Chapter 9 #2
He now wanted nothing more than to make amends and explore his budding affections for her.
However, no woman would consider forming a lasting connection with a man who had publicly proclaimed that she was unworthy of his attention.
A sincere apology for that insult was long overdue and must be issued without delay.
He resolved to beg Charles to act on his behalf after the ladies withdrew to the parlour.
Now in a quandary, he struggled to find a topic of conversation suitable for the supper hour.
Fortunately, she saved him the trouble. “Jane is sleeping,” she said in a hushed tone.
He was relieved that the worried lines in her brow had disappeared. “Good news.”
“She is much more comfortable now and has even managed some porridge.”
“I hope she will continue to improve,” he said, knowing that her sister’s well-being was Elizabeth’s foremost concern, and finding her sisterly devotion one of her most admirable qualities.
She released a soft sigh. “I must thank you again for your excellent care,” she said, her eyes glowing with appreciation.
Darcy sincerely wished that he were worthy of her praise. “I’m afraid I must give all the credit to Mrs Nicholls and the cook. I certainly have no expertise in their specialties.”
“Nor I,” she said with a guilty smile. “It makes me quite ashamed for not paying better attention at home. I hope to have my own family someday, but I ought not rely on others to keep them healthy.”
He found himself in complete agreement with her sentiments.
“We do rely on the people around us, and probably take them too much for granted,” he said, thinking not only of his household staff, but of the others who maintained his properties and business affairs.
Mrs Reynolds and Mrs Annesley had taken excellent care of Georgiana; he had no notion about the care and nurturing or education of young girls.
“Exactly so.”
He sincerely believed that any man would consider himself fortunate to claim this thoughtful woman as his wife and the mother of his children.
Her serene expression vanished as she shifted her focus to Charles. “Nor should we take our friends for granted, but we ought to rely on our better instincts in choosing them. Sometimes, their off-hand remarks reveal their true character.”
Thunderstruck, Darcy knew not how to answer. Although he couldn’t disagree that he had spoken out of turn, she believed that Charles had erred in befriending Darcy. He was now absolutely ashamed of his conduct on that night and wished he had never uttered those despicable comments.
But he despaired at the return of the furrow in her brow and the expression on her face, not quite of disdain, but something very close to it.
She had overheard his damnable comments at the assembly. He hadn’t meant for her to hear him — or perhaps he had. He’d been in a fit of temper that night and wanted nothing more than to put an end to any pretentions in that quarter. No daughter of an impoverished gentleman would do for Darcy.
Or so he had thought at the time.
He had since learned that the Bennets were a prominent and highly regarded family in the community, and while not precisely impoverished, with five marriageable daughters with modest dowries, their chances of making exceptional matches were somewhat diminished.
He groaned internally; he’d been a contemptable ass that night. If he’d been master of himself, he wouldn’t now be required to make amends for insulting a lady worthy of only the highest praise.
Unable to recover from her unintended but well deserved set-down, he abandoned his supper, resorting to the wine to fill that hollow space inside him.
After the ladies had removed to the drawing room, Darcy relinquished his seat at the head of the table to Charles. “Miss Elizabeth is still quite annoyed with me for my comment at the assembly,” he said as his host served the port to him and Hurst.
“Of course she is,” Charles said, without hesitating. “You said she wasn’t handsome enough. I was never so embarrassed by your high-handed conduct that night.”
As strange as it might seem, Darcy distinctly recalled losing his temper with Caroline for this precise reason. “I didn’t mean to insult her.”
“Didn’t you? What did you mean, then?” Charles said in an accusing tone that Darcy hadn’t previously heard from his amiable friend.
“I didn’t give it much thought.”
“You gave it no thought whatsoever, except to flaunt your superiority to those of lesser standing.”
Stung by his friend’s admonishment, Darcy clenched his jaw. Did Charles really find him that pretentious?
“Miss Elizabeth is a gentleman’s daughter and a fine-looking woman, as you well know. You had no cause to demean her and ought to apologise.”
Now uncomfortably warm, Darcy tugged at his cravat. “Yes, Charles, that’s what I meant to ask you. Will you apologise to her for me? I don’t wish for her to have a poor opinion of me.”
“Yes, I’ll speak with her, but don’t even think of saying anything like that again. You are under my roof, I’ll remind you, regardless of our present circumstances.”
Darcy squeezed his eyes shut, cringing at his friend’s set-down, which had been delivered in Darcy’s own uncompromising voice. “I beg your pardon, Charles.”
Hurst chuckled quietly. “The worm has turned.”
Bingley scowled. “And I’ll have no more of your insipid jokes, Henry. You ought to be helping us, rather than making light of this situation.”
Although Darcy appreciated Charles’s comment, he doubted Henry Hurst could offer any assistance in resolving this dilemma, especially while inebriated. No, if this fiasco were ever to be reversed, he and Charles must find the solution.