Chapter 4 #3
When they reached the library, Elizabeth immediately commented on the Netherfield chess set apparently languishing in the middle of a game.
“You play chess with one another?” she asked.
Somehow, Mr Bingley did not strike her as a man who would like to play chess—contemplating strategies and moves to counteract an opponent’s tactics seemed quite un-Bingley-like.
To tell the truth, Mr Darcy’s lean energy also did not seem consistent with the long periods of sitting that were sometimes required to play The Royal Game.
Mr Bingley laughed. “Oh, do not accuse me of something so dry as the Game of Kings! That is Darcy’s purview.
And did you see that he has another board over there?
” He pointed to a small travel-sized chess set that lay on one of the library’s tables, also in the middle of a game.
“Darcy always has at least two games going at once.”
“And when you play against yourself, sir,” Elizabeth asked, turning to see Mr Darcy’s imperturbable face, “do you tend to win?”
He gave her one of his elusive smiles as he answered, “I play long-distance games with my man of business. I have four games going right now, but I am only working on two while away from Pemberley.”
“Ahh, I see.” Elizabeth flicked a glance at Mary and said, “Pemberley is the name of the Darcys’ estate in Derbyshire.”
Mary nodded. “Thank you for explaining, Lizzy. Mr Darcy, if you play chess, you ought to play Lizzy. Her only opponent is our father, and she would probably love the chance to engage someone else.”
“You play?” Mr Darcy asked, and Elizabeth heard something warm and approving in his voice.
“I do. Next time you come to Longbourn, we should have a trial of skill.”
He studied her and then surprised her by saying, “I warn you, I very much dislike a long-drawn-out game.”
“Believe me, sir, I do as well. My father and I rarely go beyond an hour.”
She watched as his eyebrows arched in surprise, but he nodded and said, “In that case, why wait to play? Let us clear this board and play now.”
Elizabeth nodded, eager to test her skill against a new opponent.
She knew where a former leaseholder, Mrs Popkins, used to keep writing materials, and she checked that desk drawer and was pleased that it still offered the things she needed to notate the positions of the chess pieces in the now-interrupted long-distance game.
In the meantime, she saw that Mr Darcy conferred with Mary, who was glad to explore the shelves of the library; next he rang for tea, wine, and fresh well water.
He then approached the Netherfield board and saw that Elizabeth was recording the positions. He said, “You need not bother; I will remember the positions.”
Looking up from her efforts, Elizabeth teased, “Pray, allow me to continue. Because I fear that, when I defeat you, your head will surely be spinning and your faculties exhausted.”
“That sounds dire.”
“I only say this to provide you with the opportunity of demonstrating courage. After all, sir, I have it on good authority that you cannot be brave unless you experience fear.”
Mr Darcy chuckled but murmured, “And yet, I remain unafraid of you, Miss Elizabeth.”
As Mr Bingley and Jane walked to a set of chairs near the fireplace, Mr Bingley called over his shoulder, “I should warn you, Miss Elizabeth, that Darce was undefeated at Cambridge.”
“Oh dear,” she laughed in reply. “I suppose it is once again up to me to feel the fear and demonstrate the courage.”
She finished her written grid of Mr Darcy’s long-distance game and then swiftly set up the pieces for the new game.
As Darcy moved to help with the set up, their ungloved hands accidentally collided.
She felt a shock as if electrified, and she met his eyes as he looked up at her, as well.
He was not smiling with his lips, but she thought she detected a smile in his eyes.
Elizabeth realised that she would be hard-pressed to play well at all. But Mr Darcy seemed to have the same thought; he murmured, “I doubt I will acquit myself well in the game, with such a distraction before me.”
That, clearly, was flirtation, and Elizabeth felt as if her heart and lungs were going to misbehave. There is still no possibility that we can marry, coming from such different stations in life, she reminded herself. But surely he would not have dishonourable intentions?
They took their chairs, Darcy having given Elizabeth the choice of playing first or second. The game commenced with rapid moves. She focused so closely on the chessboard, she did not even notice Mary approaching until her sister said, “I will put your wine glass just here, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth shot her a smile, a nod, a spoken thank you, but she dared not look at Mr Darcy, nor did she take a sip. She went back to her tight focus on the game play.
Mr Darcy won in twenty minutes.
“Another?” he challenged.
“I cannot sit so long as to play two more, but I will play one more if you consent to end in a tie, for surely this time I will win.”
“Certainly. I would love to be in a tie with you.”
Unfortunately, he won again, this time in a bit more than half an hour.
Elizabeth laughed and said, “Well done, sir. I look forward to playing again someday.”
“You play with great composure,” Mr Darcy acknowledged. “And, best of all, speed. I hope we can play again soon.”
He was not setting up for a new game with her, though. Elizabeth was surprised to see that he was quickly setting up the board as it had been when they first entered the library.
She checked the grid she had drawn up, wondering if he had accurately remembered the positions of every piece—and she was impressed to see that he had.
“Well, sir, I am not positive I should ever go against you again. You seem to have a powerful intellect that affords me little dignity.”
He whispered, “’Tis a good thing, then, that neither of us care much for dignity, but rather we enjoy matching wits.”
And his eyes met and held hers.
Elizabeth realised that her sisters were preparing to leave, and she hurried to say goodbye and express gratitude to Mr Bingley for his hospitality, and to Mr Darcy for the chess games and the riding lesson.
As she left the manor house, she could barely attend to anything other than her awareness that, despite all her internal lectures, she had fallen in love with Mr Darcy.