Chapter 3 #4
Various feelings arose in Elizabeth as she stood before the main door.
Miss Darcy had not mentioned her brother, so Elizabeth could not presume he would be present.
She did not know whether she desired or dreaded seeing him again, but she had decided to enjoy the company of Miss Darcy without allowing any dark thoughts to mar her time there.
As soon as she entered the house, a servant showed her to the music room, where she was told Miss Darcy was awaiting her. As she approached the room, she heard music; reports of Miss Darcy’s expertise on the pianoforte were not exaggerated.
The moment Elizabeth appeared in the doorway, Miss Darcy hurried from her place at the instrument, an open smile brightening her face. “I am so happy to see you again, Elizabeth!”
The couple of hours Elizabeth spent with Georgiana were a continuous source of enjoyment and revelation.
First, she discovered that, like her brother, Miss Darcy improved on closer acquaintance.
Once she was able to put her shyness aside, she proved to be a lively companion with a sweet disposition who was inclined to find amusement in many things.
Her talent at the pianoforte amazed Elizabeth because it was more than a simple consequence of practicing diligently.
Both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were proficient at the piano, but they could not compare to Georgiana.
Secondly, Elizabeth was surprised to find that Miss Darcy knew many of the details surrounding her brother’s stays in Hertfordshire and Kent.
While she evidenced no awareness of Mr Darcy’s proposal, she appeared to know about Mr Collins, her confrontations with Lady Catherine and even her discussions with Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst. Mr Darcy obviously had talked a great deal about her—and Elizabeth’s heart seemed to beat irregularly at this new proof of his interest in her.
In time, she grew more at ease in Georgiana’s company and was beginning to feel as if she had known her all her life; even the prospect of seeing Mr Darcy again caused her no more distress.
They were playing and singing together at the pianoforte and did not notice the door open, revealing Mr Darcy and Lady Cassandra.
∞∞∞
Darcy had been out the entire morning and had tried to finish his business as quickly as he could; Georgiana had told him of Elizabeth’s visit, and he hurried home, forgetting a previous engagement with Lady Cassandra.
When he arrived to discover her waiting for him in front of his house, he was subjected to a round of merciless teasing before he was able to enter.
He was indeed desirous of seeing Elizabeth again and did nothing to conceal it.
The call at Gracechurch Street had given his spirit a boost. He could not deny the obvious: Miss Bennet was not as opposed to him as he previously imagined.
She seemed uncomfortable in his presence, and her manners were more restrained than before, but that was understandable considering their history.
He still could not credit his good fortune in meeting Elizabeth again; he was given a chance to show her he was not mean-spirited or resentful about the past. With the small signs he perceived during his call, he was determined to do all in his power to obtain her forgiveness and lessen her ill opinion of him; she must see that he was attending to her reproofs.
Of course, he could not be certain of the accuracy of his judgment.
After all, he had failed miserably before to recognise her feelings, as well as those of Jane Bennet and Bingley.
His presumptions had caused nothing but suffering to those around him; this time, he promised himself not to act in haste.
He would show her he had taken her words to heart and changed because of her and for her.
He would not conceal his feelings behind challenging talks and silent stares across the room.
He would show her—and everyone else—his preference for her, but he would do it with as much decorum as possible, careful not to embarrass her or place her in an indelicate situation.
He heard the sound of music and followed it, stopping in the doorway. Darcy watched as Elizabeth played a duet with his sister, laughing and at perfect ease—so beautiful and natural in her enjoyment. He wished nothing more than for her to appear as contented in his presence.
However, just as he feared, the moment she noticed him, the laughter died on her lips, and she hurriedly rose from her chair.
Her cheeks turned crimson, and she tried to avoid his eyes, causing his doubt to rise again.
Clearly, it was his presence that made Elizabeth uncomfortable.
Yet in her uncle’s home, she seemed so different.
Perhaps that was the reason, he thought while advancing toward them.
Perhaps she feels more comfortable among her relatives than in my home.
He approached and bowed to her, expressing his delight in seeing her again. Then he took a seat quite far from them, allowing her the opportunity to regain her composure while talking to Cassandra.
He intended to become involved at some point, when Lady Cassandra insisted Elizabeth play and sing.
He noticed her reticence; he did not want her to feel obliged to comply with anyone’s wishes while in his house.
Yet, she agreed in the end and began to play.
He was certain the sound of her voice was the most beautiful he had heard in some time.
To lessen her embarrassment, he struggled to direct his eyes away from her.
However, in the end, her beauty was simply too much for him to withstand, so he permitted himself to gaze upon her and hoped he was not the reason for her high colour and embarrassment.
“Miss Bennet, you play very well indeed. It is a pleasure to listen to you,” said Lady Cassandra as soon as Elizabeth ended her song.
Elizabeth knew her cheeks were already burning under the penetrating stare of Mr Darcy—she even lifted her eyes a few times and met his—yet the compliment took her by surprise, and she was certain it was responsible for her blushing even more.
“Thank you, Lady Cassandra; you are too kind. However, I know only too well that I am not very good; I am neither as proficient nor as talented as Georgiana.” She did not fail to notice Mr Darcy’s surprise at the familiarity of her address, but he did not seem displeased at all.
“I agree you are not as proficient or talented as Georgie, but then again, few people are. However, your interpretation was quite enjoyable—a true pleasure to hear.”
“Indeed,” Mr Darcy finally spoke up, “to hear you playing and singing has always been a pleasure, Miss Bennet.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“So, did you ladies have a pleasant time?” asked Lady Cassandra, as Elizabeth managed to breathe deeply in an attempt to calm her emotions.
“Yes, we did; Elizabeth is the most delightful company.”
“Yes, so she seems. Miss Bennet, how is your time spent in London when you are not going to the theatre or visiting Darcy’s home?” asked the lady with a tone that confused Elizabeth and made her wonder about the meaning of her words. “Do you miss your family?”
Elizabeth hesitated a moment before answering. “Yes, I do, very much. Though I am very fond of my entire family, I must confess I mostly miss my father and my eldest sister, Jane.”
“Yes…Miss Jane Bennet. Darcy told me about her.” Elizabeth’s face paled and unconsciously turned to him. Had he told everything to Lady Cassandra?
“From what I have heard, she is remarkably beautiful,” she continued.
“Yes, she is, thank you. But aside from her beauty, she is a most kind and gentle lady and has the sweetest disposition. She is much like Georgiana in many respects.” Miss Darcy blushed, taken aback by the compliment.
To Elizabeth’s shock, it was Mr Darcy who spoke further.
“Georgiana, I did not know Miss Bennet’s true character well enough to see the similarities while I was in Hertfordshire, but now that Miss Elizabeth mentions it, I am sure she must be right.
She is far more perceptive than I am. While I fancy myself a good judge of character, I have learned I am by no means always correct in my initial impressions. ”
Elizabeth’s eyes—wide in surprise after his declaration—fixed on his, and for a few moments, they stared wordlessly at each other. Upon his countenance was the deepest regret, which he took no pain to hide.
“I am also told that you have three other sisters besides Miss Bennet. Are they all as beautiful as your eldest?”
“Well, they are my sisters, and I love them, so I am by no means objective. But I dare say they are all pretty and pleasant in their own ways.”
“I can hardly imagine how that must be—with so many sisters of different ages around you.”
“For me, it is truly wonderful, although I have to confess it is a little tiresome at times.”
“I can well imagine. Do all your sisters play the pianoforte as well as you?”
“My other sisters do not play at all, except for one. Mary, the sister next to me in age, also plays and sings.”
“Well, I have to confess I do not play either. I never had the patience to learn. Mrs Ashburton, my governess, suffered greatly because of this; she had always considered it her personal failure. But, of course, the fault was entirely mine.” She laughed, and Mr Darcy asked about Mrs Ashburton’s health.
Lady Cassandra answered that she was well before returning her attention to Elizabeth.
“How many governesses did you have, Miss Bennet? Surely, one would not be enough for all of you.”
“We never had governesses.” Elizabeth almost laughed aloud at the similarity of these questions to the ones Lady Catherine had asked her the first time they met.
“What, five daughters and no governess?” was Lady Cassandra’s surprised reaction, and Elizabeth could contain her laughter no longer. Embarrassed by her outburst, she covered her mouth with her hand and then started to apologise.
Lady Cassandra’s brow rose in wonder at her. “Did something happen, Miss Bennet? Did I say something amusing?”
“No, your ladyship, please forgive me. It is just that—
“Oh come now, it is very rude to laugh like that without sharing the reason with us.”
“Lady Cassandra, I dare say that insisting any further to discover what Miss Bennet does not want to share with us would be equally as rude,” Darcy intervened soundly.
His interference, though in her favour, did not make Elizabeth any easier.
In fact, it had quite the opposite effect.
Lady Cassandra appeared offended, but her expression changed in a moment.
As the tension was caused by her bizarre reaction, Elizabeth decided to put an end to it as soon as possible, even if it meant the risk of giving more offence to her hosts.
“I beg you will forgive me. My behaviour has been rude indeed. I was amused by the fact that your ladyship’s questions were similar to those of Lady Catherine last March.”
The effect of her words was exactly as she feared.
Mr and Miss Darcy frowned, and Lady Cassandra remained speechless for a few moments before shaking her head and exclaiming, “Heaven forbid! Is that true? Oh dear, you absolutely must forget this instant that I ever asked you for such details. The same questions as Lady Catherine? That is not to be borne; it is the worst thing I have ever done!” The expression of distress on her face seemed so earnest that Georgiana began to laugh, quickly joined by the lady herself.
Shortly after this exchange, Elizabeth declared her intention of leaving. Her call had lasted more than two hours, which was considerably longer than propriety dictated. Mr Darcy rose to ask for the carriage, but Lady Cassandra stopped him.
“Miss Bennet, if you can bear my company a little longer, I would be delighted to take you in my carriage.”
Elizabeth looked at her in utter shock, noting that the Darcys were as surprised as she was.
“I thank you, your ladyship, but I would not want to trouble you. My uncle lives in Gracechurch Street and—
“Oh, I know where Gracechurch Street is, Miss Bennet, and I feel quite in the mood for a longer ride before returning home.”
Elizabeth cast a short glance toward the Darcys, and she noticed Mr Darcy’s eyes searching her face closely; she likely looked disconcerted, and he had noticed.
She could refuse, and he would surely offer her his carriage, but why all these ridiculous hesitations?
Surely, Lady Cassandra presented no danger to her.
She struggled to change her expression, careful not to cause another awkward moment.
“Thank you, Lady Cassandra. Of course I accept your kind offer.”
“Excellent! Let us go then, and during the ride, we may talk about the ball. What colour gown will you wear?”
They went toward the carriage, closely accompanied by the Darcys. Lady Cassandra entered first, helped by the gentleman. She reminded them she was expecting them later for dinner.
Georgiana took a warm leave of Elizabeth, embracing her, while Mr Darcy bowed politely and took her hand to help her into the carriage, again holding it longer than necessary.
She blushed, as she knew the other two ladies must have noticed his gesture, but she found the courage to smile tentatively as she thanked him.
“I hope to see you again soon, Miss Bennet,” he said as he closed the carriage door.
Elizabeth continued to look through the window until the house and the Darcys were out of sight; only then did her eyes turn to her companion.
One glance was enough for her to understand that Lady Cassandra had no intention whatsoever of talking about the ball.