Chapter 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young man in possession of a good fortune must attend balls from time to time, even if he loathes them.
Especially when such events are a good opportunity for a close friend to be properly received in the community in which he has recently leased an estate.
Attending such a ball was one of the greatest favours Darcy had ever done for his friend Bingley, particularly considering that he had skillfully managed to avoid a similar, but much more grandiose, event at St. James’ Palace recently.
In the carriage that took them down the country lane towards the Meryton assembly, Darcy glanced at Miss Caroline Bingley and Mr and Mrs Hurst, wondering how he had allowed himself to be dragged to such a tedious event; it would have been much more pleasant to spend this cold, autumn evening reading a book or writing to Georgiana.
Miss Bingley’s insinuating smiles irritated him, and he turned his attention to outside the window.
It was a dark night and he could not see much, but it was better nevertheless.
“Darcy, you look so ill-humoured that people will be frightened from the moment they see you. That is not the way to make a good first impression,” Bingley said with a large smile of anticipation on his face.
“Bingley, I accepted the invitation for your sake. The first or second or third impression of the people in Meryton is not my concern in the slightest.”
“If this is your opinion, you may as well return home.”
“Charles, do not be rude. Mr Darcy has done you a favour by coming. And you should appreciate his honesty. He is not a man to conceal his feelings, you know that,” Miss Bingley said.
“I do appreciate his honesty, Caroline. Except when his expression of it is unfairly harsh.”
“It is quite a stupid way of spending the evening; we cannot deny that,” Mr Hurst intervened. “Why not stay at home with a good dinner and some fine wine? We barely know anyone here and we surely do not intend to dance.”
“Speak for yourself,” Mr Bingley responded. “I intend to make as many acquaintances as possible and dance as often as I can.”
“None of us doubted that, Bingley. However, I must say Mr Hurst expressed my own opinion quite accurately,” Darcy added.
“But Mr Darcy, I hope you do intend to dance at least one or two sets,” Miss Bingley enquired meaningfully.
“Indeed, it is an absolute must. Besides, neither Caroline nor I will dance with anyone else,” Mrs Hurst insisted.
“What my sisters mean is that as long as you are kind and polite to them, they do not care how you behave towards others,” Bingley said with a laugh.
“Charles, you are horrible,” Caroline cried.
“Indeed you are,” Mrs Hurst added.
Mr Darcy remained silent upon the subject until the carriage stopped in front of the assembly. Music, voices, and laughter could be heard from within, spilling out into the village street. Bingley exited the carriage first, then turned to hand down his sisters, who looked around with displeasure.
Mr Darcy was reluctant to leave the carriage but he finally climbed down, glancing along the road for just a moment before returning his attention to studying the building critically and finally following his friend inside.
As he did so he considered whether it was too late to simply return to Netherfield.
And yet, he stepped forward through the door, and stopped, staring at the gathering of people who watched them with unconcealed curiosity.
∞∞∞
The Bennet family attended the Meryton assembly eagerly, as balls were among the favourite distractions for all the sisters excepting Mary, who repeatedly declared she would have preferred to stay at home with their father and spend the evening reading or practising the pianoforte.
Her complaints, however, were ignored by her mother and sisters, whose full attention was concentrated on the door where Mr Bingley was expected to enter.
Mr Bennet had been among the first to visit Mr Bingley when he arrived at Netherfield.
Mr Bingley had quickly returned the call, but only spoke to the master of the house in the library.
Mrs Bennet had sent him an invitation to dinner soon afterwards, but Mr Bingley was unable to accept the honour, as he had been obligated to return to town on an urgent matter.
The girls were disappointed and Mrs Bennet quite disconcerted. She feared that he might always be flying about from one place to another, and never settle at Netherfield as he ought to in order to bind himself to one of her daughters.
Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little, with the news that Mr Bingley had only travelled to London to invite his family and friends to join him at his new home.
The number and identity of the people in that party were widely speculated upon but remained mostly unknown.
Therefore, the ball was the first opportunity to receive answers to their numerous questions and to learn more about Mr Bingley’s character.
The gentleman finally arrived, accompanied by a party of four: his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.
Sir William–the only one who could claim a close acquaintance with Mr Bingley–immediately hurried to welcome him and was introduced to the others in the group.
His wife–Lady Lucas–also made their acquaintance, and others soon followed.
Mrs Bennet was becoming desperate. Without Mr Bennet, nobody was in any hurry to introduce her and her daughters to the object of their interest.
However, rumours reached them in the blink of an eye, then spread through the room, as quick as the music itself.
Mr Bingley was good-looking, gentlemanlike and amiable.
His sisters were elegant women, with an air of decided fashion, but also of obvious self–sufficiency, which met with some criticism around the room.
His brother-in-law, Mr Hurst, looked like any other gentleman in his thirties.
But his friend Mr Darcy soon drew everyone’s attention by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report, which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year.
The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies observed his severe yet handsome features, his dark eyes and impressive posture and declared he was much more handsome than Mr Bingley.
Mrs Bennet stared at him with special attention and asked her daughters to look carefully so they could identify a truly desirable gentleman when they next saw one.
More than that, not even Mrs Bennet dared to imagine.
No matter how beautiful her first daughter was, how clever the second one, and how lively the youngest, she knew perfectly well that they were too far removed socially to ever catch Mr Darcy’s interest. None of them were good enough for a gentleman with ten thousand a year, Mrs Bennet had to admit to herself with no little sorrow.
Not long after, her disappointment diminished as she–as well as all the others in the room–observed that nobody was good enough to catch Mr Darcy’s interest.
He appeared to be proud, above his company, and above being pleased.
He danced one set with Mrs Hurst and another one with Miss Bingley, then stood alone in a corner, showing that he was not desirous of company, although gentlemen were scarce and more than one lady was in need of a partner.
He declined being introduced to other people, and only spoke occasionally to one of his own party.
His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody wondered why he had come to ruin everyone else’s mood.
Not even the news that he owned a large estate in Derbyshire was enough to compensate for his forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and he lost in any comparison with his friend.
Mrs Bennet ignored Mr Darcy completely. She had more important things to do, being still exasperated by the impossibility of addressing Mr Bingley directly.
Finally, when Lydia and Kitty were dancing and Mary sat on a chair near the wall, Sir William moved towards them, together with Mr Bingley.
With a superior air that showed his self-importance, he presented the eldest Misses Bennet as being “some of the most charming and admired young ladies in the entire county.”
Mr Bingley bowed, smiled to Mrs Bennet, then said, “I am grateful to Sir William for performing the introductions, as I had long wished to make your acquaintance. Mr Bennet was one of the kindest gentlemen in the neighbourhood and I enjoyed meeting him, as much as I regretted not being able to accept your dinner invitation, madam.”
“Oh, how kind of you to say so, Mr Bingley. We were eager to meet you too, were we not, girls?” she asked her daughters, who blushed with embarrassment. “Please feel free to come to dinner whenever you wish; the invitation stands.”
“Thank you, Mrs Bennet, you are too generous. And if she is not otherwise engaged, may I ask Miss Bennet for the favour of the next set?”
“No…I mean yes…I am not engaged, sir. Yes, thank you…” Jane’s face was crimson, while her eyes brightened with pleasure. Her nervousness seemed to delight Mr Bingley, who smiled and thanked her.
“It is sad that your friend does not show the same willingness for dancing,” Mrs Bennet declared sharply.
Mr Bingley appeared uneasy. “Yes, well, he rarely dances. He does not enjoy parties. Is Mr Bennet in good health? I hoped I would see him tonight.”
“Yes, he is. He just preferred to stay at home. Apparently, he is very much like your friend in that respect,” the lady concluded, to her daughters’ deep embarrassment and the gentleman’s bewilderment.
The music started and Mr Bingley led the eldest Miss Bennet onto the floor.