Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
D arcy lifted the fork to his mouth and took another bite of the roast. He was usually pleased with the food at Rosings during his visits, but for some reason tonight everything was flavourless. After chewing and swallowing the dry, bland morsel with the aid of his drink, he set his fork down and craned his neck to look down the table at Miss Bennet again. His interest in her had only grown as the dinner had progressed, and he found himself unable to resist stealing glances whenever he could. His aunt’s continuous chatter beside him faded into background noise but still prevented him from hearing the specifics of the conversation farther down the table, much to his frustration.
Though he could not hear what was being said, he saw Miss Bennet’s face darken. She appears quite frustrated with her cousin. I wonder what he did, though I can imagine any number of reasons she might be upset with him. The man is a narrow-minded, bumbling idiot. He surely has made some pig-headed comment.
Darcy took another bite of his food, more for appearances than hunger. As he chewed the tasteless morsel, he sensed his aunt pause in the conversation next to him, as if waiting for his response.
“Yes, indeed,” he said absently, his attention still focused on Miss Bennet. This appeased Lady Catherine enough, and she continued prattling next to him.
He wished to speak to Miss Bennet—a desire which was puzzling and intriguing—and know why she was so upset with her cousin. Why am I so fascinated by her? I cannot understand it. She is pretty enough, but nothing exceptional. Still, there is something else that sets her apart.
“Darcy, did you hear me?”
Pulled out of his reverie, he looked at a clearly annoyed Lady Catherine. “Forgive me, I did not. Would you be so kind as to repeat yourself?”
“I said how does Georgiana fare in her studies?”
“Very well, she excels in all her subjects and displays a diligent work ethic,” he answered quickly before looking again at Miss Bennet.
Now, she was smirking enigmatically at his aunt. She seems to do that often. It is as if she has a secret she knows about everyone. Does she deem herself superior to us? It is as if she mocks us, it is unheard of.
His thoughts were interrupted again by Lady Catherine, but this time she spoke to the object of his fascination instead of himself.
“Miss Bennet,” Lady Catherine called to her guest across the long dining table. “Was that you I saw walking out in the countryside from my carriage this morning?”
“Yes, your ladyship, it was. I must say I am enjoying the scenery in Kent. It is truly magnificent. ”
Ignoring her comment, Lady Catherine continued her interrogation, “Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?”
The lady smiled modestly. “A little.”
“Only a little? You shall try our instrument someday. You must not neglect to practise while you are here.”
Miss Bennet opened her mouth to speak, but Lady Catherine interrupted her response. “Do you draw? Or know the modern languages?”
“No, not at all.”
“Do you do anything besides walk around the countryside unattended?”
Darcy watched as Miss Bennet seemed to sense the rudeness of his aunt’s insolent queries and the ridiculousness of her inference. Yet she reacted in the most surprising of ways, which was to poorly conceal a smile at his aunt’s expense.
“I assure you, I enjoy a great number of things,” she answered before she took a small bite of potatoes.
“Well, you shall never find a husband scampering about the countryside. Am I correct, Nephews? A gentleman desires a lady who is accomplished, and walking is an unproductive way to spend your time. You should be focusing your time on improving yourself in learning languages, music, drawing, and cultivating a certain degree of intelligence. There will be more time for things such as walking once you have found a husband.”
Two of the gentlemen had the intelligence to stay silent, but Mr Collins, evidently feeling the need to contribute his support to his patroness, called out, “Indeed, Lady Catherine.”
Miss Bennet looked down, and Darcy knew she must be nursing her wounds after receiving such a set-down. He was shocked when she looked up and was again masking amusement.
“Yes, perhaps. Although it could be argued that for a married lady, household duties would reduce the time available for favoured pastimes. I also would think it rather odd to spend so much time in the usual accomplishments only to abandon them once the prize had been won to pursue my true interests and hobbies. Surely one’s husband must feel betrayed for having committed himself to a lady who becomes a very different version of herself as a wife than who she was before they married. It seems wiser to reveal my genuine interests to a man rather than putting up an artifice.”
Lady Catherine reacted to this speech in a particularly singular manner: she fell silent. It was surely unprecedented to find any lady, young or old, who did not immediately accept her advice. Darcy did not know whether he should be appalled at Miss Bennet’s defiance or impressed at her honesty. She was the first creature he had ever seen who dared to trifle with his formidable aunt—himself and his cousin included.
Before Lady Catherine could respond, Miss Bennet continued by smoothing things over in the most curious of ways. “But I must thank you for your condescension, Lady Catherine. Perhaps you are correct. Your depth of insight into significant matters is truly remarkable, and I will take into account what you have said. I must admit, your tendency to involve yourself in the affairs of acquaintances, even those as unfamiliar as myself, feels similar to receiving a gift.”
Lady Catherine nodded curtly at Miss Bennet’s concession even if Darcy understood differently. He marvelled at her cleverness. How had she managed to hold her own and appease Lady Catherine at the same time?
Miss Bennet looked up just then, catching his eye upon her. There was an impish gleam in her own eyes that he responded to with a wry half smile. She quirked the corner of her lips upwards in reply and he, quite daringly, gave an expressive glance towards his aunt and then quickly rolled his eyes. She lowered her head quickly but not before he saw the smile which overtook her countenance. She is not a classic beauty, he decided , but the expressiveness of her eyes and her smile make her quite astonishing.
Dinner continued on in this manner, and she continued to puzzle Darcy. Lady Catherine had given a report of the dinner guests before they arrived, and somehow knew, probably through Mr Collins, that though she was a part of the gentry class, she had little beyond her charms to recommend her.
She has no fortune of her own and has poor connexions with relations involved in trade and law. Darcy practically scoffed aloud at this thought as he looked out the nearest window.
By all accounts she should be trying to earn our approval, but she does not appear eager to impress us. How unusual.
He began rhythmically tapping his fingers on the polished wood of the table, resisting the urge to look at her again . Why can I not stop staring at her? At first I was simply intrigued, but now I cannot stop wondering what she might do or say next. What is this feeling I have for her? He furrowed his brows. Is this…admiration? Yes, that seems close. I truly believe that if she had more to recommend her, I could very well be tempted to pursue her. Darcy froze at this shocking realisation. She was gently born but in every way inferior to him! She was not the kind of woman who should capture his heart. Yet why does she have this effect on me?
Frowning, he looked down the table again, hoping to find fault in her and chase these feelings away. He watched as she conversed with the colonel. Look at him, lucky man. He has never looked half so entertained in this dining room. He then felt a smile begin to tug on the corners of his mouth as he watched her giggling and speaking animatedly. Her eyes practically dance as she speaks. She certainly smiles too often, but still, it is as if the whole room has come alive merely because she is in it. Who could not be drawn in?
“Darcy could only support my side, as naturally he is a most loyal cousin.”
Hearing his name spoken startled Darcy from his musings, during which he had again fixed his gaze on Miss Bennet without fully realising it. As she glanced in his direction and found him staring, she gave him a curious look. She had noticed him looking at her again! Mortified, his mind went blank and he had no idea what his cousin had said of him. Thankfully, Fitzwilliam came to his rescue by interrupting the silence and continuing the conversation. “He is a staunch supporter of my profession.”
Miss Bennet tilted her head. “Is that so, Mr Darcy?”
He was mortified at how much it affected him to hear her say his name and prayed she did not notice his flush.
“Darcy is an intelligent man, and he knows that there is more than meets the eye in the art of war,” asserted Fitzwilliam. “Only one unacquainted with battle strategy would argue that the navy has been more important in this war.”
The war? They were debating whether the army or the navy had been more valuable in the war? How had they moved to this?
“Very well, we must conclude that we are at odds. Perhaps I am a simpleton, but I cannot relent.” Miss Bennet took a sip of wine. After she placed it back on the table, she returned her attention to his cousin. “I cannot concede to your suggestions, sir, namely because the very geography involved allows the navy to be more significant in preventing Napoleon’s forces from invading Britain. I certainly mean no disrespect to your profession, for it is not merely a matter of having more skill. Rather, just the circumstances allow the navy to be more essential. And pray tell me, what can you argue is of more importance than controlling the trade routes?”
To Darcy’s alarm, he saw that Miss Bennet’s charms were not lost on Fitzwilliam, who had leant back in his chair and was smiling admiringly at her replies.
She glanced to Darcy for support in this debate. He looked at her face, and saw how uncommonly intelligent her eyes made it appear. Though he could not say what all her exact points had been, he felt safe in siding with her.
“I am sorry, Cousin, on this matter I must say I agree with Miss Bennet.”
The young lady seemed satisfied. Fitzwilliam chuckled. “Mark my words, Miss Bennet, there will come a day when you will see that the army will win this war. I would wager anything I had on it.”
“Very well, when that happens, you may come and find me, wherever I may be, and collect your winnings,” she said with a good-natured laugh.
Lady Catherine then commanded the table’s attention by engaging Mr Collins on the dangers of gambling. Darcy was thankful for the distraction. He could only think how he had been paying too much attention to Miss Bennet, and had been caught at it. A woman of the ton would have been shopping for her trousseau for much less. He must find a way to control himself. As fascinating as she was, the lady was not for him. He was no romantic; he was a Darcy. Choice in marriage was not his course in life; he had been repeatedly instructed in what type of woman he was expected to marry and what station in life she would have. It had always been about increasing his family’s estate. And Miss Bennet, and her circumstances, most certainly would not do that for him. He willed his eyes to look away from her, convincing himself that he needed to avoid her for the duration of dinner.
Just then, he heard her giggle at something Fitzwilliam had said. His gaze found her immediately and with it, all resolutions were lost. He was immediately drawn in again. Maybe he could not marry her, but it could not be so bad to enjoy her companionship these next few weeks, could it?