Chapter 5
The encounter with Mr Darcy felt like a heavy burden on Elizabeth’s shoulders. Without knowing the precise reason — after all, the conversation had been polite, even friendly — she sensed that it had affected her, as well as Mr Darcy, more deeply than she had expected.
Fortunately for her, the wave of enquiries from their mother was directed entirely towards Jane and centred around Mr Bingley, so she had time to examine her own thoughts. However, she did not entirely escape from Mr Bennet’s scrutiny and questioning.
“How was the visit, Lizzy?”
“It was pleasant enough, Papa.”
“Did you and Mr Darcy resolve your disagreement?”
“We did. He was curious about my connection to his family, and I related the circumstances to him.”
“I am glad to hear that. I confess I liked the fellow well enough, but it must be because I was only in his company for half an hour, and men have no time for rudeness when they are enjoying a drink.”
Elizabeth replied with a little smile. “To be honest, he was rather harsh with Mr Bingley’s sisters too. But I certainly cannot fault him for that. They very much deserved it!”
“Well, well, that sounds rather harsh in itself, but I confess, I have no interest in Mr Bingley’s sisters. What did Mr Darcy say about your story?”
“He was surprised, of course. Apparently, he has fond memories of Mrs Clarke. He said that he grew up with her around.”
“How nice of him. I would dare to presume he has a good heart. A young master remembering a seamstress is not common.”
“You might be correct. I have had little opportunity to examine Mr Darcy’s heart yet.
He seemed puzzled and doubtful when I showed him the necklace.
He remembered it belonged to his mother, and his sister has one that is similar.
I assume it was quite expensive, and perhaps he wondered why it was in my possession. ”
“Did you not tell him the reason that prompted Lady Anne to give it to you?”
“No, Papa. How could I have told him such a thing at our second meeting? It would certainly not do. If he enquires further, I shall tell him. But if he already doubts me, he might question the truth of my narration entirely.”
“Do you know that he doubted you, or is that just your assumption? Are you not a little too hasty in thinking the worst of him because he did not find you pretty enough?”
Elizabeth felt the sting of Mr Bennet’s tease, despite the light tone and the eyebrow arched meaningfully.
“I admit I might have been hasty in my judgment. Regardless, a man should not be easily forgiven for refusing to dance at a ball where gentlemen are scarce. It is a capital offence!”
“You frighten me when you speak like your mother, although I know you are only jesting, Lizzy,” Mr Bennet concluded just as they heard the bell ring for dinner.
While they ate, the subject of the conversation moved from Mr Bingley to the handsome officers of the regiment of militia encamped in Meryton. Elizabeth hardly participated in the discussion, and Mr Bennet rolled his eyes and sipped his drink more often than usual.
“I have some news too,” he interjected when there was finally a pause in the conversation. “I have recently received a letter informing me of the arrival of a particular guest. No, do not attempt to guess. I already have a headache.”
“Do tell us, Mr Bennet!” his wife cried. “Who could this particular guest be? What did they say in the letter?”
“The guest is my cousin, Mr Collins. Yes, the very one who will inherit Longbourn once I am dead and may throw you out of the house as he pleases.”
“My dear Mr Bennet, do not speak of that horrible man! How dare he? What does he want by coming here now?”
“I cannot answer that question. He wrote that he wishes to make peace between our families and is eager to meet his cousins. He sounded reasonable enough, but he might also believe I shall die soon and wishes to view his inheritance.”
“Papa!” Elizabethan chided. “This is not a matter to joke about!”
“Yes, it is, Lizzy. I look forward to meeting him. From his letters, I expect him to be delightfully ridiculous. His pompous writing is highly entertaining.”
“But where does he live? What does he do?” Mrs Bennet enquired.
“He is a clergyman and has been granted a living somewhere in Kent. Apparently, he is fortunate enough to have a very influential patroness, who is supporting him. He expressed his gratitude for the lady in every other line of the letter, though her name is unknown to me.”
“Do you at least know him, Papa?” Elizabeth asked.
“Barely. I remember meeting him a long time ago when he was very young. He must be around five-and-twenty now.”
“So young?” Lydia asked. “Is he handsome too?”
“Lydia, as I just said, I met him when he was a young boy. How could I know if he is handsome twenty years later?”
“But is he married?” Mrs Bennet continued.
“I am afraid I must disappoint you again, since I have no answer to that either. However, you will be able to satisfy your curiosity in three days’ time, when he arrives.”
“Three days? And how long will he stay at Longbourn?” Mrs Bennet insisted.
“I do not recall. I shall allow you the pleasure of asking him directly. I am anticipating a diverting time, regardless of the length of his visit,” Mr Bennet concluded.
“I only hope he will not interfere with Mr Bingley’s visits.
He has promised to dine at Longbourn this week.
Hopefully, it will be before that Mr Collins makes an appearance.
In fact, I shall settle the date tomorrow.
Mr Bennet, you must write to Mr Bingley early in the morning and invite him to dinner the day after tomorrow. ”
“I have no desire to do such a thing,” Mr Bennet said. “You may write to him yourself, Mrs Bennet, and sign it in my name.”
The discussion continued in the same manner, and Elizabeth grew tired of it. As soon as the meal ended, she retired to her chamber, claiming tiredness.
As she recollected her conversation with Mr Darcy, she realised the only things he had told her about Georgiana were that she liked poetry too and that she was well.
But something in his voice and in his countenance worried her, and she blamed herself for not probing more on the subject.
But even if she had, would he have revealed more to her than he had already willingly done?
She told herself that the best plan was to wait before enquiring further.
Fortunately, their second meeting had gone significantly better than their first, and there were reasonable indications that their acquaintance would continue to improve.
***
Darcy woke up at his usual hour, although he had barely slept.
His mind was too perturbed by all his thoughts in regard to Miss Elizabeth’s story.
The coincidence of her having an aunt who had grown up in Lambton and was related to Mrs Clarke, as well as her having met his mother and sister, could have been a lovely, delightful one.
However, her being in possession of his mother’s necklace had cast a dark shadow over it.
It was a special, valuable object, made for his mother, and later, she had commissioned a replica for her daughter.
Why would she give it to a girl so wholly unrelated to her, whom she had met by chance?
If, for some reason, she had wished to give the young girl a gift, it could have been something else with less sentimental significance.
Surely there was more to the story. Troubled and curious, he had written to Mrs Reynolds and to his aunt Lady Matlock, hoping they remembered something that might clarify the undisclosed parts of Miss Elizabeth’s narration.
That lady and her history with his family added to his worries regarding Georgiana. Since the night of the assembly, he had thought of Miss Elizabeth so often that it troubled him. It had become disquieting and irritating, and it was the last thing he needed.
Bingley had received a dinner invitation to Longbourn that included his sisters and Darcy. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst had refused it immediately, and Bingley’s hopes had then turned to his friend. Despite their previous conversation on that subject, Darcy had declined too.
Mrs Bennet and the youngest daughters were tiresome. Almost as tiresome as Bingley’s sisters. The difference was that, at Netherfield, he could remove himself from their presence when he wished to — a liberty he did not have at a dinner party. But that was not the reason for his refusal.
While he had enjoyed Mr Bennet’s company, as brief as their encounter had been, and was disconcertingly enchanted by Miss Elizabeth, he felt it was too much to be in her presence again so soon, when his thoughts on her were so tangled.
To Bingley, he expressed his refusal in cautious, polite, and considerate words, asking his friend to convey his apologies to the Bennet family, insisting he had to complete some business letters.
Bingley did not believe him, and probably the Bennets would not either, but it was a risk Darcy willingly accepted.
To his surprise, Bingley’s insistence was not as great as on other occasions.
He was likely so happy at the prospect of seeing Miss Bennet again that he did not care who else was in attendance.
If he was to be honest with himself, he would admit to an eagerness to see a certain Miss Bennet too. But he had to exercise some control over his desires.
The following evening, while Bingley was enjoying his time at Longbourn and Darcy was dining alone in his room at Netherfield, a letter arrived. He recognised Lady Matlock’s handwriting and opened it impatiently.
My dear nephew,
I was pleased to receive your letter but also surprised and puzzled. Whilst I can see the matter is important to you, I fear there is not much, if any, that I remember.
I vaguely recollect some discussions about a girl who befriended Georgiana ten years ago — the niece of some shop owner from Lambton.
It was the same month as your dear mother’s death, and we all tried hard to protect Georgiana from completely understanding what was happening.
Your father, or perhaps Mrs Reynolds, suggested inviting the girl to distract her, but Georgiana’s governess at the time — Mrs Richmond I believe was her name — opposed it, as she believed the girl to be inappropriate company for Georgiana.
This is all I can remember. I also asked your uncle, but he knows nothing about the subject.
Now that you have asked about it, I admit to being intrigued in regard to the reason for your interest. Do tell me more. I am curious to know.
Do not worry, I shall not mention anything to Georgiana, as you requested. I did tell Richard, however. I know he is your favourite cousin, and you keep no secrets from each other. As you may imagine, Richard is also ignorant of the subject and equally curious about it, so we expect further news.
Your loving aunt.
Darcy put down the letter with a deep sense of dissatisfaction.
He had hoped that his aunt’s reply would shed some light on the past, but those hopes were shattered.
His first impulse was to search for Mrs Richmond’s whereabouts.
She had left Georgiana five years ago, the year his father died, to be closer to her daughter in Bath, but he had no other knowledge of her.
He poured himself a drink and savoured it to calm himself.
The best course was to wait for Mrs Reynolds’s reply and to decide on further action afterwards.
In the meantime, he could not decide whether he should remain at Netherfield or return to London.
Neither his heart nor his mind was clear in that regard.