Chapter Fifteen #2
Lizzy was pleased for the disarrangement, for it offered her both a distraction from her thoughts of Mr. Darcy and an excuse to avoid Mr. Collins’ attentions for another day at least. He had been waiting around doorways whenever she passed through, and sitting with his book face down upon his knee every time she entered a room, always with an ingratiating smile upon his face and a comment about how remarkable women were, to be kept so busy in the affairs of the household, coupled with another statement about how Lady Catherine had this many or that many servants to do her bidding, should she decide to entertain company with no prior notice.
Fortunately, the man was sufficiently self-absorbed not to take offence when Lizzy told him once and again that whilst she was amazed at his patroness’ army of excellent servants, she herself only had a small cadre which she needed to speak to at this exact moment, and would he please excuse her.
Never before had she been so relieved to hurry to execute her mother’s anxious demands.
And thus it was that when the guests arrived, all was in readiness for them.
The Lucas family arrived earlier than the others, as Mama had planned, for she and Lady Lucas enjoyed a good gossip amongst themselves whilst Papa and Sir William partook of some brandy in the study.
Jane had taken pity on her sister and engaged Mr. Collins in conversation, demanding the younger sisters’ attention as well, leaving Lizzy and her friend Charlotte to notice the arrival of Mr. Bingley’s fine carriage, with a smaller curricle running along behind it.
“What a fine vehicle!” Charlotte’s lips curled in admiration as two matched horses drew the sharp conveyance onto the drive.
“To whom does it belong? I certainly have not seen it around the village before.” Lizzy mirrored her friend’s appreciation.
Whilst not normally one to coo over fast carriages and horses, this conveyance was a thing of beauty, and she wondered how fast it could travel when the powerful horses were in full flight.
To travel on that would be akin to soaring!
She watched through the window with wide eyes as a gentleman leapt down, followed immediately and more carefully by a figure she knew.
“That must be Mr. Darcy’s cousin, for he is with him. I wonder what sort of a man he is. I imagine he might be very proud, for we all knew what Mr. Darcy was like when first he arrived, and the colonel ranks far above him.”
Charlotte gave a low derisive chuckle. “Have you still not forgiven him? I dare say he was just out of sorts that evening, for he has quite charmed the neighbourhood, and he certainly looks at you a lot, Lizzy, and with an approving eye. I can confidently say that he likes you.”
She recalled the all-encompassing sensation of his large hand wrapped around hers as she drove him home, the memory so vivid she could almost feel it again and knew she would start to blush.
“He and I are friends,” she replied to her companion.
“If he looks at me, it is merely that we have similar interests.” Even as she had admitted her affection for him to herself, she could not do likewise to Charlotte.
Ever practical, Charlotte would surely have some advice that Lizzy knew she could not follow.
As if she had been overhearing Lizzy’s thoughts, Charlotte commented, “You might wish to encourage him, Lizzy. He is a grand gentleman, but if he likes you, you could do worse than to become Mrs. Darcy.”
“Do not tease me!” she slapped playfully at her friend’s hand. “He is too fine for the likes of me, and I shall not throw myself at him.”
Undeterred, Charlotte continued. “Jane, too, ought to leave no doubt as to her affection for Mr. Bingley. He has been attentive enough to her, but even a happy sort such as he needs some encouragement, else he turn his heart and mind to those more demonstrative of their esteem. You and I see Jane’s inner heart, but to one not accustomed to her placid ways, she might seem quite unmoved. ”
“Charlotte, you jest!”
“A lady ought to show more affection than she feels, not less, if she wishes to capture a man. That is all I am saying.”
How ought she to respond to this? Mr. Bingley seemed in no danger of mistaking Jane’s sweet smiles and rose-touched cheeks, for he had all the village in expectation of his imminent offer for her. If all of Meryton believed that he loved Jane and she him, who was he to believe otherwise?
All necessity for a response was removed by the entrance of Mr. Hill, announcing the newly arrived guests.
“Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Hurst, Mrs. Hurst, and the Honourable Colonel Fitzwilliam.” All conversation ceased, and the inhabitants of the room sat in silent anticipation of their introduction to the esteemed son of Lord Matlock, colonel of His Majesty’s forces, and cousin to Mr. Darcy.
The colonel, it so transpired, was nothing like Lizzy’s imagination had conjured up.
He was a most pleasant and gentlemanly sort of person, some two years or three older than Mr. Darcy, and not handsome but with so happy a personality that all who knew him thought him the most pleasing of men.
Within a moment of walking through the door, he had wooed and won Lizzy’s mother and was well on the way to becoming a best friend to her father.
Even Mr. Collins stopped talking when the colonel was before him, although this, Lizzy thought in no charitable terms, was because the parson was too afraid of what the earl’s son might say to his aunt, and Mr. Collins’ patroness, Lady Catherine.
She hoped that Mr. Collins’ silent respect might last through the meal, but she did not expect to be satisfied.
When Mr. Darcy brought the colonel around to meet her, she, too, was immediately won over by him.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” he purred, “how utterly delightful to make your acquaintance at last. My cousin Darcy has raved about you in letters and in person since I appeared before him this morning, and he has not begun to do you justice. Really, Darcy,” he turned to his cousin, “she is a priceless gem. Absolutely lovely and charming as well.” Somehow his words were smooth and genuine, quite unlike Mr. Collins’ prefabricated emoluments, and Lizzy felt he, too, would be a friend worth having.
Now Colonel Hastings arrived, with Colonel and Mrs. Forster, and the men gathered to greet each other in one part of the room, and no more private conversation could be had until it was time to move in for dinner.
Mr. Darcy appeared at Lizzy’s side to escort her into the dining room, but the Colonel Fitzwilliam stepped in front of him.
“Sorry, cousin, but I insist, just this once, on preempting you.” He bent to whisper discreetly in her ear, “And perhaps, if we can arrange some deception like the one you and Darcy perpetrated yesterday, the three of us can meet to discuss this fascinating toy you have found. It sounds like exactly the sort of thing I am here to investigate.”