Chapter 19 #2
“Miss Elizabeth is charming and delightful, but I would not dare marry her,” Bingley said after his third glass of brandy.
“She is too clever, even scarily clever at times. I remember her debates with Darcy when she stayed at Netherfield. Upon my word, I barely understood what they said and what they were arguing about. She even took my side one evening, when Darcy criticised my handwriting and haste in doing things. Even then I barely understood their fight.”
“I remember that argument too,” Hurst interjected. Darcy smiled again, while the admiral’s eyebrow arched enquiringly.
“By the by, Darcy,” Bingley continued, raising his voice. “You criticised the haste of my actions, and here you are, proposing and marrying in the blink of an eye! You have no right to ever criticise me again!”
“I shall not, Bingley,” Darcy admitted, amused by his friend’s disposition enhanced by the drink.
“You are perfectly right about my handwriting, of course. I cannot compare it with your neat and tidy writing. Then again, I cannot compare myself with you in anything. Except that I am more likeable and more amiable than you. Everybody says so. And more pleasant company.”
“I support that statement,” the admiral said. “Let us have one final drink to that and then go to bed.”
“I am sorry for my sisters, Darcy. Caroline had some absurd expectation that you would marry her. I am lost as to why she would even imagine that.”
“I have told Louisa the same many times,” Mr Hurst interjected. “But women have their own minds, and their imaginations cannot be controlled.”
“Let us drink to that too!” Bingley approved, filling their glasses again.
It was close to midnight when the small party finally separated. As they walked to their chambers, the admiral mentioned to Darcy that it had certainly been the most entertaining dinner he had enjoyed at Netherfield — a statement with which Darcy fully agreed.
“I have changed my opinion about Hurst,” the admiral said. “He is a pleasant enough fellow. I pity him, for his wife seems to have sucked all the joy out of him. I wonder if this marriage, which clearly brings him little pleasure, is advantageous enough for him.”
“Admiral, I have long wanted to ask…how did it happen that you never married?” Darcy enquired.
“You did ask. And others have too. As I said, I have been married to the sea for the last thirty years. Or, better said, the sea has been a demanding mistress, leaving me with no energy and no desire for anyone else.”
“Perhaps you have not yet met the woman to stir your desire and your energy, Admiral. I do not dare presume that I could advise you, but I speak from my own experience.”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps I met her long ago, and fate was not as good to me as it was to you this morning.”
“I am grateful for it, as I am for your friendship, Admiral.”
“So am I, Darcy. I shall see you tomorrow morning.”
“I might go for a ride before breakfast,” Darcy said, slightly uneasy. The admiral laughed.
“An excellent habit that has brought you nothing but joy. It is wise of you to continue it.”
“I intend to do so, Admiral. Good-night.”
∞∞∞
The first day of her engagement passed in a haze of noise and activity for Elizabeth, which she mostly observed silently, torn between embarrassment and relief that Mr Darcy and the admiral were not there to witness it.
After her father made the announcement, her mother moved from elation to fainting and back several times. She cried for the Lord, then for Hill, then kissed Elizabeth, then fainted again. When Mrs Phillips arrived, the sisters shared in the exultation.
“My dear sister, what a fool I have been! How could I have even imagined Lizzy would marry that clergyman? All this time, she knew Mr Darcy would propose! Of course she rejected Mr Collins and would have nothing to do with him! She knew too well that Mr Darcy was interested in her! What a bright girl my Lizzy is!”
“Mama, a few days ago you said the admiral should propose to Lizzy,” Lydia interjected, and Mrs Bennet became crimson with ire.
“I never said such a thing! How could you say something so stupid, child? You never pay attention to anything! The admiral was so friendly with Mr Bennet and with Lizzy because he knew Mr Darcy would propose! Stop talking nonsense, Lydia!”
“My dear sister, the rumours said Mr Darcy and Lizzy…you know…that he would not marry her.”
“Who said such a stupid thing? Tell me who! Mr Darcy will surely call them out and shoot them! He and Lizzy were engaged all the time — why else would he dance with her and only her at the ball? And they will marry before Christmas. Surely that is proof it was a long arrangement between them! But Lizzy was so sly and did not say a word!”
“I do not know who, Sister! I told you that. I heard there were some officers…” Mrs Phillips replied while Elizabeth watched from afar, too dismayed to even intervene in what had turned into an irrational argument. Jane only glanced at her apologetically, in a failed attempt to comfort her.
“I bet it was that Wickham who started the rumours,” Mrs Bennet guessed, much to Elizabeth’s astonishment.
“He courted Lizzy too, and he asked her to dance the first set with him! I am sure he was jealous of Mr Darcy. Like Mr Darcy was not ten times better than him! Taller and more handsome! Who cares about his red coat? Mr Darcy has ten thousand a year!” she concluded in a loud and exultant statement, to which Mrs Phillips nodded approvingly.
Elizabeth was too astonished by her mother’s correct assumption and too embarrassed by the way she had expressed it, and she could not choose if and how to reply.
“It might well be, Sister!” Mrs Phillips said.
“Would you ever have imagined, Sister, that of all my daughters, the stubborn headstrong Lizzy would be the most courted one? And she will make the best of marriages! I cannot imagine how she charmed the proud Mr Darcy, but I thank the Lord for that! I thought Jane would make the best match marrying Mr Bingley, but we all must admit that Mr Bingley is nothing to Mr Darcy!”
Elizabeth and Jane looked at each other, but neither spoke. Eventually, Mrs Phillips returned home, taking the extraordinary news to Meryton and spreading it around the town that afternoon.
Mrs Bennet turned her attention and distress towards the following day’s dinner, asking what Mr Darcy’s favourite dish might be and asking Hill to prepare a lavish feast.
Mr Bennet did not leave his library till dinner time. Elizabeth was the only one who asked about his health, and he claimed he was feeling better.
Dinner was just as maddening to Elizabeth as the rest of the day had been, and when it was time to retire for the night, it came as a blessing. However, Mrs Bennet came to speak to Elizabeth twice more before she finally fell asleep.
Elizabeth and Jane had time to exchange a few words, but not many.
Elizabeth was exhausted, still wondering whether the events of the day had been real.
So much had happened since morning, it could have easily filled a month.
She still had so many things to think about, but it was too soon for proper reasoning.