Chapter 17 #2
His explanation warmed her heart and made her previous comment sound silly and thoughtless.
“I see… Of course…We would be happy to see you and Miss Darcy for Christmas,” she mumbled. Another awkward silence followed until she enquired further, “So, Mr Bingley has no plans to leave Netherfield soon? I heard Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst eagerly preparing for their return to town.”
“No, Bingley has no such plans. He seems attached to Hertfordshire. Perhaps a little too much and a little too quickly.”
She was not ignorant to his meaning, so she breathed deeply before replying, “May I presume you disapprove of his attachment to…Hertfordshire…?”
He gazed at her again, and they kept walking.
“It is not for me to approve or disapprove. I only recommend prudence and wisdom to anyone in matters of attachment…”
“Is it not possible that sometimes, admiration and affection overcome prudence? That an impulse of the heart defeats wisdom? I am asking you because I can certainly not speak from experience, unless I consider my attachment to the seaside and swimming.” She added the last part to put a bit of lightness into her grave voice.
“I can hardly mention my own experience in matters of affection and attachment. In my case, prudence and wisdom have always been stronger than any impulse.”
“I see… Mr Bingley seems very different from you in nature and character.”
“He is… He is also younger and not always careful enough in considering his actions.”
“Mr Darcy, we have known each other for too long to conceal the truth under careful words. We both know you, as well as Mr Bingley’s sisters, are bothered by his admiration of my sister Jane, not by his attachment to Netherfield. Am I wrong?”
This time she stopped, facing him. He turned and looked at her.
“You are not wrong, Miss Bennet.”
“May I enquire what your objections are? To my sister, I mean.”
“I have reservations, not objections. I do not know your sister well enough to form any objections. And even if I did, my consideration for your uncle and your father, as well as for you, would forbid me from expressing any unfavourable opinions.”
“So your consideration for me would induce you to be dishonest in regard to my sister?” Her voice had turned harsh again, but this time she did not regret it.
“That is not what I mean. I fear you are determined to think the worst of me and to put the most unfavourable meanings into my words.”
“It is not me who thinks the worst of you, Mr Darcy. I would say it is quite the opposite.”
“You mean that you think the best of me?” he asked with a smile and a trace of teasing in his tone. But she was not in the mood for amusement.
“That is not what I meant, Mr Darcy. I fear you have the tendency to see the worst in people like my sister, who is beyond reproach.”
“Would you allow me to clarify my previous statement, Miss Bennet?”
“Please do so.”
He took a moment, and she scrutinised his handsome, thoughtful face.
“I cannot deny your sister is a very beautiful woman, one whom any man would easily admire. She also seems to possess a pleasant nature and an honourable character. But I fear Bingley is too ready to allow himself to be charmed and too eager to display his feelings, even before he is certain they are well grounded. Your sister has been ill for several days, so they hardly know each other, beyond dancing at the assembly. I am concerned neither of them has had the time to know their own hearts. If they were to make decisions about the future, they might be for the wrong reasons.”
“Surely you are too hasty in your concern, Mr Darcy. I am sure neither of them is considering making any decisions that might affect their future for the moment. I assure you that my sister is as wise as she is kind-hearted, and anything she decides is made for the right reason.”
“Sometimes, the best people with the best intentions do not have the liberty to make the best decisions.”
“I imagine Mr Bingley has all the liberty he wants, so you must be referring to my sister again.”
He paused, looking at her intently, then said, “If my sister received a proposal of marriage from a man she barely knew, I would not wish pressure from the family to affect her decision.”
“Oh. I see… You are concerned Mr Bingley is so charmed by Jane that he might propose even if his affection is not strong enough and that she might accept him because our situation in life is wanting.”
She felt anger growing inside her, while he kept looking at her.
“I am deeply sorry for upsetting you, Miss Bennet. After all, you insisted on speaking the truth. Yes, your statement summarised my thoughts accurately.”
His calmness increased her rage, and words came out before she considered them.
“If that is the case, Mr Darcy, do you not think it was too hasty on your part to ask for my permission to call on me? Or did I misunderstand your words again?”
He remained surprisingly composed.
“You understood my words very clearly, Miss Bennet. And no, I did not consider I was too hasty. I assure you I gave my thoughts long and thorough consideration before I expressed them to you.”