Chapter 6 Mrs. Philips gossips, and Miss Bingley assumes too much. #2
Later, in the drawing room, Miss Bingley situated herself near Darcy and took up the topic with him again.
“Mr. Darcy, Charles is so willing to overlook all faults, and he refuses to acknowledge that an alliance with the Bennets will be a serious disadvantage to his ever being truly embraced in your circles.
I know you are determined to see him be accepted as a gentleman once he acquires an estate, but an unsuitable wife will be a liability.
“Surely you can convince him that his infatuation with Miss Bennet should be curtailed. Although she is a dear friend of mine, she has nothing to bring to a marriage but a questionable past. We would be subject to scandalous rumours about her plebeian origins and shunned in all the best circles.”
“She does have a point there,” Mr. Hurst said, amazing Darcy that he was attending to the discussion when he appeared asleep.
Miss Bingley, pleased with her brother-in-law’s sanction, continued, “We are so very grateful to you, Mr. Darcy, for all you have done to help Charles with the estate and introduce him to better society. It would be a shame to have all your efforts undone by a country girl with nothing to recommend her. I beg you to take my brother aside and convince him of the truth of the matter. He has business in Town the day following the ball. Perhaps if we close the house after he is to Town, we could then work together—without the influence of those Bennets—to relate the importance of fortune and connections and his duty to a good marriage and make sure he is aware of all Jane Bennet’s shortcomings in that regard. ”
When she was interrupted by a request to join a table at cards, her entreaty was ended for the moment, but over the following week, she relentlessly took Darcy and the Hursts aside to urge them to follow when Bingley went to London and convince him to abandon his pursuit of Jane Bennet.
Darcy did agree with Caroline’s views on the duty of making a good marriage, but he had other reasons to desire that Bingley not return to Hertfordshire.
He was alarmed at the intensity of his increasing affection for Elizabeth Bennet.
He had always been a sensitive young man and now had become affected by the playful manners and familial caring observed in the second eldest daughter of his newest good friend, Thomas Bennet.
He enjoyed her company immensely, but convivial feelings had given way to desires he knew he must repress.
He was quite aware of the power she had over him and wrestled between the sensible solution of escaping before the danger became too great or staying to enjoy the exhilaration he felt in her presence.
Darcy’s sense of duty was pushing him towards the former.
Miss Bingley’s plan offered a way to exit gracefully from the situation, and he began to convince himself it was for the best.
So, as Miss Bingley was working her manipulations to separate Bingley from his beloved, Darcy mentally started listing other justifications for Bingley to quit Netherfield permanently.
He had almost fooled himself into believing the justness of Miss Bingley’s scheme to satisfy his own reasons for cutting ties to the Bennets.
But as much as he was determined to accede to the plan, guilt was niggling in the back of his mind.
The Hursts were of the same sentiment as Miss Bingley, having no intelligence to the contrary relating to the fortune of Jane Bennet.
They liked her in a true sense, in contrast to Miss Bingley’s falsity of affections, and perceived their brother was very likely in love with the lady.
But self-preservation required them to agree with Caroline unless there was a very strong incentive otherwise as she would be impossible to live with if she were not to get her way on an issue of such paramount importance to her.
Thus Caroline’s plan was gaining supporters.
While her brother was in the room, she continued her denunciation of Jane and Elizabeth and made untoward suggestions regarding their possible past. As was usual, her brother indulged her in allowing the diatribe, and although he found it annoying, he only occasionally requested her to be more kind when speaking of the Bennets.
Elizabeth and Lydia were enjoying the cool autumn afternoon as they took a long walk near Oakham Mount when Lydia started a new topic.
“Have you ever been in love, Lizzy?”
“I cannot say I have ever felt a tendre towards any man, Lydia. I have enjoyed the particular company of certain lively and intelligent gentlemen of my acquaintance, but I have not had any serious suitors thus far, so no one has touched my heart in a truly passionate way. As you well know, I always delight in the company of amiable people, men and women alike, with whom I can jest and tease. Why do you ask?”
“I was wondering how one goes about recommending oneself to a gentleman of interest without being seen as forward or wanton,” Lydia said with a glance at her sister.
“Oh my, Lizzy! Your face shows concern about which gentleman I might like in such a way!
Do not distress yourself! I assure you, I have no particular individual in mind at present.
I am much too young for romance in any case.
“My reason for asking is my curiosity about my observations of Jane and Mr. Bingley when he comes to call. His preference for Jane is quite evident since his countenance is demonstrative of his affections. Jane has always been quiet and reserved, thus it takes a keen observer to know her affection for him.”
Lydia paused and looked to Elizabeth for encouragement.
Although Elizabeth appeared slightly perplexed, Lydia took it as a sign of concentration on her reasoned argument and continued.
“It led me to consider that it is not at all improbable for an individual in love to respond with some reflection of one’s nature, a resemblance to their natural liveliness.
I ponder my own efforts in struggling to curtail my forthright tendencies and temper my exuberance in company.
Surely, were I as silly in love as described in novels, my predilection would be towards displaying myself as ridiculously boisterous and uncontrollably giddy.
My conjecture is that, if romantic affection invaded my heart, I might be unintentionally flirtatious and expose myself as ill bred.
I worry such behaviour would be detrimental to my reputation as a lady, thus provoking any proper gentleman to reconsider his suit. ”
“You may have over-dramatized your interpretation, Lydia. No one can predict how any young woman would respond if she were ‘silly in love’ as you say. However, dear sister, I have had the pleasure of watching you grow and mature, and you have all but conquered the less desirable outbursts and impulsiveness due to your youth. For the most part, you are learning to display the good breeding of a lady with an endearing amount of youthful exuberance.”
“I envy you, Jane, and Mary,” said the youngest Miss Bennet.
“You have all the fun: going to Town, dressing up in your best gowns, dancing, and meeting interesting people beyond our nearest relations.
But it seems so terribly far in the future before I can be in company that I feel I shall die waiting!
“Staying home with Kitty can be terribly dull. She is intent with her drawings and happy trimming bonnets and gowns and helping my other sisters to look their best. She listens to my dramatic readings, but I know she is just being kind-hearted. I wish I could be out in society and have the admiration of gentlemen. However, I do worry about my forthrightness and that I would embarrass myself were I required to appear a fine lady.”
“I do not doubt that, by the time you are out in society, you will have mastered the skills required to recognize when you are becoming excitable and will check yourself almost automatically. If circumstances overwhelm you such that you forget, I know you have the sense and honour to acknowledge the error and gently apologize. It is also likely your gentleman will admire you for your guilelessness,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
“Do not worry, Lydia. You have time to learn to be a gentlewoman and have four elder sisters to help you along.”