Chapter 7
“Darcy, are you still here? Alone?” Bingley enquired a while later, entering the library.
“Yes.”
“I have just arrived home. Would you like a drink before dinner?”
“A drink would be welcome. Did you have a pleasant time?”
“Relatively,” Bingley admitted, handing him a glass and filling it with brandy. “I called on Colonel Forster, and then I stopped at Longbourn.”
“I assumed as much…”
“Do you disapprove, Darcy? Of visiting the Bennets?”
“It is not for me to approve or disapprove of your business, Bingley. My concern is that certain actions which would raise no speculation in London might be seen differently in a small town. An apparent partiality could raise expectations that, if you are not ready to fulfil them, could cause harm. And if you are too hasty in fulfilling them, that could be hurtful too, in the future.”
“I am not ignorant to your meaning, Darcy. However, I shall not deny I find Miss Bennet the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Her nature is so gentle, her manners so sweet that I would not be afraid to fulfil any expectations in regard to her.”
“Bingley, you have only just met her. You know little of her true nature and character, just as she knows little of yours. I would suggest you slow down and consider everything properly before making any decision that might make either you or her miserable.”
“Your advice is too wise to argue with, Darcy. I certainly have no immediate plans to marry Miss Bennet. I am simply calling on her and enjoying her company. However, today my enjoyment was not so great as I expected.”
“Was it not? Why was that?”
“The Bennets have a visitor. Mr Bennet’s cousin. Apparently, Longbourn is entailed on the male line, and Mr Collins will inherit it one day. I am sorry to say, but that man is truly tiresome.”
“He must be if you have declared it so. I have never known you to find anyone tiresome before.”
“Well, now I do. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for the Bennets, fearing for their future if Mr Bennet should die.”
“Sadly, such a thing happens in many families without an heir and financial security. It is even more pitiful when intelligent ladies find themselves at the mercy of a silly man whose only advantage is having been born male,” Darcy answered.
“I imagine Mrs Bennet and her daughters possess no tender feelings towards their cousin.”
“I believe that is a fair statement. But Darcy, speaking of Mrs Bennet, I have a favour to ask. She has invited me to dinner again tomorrow, and she insisted that you join me. I am aware it is unlikely you will accept, but I promised I would insist upon it. Please think on it. Perhaps you might bear the discomfort for one evening.”
“I do accept, Bingley,” Darcy said, surprising even himself.
He had been seeking an opportunity to speak to Miss Elizabeth since he had received the letter from Mrs Reynolds, and when it suddenly arrived, he embraced it instantly.
The quick answer clearly shocked Bingley, who was staring open-mouthed at his friend.
“You do?” he stammered eventually. “Excellent! Thank you! How generous of you! But…to be perfectly honest, there is more to this story.”
Bingley’s enthusiasm embarrassed Darcy, as he knew he was deceiving his friend. He had not accepted the dinner invitation out of generosity but out of selfishness. He would do anything to discover the full truth about Miss Elizabeth’s connection to his family, and to put his mind at ease.
“What more could there be, Bingley?”
“Well, Mr Collins…he is a clergyman in the parish of Hunsford, it appears. He is under the patronage of your aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh, whom he worships.”
“Oh…”
“I was imprudent enough to mention you being my friend and that you were staying at Netherfield. He became wild with pleasure and begged me repeatedly to introduce him to you. Therefore, I must warn you, if you come to dinner, you will have to bear him.”
Bingley looked humbled and embarrassed, and Darcy smiled to put him at ease.
“Do not worry. I trust I am capable of tolerating the man for one evening,” he said, noticing more puzzlement on his friend’s face. Indeed, he would usually have avoided such an encounter, but speaking to Miss Elizabeth was his main goal for the moment.
“Good! I shall send a note to Mrs Bennet immediately. I hope you will not have a dreadful time — at least she always provides tasty meals. And I am well aware you are not fond of dining with my sisters either.”
“Forgive me if at times my manners are not friendly enough towards your sisters, Bingley. I mean no disrespect. I value your friendship, and I respect your family accordingly.”
“Do not worry. I am not unaware of the truth. I see that Caroline is trying to gain your attention and that she has some hopes that will never be satisfied. I have even told her so several times, but she will not listen.”
“I am glad you are so reasonable as to see the truth, Bingley. I truly appreciate it.”
“Then perhaps you would trust me to see the truth in regard to Miss Bennet?”
“I promise to try. Though I know a man is wiser when his heart is not touched, and his wit often betrays him when he is in love.”
Bingley laughed and gulped some brandy. “I shall not argue that I have fancied myself in love a few times — probably more than I should. But I hope I have learnt something from it.”
“I trust you have, Bingley.”
“Darcy, may I ask…have you ever been in love? Have you ever been unwise and unreasonable because your heart has been touched?”
“No. And I do not see it ever happening. I have always been a man of reason and self-control.”
“How fortunate for you. Or perhaps I should say how unfortunate. Surely you will not consider marrying without love.”
“Marriage is not part of my immediate plans, Bingley. Since you ask, I shall tell you that I do hope to feel affection for the woman I marry, but I am confident it is my reason and not my heart that will guide me towards the right decision.”
Bingley shook his head, doubt written clearly on his face as he filled the glasses again, making Darcy smile.
“Bingley, I still wonder how two men can be so different and still be close friends.”
“So do I, Darcy. But I am grateful it happens.”
***
At Longbourn the following day, the dinner preparations were more hectic than the first time that Mr Bingley had attended.
Besides Mrs Bennet supervising the cooking, Mr Collins paced around, praising Lady Catherine and sharing his knowledge about the ‘remarkable’ Mr Darcy, whom he looked forward to meeting.
Elizabeth was again disquieted, wondering about Mr Darcy’s acceptance.
He had shown no desire to be in the company of the Bennets since they last met, yet suddenly he had agreed to dine with them.
While she felt nervous, she was also determined to ask Mr Darcy more about his sister and ask permission to visit her when she next happened to be in London.
Surely he had no reason to refuse her, other than his possible arrogance and superiority.
Aside from her nervousness, Elizabeth was concerned by Mr Darcy’s possible response to Mr Collins’s behaviour.
The clergyman seemed so ridiculously in awe of Lady Catherine and her nephew that he was impossible to bear.
Whether Mr Darcy would be irritated or, quite the opposite, flattered by such admiration, she could not presume, but his response would surely provide more proof of his character.
Another reason for Elizabeth’s anxiety was Mr Collins’s increasing display of partiality towards her. It made her highly uncomfortable, and her mother’s apparent approval only made her distress grow.
At the appointed hour, the two gentlemen arrived. Mr Collins was almost bouncing on his toes, and his colour was high as he fussed with his attire and walked towards the door.
When Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy entered, Elizabeth was surprised to see Mr Darcy’s gaze upon her, so insistent that she felt her cheeks heating. Greetings were exchanged, and she heard Mr Collins mumbling, while he bowed deeply.
“Mr Darcy, I am William Collins, and I have the privilege to be under the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, your noble aunt. Meeting you here, in my cousin’s house, exceeds all my expectations, and I can easily call it one of the best days of my life!”
“Mr Collins, let us try to calm down. It is a coincidence that we have met, but life is full of coincidences,” Mr Darcy said in a composed, low voice.
“As you wish, sir. Allow me to assure you that her ladyship was in excellent health four days ago.”
“Thank you. I was not worried about my aunt’s health, as I keep a regular correspondence with her.”
“Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley, let us sit and have a drink before dinner,” Mr Bennet interjected. “Mr Collins, you should take a seat too, sir. You look flushed and in need of rest.”
Everybody sat, and Mrs Bennet started the conversation, joined by Mr Bingley. Unlike previous evenings, Mr Collins was too fascinated by Mr Darcy to even speak, so he spent most of his time staring at the gentleman. Mr Darcy looked visibly uncomfortable, and Elizabeth’s amusement grew.
Half an hour later, they were called to the dining room and, as they walked down the hall, Elizabeth was stunned to hear Mr Darcy address her in a low voice.
“Miss Elizabeth, I must take this opportunity to ask…is there any way you could grant me a few minutes of your time to talk privately? Whenever and wherever you feel comfortable.”
“Is anything wrong, sir?”
“No, nothing is wrong…I have just… I must confess that after our previous conversation, I wrote to Mrs Reynolds at Pemberley, and I was shocked by the details she provided. I understand I owe you my gratitude, as well as my sister’s life.”
His direct address stunned Elizabeth, and anxiety delayed her response.