Chapter 3
The following morning, Darcy woke up with a pounding headache.
Caught up in the entertaining conversation — which was often at the edge of propriety — with the admiral, he had indulged himself with one too many brandies.
He had decided to keep his distance from Longbourn, and from Elizabeth, in a poor attempt to overcome his growing inclination towards her.
However, since the admiral was unmoved in his plan to call at Longbourn, he could not let him go with just Bingley for company, even though he was distressed at the mere thought of sitting in a small room with Mrs Bennet and her younger daughters.
When they had visited Netherfield, he had been able to withdraw into a corner, but since he would be the guest this time, he would not have such a luxury.
Although the admiral had seemed amused the previous evening during the discussion about the Bennets, it was unlikely that he would bear their company for more than half an hour.
He looked at Bingley, who was clearly joyful about the upcoming call.
Undoubtedly, he was completely enchanted by Miss Jane Bennet, but Darcy had seen his young friend in love too many times to take him seriously.
As quickly as he fell for a pretty lady’s charms, his inclinations never lasted more than a few weeks.
Miss Bennet could be no different. After the ball, Bingley intended to return to town for a fortnight, to attend to some business, and very likely that would be the end of his infatuation with Miss Jane Bennet.
Soon after breakfast, despite Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst’s disapproval, the three men were ready for the visit.
Admiral Howard took a stroll to the stables to check on his horse and was pleased to see an almost complete recovery. However, he chose another animal from Bingley’s stable for the ride, and all three left for Longbourn.
“It is a little early. Would you like to take a longer ride so you can see the estate?” Bingley asked the admiral.
“Of course. A ride would be beneficial regardless, after how much we abused your food and drink last night.”
“True,” Darcy admitted. “I do not remember drinking so much in a long while.”
“Speaking of drinking — what else does your brother-in-law do for a living, Bingley?” the admiral enquired.
“For a living? Nothing. He is a gentleman,” Bingley explained, slightly puzzled.
“Of course he is,” the admiral replied with mockery. “I might have misjudged him since we have only just met, but he seems indolent and lacking interest in any part of life.”
“Well…” Bingley mumbled.
“You know, I have always wondered how that sort of man accomplishes his duties in the marital bed — or out of it. The image in my mind is quite pathetic.”
Darcy and Bingley stared at the admiral in complete shock. Having his sister somehow involved in the conversation, Bingley forgot to breathe.
“Forgive me, I did not mean to make you uncomfortable.” The Admiral laughed. “I am speaking in general, and my puzzlement remains.”
“We should find a more appropriate subject of conversation,” Darcy suggested.
“Yes, we should. But it would not be equally amusing. However, I do not intend to make sport at your sister’s expense, Bingley. I hope she is reasonably happy in her marriage.”
“Louisa had an impressive dowry of twenty thousand pounds. She had the liberty to choose her husband, and she chose Hurst.”
“I see. He is from a titled family who are rather low on money, I assume. His father must be at least a baronet,” the admiral speculated.
“Do you know the Hursts?” Bingley asked.
“No, my boy, but I know the story. I have always been surprised that women and men with the means to select their spouse often prefer the security of a comfortable social position over affection and admiration. If one cannot choose, it is understandable. But when a choice is possible, it is sad to see young people deciding their future based on the chances of being admitted to Almack’s someday. ”
“Those who have the means to choose often must take into consideration their duty too. They must think of their family and social requirements. Wealth never comes without responsibilities. When one is choosing a wife — or husband — they must consider whether that person would meet the expectations of their position in society and whether they would be able to fulfil their own responsibilities towards everyone who is affected by that marriage,” Darcy said vehemently.
“Yes, yes. I hear you. That is why so many marriages are sad to see. Why so many men visit their marital beds only when duty requires it and keep mistresses whom they spoil. And why so many women are miserable and never know the pleasure and the joy of a man’s company.
Or they do — with rakes and rascals, or even with stable boys. ”
“Admiral!” Darcy scolded him, but the gentleman laughed again and urged his horse into a gallop, leaving his younger companions behind, still in astonishment.
As they approached Longbourn, Bingley looked anxious, and Darcy felt apprehensive.
A combination of the admiral and Mrs Bennet might become lethal.
Fortunately, there was nobody from outside the family to witness the calamity.
Elizabeth, however, would surely be amused, and most likely her father too.
Darcy could imagine her eyes sparkling with laughing comprehension, and her lips twisted in a quizzical smile.
The thought of being near her made his heart race.
He felt like a lovestruck schoolboy, and what worried him the most was the realisation that he was indeed lovestruck.
He had been infatuated a few times in his youth, but all the sensations he was experiencing with Elizabeth were completely new to him.
Therefore, he had to leave Hertfordshire as soon as possible.
He did have the liberty to choose, as the admiral had said.
However, that liberty was restricted by his duties and responsibilities.
There were so many people depending on him, so many expectations, so much relying on Mrs Darcy’s position that he had to select the right woman, for everyone’s sake.
And Elizabeth could not be the one, despite her wit and charm.
Her family was the main obstacle, but not the only one.
She was bright, but she lacked the experience necessary to run a large household, to take care of her tenants’ families, to fill the place left empty by his mother’s death.
The entire ton would likely reject her, Lady Catherine would create an enormous scandal that London would hardly forget, his relatives — including Georgiana — would rebuke him, and she would suffer and feel miserable.
She could quickly come to hate him, and his only gain would be that he had satisfied his weakness, his desire, his lust. That he would finally have the chance to taste her pink lips, to enjoy her company, her laughs, her gazes, her sparkling conversation, to share his bed with her.
He would only satisfy his selfish wishes, hurting everyone else.
Including Elizabeth herself. No, that was not entirely true.
He would have certainly satisfied Mrs Bennet’s desire too. What a comforting thought indeed!
“Darcy! Darcy, what on earth are you thinking of? You could at least pretend you care about our presence,” he heard the admiral mocking him.
Darcy cleared his throat. “Forgive me, I was a little distracted. I see we have reached Longbourn already.”
“We have, but you have been absent half the way here. I hope there is nothing important you are worrying about,” Bingley said.
“Nothing special. Just my usual musings,” he answered as they all dismounted. A servant came to fetch the horses, and the front door opened, inviting them in.
∞∞∞
“I think a ball would be proper entertainment for a clergyman,” Mr Collins declared solemnly.
“Well, as long as Lady Catherine approves of it,” Mr Bennet replied, winking at Elizabeth.
“I am sure she would, my dear sir. And I hope my fair cousins will do me the great honour of saving a set each for me.”
Lydia glared at Kitty, then at their mother, who paid no attention to her and replied, “They will certainly do so, sir.”
“Good, good! And if my cousin Elizabeth would be so kind, I would ask for her hand for the first set of the evening.”
Elizabeth tried to keep her eyes on her needlework, wondering how long she could pretend to be ignorant of the request or how painful it would be to sprain her ankle a day prior to the ball.
“Lizzy will be happy to dance the first with you, I assure you,” Mrs Bennet declared. “What a pleasure for me to see my eldest daughters opening the ball side by side! I am sure Jane will stand up with Mr Bingley. What a joyful moment that will be.”
A servant entered, interrupting their discussion, and, to everyone’s astonishment, announced, “Mr Bingley to call on Mr Bennet. And Mr Darcy and Admiral Howard.”
Silence fell over the room; the girls exchanged astounded glances, while Mrs Bennet seemed to forget to breathe. Mr Bennet stood up with a frown, confusion clearly writ across his face.
Elizabeth felt slightly distressed. She would never have imagined seeing the admiral in her house the day after their brief encounter — or even to see him at all, ever again.
The three gentlemen entered, Mr Bingley with a broad smile on his face, looking at Jane, whose cheeks coloured with pleasure.
Behind him, the impressive figure of the admiral dominated the chamber.
The last to enter was Mr Darcy, barely stepping beyond the threshold, as tall as the admiral and almost equally imposing.
It was the first time Mr Darcy had visited Longbourn, but the family disregarded him almost entirely in the presence of the remarkable stranger.
“Welcome, gentlemen. Please come in. It is an honour to receive you,” Mr Bennet said.