Chapter XIII
Once they reached Netherfield’s sitting-room, Georgiana faced Darcy without hesitation.
“Why did you and Elizabeth stop outside Longbourn? Of what were you speaking?”
“Bingley, have you noticed an alteration in my sister of late?” asked Darcy of his friend, winking where Georgiana could not observe him.
Bingley, as was his wont, replied with a grin. “If she has, you have only yourself to blame. You introduced her to five confident ladies—it cannot surprise you when she begins to emulate their behavior.”
“That is enough teasing!” cried Georgiana. “I want to know what happened between you and Elizabeth.”
Though the notion of teasing her further was tempting, Darcy decided to have mercy on her. “We spoke of many things, Georgiana. In essence, we worked through our differences and, I hope, understand each other better.”
“If you will excuse me, Darcy,” said Bingley, “it seems to me you have done more than simply work out differences.”
Curious, Darcy regarded his friend. “What do you mean?”
“The business with Mrs. Bennet, for one.” Bingley’s snort spoke to his amusement. “Tell me, Darcy, did you remind her that you are an eligible man of a purpose? Given how careful you usually are, I cannot imagine it was a mistake.”
“What do you mean?” asked Georgiana.
“Do you not recall your brother speaking of Miss Elizabeth’s judgment and spirit? The honor of the Bennet family? Had he announced his lineage and exact income, I do not think Mrs. Bennet could have understood better.”
Georgiana’s eyes widened. “I had not thought of it that way! What did you intend by it, Brother?”
Darcy shrugged with a carelessness he did not feel. “Perhaps I now understand there is much to like about Miss Elizabeth.”
“How wonderful!” exclaimed Georgiana, clapping her hands; her thoughts moving to matrimony as expeditiously as Darcy had once accused Miss Bingley. “I have always wanted a sister!”
“Do you not suppose it is too early for such considerations, Georgiana?”
“Your brother has a point,” said Bingley. “Their arguments are something much remarked upon in the neighborhood.”
“Not at all, Bingley,” replied Darcy. “Our arguments, as you call them, were mostly conducted at Netherfield. Perhaps the neighborhood has some notion of our previous antipathy, but nothing so obvious as you suggest.”
“Antipathy?” demanded Georgiana. “Did you dislike Elizabeth?”
“Rather the reverse, I should think,” replied Bingley.
“That is the truth.” Darcy shrugged. “I have never thought poorly of Miss Elizabeth, even after I suspected her of wishing to push her sister toward you.”
Georgiana glanced heavenward. “I told you that was nonsense. Miss Bennet’s feelings are true.”
“They are,” added Bingley.
“Nor do I deny it.”
“Then what shall you do now?” asked Georgiana, sitting near the fireplace.
“I shall show her every civility in my power to offer,” replied Darcy, sitting nearby.
“She will not be impressed by our circumstances.”
Darcy agreed and accepted his sister’s warning. “No, Georgiana, I do not suppose she will. I am acquainted enough with Miss Elizabeth to understand her sentiments about such things.”
“If you ask me,” said Bingley, though no one had, “you made a strategic misstep, old man.”
“Oh?” asked Darcy. “What, particularly?”
“That you did not make it clear to Mrs. Bennet which Bennet sister you find agreeable.”
Darcy frowned. “I praised Miss Elizabeth’s perspicacity and determination.”
Bingley shook his head, chuckling. “For your sake, I hope you are correct, Darcy. I hope you appreciate my efforts on your behalf.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why, that I will keep Caroline away while you press your suit with Miss Elizabeth. For days, Caroline has been demanding my return and, if she cannot convince me, demanding that I allow her to come to Netherfield to see to the house.” Bingley’s snort betrayed his amusement.
“I have forbidden her from coming here—I even told Hurst that she would be on the next mail carriage back to London if she presumed to defy me.”
“That cannot be a pleasant situation for Hurst,” observed Darcy. “As I recall, he has never been on good terms with your sister.”
“Do not underestimate Hurst, Darcy. He will not tolerate Caroline, and if she becomes too shrill, he will simply absent himself from the house and stay at a hotel.”
Darcy considered this. Though he had never had any great opinion of Hurst, he knew the man could be stubborn when he got it into his mind.
That Hurst might simply absent himself should the situation become intolerable had not occurred to him, but Bingley was likely correct.
There would be advantages to living in a hotel for a time; he would be free of his sister-in-law’s shrieking and would have his club nearby, all the food he wished to eat, and spirits aplenty.
For Hurst, that was more than enough to keep him happy.
“Then I appreciate the gesture, Bingley,” replied Darcy. “While I would not speak to offend, I have no interest in your sister.”
“That my friend, is no secret at all.”
HAD ELIZABETH CONSIDERED it in advance, she could not have predicted what would ensue more accurately.
Mr. Darcy’s stated interest in her was no less strange the next day than it had been when he declared it.
Such thoughts had occupied her mind to the extent that she had not considered the impact of Mr. Darcy’s new civility, especially when it pertained to her mother.
The following day, the eldest Bennet sisters again visited Netherfield Park at Georgiana’s invitation.
This time, however, it had included them all.
Kitty and Lydia declined, citing an interest in visiting Meryton to discover any new developments concerning the investigation against Mr. Wickham, but the three elder sisters accepted. Georgiana’s motives soon became clear.
“Excuse me, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth to the gentleman, who was situated next to her, “but does your sister have certain . . . matchmaking inclinations?”
“Before today, I might not have thought so,” replied Mr. Darcy.
“You do know that I shall not allow an eager sister to influence me.”
Mr. Darcy turned an amused look on Elizabeth. “Never would I have suspected it, Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth nodded, grateful he was not too confident.
The true spectacle, however, ensued the day after their visit to Netherfield, when Mr. Darcy visited Longbourn.
Mrs. Bennet, it seemed, had had two days to consider what she had seen of Mr. Darcy’s behavior, and she had come to the wrong conclusion.
“Miss Darcy!” shrilled she when they entered the room. “How good of you to join us today. My Lizzy has been eager to see you.
“And Mr. Darcy, I am certain you will find Lydia to be an excellent and lively companion.”
Though Mr. Darcy fixed Mrs. Bennet with a gravity not unwarranted to the situation, Elizabeth found it vastly amusing, as did her father, who snorted behind his book.
Mr. Bennet said nothing, eager to observe his wife’s inanities.
For a moment, Elizabeth thought Mr. Darcy might do as her mother suggested, if only to consider his next move.
Before he could decide, however, Georgiana solved the dilemma for him.
“I should prefer to sit with Lydia this morning, Mrs. Bennet. My brother may keep Elizabeth company.”
By this time, Mr. Bingley, who was sitting beside Jane, was struggling to contain his laughter, though Elizabeth was not certain how much he knew.
Though she was taken aback, Mrs. Bennet made no protest, though the way she regarded Georgiana suggested concern that Georgiana, the girl she had mothered, would prove an impediment to her plans.
Mr. Darcy, not needing any additional motivation, moved to Elizabeth’s side.
“Well, Darcy,” said Mr. Bennet, keeping his tone low to avoid Mrs. Bennet overhearing, “it seems your sister is as much a friend to your interest in Lizzy as my wife will be. When she notices it, of course.”
“Georgiana has made it very clear how agreeable she finds the idea of having a sister.”
Mr. Bennet laughed. “Yes, I suppose to a girl of sixteen, it is much more important to obtain a sister than for her brother to find a wife.”
“You have the right of it, Mr. Bennet,” replied Darcy.
“I will own, however,” said Mr. Bennet, “that I did not think you approved of Elizabeth so much when you came to Meryton.”
“That was an error on my part, based on certain circumstances in my family before I came and a misapprehension of your daughter’s worth.”
“Then it is well that you have thought better of it,” said Mr. Bennet with a nod. “I hope you will not consider it a father’s hubris when I tell you that I consider Elizabeth to be among the most remarkable young ladies in England.”
“Not at all, Mr. Bennet, for I quite agree.”
Satisfied, Mr. Bennet turned back to his book, though Elizabeth could see that he kept an eye on the company.
Around them, no one appeared to be paying special attention to them, though Georgiana regarded them often, and Mr. Bingley and Jane were speaking in low tones, their eyes darting to them more than she might have expected.
Reasonably assured of having a little privacy, Elizabeth turned her attention to Mr. Darcy, arching a brow.
“I must own,” said Elizabeth once she knew his attention was fixed on her, “that I wonder if you can withstand my mother, Mr. Darcy.”
The gentleman returned her gaze, accompanied by a slight quirk in his lips. “And you suppose that I cannot?”
“My wife is an acquired taste, Darcy,” said her father, proving he was still listening.
“That is a most . . . unusual way for a man to talk about his wife.”
Mr. Bennet made a great show of giving an insouciant shrug. “Perhaps it is. Yet it is nothing less than the truth.”