Chapter Six
Elizabeth broke into a smile as she saw Mr. Darcy enter the ballroom with his cousin and sister. She might have even rushed through the greetings she gave the other guests who milled past the receiving line. She certainly did not consider why she was so eager to introduce the newcomers to her uncle, who greeted them with the same hospitality he bestowed on all his guests.
“So, you are the family that my Lizzy has set up in Sandpiper Cottage, eh?” There was something almost imperceptibly wistful about Sir Edward Gardiner’s face as he mentioned the place where his late wife had spent her final months.
“It is the most charming house I ever beheld, and the sea views are breathtaking! It is wonderfully kind of you to let it to us.” Miss Darcy bounced up on her toes as if unable to contain her excitement.
Elizabeth liked her very well already. She could recall her own awkwardness at that age – perhaps about seventeen – when she had far more feelings and opinions than she could give voice to, when she was simply excited to be included in society. Miss Darcy lacked the confidence that all the Bennet sisters possessed, in their own ways, but she made up for it with such earnest enthusiasm that Elizabeth was keen to know her better.
Mr. Darcy nodded his agreement, his response civil but minimal. He could not have been more different from his sister, nor from his cousin, who shook hands warmly with Sir Edward before moving on to recommend himself to Charlotte and the affable Sir Thomas. Mr. Darcy only searched the room, his eyes moving as the rest of him stood rigid. Elizabeth detected the moment he found Miss de Bourgh in the growing crowd of guests. The lady’s affected laughter carried across the gleaming marble floor as she clung to Sir Sidney Parker’s arm, gazing up at him as if they were the only two people in the room. Mr. Darcy’s shoulders sagged.
Elizabeth and Miss Darcy shared a look of silent commiseration before the latter pressed her lips together and drew in a long, slow breath. Elizabeth recognized this frustration and forbearance; she wished to say something encouraging to the girl, but they were forestalled by the approach of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
“Fitzwilliam!” The great lady extended her walking stick in an imperious pose. It seemed an entirely extraneous object, in Elizabeth’s estimation – Lady Catherine was far from infirm. As Elizabeth indulged in imagining the dowager brandishing the walking stick as a weapon and beating Sir Sidney about the head with it, both Mr. Darcy and his cousin turned to regard their aunt with trepidation.
“Fitzwilliam, you must oblige me! Anne is determined to dine with those upstart Parkers, and without you I might not hear two words of sense together all evening.”
Two of those upstart Parkers – Charlotte and Sir Thomas – were certainly near enough to hear her, though they did not betray any offense at her derision, which seemed all for Sir Sidney. Elizabeth had not been especially impressed by that gentleman, but after such an insult to Charlotte and her amiable husband, Lady’s Catherine’s dislike of the middle Parker brother began to seem a sterling commendation in his favor.
Mr. Darcy’s brow furrowed at his aunt’s rudeness; his gaze seemed to Elizabeth to betray as much mortification as disapproval, but he did not give voice to either. He only nodded curtly. Once again, it was his sister and his cousin who put themselves forward. “If you mean to dine with Darcy, you shan’t hear two words spoken at all. I could sit beside you, Aunt – I may not be able to offer sense, but I could provide scenery.” The colonel offered her a dashing smile.
Miss Darcy clung to her cousin’s arm, her enthusiasm at odds with that singular impulse to cringe and cower that her ladyship seemed to inspire in others. Finally, she said, “Surely there are so many new acquaintances to be met with – and I daresay many of them must be terribly interesting – I see a great many people with an altogether worldly look about them.”
“It is fortunate for everyone that the custom of our Saturday Supper Club is to change seats in between every course. One might make three times as many new acquaintances, and never be stuck with an unpleasant companion for too terribly long.” Elizabeth made a sweeping gesture across the dozen elegantly dressed round tables that occupied most of the ballroom, and then her eyes landed on Mr. Darcy. He nodded just enough to signal his appreciation, and she reciprocated the gesture.
Lady Catherine curled her upper lip with disdain as she spoke. “How very clever of you to employ your niece, Sir Edward. She always seems to be on hand and full of information; but then a businessman must seize every advantage. And I suppose it is a fortuitous arrangement for you, too, Miss Bennet; you are required to do little else than interject your helpful opinions in exchange for the chance to mingle amongst fine society.”
After nearly a year of assisting her uncle in a variety of ways at the hotel, Elizabeth had learnt to maintain her equanimity through every manner of discourtesy and delinquency. The upper class, as much as anybody else – and perhaps a great deal more – were prone to behaving as they chose, rather than as they ought to do, when away from home. This gave her some right, she supposed, to think of them as she pleased, and what Elizabeth was thinking at that moment certainly put a smile on her face. Her companions, however, all appeared to be waiting for one amongst them to reply to Lady Catherine’s incivility.
It was then that Sir Sidney sauntered over without any apprehension of interrupting what must have appeared to be a dreadfully tense moment. “Good evening, Sanditon supper lovers!”
He extended his arms wide, clapping his brother and Sir Edward informally on the back. “Lord, that sounded rather saucy, but I cannot say why! Supper lovers! But which of you is Darcy, then? Oy, she did warn me you were a tall fellow – but you are a handsome one, even without a stylish tailor! And that would make you the military cousin, eh? Well, you have my gratitude, Colonel, for keeping the frogs away. Jolly well done – a much-deserved seaside holiday, my good man.”
Were Elizabeth’s first object in life simply a jest, she would have liked Sir Sidney Parker better than any other citizen of Sanditon. At present, she could take no pleasure in this exhibition of absurdity. Sir Thomas appeared oblivious to the smell of alcohol on Sir Sidney’s breath, though the general awkwardness was not entirely lost on him. Charlotte frowned at the flagrant embarrassment Sir Sidney Parker was causing his brother, and Elizabeth in turn resented the discomfiture this drunken dandy had inflicted on her friends.
Mr. Darcy gave Sir Sidney a withering glare that would have turned a sober man to ashes on the spot, and then strode away without another word. His cousin and sister exchanged a worried glance as he approached Miss de Bourgh, who looked as haughty and cross as ever. Lady Catherine squared her shoulders in a pose of triumph. “I suppose I ought to thank you, young man – my daughter must learn to distinguish gentlemanly behavior from foppery, and a sojourn in this little town shall certainly prove an education in the dangers of judging by appearances.”
Sir Sidney grinned. “Your ladyship, I am certain a summer in Sanditon will work wonders for a young lady whose education has hitherto been so impeded by domestic circumstances. Could we not all benefit from a broader view of the world? See something new instead of the same old thing , right? Might we not all do well to learn a thing or two for ourselves in the schoolroom of life, rather than having irrelevant and arbitrary lessons of stuff and nonsense beaten into us by a drudge?” He made a poetical, flourishing gesture as he gazed into the distance.
Elizabeth pressed her lips together to contain her mirth. She might sell tickets to such a performance as this; for her own part, she could have happily watched the two people most capable of amusing and annoying her battle with words all evening. Her companions, however, still looked uncomfortable. Charlotte was giving Elizabeth such wide-eyed looks as to ensure they would find an opportunity to speak privately about the spectacle as soon as possible, while Sir Thomas remained determined to consider the verbal sparring merely a spirited exchange. The colonel brought his hand to his hip as if expecting to find a weapon there.
Miss Darcy, who had every right to be upset that such a libertine had stolen the affections of her brother’s betrothed, fanned her face to hide the rosy shade of pink that flushed her cheeks. When she perceived that Elizabeth was watching her, she linked their arms together and drew Elizabeth away from the others.
Elizabeth tried not to draw any attention to her afflicted companion, uttering soft reassurances to ease her distress, but when they had removed themselves a sufficient distance, Miss Darcy burst out laughing. “I am not at all dismayed; I am delighted! Oh, he is unbearably debauched, insufferably forward, and somehow both brilliant and beef-brained. He will make her a proper husband indeed!”
Astonished laughter bubbled from Elizabeth’s throat as she considered Miss Darcy’s rather comprehensive outburst. “Yes, I suppose he is all of those things. The rest of his relations are more amiable, I promise.”
“Oh! I meant no offense at all. Lady Parker is charming, and I think it perfectly genteel of Sir Thomas Parker not to notice anything unpleasant.”
“You need not convince me of your virtuousness, Miss Darcy. If you have any further irreverent observations, you shall find me a very amenable audience – perhaps even a complicit participant.” Elizabeth gave the girl a playful wink.
Miss Darcy smiled shyly, fidgeting with her hands as the words tumbled out of her, “May I sit beside you at dinner? William meant to ask you – before he became… distracted – but I know he intends to remain close to Anne tonight, and I fear I might speak to her as candidly as I have done with you, which would not at all be helpful for my brother. I promised him I would not.”
“I would be delighted to have your company all evening, if you like.” Elizabeth gestured to a nearby table; being in the furthest corner from the entrance, nobody else had yet seated themselves there.
The two young ladies selected chairs that would afford them a view of the entire ballroom, but they remained engrossed in their own conversation. “Generally at Saturday suppers, my uncle and I, and the Parkers and the Denhams – another principal family of Sanditon – all sit apart, one of us at each table to foster lively conversation, since many of the guests are unacquainted with one another. I shall stay here with you, however, rather than making the rounds as I generally do.”
As Elizabeth gave her explanation, a footman came to their table to serve them each a glass of champagne; when he was gone, she returned to their previous topic. “I hope you will not think me ‘insufferably forward’ if I hazard a guess that you resent your cousin for rejecting you brother in favor of such a vain and addle-pated rake?”
“I never thought she suited William – now I do not even believe that she deserves him.”
Not for the first time, Elizabeth wondered how Mr. Darcy and Miss de Bourgh came to be betrothed; the only person who seemed to take any pleasure in the prospect of such a union was Lady Catherine. “Your aunt… seems to favor your brother.”
A shadow clouded Miss Darcy’s expression for a moment. “Anne said your cousin is their parson.”
“He is,” Elizabeth said, her tact nearly at its limit. “He… also enjoys her favor, I understand.”
For a moment Miss Darcy studied her, and then gave a little nod, as if approving of whatever she had gleaned. “You are clever enough to infer a great deal, I think, of my aunt’s character, if not from your own interactions with her, then from the opinions and general mannerisms of those she employs.”
An ill-timed sip of champagne almost came out of Elizabeth’s nose, but she recovered herself as other guests began to fill the available seats of their table. Fortunately, their companions seemed to all be of Sir Sidney’s party, and well enough acquainted with one another that Elizabeth was not obliged to facilitate conversation. This suited her very well, for she found Miss Darcy’s repartee to be just what she preferred. By the end of the first course, the two young women were addressing one another by their Christian names, laughing at their new shared jests and impertinences, and were perhaps a little half-sprung.
Elizabeth and Georgiana remained seated together while the rest of the guests milled about, selecting new tables and new companions for the second course, and a legion of footmen swiftly cleared away the dishes. Amidst the commotion, Lady Denham approached Elizabeth’s table, flanked by her niece and nephew. The three of them wore such widely disparate expressions that Elizabeth laughed out loud in spite of her better judgement.
The great lady of the parish was a force to be reckoned with. The success of her speculations in the burgeoning resort village had given her a sense of flippant confidence, and her advanced years had further convinced her of her right to laugh at everybody. There was always a twinkle of mockery in her eye, as if she had seen everything there was to see, and nothing could shock or impress her now.
Lady Denham had been repaid for her industrious pertinacity by being sent a constant supply of unwed relations who sought her sponsorship in making grand matches for themselves. The previous year it had been Miss Clara Brereton and Sir Edward Denham; the pair had spent the summer vying for their aunt’s favor before eloping together. The latter had been shot in a duel a few months after leaving Sanditon, and his brazen bride wasted no time in finding other relations with whom she could ingratiate herself.
Sir Edward’s title passed to his cousin Sir Anthony; he and Sir Edward’s sister, Miss Esther Denham, were clever enough not to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. The cousins had little to do with one another, for where he was fulsome and frivolous, she was pragmatic and aloof. He simpered and smiled at everybody, preening like a debutante, and she swept a listless gaze across the room as if hoping to encounter someone or something that would, at long last, be worthy of her notice.
It was Miss Denham who requested an introduction to Elizabeth’s new friend. The lady had initially reminded Elizabeth of Caroline Bingley, when first she had come to Sanditon. They were nearly the same age, but had never become friends. However, Miss Denham had risen somewhat in Elizabeth’s estimation; she had never personally insulted any of Elizabeth’s relations, and was trenchant enough in conversation that Elizabeth was certain Miss Denham could eat Miss Bingley alive.
One of Miss Denham’s better qualities was that she was unabashedly adept at making any new acquaintance quite aware of just who she was. She did not prevaricate or pretend; when they were all introduced and Georgiana revealed her connection to Mr. Darcy, nobody could be in any doubt of Miss Denham’s interest. She turned to look in the direction Georgiana indicated and smiled. “Mr. Darcy of Pemberley? I believe we met once at a ball, though I seem to recall he was not partial to dancing.”
“I have heard that said of him,” Elizabeth agreed, unable to resist herself.
Miss Denham ignored her and surveyed Georgiana, her face utterly blank. “I have heard, of course, of the terrible tragedy at Pemberley, though such an old and illustrious family is sure to recover. Have you been presented at Court, Miss Darcy?”
“I will officially come out in society in the spring.”
“And your brother has brought you here as a sort of practice debut? Well, you appear to be elegant and well-educated, and though Sanditon is certainly an interesting slice of fine society, truly refined creatures such as yourself are not often to be met with. I should like to know you and your brother better, Miss Darcy. Would you like to join me for tea at Sanditon House after church tomorrow?”
Georgiana hesitated before saying, “That is very kind of you, but I have already made plans to go sea-bathing with Miss Bennet tomorrow.”
Miss Denham turned her attention to Elizabeth, who had been desperately trying to signal Charlotte across the room. Miss Denham’s gaze held neither warmth nor enmity; they were simply not at all suited for anything like friendship. “Miss Bennet is an ideal companion for such an activity, and certainly an excursion away from the hotel must have greater health benefits than even the sea. Perhaps some other time we might speak more, Miss Darcy.”
Sir Anthony watched Miss Denham saunter off toward Mr. Darcy’s table before taking his own turn at recommending himself. “You lend our ‘slice of society’ much distinction, Miss Bennet, whether you are presenting guests with a charming first impression of Sanditon at the Tremont or completing the perfection of the scenery in your walks along the beach.”
He raised Elizabeth’s hand to his lips with a gallant bow of his head before addressing Georgiana. “You are much to be commended, Miss Darcy, for bringing such a radiant smile to Miss Bennet’s fair countenance. Though I have admired her since I came to Sanditon in the spring, I have never seen such beauteous joy upon her lips – at times I have rather fancied a touch of melancholy about her. When I beheld you from afar, I knew I must present myself as a humble supplicant and beg you would allow me to join your merriment for the next course.”
“As Miss Darcy told your cousin, she is not yet out in society.” Elizabeth decided that since her new friend had taken the liberty of fabricating a prior engagement, she was entitled to a little latitude of her own in deflecting the Denhams. “Her brother has entrusted her to my supervision this evening, on the condition that I promote her to the notice of appropriate female companions. It is a pity your cousin has abandoned us, though she claimed to be just as keen, in her own way.”
Charlotte approached, smiling like an angel of mercy as she rested her hands atop the chair beside Elizabeth’s, thus obliging Sir Anthony to take two steps backward. She greeted the Denhams as affably as she ever did, particularly the dowager. “I have been singing your praises to the Americans at table six, your ladyship. Mr. Hudson and his sister are fascinated by my description of Sanditon House, for even the wealthiest amongst Philadelphia society must be awed by the splendor of a grand English estate. Taste, history, and tradition are all on our side, though I will admit they are certainly a fashionable young pair.”
Lady Denham was a bloodhound, even at the ripe old age of seventy – Elizabeth was respectfully repulsed by the notion of what the dowager must have been like half a century ago. She was on the scent at once, leading her nephew away as he offered Elizabeth a few more parting compliments she had no wish to hear.
When the Denhams were gone, Elizabeth grinned at Georgiana. “Sea-bathing tomorrow?”
Georgiana smiled shyly. “Forgive me – I felt certain that we would make such a plan before the end of the evening… if you have no other engagements.”
“I do not, and I would be happy to go sea-bathing with you,” Elizabeth replied, gesturing for Charlotte to join them.
Their table was filling up quickly for the second course, and it was not long before one of their new companions had caught Georgiana’s attention. Mr. Marsh had brought his ailing mother to Sanditon after hearing the widely circulated reports of the myriad health benefits the town boasted. He was also a naturalist who intended to catalogue and study the local flora and fauna – and much to his own chagrin, the awkward scholar was exceedingly handsome.
He was of a middling height, bespectacled, and had no pretensions to fashion whatsoever. His hair was so blonde it was nearly white, a stark contrast to the golden tan of his complexion, for his pursuits kept him often out in the sun. He shambled through every conversation as if it was the first he had ever engaged in, often punctuating his esoteric ramblings by extending one finger to push his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. He was prone to giving lengthy explanations when they were not at all necessary, but failing to do so when discussing the arcane scholarly topics he liked best.
Elizabeth had not understood his allure until she had happened upon him one day on the beach. He had been in his shirtsleeves, the damp fabric clinging to a surprisingly muscular body, the sunlight glowing on his olive skin and in his honeyed eyes. His upward gaze had drawn her eye to the chiseled jawline that bore a little more stubble than was usually seen on a gentleman, and he had smeared charcoal from the side of his hand across his face as he brushed back his blowsy blonde hair, stammering quite endearingly as he showed Elizabeth his sketch of a seagull in flight, and meandering through an animated lecture on the nature of aerodynamics.
Georgiana had apparently perceived his eccentric magnetism at once, and was content to listen to him describe the global circulation of ocean currents, a topic that promised to make a great many unexpected detours, such as fascinating migratory patterns and very hideous fish that never saw daylight. Sanditon was an interesting slice of society indeed, and Elizabeth grew even fonder of her new friend at the sight of her smiling encouragingly at one of the hotel’s oddest residents.
After a few minutes of eating in silence, Charlotte playfully nudged Elizabeth. “I believe I can guess the subject of your reverie.”
“I should imagine not.”
“You must be thinking it very strange indeed that the sister should be so agreeable, when the brother insulted you so rudely.”
Elizabeth smirked but shook her head. “No indeed – my mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure of discovering a kindred spirit.”
“And might I inquire what kindred spirit had inspired such a wistful look in your eyes?”
“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said softly.
Charlotte’s eyes went wide, first with surprise, and then with utter glee. “Mr. Darcy! I am all astonishment! Pray, when am I to wish you joy? You shall acquire a very charming new sister, though your dancing days may be over.”
Elizabeth chortled and swatted at her friend. “You take delight in being incorrigible! But I suppose it is better than your recommendation that I set my cap at Sir Sidney – though his insolence to Lady Catherine almost rendered him attractive. Your imagination has grown very rapid, these days – from admiration to love, and from love to matrimony – have you never considered friendship?”
Charlotte wrinkled her nose. “Friendship? With a man? Whatever for?”
“You cannot be my only friend, Charlotte.”
“Oh, that would be too tragic.”
“I think it providential they should be at the cottage, outsiders set apart from the revelry of Sir Sidney’s party of friends. Georgiana is a darling, though surprisingly outspoken. The colonel’s japery is just the sort of folly I like best, and beneath it I believe he possesses a compassionate character. And as to Mr. Darcy….”Elizabeth sighed and shook her head. “Just before you came to the table, Sir Anthony called me melancholy. I have never thought of myself as such – indeed I have no wish to be – but….”
Charlotte laid a hand atop Elizabeth’s and grinned at her. “Now I understand. You have had your heart broken, and it is plain to see that his is being bandied about like a shuttlecock by that awful Miss de Bourgh.”
“Something like that. I am sorry to see him suffer, even if he did think me not pretty enough to dance with.”
Charlotte snorted. “If she is the standard of beauty by which he measures all women….”
“I suppose I ought to scowl more,” Elizabeth quipped.
“If you want him to fancy you.”
“I do not! Do married ladies think of nothing else? I only wish to know him a little better, and perhaps sketch his character more accurately, for at present he puzzles me exceedingly. I would not have been so kindly disposed toward him when first we met, but there is something about him that is poetically pitiful and yet… irresistibly interesting.”
Elizabeth was startled to discover that she once again had Georgiana’s undivided attention, and the girl looked ready to make an ally for Charlotte in searching for some trace of romance where none was to be found.
“Who are you speaking of? Surely not – that is, I had not supposed – oh dear. Have you and Sir Anthony formed an attachment?”
“I should sooner leap from the highest cliff in the village,” Elizabeth said drily.
Georgiana pursed her lips with simmering mirth. “That is a most reassuring answer. Pray, are you attached to anybody else? Surely you must be! I wonder that Sir Sidney Parker never….”
“Never dazzled my friend with his intellect?” Charlotte had now allied herself with Georgiana thoroughly. “Alas, Miss Darcy – my dearest friend has had her heart broken, and she blames herself as heartily as I insist it is equally my own fault….”
“Charlotte,” Elizabeth hissed, her face growing warm.
“William is heartbroken over Anne, though I have already told Lizzy I think Anne and Sir Sidney quite deserve one another. She certainly never dazzled me with her intellect either – though I should settle for any hint whatsoever of her possessing a brain or a heart or a soul.” Georgiana pouted for a moment, once again looking haunted. “I might perhaps claim my share of the blame – it is entirely dreadful, and I should rather see him forget her and find someone worthy of him.”
“I suppose it is perfectly natural, when someone you care for has suffered more than their share of disappointment in life, that you might wish them to be rewarded with a happy ending at last,” Charlotte mused.
“Sometimes I fear that only happens in novels,” Georgiana lamented. “The rich, handsome prince or lord or duke falls in love with a brave and beautiful heroine and carries her off to a better life.”
Charlotte nodded. “Or perhaps she is very clever and independent, and she rescues him . Would that not be remarkable?”
Georgiana agreed with a bright smile for Charlotte, and then Elizabeth’s oldest friend and her newest one both turned to regard her with matching gleams of machination in their eyes.