Chapter Nine #12
As his cheeks reddened, Mr. Darcy glanced quickly across the room where the lady in question sat, then said, “She is indeed a lovely young woman. I am grateful for her friendship with my sister and to be able to know her better during her visit this summer.” He tugged at his cravat before enquiring if she wanted any tea.
Mrs. Woodhouse brought the cup he had brought her just a few minutes earlier to her lips in answer.
Elizabeth tried not to imagine that his obvious embarrassment belied any real interest in her sister.
Though most gentlemen of a certain age fancied themselves in love with Jane at some point, Elizabeth had not truly considered that Darcy might ever be among them.
The prospect was indeed so terrifying she put it out of her mind. Or tried to.
Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was crossing the room on his way to the table where Mrs. Gardiner was making tea and Mrs. Ashley pouring coffee, asked after the cause of his cousin’s blush.
“Have you been teasing him, Miss Elizabeth? I shall not chastise you for it. In fact, I may be able to help.”
“I have not,” she answered primly, then with a sly grin, “but by all means, what have you to accuse him of that we might find amusing?”
“Might I object to this line of enquiry?” Darcy asked.
Miss Bingley, who had come to stand beside Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, adjacent to where Darcy squirmed under the multi-pronged interrogation, came to his defence.
“I doubt there is anything in Mr. Darcy’s past that he need be ashamed of, but in general, I find this type of humour vulgar. Should we not attempt to elevate ourselves by speaking of more sophisticated topics?”
“What would you suggest, Miss Bingley?” the colonel enquired before returning with his newly acquired cups of tea. He handed one to Bingley and one to Jane and resumed his seat.
“I am sure I don’t know, but I would be happy to be guided by Mr. Darcy,” she said, looking eagerly at that gentleman.
“Yes, please do direct us, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth seconded, feeling only a little bad as Darcy’s colour increased. “We await your guidance.”
“I would not presume to . . .” he began, but then, as if struck by an idea, turned a mischievous look on her.
“We could discuss the benefits of climbing trees, particularly for young children, and then we might consider which kinds of trees allow for the best climbing. What thoughts do you have on the matter, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Climbing trees?” Miss Bingley was confused enough not to be initially judgemental, but she quickly recovered herself. “I cannot imagine climbing trees played any part in your childhood.”
“I assure you it did,” Colonel Fitzwilliam put in.
“Indeed,” Darcy agreed. “But I will say I know for certain there is an individual in this very room who has an ability superior to my own.”
“I assume you are referring to the colonel?” Mr. Barlow guessed. He had paused his chess match with Mr. Ashley to participate in the conversation.
“No, as I think Stephen will admit, I was always the superior climber between us two.”
“Alas, it is true. I hope you ladies will not think less of me.”
“I suppose we shall have to satisfy ourselves with your heroics on the battlefield,” Elizabeth consoled him. “Why don’t you tell us about all the times you bested your cousin at other things?”
The colonel smiled broadly at Elizabeth, but when he looked to Darcy and then back to her with a knowing expression, it seemed he had had an epiphany.
“While I normally would be happy to recount the many ways I have beaten our Darcy over the years, I believe you have given yourself away. You are the proficient climber?”
Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst shared a knowing glance before the latter asked, “Miss Eliza, how singular. And do you count climbing trees as your greatest accomplishment? Perhaps Caroline and I should have forgone our seminary education and found a tenant child to teach us to climb trees.” The sisters tittered with laughter.
“That would have been hard to do as we have never had any tenants because we grew up . . .” Mr. Bingley pointed out.
“You miss the point, Charles,” Miss Bingley waved off her brother’s interjection. “We were speaking of Miss Eliza’s accomplishments and whether the climbing of trees should be at the top of the list.”
“Lizzy has an impressive list of accomplishments,” Georgiana began, her tone both earnest and hard. Before she could begin to enumerate this list, Elizabeth interrupted her.
“I do not think such a list would be impressive to most or very long at all, but I thank you for the compliment.” She smiled at her friend before turning to Darcy. “You, sir, introduced this topic in order to expose me?”
“Certainly not,” Darcy said with some indignation.
“I suggested a subject about which I had reason to believe you possessed some expertise so that you could educate the rest of us. It is, as Miss Bingley intimated, an accomplishment to be proud of. I had not before and have not since seen anyone get higher in that tree.”
Elizabeth laughed at his earnestness. She could see he meant it.
Darcy had intended to tease her, perhaps not accounting for the way in which some of the guests might react to the idea of a girl climbing trees.
For herself, despite clearly sinking her in the estimation of the Bingley sisters, she was glad to see this return to form for herself and Darcy and responded in kind.
“I see that now.” She smiled at him. “And to answer your original question, I think chestnut trees are particularly suited for climbing.”
“I thank you for sharing your expert knowledge, and I would suggest chestnut trees are also good places for bringing strangers together,” Darcy answered. He looked at her directly as he spoke but then looked away.
Elizabeth did not quite understand her reaction to both his words and that look. It was the same kind of teasing they had engaged in before. And the heady mix of excitement and confusion was familiar. But this felt like more, like something else.
Shortly after this exchange, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner returned from a visit with their daughters before their nurse put them to bed.
“Might we prevail upon you to play for us, Miss Bingley?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
That lady moved to the instrument with alacrity before remembering to demur.
When the company insisted on hearing her, she sat down and immediately began playing.
She played with skill and feeling and received sincere and hearty applause upon completion of her first piece.
As she began her second, Mr. Gardiner suggested Miss Darcy might follow her to the instrument.
“I would be happy to play, but instead of another concerto, would you object to some Scotch reels that the party might dance to?”
“What a wonderful idea,” Mrs. Gardiner declared. “But if your brother has no objection, allow me to play that you might join the dancing.”
“You are kind,” Miss Darcy answered before Darcy could venture his decision. “However, if you will allow it. I prefer to play and watch the dancing.”
“Then of course you shall,” Mrs. Gardiner agreed. “Now, will you gentlemen move a few of these pieces to give us plenty of room to jump about?”
Mr. Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam rose to immediately comply.
Jane stood and they moved the settee away from the centre of the room.
Darcy and Mr. Ashley each took a chair to the side while Mr. Gardiner rolled up the carpet.
Miss Bingley finished her concerto with a flourish and then allowed Georgiana to take her place, moving with a sedate kind of eagerness to where the others stood, taking a place by Mr. Darcy’s side.
“Shall I turn the pages for you?” Elizabeth asked her friend, stepping away from the others towards the instrument.
“No,” Mrs. Gardiner intercepted her. “I would be happy to do so.” She took her place beside Georgiana, and the two began to sort through various pieces of music.
“And I will keep Mr. Barlow company so the numbers will be even,” Mr. Gardiner said cheerfully.
“I do not mind getting us started, then,” Bingley said. “Miss Bennet, will you do me the honour?”
“Of course,” Jane answered.
Elizabeth caught her sister’s quick look to Colonel Fitzwilliam before she took Bingley’s hand, and she thought the colonel did as well judging by his small smile.
“I hope no one will think me terribly unfashionable, but Mrs. Ashley, will you partner me?” her husband asked.
“I would be delighted,” she laughed.
“That means we might partner, Mrs. Hurst.” This was offered and received with what appeared to be perfect indifference but could have been complete marital accord. No one was certain.
Elizabeth was still watching the colonel when he turned to look over her shoulder, brow lifted. She followed his gaze and saw Darcy was its object. After a moment where the two men seemed to be having a silent conversation, the colonel spoke.
“Miss Elizabeth, might I have the honour?” He moved to her side and held out a hand. She took it with a smile.
“Miss Bingley, would you partner me?” Darcy asked. With a regal nod she accepted, and the couples began to form the set.
Though accosted with a stab of jealousy as she watched Darcy take Miss Bingley’s hand, Elizabeth soon found herself too lost in the enjoyment of the dance. Her partner was quite capable.
After a quarter of an hour of leaping and twirling to the lively tune, the group clapped and caught their breath as Georgiana’s final notes rang out.
“You all performed quite well,” Mrs. Gardiner declared. “We need not be formal here—I suggest everyone switch partners for the second set.”
“A lovely idea,” Georgiana agreed. “And perhaps you would wish to join in, Mrs. Gardiner. I know this next tune by heart.”
Mrs. Gardiner took Georgiana up on her offer and moved to where her husband sat. He gallantly requested her hand, and they moved to form the start of the lines for the next set. The other couples settled more quickly this time.