3. Chapter 3
E lizabeth had watched Mr. Darcy closely.
She could not quite figure him out. Was he shy, or was he simply uninterested in the company around him?
His friend made an effort to be agreeable to everyone.
Even his sister, who was clearly uncomfortable in company, responded to sincere overtures of friendship.
However, Mr. Darcy could barely be prevailed upon to reply to the persons speaking with him.
Why did such a handsome and presumably intelligent man have to be so .
. . difficult? Visitors to the area were few and far between.
Visitors who were educated and interesting were even rarer.
Was it too much to ask that he be pleasant and accommodating? Apparently, it was!
Soon, everyone rose to take their leave, wishing one another a pleasant evening. As they all parted ways, Elizabeth overheard Mr. Darcy speaking to his sister.
"Georgiana, I noticed we passed a bakery a few doors down. I was surprised to see one in a village such as this. Would you like to stop in on our way back to Netherfield?"
"Yes, I would!"
Elizabeth scowled as she walked out of the tea shop. A village such as this? What exactly did he mean by that?
She had hoped to come to know Mr. Darcy on a more personal level.
Besides Malcolm Dean, what else might they have in common?
However, she decided not to engage him in conversation.
His manner was not open or welcoming. Each person who had attempted to engage him beyond his views on the weather met with little success.
From the quality of his dress and that of his sister’s, Elizabeth could deduce that the Darcys were wealthy.
Perhaps he thought himself above his company.
Well, if he did, so be it! It was no loss to Elizabeth.
She had no interest in getting to know a gentleman who considered her to be beneath him.
A village such as this! She huffed. Insufferable!
What was the point in deepening an acquaintance with someone who would not see her as an equal?
One could certainly not be friends with a person if there was no mutual respect.
All her life, Elizabeth had witnessed how ill-suited her parents were for each other.
It was not because her mother was the daughter of a solicitor.
It was because she was uneducated and silly.
Her father did not respect her. He avoided her as much as possible, and when he could not, he ignored her.
Elizabeth could not tolerate such a marriage.
Elizabeth relaxed in her window seat, looking out at the garden below. She wondered how long Mr. Darcy would be in the neighborhood and how often they would be thrown together.
She heard a knock at the door and called for the person to enter. Jane entered the room and walked to the window seat, smiling at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth chuckled and moved over so she could sit beside her. “I believe I know what is on your mind.”
Jane sighed happily. “Mr. Bingley is so handsome and so amiable.”
“He certainly is,” agreed Elizabeth. “I noticed you two were often in deep conversation.”
"He was very easy to converse with. I hope I have the opportunity to get to know him better.” She looked at Elizabeth. “What think you of Mr. Darcy?”
“I wish he were as amiable and easy to converse with as your Mr. Bingley.”
“Is he not?” Jane asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. “No. He is polite, but that is all he is. I could not help but wish to know him better when I learned today that he and I are both reading Malcolm Dean. I hoped we might discuss Dean's first volume.”
“Was there no opportunity to do so?”
“There was opportunity,” Elizabeth said, shrugging a shoulder, “but he would not have welcomed it. It became apparent that Mr. Darcy considered us beneath him. So I left him to himself.”
Jane’s brows drew together in consternation. “Goodness. And Miss Darcy seems like such a sweet girl.”
“Yes, she does. I do not want to avoid her because she may feel slighted. However, I do not want her brother to think we are ingratiating ourselves upon their society either.”
Jane looked at her with a pensive expression. “I suppose our only recourse is to let their behavior guide our own.”
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. “I told her we would pay her a call on Friday. I guess we shall see how things play out from there.”
"Let us not be too hasty in forming an opinion of Mr. Darcy. He may be a fine gentleman who improves on closer acquaintance."
Elizabeth chuckled at her sister's tendency to absolve everyone. "Very well, Jane, I shall try not to be too hasty."
They had been sitting in the drawing room for a while when Jane delicately cleared her throat and glanced at Elizabeth. Knowing what was coming, Elizabeth quickly looked back down at her book to hide her smile.
“Mama, we have a surprise for you,” Jane said.
Mama looked at her eldest daughter. “A surprise?”
“Yes. While we were in Meryton today, we made the acquaintance of Mr. Bingley and his guests.”
Mama’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened in shock. “Mr. Bingley?!” she shrieked. “And you are just now telling me? You sly things, keeping such important information from your mama! Oh dear me! This is such good news! And what is his friend’s name?”
“His name is Mr. Darcy. His sister, Miss Darcy, is also a guest at Netherfield,” Jane said.
“How nice! We shall see them both at the assembly, I dare say!” Mama said excitedly.
“I doubt we shall see Miss Darcy, Mama. I do not believe she is out,” Elizabeth said.
“Well, that just means more dance partners to go around for the rest of us!” Lydia said merrily.
“Are Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy handsome?” Kitty asked.
“Yes, they are both very handsome,” Mary replied with a smile.
Kitty and Lydia squealed in delight.
“Lizzy, did you purchase the ribbon and lace?” Mama asked.
“She did, Mama," Kitty said. "They are both very pretty!”
"Very good! Girls, you must all look your best!"
“I believe our outing today was indeed good for your sister, Darcy. She seemed to enjoy the company of the Bennet ladies and Miss Lucas,” Bingley said.
“Yes, she did. She is looking forward to spending time with them again,” Darcy replied.
Bingley grinned. “I am as well, especially with Miss Jane Bennet! She is beautiful! I enjoyed speaking with her today.”
“I am sure you did, but be careful, Bingley. In a small village such as this, merely the presence of a single man can put the mamas and young ladies into a frenzy. If you show any young lady more attention than the rest, get ready for your head to spin at how quickly expectations will be raised.”
“Surely it cannot be as bad as all that!” Bingley said with an incredulous chuckle.
Darcy looked at Bingley with a fixed, unblinking gaze. “Mark my words.”
“Very well, I shall exercise caution,” Bingley conceded. “I suppose the Bennet sisters we met today are the ones the steward mentioned who help look after Netherfield’s tenants.”
“I believe you are right. It appears they are lovely as well as generous.”
“Oh, ho! Lovely, eh?”
“I am not blind, Bingley,” Darcy said drily.
Bingley laughed and got up to pour them both another brandy.
“Loveliness, generosity—and it is easy to see they are intelligent as well—all desirable qualities in a woman.” Bingley looked out the window for a moment, then said, “I cannot say I have often encountered such young ladies in town, have you?”
Darcy looked down into the amber liquid for a moment before he replied, “No, not often.”
“Of course, my sisters would not care a jot if I married an intelligent, generous woman. As long as she brought connections and a fortune, they would be satisfied. However, I need more than that.”
Darcy nodded in understanding.
“On another note, Darcy," Bingley began evasively, "I think . . . I may have . . . accidentally . . . forgotten to tell you about the assembly this Saturday."
Darcy looked at Bingley. “What?”
“There is an assembly. Dancing, mingling with the—”
“I know what happens at a public assembly, Bingley,” Darcy interrupted.
Bingley cleared his throat. “Yes, of course.” He looked at Darcy and sighed. “I must attend, Darcy, and I would really appreciate your presence there.”
Darcy sighed as well. “Of course I will support you, Bingley,”
“Perhaps you might even enjoy yourself.”
Not likely . Darcy stood and tossed back the rest of the brandy.
“Are we still on for a game of billiards before dinner?” Bingley asked.
“Certainly. Shall we say half an hour?”
Bingley agreed, and Darcy returned upstairs. He wanted to speak with Georgiana before dinner.
When she joined him in their shared sitting room, he turned to her with a smile. “I just wanted to make sure you are comfortable and still enjoying our visit.”
“Oh, yes, brother! I am quite comfortable. It has been an enjoyable visit thus far. Meeting the Miss Bennets and Miss Lucas has made it even more so.”
“I am glad you enjoyed our outing today. The young ladies we met all seem to be very amiable.”
“Yes, I agree. I hope they think so of me as well,” Georgiana said, twisting the fringe of her shawl.
“I am sure they do. Is there a reason they would not?” Darcy asked, his eyes drawn to her busy fingers.
“Well, while we were at the tea shop, Miss Elizabeth asked if they could call on Friday. I assured her it would be convenient and that I looked forward to it. However, it seemed she wanted to confirm I had a companion here at Netherfield first. Do you think . . . could it be she doubts my ability to serve as hostess on my own?”
“No, dearest,” Darcy said, shaking his head.
“I heard your conversation with Miss Elizabeth. She inquired of Mrs. Annesley because Netherfield Park is currently being occupied by two single gentlemen. It would therefore be inappropriate for a young lady to visit without a married woman present or an older woman such as Mrs. Annesley.”
“Oh, I see! She was simply observing propriety,” Georgiana said as understanding dawned.