Chapter 6 #2
When he thought about the two youngest Bennet sisters, he felt nothing but disgust at their forward, brash, and flirtatious behaviour. Neither should be out of the schoolroom, never mind out in society.
When he looked at the Bennets as a whole, even if he discounted the connections and the lack of dowry, Darcy did not see a way he could move forward with the only woman who had ever excited his interest without degradation to the Darcy name.
Thus, he decided to delay making his apologies to Miss Elizabeth.
He would rather she think poorly of him than develop expectations he would be unable to meet.
If it had been only himself, he might have pursued her, but he had to think about Giana’s future as well as his own. He could not be selfish in this.
Lastly, there was his family’s expectations.
He did not take Lady Catherine’s nonsense into account, but he was cognisant of the expectations of his Uncle Reggie and Aunt Elaine, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, who wanted him to make a good match.
One of the last things his beloved father had told him was to marry well.
Surely marrying well-meant choosing someone with fortune and connections?
Before Miss Elizabeth, he had found it difficult to become interested in any of the vapid debutantes in Town; now it would be impossible. If he could not find another to love, mayhap he would leave Pemberley to Giana’s son, or daughter if she did not have a son.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
With Jane’s fever broken, Elizabeth allowed herself some time to read. She made her way to the library—sparse though it was, with more spaces than books on its shelves—and found an outdated book on estate management. It would do to pass the time.
She had been reading for about ten minutes when Mr. Darcy walked in. He did not notice her as he looked at the few available tomes. Eventually he found a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
It was only when he sat that he noticed Miss Elizabeth with her feet curled up under her. She made such a pretty picture! If he could act on his desires, he would have scooped her up in his arms, but he needed to stick to his resolve, so he said not a word.
‘What a rude, arrogant, and hateful man. Not a word of greeting! He sits there ignoring me as if I am not sitting here opposite him. As much as I do not desire to converse with the man, at least he could be polite enough to greet me.’ Elizabeth ranted to herself, ignoring the fact she was as capable of greeting him as he was her.
After about a half hour of both reading in silence, Elizabeth stood and swept out of the library with a look of pure disdain directed at Mr. Darcy. The manner of her leaving froze Darcy.
‘Mayhap ignoring her was not the best way to behave,’ Darcy remonstrated with himself.
‘That was not very gentleman like of me.’ He was in no doubt that she was furious with him given the way he chose to distance himself, as he had seen her fine eyes flashing with anger as she looked at him like he was excrement stuck to the bottom of one of her walking boots.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Even had Jane not seen her sister’s countenance, she would have known she was discomposed as Elizabeth almost slammed the door. “What has upset you so, Lizzy?” Jane asked.
“That awful, rude Mr. Darcy…” Elizabeth told Jane what had happened, or rather had not happened, in the library.
Jane kept her face from cracking a smile as she was pleased there was more disagreement between the man who thought he admired Lizzy and her sister.
“I am so sorry, Lizzy. Would you rest easier if you returned to Longbourn so you will not have to suffer Mr. Darcy’s company?
” Jane asked with contrived concern. She secretly hoped Elizabeth would not return to Longbourn in order to make certain the feelings Mr. Darcy had for her younger sister were completely extinguished.
Elizabeth thought her sister was being selfless.
“No, Jane, I am here for you. I will ignore that hateful man as much as I am able,” Elizabeth vowed.
“You are looking so much better. Mr. Jones will be here to see you in the morning, if he approves, you will be able to leave your bedchamber for some time and join everyone below stairs.”
“That will be most welcome,” Jane replied. ‘It will allow Mr. Darcy to see I am the one for him, and if he does not see it, I will know how to act. Mrs. Darcy, how well that sounds! What jewels, pin money, and carriages I will have and Mama will be so proud of me.’ Jane told herself.
“I will not join the other residents for dinner; I would rather take a tray here with you,” Elizabeth said.
She asked the maid to inform cook they would require two trays for dinner.
Elizabeth never went below stairs that evening, sending a message to Mr. Bingley she was spending the time with her sister.
When Bingley shared what Miss Elizabeth had written with the other diners there were wildly varying reactions. Miss Bingley was gleeful that the hoyden would not be able to draw Mr. Darcy’s attention from herself.
Darcy was chagrined and worried that his ungentlemanly conduct had convinced Miss Elizabeth to eschew his company.