Chapter 4 A （Secret） Courtship Begins
CHAPTER FOUR
A (SECRET) COURTSHIP BEGINS
Darcy did not see Elizabeth again until it was time for dinner.
To his relief, Miss Bingley was conspicuously absent, making the evening far more pleasant than any he had experienced since arriving at Netherfield.
Louisa Hurst assumed her sister’s duties as hostess, and the meal progressed smoothly until Jane, who was feeling well enough now to join the family for dinner, innocently asked after Miss Bingley.
“My sister decided rather suddenly to journey to our aunt in Scarborough. She will leave in the morning and sends her apologies for not taking her leave from you directly,” Bingley explained, attempting a casual tone.
Elizabeth alone noticed the swift glances exchanged around the table—Bingley with his elder sister, then with Darcy—silent signals that suggested there was more left unsaid.
Curiosity stirred within her, but she wisely chose not to press the matter, unwilling to risk embarrassing anyone, least of all their host.
Other than this brief and somewhat awkward moment, the meal passed pleasantly.
Conversation flowed with ease, and the absence of Miss Bingley seemed to lighten the atmosphere considerably.
Darcy found himself more engaged than usual when at his friend’s table, even allowing a few teasing remarks with Elizabeth whose eyes sparkled with amusement.
Bingley devoted much of his attention to Jane, seated beside him, anxiously assuring himself of her comfort after her recent illness.
Darcy, in turn, directed the greater part of his conversation towards that lady’s sister, who occupied the place next to him.
Mr Hurst had taken his seat beside his wife, who presided at the foot of the table in the mistress’s stead; the pair contributed little to the general discourse, yet they appeared to take greater pleasure in the meal than was their custom.
When the second course was set before them, Bingley’s natural exuberance revived the conversation, as he eagerly enquired after Jane’s health once more.
“You look much improved this evening, Miss Bennet,” Bingley remarked warmly. “I trust the air of Netherfield has done you good?”
Jane blushed, and she cast a wary glance at her sister before answering, her voice soft but sincere when she addressed her host. “Thank you, Mr Bingley. I am feeling much better, but I feel I must attribute it more to the excellent care I received from your household than to the air itself.”
“Nonsense,” Bingley grinned. “We were only too happy to have you here to recover. Of course, it would have been better had you not been ill, but I suppose that could not be helped.”
Darcy, seated next to Elizabeth, could not resist adding, “Indeed, your return to health is likely a testament to both the care you received and, perhaps more importantly, to your sister's insistence on remaining by your side. Miss Elizabeth appears to be a most loyal companion and devoted sister.”
Jane’s smile fluttered for the briefest moment, uncertainty passing across her expression before she quickly recovered it. Her eyes flicked between Darcy and Elizabeth, as though attempting to reconcile the unexpected warmth of his tone.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at Darcy’s unexpected praise, her lips curving into a faint smile.
The remembrance of their earlier conversation rendered his words less surprising, and she looked away for a moment, feeling her cheeks heat.
She hoped that, by not looking at him directly, he would not notice her flush.
After a moment, when she thought she had her emotions in check, she replied, “You flatter me, Mr Darcy. I daresay any sister would have done the same.”
Darcy met her gaze, the corners of his mouth twitching upward as he cast a wry glance towards the far end of the table where their hostess sat.
“You have three other sisters, yet it was you who braved the weather to walk here. Others might have shown the same care for an ailing sister, but such perseverance as yours is not easily found.”
Elizabeth tilted her head, studying him with amusement, keeping her tone light. “Then I must assume you have great experience in judging such tenacity, Mr Darcy.”
His mouth curved in the faintest of smiles. “Not great experience, but I believe I know what I see.”
Bingley chuckled, clearly amused by the exchange. “Darcy does have a way of observing things others might miss—though he rarely admits to it aloud.”
Darcy’s expression softened slightly, and his tone was almost playful. “I assure you, Miss Elizabeth, I do observe more than I speak.”
“I seem to recall something of the sort,” she replied, her eyes gleaming with amusement, recalling how often it had appeared he had been listening to her conversations when they were in company together.
At the far end of the table, Mr and Mrs Hurst exchanged a glance at the repartee, but said nothing, content to sip their wine and listen.
Louisa occasionally nodded in agreement with her husband’s rare remarks, but it was evident that she, too, was more interested in observing the dynamics at the table than in participating.
She realised that her sister’s hopes towards Mr Darcy were all in vain, and that they would likely be celebrating his marriage to Elizabeth Bennet before too long.
Bingley, determined to keep the conversation lively, turned back to Jane. “Miss Bennet, I must know, once you are fully recovered, do you plan to return to your usual habits? I remember you mentioned your fondness for flowers.”
Jane smiled warmly. “Yes, I do enjoy flowers and working with all manner of plants and herbs. I spend much of my time in the stillroom at Longbourn, when I am able.”
Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled. “My sister is far too modest. She is quite skilled at making all manner of potions and remedies from the flowers and herbs she collects.”
Darcy, intrigued, glanced at Elizabeth. “Do you share your sister’s love of nature, Miss Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth met his gaze, her tone teasing.
“Indeed—although I suspect my motives are less virtuous than hers. I simply enjoy escaping the confines of the indoors and taking long walks in the gardens and park at Longbourn. At times, I assist Jane in the stillroom, but she is far more proficient in the art than I.”
When Jane glanced over at her sister, her face showed her surprise at Elizabeth’s teasing of the normally stoic gentleman. A faint, uneasy flutter stirred in her chest at the sight of Mr Darcy’s clear pleasure in the exchange while she quickly schooled her expression into mild interest.
That he seemed pleased at their interaction surprised her, and she wondered briefly what might have changed between the pair during the sisters’ stay at Netherfield.
For a moment, she suspected her sister of behaving inappropriately, but she quickly pushed that thought away, thinking it disloyal.
Still, she could not understand what might have caused the sudden change in their behaviour towards each other.
Darcy’s lips twitched as he considered Elizabeth’s words.
He dropped his voice, speaking in a voice only his partner could hear.
“I imagine you are far more proficient than you give yourself credit for, Miss Elizabeth. Still, I must admit, the image of you engaged in such quiet domesticity seems rather... unexpected.”
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow, intrigued by his meaning and determined not to misunderstand him as she might have only the evening before.
“Unexpected?” she asked quietly, the question meant only for her companion.
“Do you mean to say, Mr Darcy, that you cannot envision me performing as the mistress of an estate such as Longbourn?”
“I merely suggest,” he replied, a teasing glint in his eye, “that your spirited nature seems better suited to the open air where your thoughts may wander as freely as your steps. After all, you do not seem to be one who would shy away from a challenge.”
She smiled, her curiosity piqued further by his comment and what she saw in his face. “What sort of challenge would be found in the open air of an estate, sir?”
“As we discussed earlier, you seem to have a knack for assisting your father’s tenants, and I am certain that your talents extend far beyond simply that. Perhaps one day you will be able to apply your knowledge on a much larger scale.”
Tilting her head, she examined him for a moment before speaking again, her voice still quiet so as not to be overheard. “You are alluding to Pemberley, are you not? Of what we spoke of before regarding a courtship?”
Darcy leant in slightly, his voice low and sincere.
“I am indeed, Miss Elizabeth. Pemberley is much larger than Longbourn and far more complex, owing to its size and the variety of its terrain. Our tenants are engaged in a broader range of pursuits than I have observed here. Of course, I was brought up there and have long been accustomed to its demands, but I assure you, its mistress carries considerable responsibility for the estate’s welfare, just as much as the master.
When my mother lived, Pemberley thrived under her careful stewardship. ”
He paused, his gaze steady on hers. “I believe it would benefit from your lively spirit and compassionate care.”
Although her cheeks were once again tinted a rosy shade, Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled as she responded.
“I can hardly imagine what it would be like to manage such an estate, let alone live in a house so grand as that you have described. Do you truly believe that I could have an influence there?” She paused, then looked up at him, and whispered.
“Would you truly want someone like me as mistress of your grand estate?
I am a mere country miss who has little experience with something so great.
“Absolutely,” Darcy affirmed, nodding with conviction.
"Miss Bingley described your home in glowing terms,” Elizabeth then replied.