Chapter 7 #2
“That is not quite true, Mr Darcy. I remember Mrs Reynolds fondly, but her memories seem greatly exaggerated. I felt privileged to have your parents’ approval and your sister’s friendship for a short while. You certainly have nothing to be grateful for.”
She stepped towards the dining room, and he followed her. “But…I beg you, is there a way we could speak? I do not mean to be intrusive or improper. I am prepared to ask for your father’s approval for a brief encounter.”
He looked serious, even grave and concerned, and there were already several pairs of eyes staring at them, so she hurried to end the conversation.
“Tomorrow morning, I shall take an early walk to Oakham Mount. Before breakfast. If we happen to meet there, we shall have enough time for conversation.”
His countenance changed to astonishment, then to contentment, and he said, “Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I shall certainly be there.”
With that, they arrived at the table and were ready to take their seats.
“Mr Darcy, would you like to sit here?” Mr Bennet said, indicating the chair to his right, while Elizabeth sat opposite him, to her father’s left. “I dare say we shall have different subjects of conversation from the ladies,” Mr Bennet continued.
“I would like that very much,” Mr Darcy replied. As he sat, Mr Collins left his place next to Mrs Bennet and ceremoniously moved to Mr Darcy’s other side, paying no attention to the pairs of puzzled and reproachful eyes.
“Mr Collins, do you not want to sit next to Lizzy?” Mrs Bennet enquired, while Elizabeth flushed with mortification and panic.
She sensed Mr Darcy looking at her, and she imagined he had noticed her horror, since she heard him saying, “In fact, there are several questions I would like to ask Mr Collins, unless Miss Elizabeth wishes for his company.”
“Not at all!” she replied, so loudly that her voice sounded rude even to herself. “I mean, I would not want to deny Mr Collins the opportunity to speak to Mr Darcy,” she added.
“My dear cousin Elizabeth, such generosity honours you, and I am sure Lady Catherine herself would approve of it. In fact, when I spoke to her ladyship about choosing a proper partner in life, she insisted on generosity, modesty, and demureness as the most important qualities for a clergyman’s wife. ”
“Then I fear Lady Catherine would not approve of me at all, as all those three qualities are as far from my character as possible,” Elizabeth replied. Mr Collins seemed disconcerted and confused by such a statement, while a little smile twisted Mr Darcy’s lips. Elizabeth smiled too.
“I am sure you are only being modest, Cousin Elizabeth. When you meet Lady Catherine, I do not doubt you will do everything to gain her good opinion.”
“I cannot imagine in what circumstances I would meet Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr Collins,” Elizabeth said rather harshly. “However, I assure you my statement was absolutely true, and I could be called many things but not modest.”
Mr Collins was ready to add something further, but Mr Bennet interjected and filled the clergyman’s glass.
During dinner, Mr Collins continued to address Elizabeth and seek her attention on the few occasions when he was not engaging Mr Darcy in conversation or praising Lady Catherine de Bourgh, until finally Mr Darcy lost his patience and intervened.
“Upon my word, Mr Collins, I have known my aunt since I was born, but in my whole life, I have not heard so much praise about her as I have heard tonight from you. Even Lady Catherine herself would be overwhelmed.”
“But Mr Darcy, I assure you none of it is unwarranted!” Mr Collins replied.
“Yes it is, Mr Collins. If not unwarranted, certainly excessive. Could we make an effort not to mention Lady Catherine again tonight?” he suggested, and Mr Collins’s face fell.
“That would be an interesting endeavour,” Elizabeth said. “Perhaps Mr Darcy could suggest a subject of conversation that interests us all.” In saying that, she looked at the gentleman, and he held her gaze. It felt like a small conspiracy between them, and Elizabeth found it strangely delightful.
“My conversational skills are meagre,” Mr Darcy said. “But perhaps we could speak of books or the theatre?”
“On those subjects, you had best only address me and Lizzy,” Mr Bennet said. “It is fortunate that you sat near us, Mr Darcy.”
“In truth, I do feel fortunate, Mr Bennet,” Mr Darcy declared, and his eyes briefly met Elizabeth’s again.
Two entirely different conversations were soon taking place at each end of the table; Mr Collins was somehow lost in the middle, trying to join in with one or other of the groups but failing and mentioning Lady Catherine’s name again several times.
***
All in all, the evening progressed reasonably well, moving from one course to another and from one subject to another.
Darcy grew at ease with Mr Bennet and also with Elizabeth.
The more he saw of her and listened to her, the more he could understand why his mother had once said she had brought a breath of fresh air to Pemberley.
Her entire being was lively and witty, and her eyes — which were uncommonly pretty — drew his attention and stirred his interest more and more.
While he was enjoying his time at dinner, he also looked forward to the evening ending as soon as possible, so the morning would come sooner, and he could meet Elizabeth alone.
He did not know where Oakham Mount was, but he would certainly find out.
Nothing could deter him from seeing her and talking to her.
He could not guess how she felt about his request to meet and what she thought about him writing to Mrs Reynolds. She had looked rather uncomfortable at his praise and gratitude. He trusted his housekeeper, so perhaps Elizabeth did not remember her heroic gesture clearly enough.
Or perhaps she was being modest indeed, as Mr Collins had claimed and she had denied. It would have been strange if Mr Collins was right — probably one of the few occasions in his life.