Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (43 page)

Darcy knew he had to find a way to end this conversation, given the promise he made to Miss Elizabeth during their conversation at Oakham Mount. “You are right, Miss Bingley, their relations must materially lessen their chance of marrying men from the highest circles.” He thought to himself that the same was true of Miss Bingley.

Caroline felt vindicated that Darcy seemed to agree with her. She hoped Charles would listen to his friend and dampen his ardour and affections for Miss Bennet.

31 MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Elizabeth spent the night in her sister’s room. In the morning, she felt it prudent that her mother visit Jane, form her own opinion of her health, and determine whether it was advisable for her to leave. She sent a note to Longbourn, and shortly after breakfast, Mrs Bennet and her other three daughters arrived at Netherfield to assess the situation.

Had she found her daughter in any apparent danger, Mrs Bennet would have been miserable. However, she was soon satisfied that her illness was not alarming and returned to plotting to accomplish her greatest wish for Jane. She spoke of the need for her daughter to gain her health leisurely, and stay at Netherfield. Elizabeth knew if they were alone she would add—in the proximity of Mr Bingley. The patient’s pleas to be allowed to return to Longbourn were not listened to by her mother. Mr Jones, who arrived as they were arguing, concurred with Mrs Bennet’s judgement. After it was decided she would stay, her mother and sisters came to pay their respects to Mr and Miss Bingley for the care they were extending to Jane.

Bingley met them with, “I hope you did not find Miss Bennet worse than expected.”

She is a great deal too ill to return home. Mr Jones says we must not think of moving her.” Mrs Bennet paused and looked hopeful. “We must trespass a little longer on your kindness.”

“You cannot possibly think of taking her home!” cried Bingley. “My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal.”

Miss Bingley was civil as she agreed to her brother’s wishes, but her face displayed no warmth for the accommodation.

Mrs Bennet smiled broadly at having her request agreed to by her daughter’s host and hostess. “I am sure, if it was not for such good friends, I do not know what would become of my Jane. Mr Jones confirms she is very ill, and suffers immensely, but with great patience. That has always been her way. She has the sweetest disposition. None of my other daughters can compare to her. Lizzy and Mary in particular can be quite demanding. Their father has had too much influence over them. They have both spent hours reading to him and helping him with the accounts; and he, in turn, has encouraged them to be vocal about their concerns. I often tell my other girls they are nothing in disposition and beauty to Jane.”

Mary and Elizabeth rolled their eyes at each other, but did not contradict their mother. Neither felt it important that their characters be praised in the present company. Elizabeth chuckled silently with the thought that she was quite sure Mr Darcy already thought her “demanding,” and even when he had seemed to appreciate her, “sweet” was probably not a word he would have applied to her.

Mrs Bennet continued with her attempt at ingratiating herself to Mr Bingley. “You have a lovely room here, Mr Bingley. I do not know a place in this country that is as fine as Netherfield. Sir Walter Trent is very close to our family and Mr Bennet’s best friend from childhood. My husband should have been the one who welcomed you to the neighbourhood and not Sir William.” Mrs Bennet’s tone became conspiratorial and her daughters knew she was about to disclose something best left unsaid. “Unfortunately, he suffers from a lack of vision with regards his daughters’ future.” Her voice returned to her normal chattiness. “Over the years, Mr Bennet and I and our children have spent wonderful times in this house. I hope, you will not think of abandoning it soon.”

Bingley replied happily, “Mr Darcy would say that whatever I do is done in a hurry, and therefore, if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I promise you I am quite content here.”

Elizabeth wanted to distract her mother from her present subject. She grinned at Mr Bingley as she said, “That is exactly what I should have supposed of you.”

Mr Bingley laughed back at her. “You begin to comprehend me, do you?”

“I do. Your motives and wants are easy to discern.”

“I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through, I am afraid, is pitiful.”

“Please do not take offense. It does not necessarily follow that a deep, intricate character is more pleasing than such a one as yours. You do not disguise your feelings, and I am sure I am not the only one who finds that characteristic in you appealing.” With this remark, Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy.

“I did not know before,” continued Bingley, “that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study.”

“Yes, but intricate characters can be both the most amusing and the most challenging. They keep one occupied much longer, and that is an advantage. However, poor estimation is a possibility, and the results can be disastrous. Some are not at all what they appear to be.”

Mr Darcy was eager to participate in this discussion and added, “The country can supply but few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.”

“You are correct that the characters in town often present a greater challenge… at least that was the case for me when I was there. I failed miserably on several occasions when evaluating new acquaintances. Since I have been back in the country, I have found that people themselves alter so much, that there is always something new to be observed and enjoyed.”

“Yes, indeed,” cried Mrs Bennet, offended by Mr Darcy’s manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood. “My daughter is quite correct, sir. I assure you there is quite as much going on in the country as in town.”

Everybody was surprised at her vehemence. Darcy was still trying to understand Miss Elizabeth’s subtle reference to acquaintances she met in town when he realized Mrs Bennet was displeased with what he had said. He looked at both mother and daughter for a moment, and then turned silently away. It was obvious to Elizabeth he was sorry he had contributed to the conversation, and she felt responsible for his discomfort.

Mrs Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over Mr Darcy, continued her triumph. “I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is not it, Mr Bingley?”

“When I am in the country,” he replied, “I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town, it is pretty much the same. They each have their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.”

“Mr Bingley, that is because you have such an amiable disposition. Mrs Bennet looked toward Mr Darcy as she continued, “But that gentleman, seemed to think the country nothing at all.”

Elizabeth was embarrassed by her mother’s remark. She blushed at the realization that she had initiated the topic that drew Mr Darcy into the conversation. “Indeed, Mama, you do not understand. You quite mistook Mr Darcy. He only meant that there were not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in town, which you must acknowledge to be true.”

Mr Darcy thought Miss Elizabeth quite lovely when she blushed, and he was pleased she defended him against her mother’s rancour. He smiled fleetingly in her direction.

Elizabeth forgot her apprehension and was pleased to see his dimples but tried hard not to acknowledge them. She kept her eyes on her mother, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily responded for a few seconds. Miss Bingley saw the exchange between the two. She wondered whether these were the fine eyes that had been the source of his reverie, and debated whether she should feel threatened. Miss Eliza had made it clear she had no intention of marrying. She was not sure she should consider her a rival or just an annoying diversion.

Mrs Bennet was oblivious to the interaction between Mr Darcy and her self-professed spinster daughter. She blustered on in her attempt to put Mr Darcy in his place. “Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four and twenty families.”

Nothing but concern for Elizabeth, kept Bingley’s countenance in check. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr Darcy with a very mocking smile. Maybe now he would be less inclined to marvel at Miss Eliza’s eyes when confronted with her mother’s vulgar silliness.

Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother’s thoughts, now asked whether Charlotte had come to visit her.

“Yes, but she only stopped briefly to see how Jane was on her way to Lucas Lodge. She was to help her mother with the mince-pies. For my part, Mr Bingley, I always keep servants that can do that kind of work; my daughters were brought up differently. Charlotte and her sister, Maria, are quite used to helping with tasks around the house, but I assure you, they are a very good sort of girls, and particular friends to my daughters. It is a pity Charlotte has made a marriage that does not allow her to settle into her own house. She and her children must traipse around the country like gypsies after the colonel.”

“She seems a very happy woman,” said Bingley.

Lydia, who had not spoken before, boldly contradicted her mother. “Oh Mama, I think Charlotte has made a wonderful match, and I can only hope I am as lucky.”

“Oh, my, yes, she seems happy, and her children are lovely; but she did have to settle for the life of a soldier’s wife because she is plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane’s beauty. I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, one does not often see anybody more handsome than my Jane. When she was only seventeen, an heir to a Baronetcy was very much in love with her. I was sure he would make her an offer before he left the neighbourhood. However, he did not… perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses for her, and very pretty they were.”

Elizabeth was unsure what mortified her more—that her mother had made unkind remarks about Charlotte or exposing the details of her sister’s disappointment in Mr Bingley’s presence. Mrs Bennet seemed to assume disclosing Jane’s near proposal would make her daughter appear desired, but to Elizabeth, it called attention to the fact she had been jilted. She decided to inject humour into the conversation to see if she could divert attention from her sister. She said with grinning impertinence, “And so ended his affection. There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!”

Darcy smirked in her direction and decided to aid her cause. “I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love.”

Elizabeth captured his eyes with gratitude as she responded. “I believe Shakespeare said it was music. But they both are only adept at securing hearts if the love is stout and healthy. Everything nourishes what is strong already.” Her eyes twinkled for him alone as she added. “But if it be only a slight sort of attraction, I am convinced that one good sonnet or even the most beautiful love song will starve it entirely away.”

Darcy enjoyed her rejoinder. He did not dare direct his appreciation at Elizabeth, but instead smiled out the window. He wanted to laugh, but knew it would call unwanted attention to the two of them, and probably provoke more offence from her mother.

Elizabeth was still afraid Mrs Bennet would expose herself again. She sighed softly with relief when her mother began thanking her new neighbour for his kindness to Jane, and made a point of apologizing for troubling him with Lizzy as well. Mr Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and his look of slight reproach forced Miss Bingley to be courteous also. She performed her part indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. Lydia and Kitty had been whispering to each other during much of the visit, and the result of it was, that Lydia reminded Mr Bingley that she had heard from Maria Lucas that he had promised Sir William to host a ball at Netherfield.

She told him with a broad smile on her face, “It would be the most shameful thing in the whole wide world if you do not keep your promise.”

Mr Bingley returned her smile with one equally as broad. “I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my word; and when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill.”

Lydia said with enthusiasm, “Oh! Yes, it would be much better to wait until Jane is well, and by that time, most likely, Captain Carter will have returned to Meryton. I have heard he is returning with several new officers.” Lydia became quite excited as she related her next idea. “I believe once you have given your ball, Maria and I shall be able to persuade Colonel Forster and Charlotte that it would be a shame if they do not give one as well before the militia decamps.”

After Mrs Bennet and her daughters then left, Elizabeth returned to Jane, leaving her own and her relations’ behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies.