Chapter Fourteen #2
He played better than he had led them to expect, though his performance might not otherwise have been exceptional.
Jane muddled through the unfamiliar song, blushing at parts that were bawdier than any piece she might have selected.
She was mortified by the end of it, but to Jane’s relief, they received a great deal of applause.
Frederick was the first to cry out his praise of her performance, but Elizabeth was the loudest, and put herself forward before the captain could approach Jane.
“Well done, sister! I cannot credit Mr. Willoughby’s choice of song, but your voice was exquisite!
Even better than when we practiced! I do hope you will delight us more often, now that we have seen how well you sing.
I am sure I should take my own advice and practice, if I had any expectation of the same results. ”
“You once gave me the same advice, which I ought heed better.”
Elizabeth looked up sharply as Mr. Darcy came to join them. “Oh. Yes. At Rosings.”
He nodded, giving a tight smile. “You hinted that my ineptitude in society might be as easily remedied as your performance at the pianoforte, though nobody could ever find fault in the latter.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks turned pink. “Nor in the former, since you have been here. You have heeded my advice well, sir.”
At his side, Lady Rebecca clapped Mr. Darcy on the shoulder, her swaggering posture the same as her brother the colonel. “Though not with half so much praise for his efforts.”
Mr. Darcy smiled in earnest at Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet is indeed fortunate to receive so much enthusiastic encouragement from you, Miss Elizabeth.”
Jane raised her brows at Elizabeth, who had scarcely reacted to the same praise from Colonel Brandon, but now appeared positively flustered.
Elizabeth seemed unable to meet Jane’s eye, nor anybody’s.
She stared down at the floor as a smile spread across her face.
“You are too generous; I cannot detract from my sister’s accomplishment. ”
“Miss Elizabeth….” Mr. Darcy’s low voice trailed off as his hand slowly moved toward Elizabeth. He stopped himself from actually reaching for her, and Elizabeth gawked at his hand.
Then she turned her head and cast a desperate glance around the room. “I think Aunt Madeline is calling for me.”
She was not, Jane was sure of it, but the two gentlemen appeared not to notice.
She gave Mr. Darcy an apologetic smile, and hoped that the imposing Lady Rebecca would save their floundering conversation.
She brushed Jane’s elbow to usher her out of the way as Frederick was entreated to sing while his sister Mrs. Croft played the pianoforte.
Lady Rebecca gestured for them to sit on a nearby sofa, and Jane found herself seated between Mr. Darcy and his cousin, well-positioned to watch her beau’s performance.
Lady Rebecca, however, was inclined to conversation, obliging her to occasionally turn away from Frederick.
She made a few rather indiscreet remarks about Mr. Bingley, to which Jane gave only the barest response as she tried to listen to Frederick’s swelling song.
Lady Rebecca even entreated Mr. Darcy to comment on the matter which Jane would prefer to drop, but thankfully Mr. Darcy would say nothing on his friend’s behalf.
It was evident, however, that he was listening to what his cousin said to her.
Lady Rebecca finally let the subject rest, only to find a new way to attack her.
“I overheard you speaking with my brother’s old friend Brandon about the hijinks of our hostesses – that they have invited guests who all seem to have some sort of…
previous acquaintance – I daresay you are not the only person who may wish to leave certain matters in the past.”
After all that Miss Bingley had attempted to insinuate, Jane could not imagine what Lady Rebecca’s motives might be, with such questions. She frowned and folded her hands in her lap. “I cannot say.”
“Your discretion does you credit, Miss Bennet – though I am wicked enough to speculate. I wonder if the dashing captain, for instance, has any prior acquaintance here to vex him.”
Jane shifted uncomfortably. “That is hardly for me to say.”
“His behavior toward a certain friend of mine has made me wonder if you and the captain are in one another’s confidence.
You can tell me – your sister Lizzy and I are already the dearest of friends – and I wish to be of help, if I can.
Poor Bingley ought to know, if he does not stand a chance.
And for your sake, Jane – may I call you Jane?
Well, I am always a friend to my fellow woman above all things – and I can sense that you are too sweet and gentle to trifle with one man’s affections merely to punish another. ”
Lady Rebecca dropped her voice low, and at her other side Jane could feel Mr. Darcy shifting to better hear his cousin.
“I only hope you are certain that the captain is not doing just that. Is there any lady here to whom he might wish to… prove a point? I know all about our hostesses’ scheming ways. ”
Jane tensed, her voice lower even than Lady Rebecca’s. “Has my sister asked you to speak to me about this?”
To Jane’s relief, Lady Rebecca looked sincerely surprised.
“I can meddle all on my own, Jane. I do not wish to see my poor friend wounded, as he would be if he were to see you hurt by your new suitor. There is a lady from his past, I take it? Tell me who she is – I shall figure it out, anyhow. I would do you a good turn, if only because I despise Caroline, and I know she has been beastly to you.”
Jane's apprehension began to ebb away. She found she was not at all surprised that Miss Bingley had been fawning over the daughter of an earl who did not seem to return her friendship in the least. Jane was not accustomed to such ungenerous feelings, but she did not shy away from this one.
Lady Rebecca must have perceived her weakening resolve, for she clasped Jane’s hand and gave her a very earnest look. “I hope you comprehend me, Jane. If my friend is to be disappointed, he should at least prefer to see you happy with another, and not ill-used.”
“But what might you do about it, if I break the captain’s confidence?”
“I shall set my brother upon the lady! He is as fond of a lark as I am, and I do not think there is anybody present he truly fancies – he talks to Lady Blanche more than any of the simpering young ladies. It would give him something to do, and he will likely find some mischief to occupy him, one way or another. Let us put his wickedness to good use. See how he vexes Miss Bingley? Richard can always be depended upon to make himself a nuisance.”
Jane looked to where Lady Rebecca had indicated. Colonel Fitzwilliam indeed appeared to be taking far more pleasure than Miss Bingley in whatever he was saying to her. “If you promise he will not be truly cruel….”
“Puckishly irritating, perhaps.”
Jane glanced back to Frederick; still she feared to betray his confidence.
Then her gaze flicked to Miss Elizabeth Elliot, and she grimaced as she wondered how Frederick could ever have loved such a haughty woman.
Lady Rebecca followed her gaze. “Oho! Well, you have as good as told me! Wentworth has a past with Elizabeth….”
Miss Bingley had finally strode away from them, and Lady Rebecca was interrupted before she could finish speaking.
Miss Bingley approached, sneering at Jane before she addressed her friend.
“Oh, Rebecca, you must come and help me persuade Charles to sing! Have you not always said he has an excellent voice?”
Jane let out a heavy breath of relief that Lady Rebecca had been distracted from her inquisition.
She turned around to observe the end of Frederick’s song, only to recoil at the sight of Mr. Darcy looking exceedingly pale.
He gaped at her for a moment, then stood and abruptly strode away.
At Jane’s other side, Lady Rebecca burst into riotous laughter, which was thankfully concealed by the applause that followed the end of the performance.