Chapter 3
Elizabeth Parleys with the Man from Derbyshire
“It is awkward, Mr. Darcy, but do not feel obligated to converse. Charlotte is dear to us, but she does tend to take exceeding care of those whom she considers younger sisters,” Elizabeth said playfully at Charlotte’s back.
“She wants everyone to feel welcome. It is the Lucas way,” Jane said, directing all to look at the affable Sir William, who promenaded about the room, asking if he might perform an introduction or be of assistance in any other way.
“I confess this is an unexpected start to the evening,” Mr. Darcy said, looking between the sisters.
“Fear not, sir. I am certain, in essentials, it is like every other assembly or ball. The ladies and their mothers hope you admire them. But you are an unwitting fortunate. You have found yourself amongst three women who welcome you to the neighborhood for your own company. When we express a hope of all being well with yourself and your family, know it is done in earnest,” Elizabeth said, hoping he would not take offense at being teased.
“You suggest I can dance with the three of you without raising expectations?” Mr. Darcy asked, the tilt of his head mirroring her skeptical father.
“Oh, you are certain to raise them for everyone else. All are aware that a man of your standing is expected to marry a lady of great wealth or excellent connections. Preferring both, of course. However, a gentleman might overlook such material considerations for my dear sister, Jane, with such beauty and so sweet a nature. Sadly, the rest of us cannot compare—thus, you are safe.”
“Stop tormenting our new acquaintance, Lizzy. Charlotte is wonderful and kind, and you are a wit and all goodness,” Jane said, shaking her head.
“You are sweetness and too good for any mortal man to deserve you, dearest.” Elizabeth reached out to take Jane’s hand. “Mr. Darcy, please escort Jane to the floor so you do not miss your opportunity to dance with a veritable angel.”
“I shall if she would honor me. And might I claim a set from you as well?” Mr. Darcy asked.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” Jane looked over her shoulder as she and the handsome man lined up at the top of the set and gave Elizabeth a meaningful smile.
Darcy Dances the Second Set
“I believe we need to have some conversation, Mr. Darcy,” Miss Bennet said after five minutes had passed in silence.
“I confess I cannot fathom what an angel might prefer to discuss with so mere a mortal as I, Miss Bennet,” Darcy said, gratified when Miss Bennet’s tinkling laugh filled the space between them.
“I shall now offer in trade a confession of my own. Many would claim me naive, sir, but I prefer to see things in the best light. It is my nature to see what is good rather than to focus on what is not.”
“Then I am glad your next partner is my friend Bingley. You both enjoy the same view. I predict, however, the rest of the world will envy such perfect harmony that the two of you will find in each other’s company.”
“Matchmaking, Mr. Darcy? You were skeptical of our intentions, but moments ago, surprised when we assured you that you need not fear giving rise to expectations. Now, you attempt to partner me with your friend within minutes of making my acquaintance?”
Caught out, Darcy did not know what to say until he recognized, in the brightening of her wide, luminous blue eyes, that she was being whimsical. Her eyes gave her away, though her countenance betrayed nothing.
“I suppose I am.”
“Only Miss King can claim to have some wealth, and none of us have the connections needed to capture a man worth ten thousand a year. Still, I hope we shall all be friendly and your party has an enjoyable stay in our small corner of England.”
“I hope I would not be so concerned about wealth and connections as to let love pass me by. My parents knew such a match to be worth the wait for the right person,” Darcy said, shocked by having spoken of such a private notion with a stranger.
“I promise not to tell anyone you hope for a love match if you promise to tell no one I am a hopeless optimist?”
Darcy startled himself again when he laughed, having never done so whilst dancing with any woman save his aunt, the redoubtable Lady Matlock.
“Miss Bennet, your sister is correct. You are an angel of mercy and goodness.”
“You seem far too excellent a gentleman to be still unwed. Whatever the reason, I hope you find the lady who fulfills your vision of perfection.”
“You have already determined we do not suit?”
“You determined it for us, sir, when you claimed not to know how to talk to an angel, then ascribed to me the honor of being one.”
“Ha, I suppose I did at that. Is that the only reason?”
Miss Bennet did not answer, but she glanced toward Bingley dancing with Miss Lucas. She blushed when she caught him watching her. “Charlotte speaks true, sir. Our mother may exclaim over our making a match, but Lizzy and I intend to marry for love.”
“You are lovely, equal in beauty to any woman I have encountered in Town, Miss Bennet,” Darcy murmured.
“I thank you, Mr. Darcy, but one of the greater joys of life is that one might prefer red wine and another white. One lady may prefer roses, while another enjoys the wildflowers from a field. If a man prefers whiskey, why should he force himself to drink mead?”
“And an extraordinary understanding nature for one who prefers not to see darkness,” Darcy said, breaking the quiet he had created in taking too long to respond. Knowing that Miss Bennet had no expectations of him allowed him to speak freely. “Who else should I partner this evening?”
“Our sister Mary, though she is not often asked to dance. She is quiet and sometimes does not say the right thing, but I can give every assurance that she would make no presumptions of you.”
“What does she like to speak about?”
“She enjoys playing the pianoforte.”
“That is something our sisters have in common.”
“Mr. Darcy, it was good of you to ask me to dance. It will soon be my turn to sit out so other ladies may enjoy the opportunity,” Miss Bennet said when the set ended.
“It is generous of you to take turns.”
“You are in a shire full of ladies who have grown up together. We do not compete to find husbands. We leave that to our mothers. We wish our friends joy. If Charlotte or Miss King were to find their matches this very night in you and your friend, I would know happiness on their behalf and hope they might for me when it is my turn,” Miss Bennet said when he returned her to Miss Elizabeth and Bingley.
“I shall give Miss Bennet into your care, Bingley.” Darcy gave Bingley a well-meaning look and nodded when Bingley seemed surprised.
“I confess I am astounded, Darce. It is the exception for you to dance, and rarely with anyone you are not already acquainted with,” Bingley joked.
Darcy should have expected Bingley to ascertain his interest in the lady, given that Bingley was the one who sought an introduction to her.
Darcy shook his head slightly, signaling that it did not reside with angelic Miss Bennet.
At that, Bingley stood taller, and his grin widened as he held out his arm to Miss Bennet.
“Indeed, Bingley, but in this welcoming society, I see no harpies walking about as one finds in London.”
Darcy secured Miss Mary’s hand for a set and then led Miss Lucas to the floor.
He found a pleasurable challenge in getting Miss Lucas to speak of herself.
The lady was quite skilled at turning the conversation to the Miss Bennets.
Darcy suspected this was a game of wits, whereby they attempted to gain knowledge neither would usually disclose, making Miss Lucas a favored dance partner.
Once the set with Miss Lucas ended, Darcy led her toward her friend, Miss Elizabeth. While the dancers left the floor and the musicians prepared to play again, he asked if he might get the ladies a lemonade.
Darcy found himself diverted. This was a service he had never thought to perform for any lady other than his aunt. It would have set the gossip tongues wagging in London.
Finally, in line with Miss Elizabeth, they had not taken five steps together when she said, “Mr. Darcy, I would apologize for the excessiveness of my two youngest sisters and my mother. She worries over our future, sir, as any mother might when an estate is entailed away. She has difficulty tempering her emotions because of it.”
They took a slow turn before they had to exchange partners. Darcy counted the steps until she was again at his side.
“You owe me no apology. Your mother only expresses hope. I, myself, have been accused of behaving poorly when in gatherings of people I do not know.”
“And you know none here beyond your party. Then I shall tell my sisters and our friends I have permitted you to hide behind our skirts. Let us see if we can make your visit in our shire pleasant enough to remember in fondness,” Miss Elizabeth said, her eyes brightened with her vivaciousness.
“Would I be asking too much of you, Miss Elizabeth, if I brought my sister to Longbourn tomorrow so you might be introduced? She is anxious to meet the ladies of this society.”
“Oh, Mr. Darcy, you both may regret the suggestion and are sure to find us a fulsome and noisy lot. But, if she is brave enough, I insist she remain from the first meal of our day until after tea. She will be laughed at and cause others to laugh in turn. We only require her to be herself.”
“I believe I could consider no better situation, and I know my sister would take great enjoyment from such a day.”
“Oh, my stars!” A voice was heard above the din. “Kitty, one of the gentlemen changed their cologne. What is that mixed with pine nut, cigar smoke?”
“Here again, I must apologize. That is my sister Lydia.”
Darcy watched one of the younger Miss Bennets waft her linen square under her nose. A horrified Miss Bingley stood near three men of Meryton society who frowned at one another in confusion.
“Gentlemen, whichever of you it is, please apply to Mary. I am certain there is a scent more suited to you.”
“Do allow me to apologize for my sister's lack of tact. One of our neighbors is masking it well yet cannot but know humiliation.”
“I again must deny your intentions. I am grateful to Miss Lydia.” Darcy leaned so his mouth was close to Miss Elizabeth’s ear. “It is Miss Bingley she takes exception to. The lady has ignored numerous hints that it does not suit. It is a man’s cologne she wears.”
“Oh, how embarrassing for her.” Miss Elizabeth’s laughter filled the space between them. Darcy executed a swift turn to elicit another laugh while leading her through the figures.
“Tomorrow, our house will be quite dull. In two days, your sister would also be acquainted with the two ladies from Lucas Lodge, our dear Charlotte and her younger sister, Maria. The first Saturday of the month, we sew for the poor box as an excuse to gossip about this evening’s on dits.”
“I can think of little she would enjoy more. Both the company and the act of generosity.”
“Miss Darcy shall be treated as though she already is a friend, the same as we have done with you. I did say I expect her at Longbourn to join my family as we break our morning fast, did I not?”
“I have never been more envious of my sister than I will be whilst she is in your company. Well, excepting when she first read the Iliad. Although some books gain power with a second or third reading, I found the first so engrossing that I missed dinner on two consecutive nights. My father threatened to declare me too sick to go out riding until I showed him the volume in my hand.”
“My sisters and I are in full agreement, and it is a favored tale in our home. If you sew, Mr. Darcy, you are welcome to join us. If not, I shall walk to Netherfield. Between the hours of nine and ten? It is near the same distance as my daily walk around the property. On the side closest to the Netherfield, there is a particular rock. From the top of it, one can pretend to rule the world.”
“And, come the morning two days hence, I shall have my carriage ready to deliver you both to Longbourn.”
“If the weather continues as we have enjoyed this week, it shall be perfect for the men in your party to enjoy your gentlemanly pursuits.”
“Do you often walk out alone?”
“I do, sir. It is how I escape a house full of five other women. I have a very great secret to share with you. It is sometimes too noisy to countenance.”
“I shall have to take you at your word. I will have my coach ready by ten, Miss Elizabeth.”
“The servers are placed on the sideboard at ten. Half past nine will have us dear friends home in time to enjoy it with my family.”
“I apologize for misspeaking—half nine. I confess to hoping you might walk with her amongst the shops of Meryton or exchange visits at the proper hours. I will advise her of this plan tomorrow. I can say, you spending a full day with her is far more than I could have dared ask or she might have conceived.”
“You and Mr. Bingley should come to tea in the afternoon. I warn you, even after spending more than six hours with us, she may not be ready to leave Jane. Few ever are. I am perfectly serious in suggesting she might wish to stay through dinner.”
“I thank you, Miss Elizabeth. You have made me a very happy older brother by including my beloved sister in your plans.”
Darcy bowed to her when their set ended, then led her to Miss Lucas. It was convenient, more likely by design, that she stood with Miss Mary, his next partner.
Miss Bingley Takes Exception
On the other side of the hall, Miss Bingley fumed. When the shrieking hoyden had announced her expensive French perfume smelled like men’s cologne mixed with cigar smoke, she had stepped back into a corner.
She had no choice but to watch Darcy do the unthinkable: enjoy himself.
The ladies of Meryton had made him laugh, and he had made them laugh in turn.
It was in every way too much. Miss Bingley required a new plan, given her lack of opportunity to inspire jealousy in him that night.
She decided on the best way she might remind him that none of these upstarts were worth half her consequence.
It was obvious to her only now that it could only be done when she was alone with him again at Netherfield.