Chapter Three #2
Although she quickly returned to the needlework she held, Caroline intoned, “That is dreadful to hear, Miss Elizabeth.”
During supper Darcy hoped for an opportunity to speak with Elizabeth, but Caroline strategically placed Miss Elizabeth beside Mr. Hurst. Darcy made conversation with Caroline. He split his attention, however, hoping for gems of Elizabeth’s conversation, which he could use later.
Naturally still worried over her sister, Miss Elizabeth returned to her sister’s care after the meal, and Miss Bingley immediately abused her.
“Miss Elizabeth’s manners, I find, are lacking indeed; they are a mix of pride and impertinence.
Did you notice, Louisa, she cannot hold a civil conversation?
She has no style, no taste, and no beauty of which to speak.
Country ideas of such appealing qualities must be far below those of refined societies.
” Darcy wondered at how little he knew of Miss Bingley.
He once found her to be dignified, but her “luster” had definitely dulled.
Louisa Hurst joined in her sister’s aspersions. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet has nothing, in short, to recommend her beyond being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.”
Caroline cackled, “She did, indeed. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country because her sister had a cold? Her hair was so untidy, so blowzy!”
“Yes, and her petticoat. I hope you noticed her petticoat, six inches deep in mud!”
Bingley came to Miss Elizabeth’s defense. “I thought Miss Elizabeth looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.” Bless him, thought Darcy. Mayhap he will one day be able to handle Caroline.
Caroline turned to Darcy. “You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am certain, and I am inclined to think you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition. To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum.”
Caroline’s references to the boorish behavior of the locals had begun to wear on Darcy’s patience. “Her sister was ill. It shows an affection that is very pleasing.”
“Mr. Darcy, you must agree, however, this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.” Caroline’s voice displayed her desperation.
“Again, you are mistaken, Miss Bingley. I found them brightened by the exercise.”
Darcy hoped his comment would stifle Miss Bingley’s criticism of Elizabeth, but she ignored his censorious tone. “Did you know, Louisa, the Bennet family has an uncle who is a country solicitor and an uncle who owns a warehouse in Cheapside?”
“I do not understand all this emphasis on material wealth when one judges a person’s merit; even if the Bennets had enough uncles to fill all of Cheapside, I would not think less of the family,” Darcy’s friend declared. “After all, we have warehouses, Caroline.”
Bingley felt the need to defend his preference for Miss Jane Bennet, and, in many ways, Darcy sympathized with his friend, but the truth remained unchanged.
“Unfortunately, Bingley, as you well know, other people will judge differently. It must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world.” He hated to acknowledge the facts.
Men of fine Society would not consider the Bennet sisters as possible mates, and although Darcy found Miss Elizabeth Bennet to be more than desirable, he knew he could not marry her.
Unfortunately for them all, Darcy’s speech had presented the Bingley sisters permission to continue their condemnation of the Bennet family’s vulgar relations.
Bingley, on the other hand, had no response.
Darcy, too, could not shake the uneasiness he felt each time Caroline mentioned Miss Elizabeth in a negative light.
Eventually, the sisters ceased their “humorous” attack and removed to Miss Bennet’s room to offer their “concerned” advice.
It was late in the evening before Elizabeth rejoined the Bingley household.
The party sat at loo when she returned; Darcy eagerly observed her again.
After the Bingley sisters’ attacks, he had spent several hours in quiet contemplation.
During the day he had decided he once more wished for Miss Elizabeth’s company.
Moreover, he reasoned having her at Netherfield would provide him time to know more of Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Darcy looked forward to engaging her in a verbal battle.
She would view him differently; she would increase her regard.
That idea played to Darcy’s sense of pride; what woman would not desire his attention?
No one Darcy had met previously had refused his consideration.
“Will you join us, Miss Elizabeth?” Mrs. Hurst asked graciously.
“I fear my sister may require my assistance; I would not wish to interrupt your game,” Elizabeth begged off. “Pray, I will amuse myself with a book instead.”
“Please say, Miss Elizabeth, you do not prefer reading to cards! That is rather singular!” Mr. Hurst protested.
Miss Bingley seized the opportunity to disparage Elizabeth before Darcy. She offered a calculated cut. “Miss Eliza Bennet despises cards. She is a great reader and has no pleasure in anything else.”
Caroline’s rudeness astonished Darcy. To call Elizabeth “Eliza” highlighted Caroline’s disdain.
Miss Bingley’s lack of proper manners mortified him.
Turning to Miss Elizabeth, he half expected to view her taken aback; instead, he noted that same enigmatic smile, the one she presented him when she had found his manners lacking.
“Miss Bingley, you misjudged me,” Miss Elizabeth responded, “I deserve neither such praise nor such censure. I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things.”
Good for her, thought Darcy, she had held her own with Caroline.
How Miss Elizabeth deflected Caroline’s criticism actually impressed Darcy.
As the evening progressed, Miss Elizabeth eventually left her book and drew near the card table.
Although she stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, her nearness played havoc with Darcy’s well-being.
Meanwhile, Caroline stubbornly demanded his attention. “How is dear Georgiana? Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring? Will she be as tall as I?”
Darcy’s eyes never left his cards, but his awareness of Miss Elizabeth could not be described. “Actually, Miss Bingley, I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s height or rather taller.” He shot a glance at Miss Elizabeth, and they momentarily locked eyes.
Caroline’s exaggerated regard for Georgiana continued; she wished Miss Elizabeth to know how intimate she was with Darcy.
“How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted me so much—such a countenance, such manners, and so extremely accomplished for her age. Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite.”
“It is amazing,” Bingley quickly added, “how young ladies can have the patience to be so very accomplished as they are. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. I have never heard of a young lady spoken of for the first time without being informed she was very accomplished.”
Darcy’s fondness for Bingley increased. Not only had his generosity placed Miss Elizabeth within Netherfield, he had opened a mode of discourse of which Darcy knew Miss Elizabeth would react.
Challengingly, Darcy asserted, “Your list of the common accomplishments has too much truth. I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintances, who are truly accomplished.”
Echoing his ideas, Miss Bingley said, “Nor I, I am certain.”
Darcy’s eyes rose to test Miss Elizabeth; as predicted, she did not disappoint. “It amazes me you have such an understanding of women’s abilities, Mr. Darcy. Have you studied them thoroughly? You comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman.”
Touché! Darcy had her now; he would allow her to understand how he was a worthy opponent. “I do comprehend a great deal. Just because I am a man, Miss Elizabeth, does not mean I am unaware of what qualities the ideal woman should possess.” He set his trap; her full attention was his.
Not wishing to lose his appreciation to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Miss Bingley recited her list of qualities for an accomplished woman.
“A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved.”
Realizing Miss Bingley emphasized her “assets” and Miss Elizabeth’s “flaws,” Darcy chose an area in which he knew Elizabeth excelled to add to the list: “And to all this she must yet add something more substantial in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.”
“I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any,” Miss Elizabeth bantered.
Savoring the moment, Darcy parlayed his response. “Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all this?”
“I never saw such a woman,” Miss Elizabeth bristled. “I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe, united. She would be something to behold!” Darcy smiled at the quickness of her mind. He had never had a woman speak to him thus; he found it intoxicating.
“Oh, Miss Eliza,” Mrs. Hurst protested, “you know not of which you speak. Hertfordshire cannot give you a basis to judge Mr. Darcy’s sentiments.”