Chapter Six #2
Darcy’s caution was on alert. Had Miss Bingley said something to Georgiana of their time in Meryton? “Why do you ask?”
“He quit the estate on impulse it seems. Was something amiss?”
Darcy knew discomfort with his part in removing Bingley from Netherfield. He shifted his weight, gulped down the last of the brandy, and poured himself another. “Bingley is an impetuous young man,” he explained.
“It is just,” Georgiana began shyly, “he speaks well of his short time there and expresses a fondness for the company of Miss Jane Bennet.”
“Does he now?” Darcy said a bit suspiciously. It was not Caroline’s displeasure which had filled Georgiana’s head with questions, but rather Bingley’s praise for Miss Bennet.
“Mr. Bingley appears so downcast. Is Miss Bennet not the sister of Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Your letters from Netherfield mentioned Miss Elizabeth several times. I had hoped when I read your letters that if Mr. Bingley remained at Netherfield, I could visit. I thought from what you said of the lady that you might permit me something of Miss Elizabeth’s acquaintance.
I would rejoice in a friend as you described.
Do you think Miss Elizabeth would wish for my acquaintance? ”
“I am confident she would,” Darcy began. “I often considered the possibility.”
Georgiana’s interest piqued. Leaning forward and giving him her full attention, she asked, “Would you tell me about Miss Elizabeth?”
Darcy held his glass of brandy to his lips, but he did not drink.
Impressions of Elizabeth Bennet came so easily to him, as if he had seen her but five minutes prior rather than it having been nearly eleven weeks.
He guarded his words, fearing a betrayal of his susceptibility to the woman.
“I will describe Miss Elizabeth physically first. Her features are not as ethereal as her sister’s, but they tend to be more classical.
Her eyes are the key to her soul, a quick note to what she really thinks.
She says she loves to laugh, and I find her humor to be teasing in nature at times.
I have not encountered many women with a more agreeable character.
Everything is united in Miss Elizabeth Bennet: She possesses a superior intelligence and good understanding; generally correct opinions, which she often expresses without regard to the time or the situation; and a warm heart.
She demonstrates strong feelings of family attachment, without calculating pride or insufferable weaknesses.
Miss Elizabeth judges for herself in everything essential.
” Darcy stopped himself at this point, fearing he had said too much.
Georgiana sighed heavily when he paused. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet sounds like the perfect mixture of sense and judgment. I hope I have the opportunity to make her my acquaintance. I always wished for a friend such as you describe.”
Leaving his reason behind, Darcy said wistfully, “It would be pleasant to encounter Miss Elizabeth again.”
Images of Elizabeth Bennet and Georgiana together at Pemberley invaded his dreams that evening. The images instantly created happiness without the misery, but when awake, Darcy could only dwell on the grief.
The weeks following his departure from Hertfordshire also added to the duplicity he practiced against Bingley.
Evidently, Miss Jane Bennet had come to London to stay with her Cheapside relatives.
She had called unexpectedly on Caroline one afternoon.
Caroline and Louisa were on their way out, so her visit was short, but a like call upon her would be expected of the Bingley sisters.
He and the Bingley ladies agreed that Caroline would wait several weeks before reciprocating, and even then, Miss Bingley would make Miss Bennet aware of her folly in pursuing Bingley.
Such incivilities would end Miss Bennet’s hopes.
Darcy despised his involvement in this matter, but keeping the news of Miss Bennet’s presence in London from Bingley was tantamount.
Obviously, from what Georgiana had confided, Bingley’s affliction of the heart was no more over than was Darcy’s.
Late February brought signs of spring, and Darcy, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley returned to Pemberley.
He spent these weeks with his steward, explaining his plans to increase the production of crops among the tenants on Pemberley.
The two spent many hours planning a four-crop rotation.
The system, developed by the Second Viscount Charles Townsend, had been successful in the Americas since the early 1700s.
Pemberley had used a three-crop rotation for many years, usually wheat, barley, and the third field left to fallow.
Yet, the land was being used up too quickly, and production had decreased, which left many of Pemberley’s tenants unable to maintain their farms.
Darcy held hopes that the four-crop rotation would save his estate and the livelihood of his tenants.
Nitrogen-rich legumes would be used to return nutrients to the soil that the grain crops depleted, and the grain crops would restore the minerals the legumes used.
They fed each other. It was a simple plan.
The excitement of getting back to the land had relieved Darcy of the agitations that dwelt in Town.
He had not thought about Elizabeth Bennet more than a couple of times over the past few weeks.
Then he received a letter from his aunt.
8 March
My dear Nephew,
I am anticipating your upcoming visit; your cousin Anne is most eager to renew your relationship.
Her health seems much improved; I am certain you will notice the difference.
I hoped to introduce you to my new curate, Mr. Collins, and his wife, but much to my chagrin, I find you met them both while you were in Hertfordshire with Mr. Bingley.
Darcy’s heart stopped. Mr. Collins had married someone from Hertfordshire.
Pictures of Mr. Collins’s attentive behavior to Elizabeth flashed across his eyes.
The man danced with her at the Netherfield Ball, and after supper, Collins refused to leave Elizabeth’s side, leaving her in misery and unable to dance with other gentlemen.
Please, God, do not let Elizabeth be married to Mr. Collins!
Mrs. Bennet would marry Elizabeth off to Collins just to be rid of one of her daughters.
Collins kissing Elizabeth—the thought brought a murderous rage to Darcy’s heart.
With shaking hands, he returned to the letter.
Charlotte Lucas has made Mr. Collins a reasonable match. Her temperament is most pleasing, and I have assured Mr. Collins of my approval in his choice.
Darcy’s breath came in ragged bursts. Charlotte Lucas!
It was not Elizabeth! He nearly cried with relief.
Although Collins would provide Miss Lucas with a steady income and a protective home, he disliked knowing any woman settled on such a supercilious arse, as was Mr. Collins.
Even without her being Elizabeth’s special friend, Darcy actually liked Charlotte Lucas.
Mrs. Collins’s father and sister have come to stay at Hunsford.
Sir William spoke highly of you, as was natural, and of his making your acquaintance in Hertfordshire; the younger Miss Lucas is quite pretty, in a plain sort of fashion, and I find her very attentive to my advice.
I am confident she receives no such direction at home, and I plan to spend some time with her.
Good! His aunt’s reproofs could be directed towards someone other than Georgiana. He made a mental note to speak to his cousin about Lady Catherine’s censure of Georgina. Darcy would not have anyone interfering in his sister’s life.
There is another member of the Collinses’ party at the Parsonage. Mrs. Collins’s friend Miss Elizabeth Bennet has also paid a visit.
Darcy reread the line several times to be assured his eyes had not played tricks on him.
Elizabeth? His Elizabeth? Could she really be at Rosings Park residing within an easy walk of his aunt’s house?
Reading on, Darcy realized his eyes had not deceived him.
His aunt actually spoke of Elizabeth. The irony of it all!
Elizabeth Bennet stayed on his aunt’s estate.
I understand you also have made the acquaintance of Miss Bennet. My pleasure in introducing you has been lost. I will forgo that pleasure with you, but, at least, it will still be my honor to introduce the Collins’s party to your cousin, the colonel.
Miss Bennet, I find, is a very outspoken young lady.
She has been allowed to run free with little reproach from her parents.
She offers her opinions without regard to her station in life.
This is most unusual for one so young. I cannot say I approve of her manners.
She is one of five daughters, as you know.
Her parents found no benefit in exposing any of them to the masters.
None of them draw; Miss Bennet’s talents on the pianoforte are limited.
I have told her she could not improve without more practice.
More than having no governess to supervise her upbringing, the worst offense I find in Miss Elizabeth’s upbringing is all five daughters are out in Society at the same time.
The youngest are out before the eldest has married.
When I expressed my disdain, you would never fathom what Miss Bennet said.
Darcy laughed for the first time in months.
Without being told her response, he could just imagine Elizabeth’s retort, accompanied by the “flash” in her eyes, a shift of her shoulders, and the hint of a mischievous smile.
His sister could learn much from Elizabeth Bennet.
He knew Lady Catherine did not intimidate the woman.
Her reply was very disrespectful. She wallows under the ill-abused idea that having all five daughters out at the same time is perfectly acceptable.
Miss Bennet believes her younger sisters deserve their share of Society and amusement as much as she and her elder sister.
She indicated it was not equitable for her younger sisters to be denied their share of fun and courtship just because neither she nor Miss Bennet has had the means or the inclination to marry.
Miss Elizabeth does not feel it would be “very likely to promote sisterly affection nor delicacy of the mind.” I was astonished by this response.
I hope to temper the lady’s rough spirits before she leaves Hunsford.
His aunt may wish to temper Elizabeth’s spirits, but Darcy knew Lady Catherine was no match for Elizabeth Bennet.
Miss Bennet simply requires an example of proper society to complement her undeveloped genteel attributes.
Sir William, I am afraid, will depart before your arrival, but the ladies will remain another month.
We will invite them to Rosings if you so wish to renew their acquaintances.
Your cousin Anne and I look forward to your and Edward’s stay at Rosings.
Lady C
Elizabeth, possibly the first to do so, had dared to challenge the dignified impertinence of Lady Catherine.
So, Elizabeth stayed at Rosings. He was glad to learn of it prior to his arrival.
It would be a good test of how well he had recovered from her charms. He did not acknowledge the swirl of emotions when he feared Collins had married Elizabeth as being anything more than a true concern for her well-being and happiness.
They would meet again as indifferent acquaintances.
His cousin Edward Fitzwilliam arrived at Pemberley on the nineteenth. He would spend a few days with Georgiana before they departed for Rosings. Along with Darcy, the good colonel served as Georgiana’s guardian, and he adored her nearly as much as did Darcy.
“Cousin, Georgiana told me about Elizabeth Bennet,” Edward teased. “Now, I anticipate the pleasure of our aunt’s visitors. Georgiana seems to think you hold Elizabeth Bennet in some esteem. If the lady has impressed Fitzwilliam Darcy, she should be something extraordinary, I dare say.”
“Pull in your tendrils, Edward,” Darcy cautioned.
“Miss Elizabeth is not for you. As the younger son of an earl, you require a woman of wealth to keep you in style. I fear, although Miss Elizabeth is a gentleman’s daughter, she has no wealth to interest a man in your position.
” Darcy did not believe he could tolerate the idea of Elizabeth with his cousin.
She would be family and, yet, not his to touch.
“I see,” Edward began. “That is my poor fortune. Eventually, I will discover a wealthy woman with whom I might also find affection. I do not wish to marry simply for money.”
“I never knew you felt that way.” Edward’s words had stunned Darcy.
Edward sighed with resignation, “Miss Elizabeth may brighten our time at Rosings. Will she not, Darcy?”
“Miss Elizabeth, I found, can brighten most any room,” Darcy said softly.