Chapter 2 #2
“Of course I am sure, Miss Eliza. I have just made his acquaintance, and Sir William has spoken to him and to Mr Bingley several times. His estate in Derbyshire is vast. Pemberley is its name. It seems he was the one who suggested Mr Bingley choose Netherfield over several other proprieties.”
“Well, thank God for that!” Mrs Bennet interjected. “Let us hope he is at least half as amiable as he is rich.”
Usually, such dialogue would have diverted Elizabeth, and she would have answered with wit and jests.
But the overwhelming memories of her childhood and the sadness of the loss she could still feel were too strong to allow other feelings.
Although some of her recollections were unclear, lost in a mist due to her young age when the circumstances occurred, she did remember little Georgiana as well as Lady Anne and Mrs Reynolds speaking well of the young master Darcy.
Time could not have changed him that much, could it?
She even remembered his long and difficult name.
Fitzwilliam. Apparently Lady Anne’s maiden name.
Elizabeth wondered why such seemingly insignificant details returned to her mind after such a long time.
Was it possible that Georgiana might remember her too?
It was very unlikely, but not impossible.
And since her brother had appeared in the neighbourhood, she had the chance to enquire after her friend and at least hear some news — hopefully all good — about her.
Elizabeth studied Mr Darcy’s person with renewed interest; of course he seemed familiar to her, as he very much resembled his father.
What a wonderful surprise that night at the assembly had brought her!
She kept her gaze on him, hoping for a glance back, a gesture, anything that could start a conversation.
Mr Darcy, however, seemed to be as untouched by any of the activity in the room as he had been on first entering it.
Elizabeth studied him some more. She found him pleasant to look at; there was something entirely appealing to her about him.
She watched him briefly address the young woman next to him — presumably one of Mr Bingley’s sisters — and in this short interaction, she noticed the pleasant way in which his countenance changed while giving his approval.
Yes, there was something very appealing about his mouth — a masculine assuredness in the set of his jaw.
She blushed slightly, not even sure why she had responded in such a way.
In watching him give a short smile to his companion, Elizabeth smiled to herself also as she admitted to agreeing with her mother: if her father had been there, an introduction to him would have been easy and quick.
Eventually, Mr Bingley, accompanied by Sir William, came in their direction, and while Mrs Bennet tried to keep her composure, warning her eldest daughters to ‘be charming’, Elizabeth noticed Mr Darcy following his friend.
She was suddenly thrilled yet nervous, as if she was facing a long-awaited reunion only one party had the remembrance of.
Elizabeth unconsciously straightened her back, and a nervous smile — very much unlike her — appeared on her face.
Mr Bingley stopped in front of the Bennets with an expression of utter delight on his face.
With formality and self-importance, Sir William performed the introductions.
Mr Bingley’s smile widened once his gaze found Jane — whom he declared he had heard much of — and he began speaking to Mrs Bennet with so much ease that anyone would have thought they were old acquaintances.
Much to Elizabeth’s disappointment, however, Mr Darcy only acknowledged them with a slight bow.
Elizabeth rubbed her hands against her dress uneasily, to ease her agitation.
“I had the pleasure of making Mr Bennet’s acquaintance a few days ago,” Mr Bingley said, “and I had hoped to see him again tonight.”
“Mr Bennet is busy with other business tonight,” Mrs Bennet said clumsily. “But I am sure he will visit you when he has the chance. Meanwhile, I hope you will accept our company and our willingness to amuse you. My daughters, especially Jane here, are wonderful dancers.”
Jane blushed violently. Mr Bingley, on the other hand, seemed delighted.
“Excellent! I am looking forward to dancing with your daughter— That is, if Miss Bennet is not otherwise engaged, I would be honoured if she would grant me the favour of the next set.”
Jane blushed for a second time with even more becoming demureness and while curtseying, said, “I am not engaged. It would be a pleasure, Mr Bingley.”
Mrs Bennet threw a triumphant glance to the other ladies, then she noticed Mr Darcy looking somewhat lost, and she seized a perfect opportunity, addressing him directly.
“Mr Darcy, I hope you are equally desirous to dance, and there is no better time than this. You will hardly find better company or—”
“Forgive me, madam, but I rarely dance. It is a diversion that I truly dislike,” he declared sternly, then bowed and stepped away.
Mrs Bennet seemed stunned, glaring after him in disbelief. Mr Bingley apologised and hurried after his friend. Mrs Long and Mrs Phillips looked dumbfounded, while Lady Lucas witnessed the scene with a smirk.
Elizabeth was dumbstruck by Mr Darcy’s apparent coldness and impoliteness — so opposed to her every expectation. She tried to conceal her disappointment, but her mother made no such effort.
“Well! That was certainly unexpected! And rude! I have never heard such an answer from a gentleman at a ball in my entire life!”
“It was rather unpleasant,” Mrs Phillips agreed.
“Rather? Very much so!” Mrs Bennet continued. “Mr Darcy might be rich and important, but his behaviour is very ungentlemanly, particularly in a ballroom! What a difference between him and his friend! Mr Bingley’s character surely compensates for his smaller fortune.”
Mrs Bennet became more irritated, and her tone showed as much. Jane panicked and gently touched her arm. “Mama, let us assume Mr Darcy is in a poor disposition tonight. I am sure he had no intention of offending us.”
Elizabeth was much too confused to speak, and only when Jane said her name a second time did she regain her composure enough to say, “Jane might be right, Mama. As you know, Papa also loathes balls and parties. If he did not, he would be here with us now.”
“If he was, I am sure he would put Mr Darcy in his place!” Mrs Bennet went on, and her sister and friends nodded.
Fortunately, the music began soon after, and Mr Bingley came to claim Jane’s hand, so Mrs Bennet’s ire immediately soothed. But she did not forget nor forgive so easily, so she continued to speak to the other ladies, sharing her vexation.
Soon enough, others in the room joined Mrs Bennet in her disapproval of Mr Darcy.
While at first the gentlemen had pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, and the ladies had declared he was more handsome than Mr Bingley, as the evening progressed, his manners were seen as so disagreeable that it turned the tide of his popularity.
He was pronounced determined to be proud, above his company, and above being pleased; and despite his large estate, great fortune, and tall and fine figure, he was declared to be beneath his amiable friend.
Mr Bingley was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, admired the company, and already talked of giving a ball himself at Netherfield — delightful qualities that made him everyone’s favourite.
Mr Darcy danced only once with Mrs Hurst and once with Miss Bingley and spent the rest of the evening walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party and neglecting the rest, who quickly decided his character.
He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and nobody desired to see him at another ball ever again — Mrs Bennet being one of his most severe critics.
Oddly, after her initial shock had subsided, Elizabeth began to feel pity for him, while she continued to watch him with increased curiosity.
He looked utterly uncomfortable, and during the two sets that he danced with his friend’s sisters, he showed good dancing skills but no enjoyment at all.
There were times when he caught her gaze, and in those moments, he appeared even more miserable, making Elizabeth wonder why he had not ended the torture and simply returned to Netherfield.
Due to the scarcity of gentlemen, Elizabeth was obliged to sit down for two dances, and she employed her time watching the rest of the attendees.
During part of that time, Mr Darcy happened to be standing a short distance from her.
She was partly hidden by a column, but she contemplated the idea of making her presence known.
She wondered whether this might be an opportune moment to speak to him, at least a few words to acquaint him with her connection to his family so she could enquire more on another occasion.
But before she could act, Mr Bingley left the dance for a few moments to press his friend to join it, and Elizabeth unintentionally heard their conversation.
“Come, Darcy. I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”
“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, especially among strangers. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable.”
“I would not be so fastidious as you are for a kingdom!” cried Mr Bingley. “I never met with so many pretty girls in my life before, and the entire company is generally pleasant.”
“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Mr Darcy, nodding towards Jane and making Elizabeth smile to herself.
“Darcy, she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is her younger sister. You saw her earlier and were even introduced to her. She is very pretty as well, and I dare say very agreeable. Why not ask her?”