Chapter 17 Wednesday, You Dreadful Day #2
“My great uncle may be there as well, Sir Daniel Darcy. He was a judge on the high courts. He has a dry sense of humor, but he is kind. Actually, he reminds me a little of Mr. Bennet.”
Jane and Elizabeth looked at one another in surprise.
“Then we shall feel quite comfortable,” said Jane, ever the peacemaker.
Elizabeth was less nervous than she had been—it helped to know who she might encounter, and she could tell by how Fitzwilliam spoke of them who he considered a friend and who he did not—but she was still walking into uncharted territory.
She intended to acquit herself well, though she did not anticipate much enjoyment in the evening.
Finally, they pulled up before a large stone house, tall and stately, with lanterns lit near the door and at the posts along the street. Elizabeth let her eyes drift up, taking it all in.
Courage, Lizzy. It is only a house, she told herself.
The door was opened by a butler, and soon they had shed their outerwear and were being led into a drawing room where the tinkle of voices could be heard.
The room was as large and elegant as would be expected in such a grand house, and the furnishings were a combination of good taste and the desire to display wealth.
Not as ornate as Rosings, but much showier than her aunt’s home.
There were roughly half a dozen people scattered throughout the room.
A tall woman looked to the door as they were announced and made her way to them.
She seemed to glide across the floor, she walked so smoothly.
Elizabeth idly thought Caroline Bingley might like to study her; she could practice in her room for hours in an attempt to emulate her movements.
“Darcy, it is good to see you,” said the gliding sylph.
She held out her hands and Darcy took them in his own, dropping a kiss on her cheek.
“Aunt, may I present Miss Elizabeth Bennet, her sister Miss Jane Bennet, and their aunt, Mrs. Gardiner. Ladies, my aunt, Lady Hopewell.”
The ladies curtsied and smiled, and no one tripped on her skirts or let out an untimely burp.
First task accomplished.
“Miss Elizabeth, I am so pleased to meet you. My nephew has told me much about you. Come meet the family.” She smiled and took Elizabeth’s arm in hers, dragging her away from her party.
She did it so smoothly it was barely noticeable, but after meeting Lord Hopewell and their daughter Lady Clara, Elizabeth could not help but notice that her sister and aunt had been purposely left out of the introductions. She could not know why yet, but it made her wary.
Darcy’s great uncle, Sir Daniel Darcy, was just as he had been described.
He was a tall, thin man with a shock of white hair and rigid posture.
His face was set permanently in a frown, as if he knew she had stolen her sister’s bonnet and he would look at her thusly until she confessed to her crime.
But just when she thought he hated her without hearing her say more than three words, she noticed a glimmer in his eye, the same telltale sparkle her father got before he teased someone.
If Mr. Bennet had been free to pursue his academic interests and less inclined to laugh at everyone around him, she fancied he might have had a similar profession to Sir Daniel Darcy.
She smiled at the judge and determined that she would find time to speak with him that evening.
Finally, the introduction Elizabeth had most been looking forward to was upon her.
Miss Darcy was a tall girl—like all the other Darcys in the room—and on a larger scale than Elizabeth.
She spoke so quietly Elizabeth could barely hear her, and she kept her eyes glued to the floor throughout the introduction and ensuing conversation.
She was almost painfully shy, and Elizabeth knew it would be up to her to draw Miss Darcy out and further conversation if they were going to come to know one another at all.
Before Elizabeth could speak more than a few words to anyone, they were called in to dinner.
The place settings were more elaborate than Elizabeth was used to, and she suspected they were in for at least four courses and very likely more.
Lady Hopewell had placed Elizabeth on her left and Darcy on her right.
Elizabeth was glad to have an ally close at hand, but she was not certain how good an ally Mr. Darcy would prove to be when the jousting was entirely verbal.
She hated to admit it, but she would have felt more at ease with Colonel Fitzwilliam’s jocular conversation or Charlotte’s steady presence.
If Mr. Darcy remained silent as his aunt questioned her about her family and accomplishments (as Elizabeth had no doubt she would), she was not sure what she would do.
She knew she would be terribly disappointed in him, though.
She could only hope his aunt was kind and the questions were not too invasive.
On Elizabeth’s other side was Sir Daniel Darcy. She was glad to have him next to her. Mrs. Gardiner was on his other side, followed by Miss Darcy. She saw her aunt was already beginning to speak to Miss Darcy and hoped she would make progress with the younger girl.
On Mr. Darcy’s other side was his cousin, Lady Clara, and then Jane.
Jane was also on Lord Hopewell’s left, and Elizabeth felt a knot in her stomach when she noticed it.
She could foresee too many dangerous outcomes: Jane would answer questions too honestly and the experienced politician would know the whole of their family history before the second course was removed, or worse.
He would be the sort of man who flirted with pretty women, and Jane was easily the most beautiful woman a man would ever see.
He would not be able to resist. Or he would be an utter bore and Jane would not know how to discourage him without being impolite, and she would have an absolutely wretched evening.
The soup was brought out and Lady Hopewell began.
“So, Miss Elizabeth, you are from Hertfordshire?”
“Yes.” She took a sip. The soup was delicious.
“Whereabouts exactly?”
“My father’s estate is called Longbourn. It is near the market town of Meryton. It is twenty miles east of Luton, if you are familiar with that town.” She took another sip. At least she would be well fed—if they let her eat.
Lady Hopewell nodded. “And your father has an estate?”
Elizabeth stifled a sigh. “Yes. It is called Longbourn.” As I said. She glanced at Jane. Lord Hopewell was eating his food, ignoring her sister altogether.
“Do you have a large family?”
Elizabeth turned her attention back to her hostess. “At Longbourn, it is only my parents and my sisters, but we have a few Bennet cousins scattered about England. My mother’s sister lives in Meryton, and her brother here in Town. It is he my sister and I are staying with.”
“Oh, are you connected to the Bennets of Gilford Park? It is a lovely estate in Buckinghamshire.”
“I do not believe so, ma’am.”
“Oh.” She took a sip of her soup, looking terribly disappointed. “How many sisters do you have?”
“There are five of us, my lady. I am the second.”
Elizabeth felt as if she were back at Rosings, being questioned relentlessly by Lady Catherine, and she spared a glance for Mr. Darcy.
She was trying not to laugh and thought they might share a private joke, but he did not look her way.
His posture and bearing were everything they should be, but his eyes looked strained and there was a tension around his mouth only someone familiar with his expressions would notice.
Was he disappointed in her answers and her manner with his aunt?
She knew she was not being as deferential as she could be.
Had he expected her to be? This was Darcy’s family and it was important that she be respectful; it would be necessary for them to all get along.
It would be even easier if they actually liked her, if for nothing but Fitzwilliam’s sake.
But she was likely to marry this man. It was equally important that his family respect her and understand that she was not to be looked down on or talked down to simply because she was unknown to them or from a lower circle in society. She would begin as she meant to continue.
“And your sisters are all at home? None are married?” continued Lady Hopewell.
“No, none are married.” She took a final sip of soup before the bowls were removed and new dishes were brought in.
In the bustle of changing courses, Elizabeth looked down the table and willed her sister to look at her.
Jane seemed embarrassed that she had been ignored the entirety of the first course, but she sent a tight smile to her sister regardless.
Elizabeth sent her an encouraging look and a quick exasperated expression, and Jane smiled more genuinely in response.
When the footmen stepped back and everyone began eating again, Elizabeth noticed that Jane was now talking to Lady Clara.
Jane was listening attentively as Lady Clara spoke to her with great animation.
Her voice was low, but Elizabeth caught enough words to let her know Clara was speaking of driving a phaeton, and how the horses had utterly refused to do as she bid.
Jane seemed amused and well entertained, and Elizabeth breathed a little easier.
“Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth turned her head in surprise at the raspy voice beside her.
“Sir Daniel?”
He bowed his head slightly and she saw that sparkle in his eyes again. “I hope my niece hasn’t been questioning you too much.”
Elizabeth instinctively glanced back at Lady Hopewell. She was in conversation with Mr. Darcy on her other side.
“Not too much, though she does know quite a bit about me now.”
He raised a brow. “I doubt that.”
He took a bite of his food and Elizabeth was allowed a few bites of her own dish.
“What are you reading these days, Miss Elizabeth?”