Chapter Five #3
“I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours. What you ask are not my answers to give at this time, Miss Elizabeth. I would ask you to trust your inclinations to know what is true.” Their time together ended on that bitter note; they finished the second dance in silence and parted.
He knew instant dissatisfaction. Darcy’s pain came from knowing he could never be anything more to Elizabeth Bennet.
He immediately forgave her for her disdain because he recognized it was formed on half-truths.
Instead, he directed all his anger on George Wickham.
Darcy departed the dance floor in an agitated state; his performance had left him wanting to say so much more to Elizabeth.
He moved about the room oblivious to the civilities being offered on his behalf.
He stood along the rim of a cluster of partygoers, pretending to be interested in their tales when the bow of the same pudgy clergyman who had tormented Elizabeth with his “lightness of foot” interrupted his thoughts.
Darcy could not comprehend the man’s affront.
Collins made a low bow. “Mr. Darcy, I have learned by a singular accident that you are indeed the nephew of my esteemed patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I wanted to assure you that her ladyship was quite well yesterday sennight.” This unsolicited address astonished him, and Darcy eyed the man with unrestrained wonder.
When Darcy spoke, he replied with an air of distant civility.
However, Mr. Collins set about an equally pompous second speech, which increased Darcy’s contempt.
Finally, he made the imbecile a slight bow and moved away.
In doing so, Darcy thanked providence he had not made a permanent alliance with Miss Elizabeth.
It seemed she possessed no shortage of poor connections.
All Darcy wanted was for the ball to come to a close so he could be rid of his promise to Bingley and to his time in Hertfordshire.
As the interminable evening progressed, Darcy moved with the others to supper.
Unfortunately, he found himself in close proximity to Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas.
In an energized manner, Mrs. Bennet confided to Lady Lucas, “Mr. Bingley so honors our Jane with his attention. He singles her out above all others. We expect a wedding at Netherfield very, very soon, and when Jane is so well placed, I told Mr. Bennet, we may cosign our other daughters to Jane’s care in hopes of likewise excellent matches. ”
Realizing Darcy’s presence, Miss Elizabeth attempted to quash her mother’s enthusiasm, but to little avail.
Darcy felt sympathy for the lady. Such a family would plague her days and dull her chances of a suitable match.
“What do I care what Mr. Darcy thinks, Lizzy? He is nothing to me,” Mrs. Bennet declared when cautioned to hold her tongue.
Elizabeth’s quick glance betrayed her embarrassment, but she said nothing else to the woman.
Bingley, as the host, called for singing and entertainment.
Darcy watched in agitation as Mary Bennet prepared to oblige the company.
Mary Bennet’s voice was weak, and her manner affected.
Darcy remained grave as he witnessed the agony in which Miss Elizabeth found herself.
Although they had parted on a sour note, he would never wish for her to suffer in any manner.
Her eyes pleaded with her father to do something.
Mary would not leave the pianoforte until someone forced her to do so.
Mr. Bennet finally took his daughter’s hint.
As Miss Mary finished her second song, he approached the instrument and closed the keys’ door.
Then he said loudly, “Mary, dearest, you have delighted Mr. Bingley’s guests long enough; it is time to allow the other young ladies a chance to perform.
” Darcy sat in a state of astonishment while Elizabeth’s countenance colored.
The mortification she had attempted to stop with her father’s intervention had turned to exasperation.
The man had embarrassed all who witnessed it.
Mr. Collins added insult to injury by extolling too loudly upon his own lack of musical ability.
“If I were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I should take pleasure, I am certain, in obliging the company with an air; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly compatible with the profession of a clergyman.” For some unexplained reason, he directed his speech towards Darcy.
While Mr. Bennet was openly amused by his cousin’s silliness, Mrs. Bennet praised Mr. Collins for his ability to know his talents.
Darcy’s indignant contempt changed to his usual formal hauteur.
His silent contempt of the displays of Elizabeth’s family could not be hidden from her or from anyone else.
As the music resumed, he stood within a short distance of Elizabeth Bennet, quietly disengaged from what he observed.
Though he replayed the whole evening in his head, he never came near enough to speak to her again.
He vividly recalled the thrill of escorting her onto the dance floor, but those sweet memories were doused by images of Mr. Collins’s affront, Mrs. Bennet’s protestations, Kitty and Lydia Bennet’s outrageous flirtations with the officers, Mary Bennet’s poor performance, and Mr. Bennet’s impropriety.
The negatives of such a connection greatly outweighed Darcy’s interest in her.
At length, Bingley and Jane Bennet caught Darcy’s attention.
They were absorbed in their conversation.
They knew nothing of the spectacle Miss Bennet’s family had become.
Darcy realized he must also save his friend from the Bennet connection.
He could not, in all conscience, leave Bingley to his own devices when it came to Miss Jane Bennet.
He must prepare himself to separate the two permanently.