“Mr. Darcy,” said Mary, “I am surprised to see you in a place like this.”
Mr. Darcy gave a slight bow. “I am surprised to be in a place like this,” he said, “but my friend invited me to his new home here, and I could not refuse. The society here, however, leaves something to be desired. Do you not agree?”
“Oh?” asked Mary. “Are my friends and family not good enough for the great Darcy of Pemberley?”
“Your friends…and family?” he asked. “My apologies, Mrs. Allen. I was not aware you were originally from this area.”
Mary laughed. “I am originally from this area, yes, but I also still live here. My estate is merely two miles north of here, and the home of my childhood is one mile south. I would be most grateful if you would treat my friends with respect. By the way, how is your aunt doing?”
Mary knew that the reminder that she was friends with his aunt would reinforce her message to stop being so pompous. Lady Matlock had no patience for that sort of thing.
He spluttered, but he managed to answer, “She is quite well. At least she was when last I heard from her. I imagine you have received a letter more recently than I have.”
“I suppose I have,” replied Mary. She allowed the silence to grow between them. Then she said, “Have you heard the news that I am now engaged to Lord Pendleton? We sent the announcement to the London papers a couple of weeks ago.” It felt odd to call Gregory by his official title, but she wished to impress on the arrogant man in front of her the height of Elizabeth’s connections.
He looked at her, wide-eyed. “No, I had not heard that. The last time I saw you, you were still in mourning.” He scanned her clothing and added, “Though I can see that is no longer the case. I suppose I should do better at keeping up with the news.”
“It makes little difference to me,” said Mary. “I was just making conversation.”
After another period of silence, she said, “By the way, the young lady you cannot keep your eyes off of, the one you insulted at the assembly a week ago, is my older sister. She currently has no dowry to speak of, at least nothing official other than a promised inheritance from our mother, but I had planned to make significant contributions to my sisters’ fortunes. Although, if I do not like their chosen husband, they will get nothing.”
Mary looked Mr. Darcy straight in the eye to see if he got her message. “I understand you, Mrs. Allen, loud and clear. I apologize for my atrocious behavior.”
“It should not matter how wealthy someone is or how well-connected they are for you to treat them in a civil manner, Mr. Darcy. Besides, I do not need your apology, since I am not the one you offended,” she said. “I hope you enjoy your evening.” Then Mary drifted away to speak to other guests. As she movedaway, she smiled to herself. It was a social maneuver she would not have believed herself capable of a year ago, yet she was certain she had carried across her message clearly.
She watched him for a few minutes after she left his side to see if he would finally talk to Elizabeth, but he made no move to do so. With an inward sigh, Mary washed her hands of the matter. In the end, it was not her business, so she stopped paying him any attention.
Chapter 15
Darcy had been shocked to see Mrs. Allen in Sir William’s drawing room. The young widow was not particularly notable herself, but she was connected, through friendship and through her deceased husband, to some of the most powerful and wealthy socialites in London.
To have someone who was essentially of similar social standing to himself, and soon to be superior rank, correct him of all his misconceptions and poor behavior was humbling, indeed. It took him some time, but he came to realize that she was in the right to correct him as she had. His behavior toward the neighborhood in general and toward Miss Elizabeth Bennet in particular had been reprehensible.
It was also rather eye-opening to find that Miss Elizabeth could be considered quite a suitable match. He had been increasingly attracted to her since the assembly, but he had attempted to ignore the feeling so as to not allow it to grow. Admiration and attraction were one thing, but he could not allow the enticing young lady to ensnare his heart, because he had thought that a match between them was impossible.
Now, he found out that she was not nearly so unsuitable as he thought. She still had some rather low connections, but that was made up for by the fact that she was soon to become sister to the future Marquess of Glyndebourne.
After mulling all this over, Darcy decided he should apologize to Miss Elizabeth for his patently untrue insult. With that in mind, he made his way to her side. She was speaking with Colonel Forster, the colonel of a regiment of militia who were stationed in Meryton for the winter.
“I have been thinking it might be suitable to throw a ball using the assembly rooms in Meryton,” the Colonel was saying. “I thought it might help in establishing the good will of the neighborhood towards my officers. Do you think such a thing would be well received?”
“I should think there could be nothing better,” replied Miss Elizabeth. “There is nothing quite so useful in establishing friendships as a ball. Those who are watching the dance have plenty of opportunity to mingle while those who are dancing have the opportunity to deepen existing friendships in much the same way as a tête à tête. It is the perfect combination of both impersonal and interpersonal.”
“That is certainly one way of looking at it,” replied the colonel, “but I would assume a simple soiree, like this evening’s gathering, might be just as effective.”
“My personal preferences must make themselves known,” said Miss Elizabeth. “I cannot condone the existence of a soiree when a ball must be given up in its place. One is hardly interchangeable for the other, after all. A soiree has no music and no dancing, and that deficiency must speak for itself.”
Darcy was surprised when, at the end of her little speech, Miss Elizabeth turned to him and said, “What is your opinion on the subject, Mr. Darcy? We all know you abhor a ball, but it is unclear whether you like a soiree any better.”
Colonel Forster glanced at him oddly at this accusation. Of course, he had not been in the area during the assembly a fewweeks ago, so his confusion was understandable. “They each have their advantages and disadvantages. I am afraid I cannot state a firm preference one way or the other,” he said.
“A diplomatic, yet useless, reply,” cried Miss Elizabeth. “While it is patently true, it neither improves the conversation nor helps us settle the debate.”
At this point Colonel Forster excused himself from the conversation, and Mr. Darcy was left with Miss Elizabeth. “If I may change the subject, Miss Elizabeth,” said Darcy, “I would like to tender my most sincere apologies for my insult to you at the assembly a few weeks ago. I was not aware that you had heard my comment until recently.”
She tilted her head in an entirely charming manner. “Are you apologizing for me overhearing the comment or for you uttering it in the first place?” she asked.
“I am apologizing for saying such a patently false statement,” said Mr. Darcy.
