Chapter 7
In the following days, Mr Darcy and the colonel seemed tempted by either the proximity of the Parsonage, the pleasantness of the walk thereto, or the geniality of the residents. Consequently, they visited on three consecutive days.
Each of the gentlemen was very much himself during these calls. Elizabeth continued her amiable association with the colonel and gradually became more at ease with Mr Darcy, so the visits were awaited eagerly.
Mr Darcy seldom spoke with any of them. He appeared to bear Mr Collins’s attention with politeness, and he complimented Mrs Collins several times.
Towards Elizabeth, he mostly gazed silently.
On the fourth day, a dinner invitation arrived from Rosings, much to the Collinses’ excitement, and the invitation was accepted with enthusiasm.
Elizabeth wondered and worried about Miss de Bourgh as they had not met since their last—and heated—conversation.
She was curious to observe her appearance and behaviour in the company of her cousins.
That something grave was happening with Anne de Bourgh troubled Elizabeth as much as the notion that she could do nothing to prevent it.
Preparation for dinner began at the Parsonage early in the morning. Maria changed her mind about her gown several times and seemed panicked by not being properly attired. Mr Collins attempted to comfort her and Elizabeth in his usual manner.
“Do not worry about having proper attire for such an occasion. Lady Catherine and her nephews surely do not expect from you the same elegance to which they are accustomed.”
“We shall bear it as well as we can,” Elizabeth replied with a mocking sincerity that Mr Collins took to heart.
At the proper hour, they joined the party in Lady Catherine’s drawing room, and they were received with civility.
Miss de Bourgh was in her usual place with her companion. Elizabeth met her eyes, and their glances lingered a moment. Then, Lady Catherine intervened in the conversation and demanded to know how Elizabeth and Maria employed their time and when they planned to leave Kent.
Her ladyship did not grant them the same interest as on previous occasions. She was more engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them—especially to Darcy—much more than to any other person in the room.
Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed genuinely pleased to see them, and he quickly secured a chair near Elizabeth. Mrs Collins’s pretty friend had caught his fancy, and her presence was a welcome change from the usual dinners at Rosings.
He talked so agreeably—of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying at home, of new books and music—that Elizabeth’s interest quickly turned to him entirely. He was pleasant and amiable and appeared to be equally intelligent, well educated, and unpretentious.
They conversed with spirit and flow until they drew the attention of Lady Catherine, as well as Mr Darcy.
Elizabeth noticed his eyes repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity, and she wondered at his thoughts.
He likely disapproved of his cousin’s open preference for her.
Would he hastily remove him as he had done with Mr Bingley?
Was the colonel as easily removed to Town and convinced against his wishes as the younger and more na?ve Mr Bingley?
Willing to vex the haughty and aloof gentleman, she became more voluble in her conversation with the colonel, smiling at him frequently, and laughing loudly at times.
But their interaction soon drew the attention of Lady Catherine, who called them out.
“What is it you are talking of, Fitzwilliam? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what you are saying.”
“We are speaking of music, madam,” said he.
“Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation.”
“Gladly, Aunt. I thought you were in the midst of a discussion with Darcy and Mr Collins, and I did not want to disturb you.”
“I am done now. There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully.”
Elizabeth glanced at Anne, who averted her eyes and hid her face behind a handkerchief.
“How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?” her ladyship continued.
“Excellent. She is diligent with her education. I am very proud of her.”
“I am glad to hear such a good account. Pray tell her from me that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practise a great deal.”
“I assure you, madam, that she does not need such advice. She practices very constantly.”
“So much the better. When I next write to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often tell young ladies that excellence in music is not to be acquired without constant practice.”
“Speaking of music”—the colonel changed the subject—“Miss Bennet, would you be so kind as to play for us?”
“I shall if you insist. But I must warn you that I play very little and quite ill. I do not wish you to be too disappointed,” Elizabeth replied.
“I beg to differ, Miss Bennet,” Darcy unexpectedly interjected. “I had the pleasure of hearing you perform several times, and it was delightful.”
She could not conceal her surprise. “You are very kind, sir. But we both know you are more polite than honest,” she tried to joke. “And the colonel will have the chance to judge for himself.”
She sat down directly at the instrument, and the colonel drew a chair near her.
Lady Catherine listened to half a song and then spoke to Darcy.
But he ceased listening to her and walked with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte.
He stopped at a fair distance that allowed him a full view of the performer’s countenance.
Elizabeth noticed, and a strange shiver moved down her spine.
To fight the sudden disturbance, she turned to him with an arch smile at the first convenient pause.
“Do you maintain your original opinion of my performance, sir? Or do you mean to frighten and interrupt me by coming in all this state to hear me?”
“I shall not withdraw anything I said. And you cannot possibly believe I had any intention of frightening you, so I shall not acknowledge that. I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions that, in fact, are not your own.”
Elizabeth laughed heartily and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of me and teach you not to believe a word I say. Indeed, Mr Darcy, it is very ungenerous of you to mention all that you knew to my disadvantage. And, give me leave to say, very impolitic too—for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such things may come out as will shock your relations to hear.”
“I am not afraid of you,” said he smilingly. “And I said nothing to your disadvantage, quite the contrary.”
Their eyes met and held briefly.
“Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of,” cried Colonel Fitzwilliam. “I should like to know how he behaves among strangers—although I could guess. He rarely gives himself the trouble of behaving to others’ liking.”
“I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy, “of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation or appear interested in their concerns as I often see done.”
Elizabeth held his gaze daringly as she answered.
“My fingers do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women’s do.
But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I would not take the trouble of practising.
It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman’s of superior execution. ”
Darcy smiled and said, “You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We, neither of us, perform to strangers.”
“I thank you for your compliment, Mr Darcy. And I have to ask: Should I assume that, for people who are not strangers but old acquaintances and friends, you enjoy performing?”
They were now speaking only to each other. Her bright eyes, smiling lips, and arch, teasing voice stirred his senses. He was certain she flirted with him.
“For some of them, Miss Bennet,” he replied.
Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who again demanded to know what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began to play, Darcy returned to his previous chair, and Lady Catherine was able to criticize Elizabeth’s performance several times that evening.
∞∞∞
The flow of conversation was directed by her ladyship, and the others seldom had a chance to speak unless she asked them a question.
Nevertheless, nobody was as quiet and remote as Miss de Bourgh.
From her secluded place, Anne watched the interactions silently.
Nobody addressed a single word to her, nor did she join any conversation.
Elizabeth looked at her several times but found no way to involve her.