Chapter 8 #2
Jane laughed softly. “You are very fond of teasing. But tell me, Lizzy, what of Mr. Darcy?”
Elizabeth considered a moment. “I find him sensible company.”
“Sensible?” Jane echoed gently. “That is cautious praise.”
Elizabeth only smiled. “We shall see.”
At that moment, Mrs. Bennet hurried into the room. “I wonder whether I ought to have directed cook to prepare an additional course. Yes, I believe I shall speak to her.”
Elizabeth rose at once and guided her mother back to her seat. “Pray do not distress yourself. Everything will be perfectly well.”
Lydia, Kitty, and Mary soon joined them. Mrs. Bennet cast an anxious glance toward the door. “And where is your father? They may arrive at any moment.”
“Then it is fortunate I am present,” said Mr. Bennet, taking his seat with composure.
Kitty, positioned near the window, suddenly exclaimed, “They are here.”
Voices sounded in the hall. Mr. Hill appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and Miss Bingley.”
Mrs. Bennet rose with animation. “Welcome. Pray be seated. Dinner will be served directly.”
Miss Bingley inclined her head. “How delightfully punctual.”
Darcy approached and bowed to Elizabeth before joining her and Jane in conversation, while Bingley took a seat beside Jane with evident pleasure.
At that moment, Mr. Collins entered, his eye immediately discerning Elizabeth’s position. A shadow crossed his countenance as he advanced. “Miss Elizabeth,” he began with solemn emphasis, “I should be gratified if you would allow me the privilege of attending you at dinner.”
Elizabeth inclined her head. “You are very obliging, sir.”
Before she could say more, Mr. Hill announced that dinner was served.
Darcy stepped forward before any reply could be made and offered his arm. “Miss Elizabeth.”
She accepted without hesitation.
Mr. Collins was left to recover himself as the party proceeded toward the dining room.
As the party took their seats, Darcy found himself placed between Mrs. Bennet at the head of the table and Miss Elizabeth. Bingley, he noted with satisfaction, sat across from him beside Jane.
Mrs. Bennet turned eagerly toward Darcy. “We are so delighted you could dine with us. I hope you do not find our country fare inferior.”
The servants began setting out the dishes for the first course.
“You are most obliging, madam. I am very happy to be included.”
“I insisted that cook prepare the mutton in the best manner. One must make an effort when such distinguished company is present.”
Darcy inclined his head. “It appears to have required no effort at all. The table does you great credit.”
Mr. Bingley seemed entirely content in Jane’s company, speaking to her with easy animation.
At the opposite end of the table, Mr. Bennet addressed Mrs. Hurst with mild curiosity. “I understand you spend most of your time in London. Are you enjoying your stay at Netherfield?”
“The countryside is very pretty,” Mrs. Hurst replied languidly, “though I confess I miss the shops and my friends. Charles wishes to acquaint himself with estate matters before making a purchase.”
Miss Bingley spoke with delicate emphasis. “He would have done better to secure an estate nearer to Pemberley.”
Mrs. Hurst turned toward her sister. “Were you not the one who wished to be nearer town? Pemberley is at least three days’ journey.”
Mr. Bennet leaned back in his chair, a faint smile touching his lips. The evening promised more diversion than he had anticipated.
As the first course was removed and the second arranged, Lydia sighed audibly.
“We encountered officers this morning. They look exceedingly handsome in their red coats. It is my fondest wish to marry an officer.”
Elizabeth spoke gently. “Lydia, you are very young yet. There is much to enjoy before such matters need be decided.”
“I am weary of lessons. I wish to dance and have a little excitement.”
Darcy turned his attention toward Lydia. “May I inquire why you are so eager to marry?”
“What a triumph it would be to be married first, and I the youngest of all.”
A thoughtful expression crossed his face. “It is a generous ambition.”
“Generous?” Lydia repeated.
“A young officer must often live with considerable economy. Few possess independent fortunes. A wife in such circumstances must be prepared for frequent removals and modest accommodations. There is seldom much allowance for ribbons.”
Lydia blinked. “And no servants?”
“Not unless one can afford them.”
She stared at him in dismay and glanced toward her father.
Mr. Bennet nodded mildly. “Mr. Darcy does not exaggerate.”
Elizabeth regarded Darcy with quiet amusement. “I believe, sir, you have accomplished what no one else has managed.”
He met her eyes briefly. “I only offered information.”
Across the table, Miss Bingley endured Mr. Collins’s discourse with strained composure.
Lady Catherine’s name recurred with remarkable frequency, accompanied by detailed accounts of her condescension and discernment.
Miss Bingley listened with visible restraint, uncertain whether to admire the lady’s consequence or resent the repetition of it.
Mary, attentive but composed, posed occasional polite questions which only served to prolong the subject.
Mr. Hurst, seated near Kitty, devoted himself almost entirely to the wine and the dishes before him, contributing little beyond a murmur of approval. Kitty, receiving scant encouragement, soon directed her attention toward Jane’s livelier conversation.
At length, the final course was removed and dessert enjoyed. Mrs. Bennet rose with satisfaction. “Shall we adjourn to the drawing room?”
The ladies followed her from the dining room, leaving the gentlemen to their wine.
***
When the gentlemen joined the ladies in the drawing room, Mary was playing at the pianoforte, with Elizabeth turning pages for her. Kitty and Lydia were speaking quietly together. Mrs. Bennet and Jane were seated near Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. Mrs. Bennet asked Kitty to request tea from Hill.
Darcy crossed to the pianoforte. Mary soon finished and smiled at Elizabeth before moving to the other side of the room.
Elizabeth looked up at Darcy. “Do you have a request?”
Darcy paused a moment, then smiled. “I much admired the piece you played the other evening.”
Elizabeth nodded and selected a sheet of music.
“May I turn pages for you?” he asked.
“Thank you.”
Miss Bingley watched the exchange with a tightened expression and murmured something to Mrs. Hurst.
Mr. Collins approached and stationed himself near Mr. Darcy. “I shall turn pages for Miss Elizabeth. There is no need for you to trouble yourself.”
“No trouble at all,” Darcy replied evenly. “I am very well as I am.”
Mr. Collins looked at him in confusion before frowning. “Miss Elizabeth, this behavior is not appropriate.”
Elizabeth continued to play. “I was not aware that my playing gave offense.”
Darcy glanced at her with a faint smile. “I find nothing to object to.” He turned slightly toward Mr. Collins. “There is nothing improper in Miss Elizabeth’s performance. I believe you would do better to be seated and enjoy it.”
Mr. Collins withdrew to a chair, though not without directing a look of disapproval toward Elizabeth.
Darcy spoke in a low voice. “Your patience exceeds mine.”
Elizabeth shrugged lightly. “He will be with us only a short time and then he will be gone. His intentions are plain, but until he declares himself, I must wait to answer him.”
“He seems persuaded that, as heir, he will obtain what he desires.”
“Yes, but he will discover he is mistaken.”
Darcy smiled. “I am very glad to hear it.”
Miss Bingley approached. “I should be happy to relieve you, Miss Elizabeth, if you wish a rest.”
Elizabeth inclined her head. “Thank you.” She rose and yielded her place at the pianoforte.
As Miss Bingley seated herself, Darcy stepped forward and offered his arm. Elizabeth accepted, and he led her to a seat across the room before taking one beside her.
Miss Bingley paused for a brief moment, visibly discomposed, before beginning to play.
Across the room, Elizabeth settled into her chair. For a few moments she listened with polite attention before glancing toward Mr. Darcy. He appeared wholly engaged in the music, yet when she looked his way, he met her eyes with a quiet smile.
Elizabeth turned her gaze back toward the pianoforte, though she found herself less attentive to the music than she had intended.
***
After the guests had departed, Mr. Bennet withdrew to his book-room. He had just taken up his book when Mr. Collins entered.
“I must speak with you, sir.”
Mr. Bennet lowered his book and regarded him calmly. “Must you?”
Mr. Collins inclined his head with solemn gravity. “Yes. It concerns your second daughter, Miss Elizabeth.”
“My second daughter, Elizabeth. And what concerns you?”
“My patroness, Lady Catherine”
“De Bourgh. We are all well acquainted with your patroness. You mentioned Elizabeth.”
Mr. Collins began again, with renewed earnestness. “Miss Elizabeth has shown a reluctance to attend to my direction. I also understand that she occupies herself with matters relating to the estate. A lady’s proper province is domestic management, not the concerns of land and tenants.”
Mr. Bennet leaned back in his chair. “I see. You may not be aware, having had little occasion to observe such things, but the welfare of the tenants is very properly the concern of the ladies of the house. They visit, they inquire, and they assist where needed. In this respect, Elizabeth does nothing unusual.”
“But she does not comply with my instructions.”
Mr. Bennet allowed himself a small smile. “That is true of a great many women. I recommend you grow accustomed to it.”
Mr. Collins hesitated. “Still, as the future master of Longbourn, I believe it proper that I begin to…”
Mr. Bennet raised a hand. “You need not trouble yourself with the management of Longbourn for a considerable time yet. I assure you it is very well attended.”