” Mrs Bennet concluded. “He looked so happy to be here. And he mentioned he would attend the assembly! I am sure he will ask you to dance, girls. So handsome and charming! Is he not, Jane?”
“He is, Mama. It was kind of him to call.”
“But his friend, Mr Darcy — I am not sure what the matter is with him. Did he not tell your father he is acquainted with my brother and sister Gardiner? He might well be, but he barely spoke a word to us. That is not my definition of a gentleman.”
“Mama, not all gentlemen possess the same nature,” Jane replied in a low voice. “That does not make them any less worthy.”
“Well, he must be worth something if he owns such a large estate in Derbyshire. And he is handsome enough — I cannot deny that. But he certainly does not put much effort into his manners.”
“Perhaps he believes he is too rich to talk to us, Mama,” Lydia interjected.
“Or perhaps he is not inclined to speak to strangers,” Elizabeth declared, slightly troubled by all the criticism of him.
However, she could not contradict her mother.
Mr Darcy had shown no sign that he enjoyed the visit, so she had to conclude he had not come to the area to make her acquaintance.
And she had been such a simpleton to have awaited the encounter with trepidation and nervousness. It was quite ridiculous on her part.
“Well, he may be as he pleases. I would not mind if I never saw him again. I am quite content with Mr Bingley,” Mrs Bennet declared.
The conversation continued until they spotted the gentlemen leaving and Mr Bennet came to join them.
“Well, Mrs Bennet, I hope you are satisfied with my efforts to bring Mr Bingley to your home. I expect you will not demand anything else from me for a good long time.”
“I am very happy, Mr Bennet! I wonder whether Mr Bingley has visited other families and met other girls in the neighbourhood. He surely will ask ours to dance at the assembly!”
“I pity Mr Bingley if he is forced to dance with even half the girls he will meet at the assembly. But it is none of my business, especially since I am not even certain I shall attend,” Mr Bennet responded, taking a seat and opening his book.
“I have fulfilled my duty, and I feel I deserve a few hours of peaceful reading.”
Mrs Bennet barely heard her husband. She continued to express her joy and instruct her daughters on how to behave in order to draw Mr Bingley’s attention.
Elizabeth took the first opportunity to leave the house in search of some fresh air.
The brief meeting with Mr Darcy had caused her bitter disappointment, even though there had been no reason for her to expect anything different.
His actions had been entirely proper, and he had given no hint of their previous encounters, just as she had wished.
There was nothing in his behaviour to reprimand, and it was certainly not his fault that she — and her mother — had hoped for more.
The cool air helped her reflect with more calmness.
He had looked just as she remembered him, except more serious, even severe, and certainly more properly attired.
That he had paid for a bathing machine to enable Elizabeth to enjoy sea-bathing two summers in a row was hardly conceivable.
She was determined to thank him in person when a suitable private opportunity arose, but his distant manners were rather discouraging.
Elizabeth had walked through the garden and out of a side gate onto the path beyond when her reverie was interrupted by a voice calling her name.
Startled, she lifted her head to find Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy on their horses only a few feet away.
Her cheeks burning in mortification, she mumbled a few words in greeting.
“I hope we did not give you a fright, Miss Bennet,” Mr Bingley said. He dismounted, a large smile on his face, and stepped forwards. Behind him, Mr Darcy did the same, except that his countenance remained stern.
“Not at all, sir. I am merely surprised to see you, as I had assumed you had returned to Netherfield.”
“We are about to, but first we took a ride about the neighbourhood. Are you going somewhere?”
“No, only taking a stroll. It is one of my guilty pleasures.” She smiled. She felt Mr Darcy’s gaze upon her and glanced at him; their eyes met briefly, and she noticed a trace of a smile twisting his lips.
“It is fine weather for exercise,” he finally said, and Elizabeth needed a moment before she answered.
“Indeed. I hope you gentlemen are enjoying the county.”
“We are,” Mr Bingley answered. “In truth, we visited a few properties before Darcy here recommended I choose Netherfield. Since he is quite an expert on estates, I took his advice.”
Again, Elizabeth cast a look at Mr Darcy. He looked slightly uneasy but responded, “I studied the papers, and Netherfield seemed to have potential, though it had not been exploited properly. And I confess I asked Dr Gardiner’s opinion before encouraging Bingley to let it.”
“Ah…yes…my uncle told me you had met a few times, sir.”
“I was delighted to see him each time, and to meet your aunt at the theatre. I hope to have the pleasure again soon,” he said. His voice had become a little warmer, and the tentative smile remained on his lips.
“Miss Bennet, may we escort you somewhere?” Mr Bingley enquired.
“No, thank you, sir. I shall walk a little longer, then return home.”
“May I ask where this path goes?” Mr Darcy asked.
“To Oakham Mount, the highest spot hereabouts,” Elizabeth explained. “If you wish to enjoy a good view over Netherfield, there is no better place.”
“How wonderful! Is it far?” Mr Bingley asked.
“About an hour on foot. You may also ride, too, but not all the way. The last part might be too steep for a horse.”
“Is it not too difficult a walk for a young lady by herself? And perhaps a little bit dangerous?” Mr Darcy questioned with a frown. Elizabeth smiled in return.
“It might be tiring for someone who is not used to walking. That is why my sisters hardly ever join me. And I do not walk there every day. As for the danger, we are all friends here, in our small community. I cannot remember anyone ever being hurt in these parts.”
“It is quite charming to see such determination and courage in a young woman. Still, prudence should not be neglected. Safety is always more important than enjoyment,” Mr Darcy declared.
Elizabeth felt her cheeks colour as she understood his meaning.
“I absolutely agree,” she replied. “However, there are times when even the most prudent gentleman cannot ensure his own safety. So perhaps it is best not to give up one’s enjoyment, since unfortunate accidents cannot always be prevented.”
He paused for a moment, and their eyes met again. His little smile became brighter.
“I cannot but concur, Miss Bennet,” he said.
“I am pleased to hear that, sir. Well then, I shall allow you to continue your ride, gentlemen,” Elizabeth concluded.
“We were the ones who interrupted your walk, Miss Bennet,” Mr Bingley said. “We wish you a pleasant day and hope to meet again soon.”
They jumped into their saddles, but before they left, Mr Darcy spoke again. “Miss Bennet, I was wondering… If it is not too much trouble, could you direct me to Oakham Mount one day? I would certainly not dare ask you to accompany me there.”
The request took her by surprise, and her cheeks heated.
“It would be my pleasure, sir. If an appropriate occasion arises, I would be happy to accompany you there. And Mr Bingley, too, if he so desires,” she quickly added.
“Thank you, I greatly anticipate it.” Mr Darcy bowed to her, then both gentlemen departed, their horses soon breaking into a gallop.
Elizabeth gazed after them with a mix of confusing feelings and a restless heart.
Another coincidence had allowed her to speak to Mr Darcy, as she had wished to. Their conversation had been brief, and his manner could be considered one of distant politeness, but it had also been quite enlightening.
In a few words, Mr Darcy had indicated that his memories were as vivid as hers, and he had no objections to recollecting and sharing them. He had even proposed a walk, surely for the purpose of a private conversation. How and if that proposition would turn into reality was difficult to foresee.
But she now had reason to believe that he was not as arrogant and unpleasant as he appeared during his visit to Longbourn; at least not with her.