“Do not assess her opinions in this off mine. She believes, at least a little — Hume is worthy of admiration by all.”
“I appreciate the philosopher’s arguments, even if I am unconvinced by his irreligion. His history of England is unparalleled.”
“Deuced good story.”
The guns were reloaded, and the gentlemen waited for the gamekeeper to flush the next covey, leaning on their tall rifles. The cold wind rustled through the bushes.
Bingley filled the quiet. “Bennet, will you join the fox hunt this year?”
The older gentleman shook his head. “I’ve no taste for the sport anymore. Young man’s game.”
“You are enjoying this shooting so much.”
Darcy did not wait for him to reply to Bingley and asked Mr. Bennet, “Your philosophy regarding women and men? Do you share your daughter’s radicalism?”
““Lizzy is cleverer than I.” Mr. Bennet shrugged. He made little circles in the dirt with the boxwood stock of his rifle while looking at the trees. “And I have a high regard for my own cleverness. So my general experience of life is entirely different from yours.”
There was the crashing sound, and the next covey was sent up. Darcy sighted his rifle carefully, and he hit his bird once more. It was deuced fine shooting on Bingley’s estate. There wasn’t as much space as in Derbyshire, but more than enough birds for their group.
Mr. Bennet checked his rifle carefully to ensure it had in fact fired with the other guns.
Darcy thought the older man was annoyed that this time he had missed while Bingley struck his bird. “I clearly heard three shots.”
“Yes. I am satisfied itisunloaded.” Mr. Bennet pointed his rifle at Darcy. He said in a surprisingly intimidating manner, “Be warned, my daughter willalwaysexpect to have her will indulged.”
“I…” Darcy stared down the gleaming dark metal barrel of the unloaded — hehadheard three shots — rifle. “I agree, she is very willful.”
“Iraised her that way.” Mr. Bennet punctuated his statement by thrusting the rifle forward.
“Bennet—” Bingley was half torn between laughter and concern. “Darcyisn’tcourting Elizabeth. Our man here would never want to argue with his wife. He likes command too much. He knows Lizzy is willful.”
“He likes my Lizzy. I watched your eyes the day past.” Mr Bennet waved the gun around, its muzzle making small circles, moving between Darcy’s chest and his stomach. “You admired her person to an excess.”
“I had realized it was impolitic to stare at a woman in such a manner whilst her father stood next to me.Thisis an extravagant reply to my stare.”
“Now you claim I should care less than I do for my daughter’s welfare? Those are the words of a scoundrel.”
“I do not — merely that you should not threaten him with a gun, every time a man looks on her with…ah…matters arenotserious.”
“You do not know if you will become serious — do not decide speedily, I am not worried about you ‘hurting her’, and I feel no requirement to defend her honor. Lizzy can protect her own heart, and you are an honorable man.”
Darcy looked at the rifle. Itwasunloaded. “If I am an honorable man, why—”
“The deuce!” Mr. Bennet wildly waved the gun and pointed it at Darcy’s face. “Women do not exist for us. They have their own ideas about matters. If you cannot accept that you have no business marrying, and if you do notdesirea willful wife, content yourself with unguarded leers at my girl.”
“You take this matter too seriously,” Darcy replied, unsure whether this was no more than a joke from the odd gentleman.
“By waving an unloaded gun, which you haveseendischarged, at your chest?”
“That doesnot, to my surprise, entirely undercut the menace of an angry father threatening the unwanted suitor. I confess ignorance of your purpose.”
Mr. Bennet laughed and set down the gun. He waved their worried attendant forward to help him begin to reload his gun. “I said my piece.”
Darcy shrugged and finished reloading his own gun.
Chapter Nine
Elizabeth set out after breakfast on a bright, November day to visit the Lucases, specifically John Lucas and his wife, so that she could invite them to dine at the same table as Georgiana Darcy.
