Chapter 8
Mr Bingley was pleased when he opened Lady Campbell's invitation.
He had grown very fond of the intelligent and gracious lady.
She possessed a calm dignity, yet there was a quiet firmness about her whenever she spoke.
He remembered how effortlessly she had put his sisters in their place without ever being discourteous.
Mr Bingley was not accustomed to people who behaved in such a manner.
His sisters were often rude and thought little of offending others, moderating their language only when dealing with wealthy people of higher social standing.
Darcy, on the other hand, was never openly rude as they were, but he had no hesitation in ignoring those who failed to interest him.
At the same time, he was so determined to observe every rule of polite society that it was obvious Darcy cared far more about society's opinion of him than he cared to admit.
The previous evening, Mr Bingley had attended a ball with his sisters and brother-in-law.
He had enjoyed dancing and conversing with old acquaintances, yet he could not help remembering the ball at Netherfield.
It was the last occasion on which he had seen Jane Bennet, and still he could not banish her from either his thoughts or his heart.
Everyone claimed that he was forever falling in love with a new pretty face, but this time, he knew it was different.
More and more, he questioned whether leaving Hertfordshire so abruptly had truly been the right decision.
He had not even allowed himself to win Miss Bennet's affection.
Instead, he had simply done as he was advised and assumed that his sisters and his friend understood Jane's feelings better than he did himself.
Mr Bingley was still reflecting upon those thoughts when Caroline interrupted him.
"Charles, what a dreadful waste of an evening yesterday was.
I knew we should never have attended the ball of such an insignificant family.
There was no one there worthy of our time or attention," Caroline declared with evident annoyance.
"We ought only to attend those events to which Mr Darcy has been invited.
He would never think of attending a ball filled with tradespeople and insignificant country gentlemen like the one we attended last night. "
"I understand, Caroline. But Darcy is the heir to one of the finest estates in Derbyshire and the nephew of an Earl. I am merely the son of an honest and hardworking tradesman, and I have never found any difficulty in enjoying the company of people like my father."
Mr Bingley deliberately reminded his sister of their origins, knowing it would immediately silence her complaints. Caroline hated being confronted with the simple truth of her family's place in society.v
"Charles, our family is no longer in trade, and that is all that matters," Caroline replied, eager to bring the uncomfortable conversation to an end.
"Perhaps this invitation will improve your spirits, dear sister.
Lady Campbell has invited us to a dinner party next week to thank us for our hospitality in Hertfordshire.
She is a baroness, and I imagine her brother-in-law, Lord Westcliff, will also be present.
I hope that will satisfy your exacting social standards. "
Charles thoroughly enjoyed teasing his sister and quietly mocking her absurd social pretensions.
"Wonderful! I do hope Mr Darcy has been invited as well." Caroline lifted her chin proudly before adding, "And yes, Lady Campbell and her family are certainly people worthy of our acquaintance."
With that, she hurried upstairs to inspect her gowns and decide what she should wear to such an important occasion.
Left alone once more, Mr Bingley returned to his thoughts of Jane and of what he ought to do with his future. Whether for good or ill, the time had finally come for him to begin making his own decisions.
◆◆◆
Elizabeth could scarcely believe her ill fortune.
She was wearing one of her beautiful new gowns, and her aunt's maid had arranged her hair in a new style that made her feel particularly pretty.
Yet of all places, she had to cross paths with the arrogant gentleman who had once publicly declared her not handsome enough to tempt him.
And now he found her with her hair in disarray and her gown rumpled from running and playing with her cousins.
Elizabeth imagined she could already see the disapproval in his gaze.
Once again, however, she resolved to challenge him rather than feel ashamed.
"Miss Bennet, what are you doing here?" Mr Darcy asked rather too hastily.
The instant the words left his lips, he realised he had sounded far more concerned than he had intended.
Determined not to betray himself further, he resolved to say as little as possible until he had regained control of his emotions.
"As you can see, I was attempting to learn how to fly a kite," she replied, meeting his gaze with perfect composure, making it abundantly clear that she cared nothing for his opinion and that she did not owe him any kind of explanation.
"I must confess that, so far, I have shown very little talent for it.
Still, I have every confidence that one day I shall become truly proficient in the noble art of flying kites," she added with a mischievous smile.
"Indeed, you are quite dreadful, Cousin Lizzy," John declared, stepping up beside her.
"My dear John, you need not be quite so honest when we are in the company of others," Elizabeth said, feigning great seriousness.
"But Cousin Lizzy, John is telling the truth," Laura said, joining in.
Elizabeth laughed, and everyone around her soon joined in.
Unable to resist, Mr Darcy asked, "And why have you decided to learn to fly a kite, Miss Bennet?"
He could never resist provoking the most captivating woman of his acquaintance.
Elizabeth was convinced that Mr Darcy intended to embarrass her before his companions. No doubt he wished to impress the lady on his arm. She therefore decided to tease him in return.
"Do you remember, Mr Darcy, when you explained to me all the accomplishments an accomplished young woman ought to possess? Well, I, too, have drawn up my own list of essential accomplishments. And at the very top of it is the ability to fly a kite."
"I see," Mr Darcy replied with a smile he could not quite suppress, a smile at the intentional absurdity of such a priority. He knew that he was mocking her ever so gently, and he liked it.
“I see that I will have to amend my list of vital qualifications to achieve the title of ‘accomplished,’” said Mr Darcy.
Mr Darcy was utterly delighted to be in her presence.
He had to make a considerable effort to preserve his usual solemn expression instead of laughing aloud.
At that moment, he longed to take the kite from her hands and teach his wonderfully impertinent Elizabeth how to fly it.
He wanted to run beside her, laugh with her, and forget everything else.
He could no longer deny that he was hopelessly in love.
He wanted to forget rank, duty, and every expectation placed upon him, and simply be with the only woman he could ever love.
Why did that feel so impossible for him?
'Responsibilities,' he reminded himself.
'You have severe responsibilities, both to your vulnerable younger sister with no other family, as well as an entire estate to protect and preserve for future generations.
Yet you once almost failed to protect your young sister from the likes of Mr Wickham by nearly allowing him to elope with her!
No, Darcy, you must put your family and its future legacy before your own happiness. '
"Brother," Georgiana said gently, bringing Mr Darcy back to the present.
She was beginning to feel rather uncomfortable. The delightful young lady and her cousins had been speaking with them for several minutes, yet her brother had completely forgotten the ordinary courtesy of introducing everyone.
General Sinclair, meanwhile, was still trying to determine who the charming young woman before him might be.
She was so natural, witty, and full of life.
It was refreshing to meet a young lady who was unafraid to enjoy herself.
He found himself genuinely entertained by Elizabeth's lively replies to Mr Darcy's questions.
When he heard his sister call his name, Mr Darcy realised he had been behaving like a fool and felt a faint blush rise to his cheeks.
Recovering his composure, he said, "Miss Bennet, I seem to be forgetting my manners; please allow me to introduce my sister and our friends.
This is my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.
And these are General Sinclair and his niece, Lady Claire. "
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," Elizabeth said, feeling a little more at ease.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bennet," Georgiana said a little shyly.
"Delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet," Marcus said with a smile.
Lady Claire greeted Elizabeth with a graceful curtsy. "How do you do, Miss Bennet?"
"Georgiana, Lady Claire, General, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, of Longbourn, in Hertfordshire."
The moment Marcus heard that the young lady before him was a Bennet of Longbourn, he immediately suspected she must be one of Ella's nieces.
"Are you Mr Bennet's daughter?" he asked before he could stop himself.
"Yes, General. He is my father. Do you know him?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"When I was a young officer, my regiment was stationed in Meryton for several months. It was there that I became acquainted with… your father."
He had almost added, ...your aunt. But if he mentioned Ella and Elizabeth and they questioned him about her, he was not certain he could master his emotions.