Chapter 51
Mr. Darcy and Georgiana were not expected for another hour, yet Elizabeth’s nerves were already in tatters.
She remembered every word from the letter Mr. Darcy had handed her in Kent.
‘The situation of your mother’s family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters and occasionally even by your father.
’ Mr. Darcy had been perfectly polite to her uncle Gardiner even when faced with his disapprobation in Hampshire.
He had met Mrs. Gardiner with quiet composure and had been cordial to Jane; but now he would be thrust into her mother’s and Lydia’s company.
When she had first read that letter, she had scoffed at him putting propriety above status and rank, and had considered it a complete falsehood but now she knew better.
Mr. Darcy was deeply mortified by lack of manners as was often apparent in Mrs. Ashcombe’s company.
But no matter how meddling and autocratic his family may be, they were no match for the vulgarity displayed by her mother and youngest sister.
In Kent, Elizabeth had been offended; now she was frightened.
His good opinion had once been unwelcome.
Now she knew it to be essential to her happiness.
“Lizzy, are you ready to go down?” Jane asked from the door.
“Just a moment,” Elizabeth gathered her courage and got up.
“Whatever is the matter, dearest?” Jane asked as she entered her room.
“Oh, Jane! I am just worried about Mama and Lydia. You know how fastidious Mr. Darcy can be.”
“Mr. Darcy is already acquainted with our family and will know what to expect. There is no reason to be anxious.”
“I do not know, Jane. I cannot bear to see contempt in his eyes for my family.”
“Come now, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy loves you and will be polite to everyone. I am sure of it.”
Elizabeth finally accompanied Jane downstairs but was full of nervous apprehension till the gentleman arrived.
Mrs. Bennet had been in her element and kept repeating the cleverness of her daughter in catching a gentleman like Mr. Darcy and how rich and grand her Lizzy would soon be.
Elizabeth was mortified and completely unequal to receiving Mr. Darcy when he was finally announced.
She looked up, and to her anxious brain it felt as if this was the Mr. Darcy she had met in Hertfordshire: not cold, but carefully guarded.
The open expression and gentle glances of the past few months were no longer visible.
On his arm was his sister, no longer the unsure girl she had met in the afternoon, but every inch the polished and accomplished lady that Miss Bingley had extolled about.
Introductions were made and to her relief her mother was struck dumb in the stately presence of her daughter’s betrothed.
Jane greeted Miss Darcy with familiarity and led her to the sofa where they were joined by Lydia.
Mrs. Bennet may have been muted in her awe but Lydia had no such compunction.
She admired Miss Darcy’s bonnet, examined her gown, pronounced her reticule plain, and interrogated the young girl on every accomplishment she possessed or lacked.
Miss Darcy could hardly get in a word. Jane tried to interfere but she was no match for Lydia.
By the time dinner was announced, Elizabeth was ready to run away from the drawing room.
The dinner was a quiet affair mostly due to Mrs. Gardiner’s seating arrangements.
Mr. Gardiner sat at the head of the table with Darcy to his right and they seemed to have a perfectly polite discussion about current affairs.
Elizabeth was relieved to note that he had lost his hauteur, only retaining his reserved temperament, giving him an air of gravity not unsuited to his position.
His sister was as sweet and obliging as ever and mostly relieved to be sitting in between Elizabeth and Jane and far from Lydia’s questions.
Miss Darcy had been somewhat befuddled at her introduction to Miss Elizabeth earlier in the day.
She had heard about her quickness and sharp tongue from her brother and of her wit and vivacity from Jane.
Richard had praised her charming manner and handsome appearance, and then there was the Bingleys.
Mr. Bingley, it had seemed to her, was somewhat afraid of Miss Elizabeth, which Georgiana had found confusing, while Miss Bingley had described her as a cunning lady quick to press her advantage.
Thus Georgiana had been scared to meet this creature of perfection in her brother’s eyes.
The lady she had met during the day had not been the paragon she had expected but a kind and genuinely warm person who had understood Georgiana and immediately put her at ease.
Now it was Miss Elizabeth who was uncomfortable, she looked embarrassed by her mother and younger sister and was hoping for some assurance from her betrothed.
Georgiana remembered how deeply affected she had been when Miss Elizabeth had mentioned her desire to be a true sister and decided that it was now her turn to perform her sisterly duties. She glanced once at Elizabeth’s anxious face, gathered her courage, and leaned nearer.
“Miss Elizabeth, do sisters usually lose their angelic qualities from the oldest to the youngest?” Georgiana whispered, hoping to imitate Elizabeth’s teasing manner.
For a moment, she was scared on seeing the shocked expression on Elizabeth’s face but then a smile appeared as the comment registered.
“You may be on to something, Miss Darcy. I will have to give the matter some consideration, but my own family does support your theory,” Elizabeth whispered back with a smile.
“We might consider Bingleys as another example,” Georgiana responded, encouraged by Elizabeth’s response.
“One can say that they just gain in devilish qualities rather than losing any angelic one,” Elizabeth replied with a straight face earning the unexpected laughter from the younger girl and drawing her brother’s attention.
Mr. Darcy smiled indulgently at his sister before turning back and continuing his conversation with Mr. Gardiner with much more ease.
“You know, perhaps, it is not sisters but siblings. Mr. Bingley as the oldest took the lion’s share of the angelic qualities,” Georgiana continued her observations.
“I highly doubt that, for you are much more angelic than your brother.”
“You do not know me well enough to say that. I am sure once we are sisters you will realise just how devious I could be.”
“I look forward to it,” Elizabeth replied with a smile, looking at Mr. Darcy and hoping to hurry the day when she would be his wife.
Darcy was finally relaxed. He had always considered that Elizabeth would be a positive influence on Georgiana but had not realised how starved for female company his sister was.
In the drawing room Miss Lydia had completely monopolised her time but now, seated next to Elizabeth, she was deep in conversation.
That his sister could speak so freely was a revelation to Darcy.
“Georgiana, I understand you and Miss Bennet got acquainted while I was in Hampshire,” Darcy said, gaining his sister’s attention.
“Yes, and I was the first to learn about her engagement to Mr. Bingley. Did you know that he proposed to her in an open carriage while travelling the streets of London to visit me.”
Darcy could hardly contain his surprise on hearing this information, “I would have thought that Bingley would have chosen a more romantic setting.”
“He wanted to, sir, but Mr. Bingley had been away at Brighton and returned at the same time when Miss Darcy called upon us to acquaint us with the scandal of the season. Needless to say that he realised that any opportunity for romance—or even a private conversation—would not soon present itself,” Jane replied with a teasing smile.
“I am sorry, Miss Bennet, I had no idea that my actions had such far-reaching effects,” Darcy replied once again, chagrined with all the turmoil he had caused.
The ladies soon separated leaving Darcy and Mr. Gardiner to their port and cigars.
“I was surprised to hear about Bingley visiting Brighton. I had understood that Mrs. Bennet and Miss Lydia were there visiting friends.” Darcy finally asked Gardiner.
Mr. Gardiner relayed the whole of the events of Brighton to Mr. Darcy, “Frankly, sir, I would have thought that you would be aware, seeing the importance Mr. Bingley places in your judgement.”
“Bingley does discuss most matters with me, but I have been rather occupied lately,” Darcy answered sardonically.
“I understood from your uncles that you will be travelling to Hertfordshire to speak to Mr. Bennet. He has been getting restless in his confinement and as his plaster has now been removed, I fear he may travel to London himself if his favourite daughter does not present herself to Longbourn at the earliest.”
“I understand that Lord Grimsley called on Mr. Bennet and made a favourable impression,” Darcy spoke with evident uncertainty.
“Mr. Darcy, you have won the good opinion of the most difficult person to please. Neither her father nor I possess the strength to deny Elizabeth what she is determined to have.”