Chapter 2.3 #3
He was coercing her with his warm words. Elizabeth could easily see that and was about to intervene, ashamed that her attempt to avoid a tiresome request had put the girl in an unpleasant situation. But her brother was there in a moment, assisting his sister as she expected.
“I would love to hear you play if you wish to, my dear,” Darcy said gently. “And I would also love to listen to Miss Elizabeth play if she cares to indulge us.”
His tone of his voice was different, and if a few moments earlier Elizabeth would have refused him without hesitation, she now remained silent, staring at him.
She finally averted her eyes and looked at Miss Darcy. Their eyes met, and almost the same moment, they smiled at each other.
“Miss Darcy, it seems useless to try to change their minds. I would suggest finding a way to sing and play together, perhaps holding hands tightly for courage.” Elizabeth laughed.
Miss Darcy turned her wide eyes to Elizabeth and then to her brother and suddenly replied, “It might be a good idea to sing together, Miss Elizabeth; however, holding hands would make our playing at the pianoforte a bit more difficult.”
The others stared at her in disbelief at such a playful answer, and both burst out laughing. The earl kissed her hair and then politely kissed Elizabeth’s hand.
The colonel offered each of them an arm and took them to the pianoforte, but he soon returned to the settee as his help turning pages was not needed.
From the corner to which he retreated after speaking with his sister, Mr Darcy followed their performance. From time to time, Elizabeth could feel his eyes on them, and she acknowledged again his care and protection of Miss Darcy.
They played and sang together twice, and then each of them performed one song while the other turned the pages. More than half an hour later, with many thanks from their companions, they returned to the others. Darcy remained in the corner.
With a glass of brandy in his hand, the earl approached and took a seat near his nephew.
“Are you enjoying the evening so far, Nephew? I certainly hope so, and I hope you have some useful observations to share with me regarding the small assignment I gave you.”
Darcy gulped some brandy then cast a glance at the animated group.
“I would not have suspected you to trap me this way, Uncle. I have been completely honest with you, and you hold my honesty against me and force me into this awkward situation—”
“Of what situation are you speaking, Nephew?”
“Come, sir, let us play games no longer. It was not fair to throw me into an unexpected meeting with Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth without warning, nor was it fair for them. I feared Miss Bennet would faint when she saw us. She surely deserved no such treatment.”
“Again, of what treatment are you speaking? Are you suddenly preoccupied with Miss Bennet’s feelings? You thought little of them a month ago.”
“That statement is unfair, Uncle—”
“Is it? Come, Darcy, you know I value you as much as I care for you; however, you were in error in this case. Admit it! Have you seen Miss Bennet tonight? Does she not seem like a lady who suffers from love?”
“I was not in error. I see Miss Bennet is more shy than usual, but I also notice she is as polite and friendly as usual. Besides, all the other difficulties remain; you do not know Mrs Bennet and her younger daughter, and—”
“I do not know Mrs Bennet, but I do know your Aunt Catherine and Bingley’s sister; I am also aware of my own improper behaviour at times!
So spare me your understanding of other people’s manners.
As long as you have nothing against the lady’s character and Bingley is not displeased with her lack of dowry, this conversation is ridiculous. ”
“You would not be happy were your sons to marry someone so far beneath them, despite all your jokes and insinuations.”
“Perhaps not; but then again, Bingley is not the son of an earl. Let us be honest; if we are to speak of family situations, Miss Bennet is the daughter of a gentleman while Bingley’s fortune is from trade. She is superior to him, is she not?”
“If you put it that way—”
“I do put it that way! And even more, I would not disapprove of my sons marrying either of the Miss Bennets if they developed an attachment. They could surely do worse than Jane and Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Surely, you are joking,” Darcy interrupted him abruptly.
“Surely, I am being serious, unless you have some strong arguments against the idea. From what I have seen, you have quite a history with Miss Elizabeth. What on earth did you do to that girl that she dislikes you so intensely?”
“Excuse me?” Darcy asked so loudly that the others turned to them. “What do you mean she dislikes me intensely? From where did that idea spring?”
“Where? For heaven’s sake, Nephew, are you blind? First you insist Jane Bennet has no feelings for Bingley when anyone can see she still suffers for him, and now you misread Miss Elizabeth’s feelings for you that are equally strong but of a completely different kind.”
“You think Miss Elizabeth dislikes me? I have always believed we were on friendly terms. We always had lively conversations.”
The earl rolled his eyes and patted his shoulder, laughing.
“Darcy, may I inquire as to how many women you have known—really known—before now? Damn, you seem oblivious about whether a woman likes or dislikes anything. I hope you are not equally oblivious to other things a woman might like or dislike!”
Darcy choked and spilled wine on his coat then started to cough.
∞∞∞
Darcy’s face was still red from coughing, and he desperately tried not to draw the attention of the group. His uncle’s words whirled in his head, but he could not accept that the earl was correct with regard to either lady.
Yes, Miss Bennet seemed out of spirits, but on the other hand, he had never seen her especially lively, even when Bingley was present. A simple indisposition did not prove he was in error.
Memories of his conversation with Elizabeth during dinner flooded back to him.
Moment by moment, word by word, he managed to recollect the precise instant Elizabeth’s demeanour changed and she seemed disinclined to speak to him again.
It occurred when he informed her that Bingley had no intention of returning to Netherfield.
He sat alone, the glass of brandy in his hand, staring at Elizabeth as she talked and laughed with the colonel, Selina, and his own sister.
He looked at Georgiana, in a joyful mood after she played with Elizabeth, and then he looked at Miss Bennet, who smiled politely, although her eyes betrayed a distracted lack of interest in the conversation.