Chapter 5 #2
“Oh, I beg you will not concern yourself,” the gentleman said.
“I am pleased that you will have the opportunity to delight yourself in the grounds, which are, I am certain, very much to your liking. As to Mr. Darcy, I expect that he will treat both you and your sister with reasonable courtesy now that Mrs. Bingley is wed to Darcy’s friend.
As for Miss Darcy, well, I confess to some pessimism there; she is a haughty young lady. ”
“How old is Miss Darcy?” Elizabeth asked curiously.
“She is some fifteen or sixteen years of age.”
“Oh, she is yet still young! Is her character so very bad?”
Wickham sighed and shook his head. “She was a charming little girl, and I devoted many hours to her amusement when she was small, but now she is proud, very proud. I fear both Darcys are very much like their de Bourgh relations which, I am certain you agree, is no great thing.”
Elizabeth cast her eyes heavenward and said, “Yes, though I would say only Lady Catherine is exceptionally insolent and dictatorial. Miss de Bourgh is merely quiet.”
“Yes, that does not surprise me. Lady Catherine has such a forceful personality that all in her sphere are inclined to be silent, though I suppose that her manners did not discourage you from speaking, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth chuckled and said, “I assure you that I was always perfectly polite in Lady Catherine’s presence, for my friend Mrs. Collins’s sake, if for no other reason.”
“You are a most caring friend and sister,” Mr. Wickham declared. “You will be a great comfort to Mrs. Bingley, who may find her reception rather discouraging, with Miss Darcy, at any rate. She is not very friendly to those she considers beneath her notice.”
/
Pemberley
Elizabeth turned on her side and frowned into the darkness. Miss Darcy was certainly a peculiar young lady, but she did not seem unduly proud in the least. Perhaps Mr. Wickham had misinterpreted her blunt speech for pride?
She sighed and snuggled deeper into the feather mattress. It was late, and she was tired. She would learn more about the Darcys in the days to come. A few minutes later, she was fast asleep.
/
“Do go along, Lizzy,” Jane ordered. “I appreciate your assistance last night and this morning, but Molly is here now, and she can look after me.”
Elizabeth cast a questioning look at Jane’s private maid who said, “I will look after Mrs. Bingley, Miss.”
Elizabeth leaned over and kissed her sister on the forehead. “Very well. Now do promise me you will not drag yourself downstairs if you are feeling terrible.”
“I will not,” Jane answered wanly. “I do feel dreadful today.”
“My poor dear. I will pray for you.”
Elizabeth straightened and quietly walked out of the room. She was concerned about Jane, but there was no reason to hover over her, especially with Jane’s loyal maid now in attendance.
She softly closed the door behind her and stood in the corridor.
It was just eleven o’clock, and she had shared a small repast with Jane only an hour previously.
Miss Darcy had invited her to the peacock .
.. no, peafowl enclosure at noon. There was a pianoforte in a room at the end of the corridor.
She had not practiced her music for many weeks, and if she played softly, it would not bother Jane.
Yes, that would be an excellent way to while away an hour.
The pianoforte in question was beautiful, both newer and more expensive than the one at Longbourn.
Caroline had informed her that there was a special music room in the main part of the house, which held an even grander pianoforte along with a harp and even a lyre.
It was a testament to the wealth of Pemberley that this instrument was relegated to a sitting room in the guest wing.
Elizabeth was pleased to find sheet music in the bench, including an old favorite, “Greensleeves”.
She placed it on the rack, sat down, limbered her fingers, and began to play.
When she had finished the last few notes, she sighed and pulled her hands into her lap.
Her playing was rusty after many months of neglect.
Well, there was no time like the present to work on regaining her admittedly limited skill on the pianoforte.
She straightened her back, focused at the music, and played again, this time with better success. It was not perfect, of course, but…
“You made several mistakes,” a female voice said from behind her.
Elizabeth turned on the seat and stared in astonishment at Miss Georgiana Darcy, who was standing ten feet away, dressed in an overly large green muslin dress.
“I know,” Elizabeth said stiffly. “I fear I am somewhat out of practice.”
Miss Darcy’s mouth drooped miserably, and her gaze shifted to the parquetted floor. “I apologize. That was very rude of me to say.”
Elizabeth, who had felt rather insulted, relaxed. “No, no, Miss Darcy, pray do not distress yourself. It is true that I have neglected my time at the pianoforte of late, and thus my skills have suffered.”
“You are certainly welcome to use this instrument while you stay here,” Georgiana said. “May I play “Greensleeves” properly?”
Elizabeth obediently withdrew from the bench and stationed herself such that she could watch Miss Darcy work her musical magic.
This provoked a grimace from the girl, who said, “Would you please look out the window? I do not like it when people look at me while I play.”
Elizabeth found herself growing increasingly curious. Miss Darcy was certainly an unusual young lady!
“Of course I will,” she agreed, and wandered over to stare out the window, through which stretched a pleasing landscape of wheat fields interspersed with copses of oak and elm trees.
She heard Miss Darcy settle herself on the bench and begin playing “Greensleeves”.
The song began, and within a minute, Elizabeth found herself awed, delighted and, she realized with wonder, a little envious.
The song was not especially difficult, but Miss Darcy played it masterfully.
It was not just that she never missed a note or a pause – she imbued her playing with a special quality, a transcendent feeling, which wrenched Elizabeth’s heart and brought tears to her eyes.
Miss Bingley had not been in error. Miss Darcy was a clearly gifted player.
When the last note had died away, Elizabeth took a few moments to collect herself and asked, “May I turn around, Miss Darcy?”
“Yes, now you can, because I am finished,” Georgiana said.
Elizabeth spun slowly and said warmly, “You play very well, Miss Darcy.”
“Thank you, yes,” Georgiana said, standing up and clasping her hands in front of her.
“I am an excellent player of the pianoforte. Fitzwilliam says that some women are good at playing instruments, and others are gifted at drawing flowers. I do not draw flowers well at all. I am not interested in flowers.”
Elizabeth lifted a rather surprised eyebrow. “Your brother is very wise, Miss Darcy.”
“Yes, he is very kind to me, and also patient. Would you like to see the peafowl now?”
“Yes, very much.”