Her statement about being slighted and tolerable stirred a memory, but Darcy could not place it. “I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party,” he defended.
“And nobody can ever be introduced in a ballroom, can they?” The song came to an end; Elizabeth turned to the other man. “Would you like me to play another, Colonel Fitzwilliam? My fingers await your orders.”
“It is possible I should have judged better, had I sought an introduction; but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers,” Darcy responded.
“Shall we ask your cousin the reason for this?” Elizabeth enquired, still looking at Colonel Fitzwilliam. “How is it that a man of sense and education, one who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?”
“I can answer your question without applying to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble,” Fitzwilliam replied with a grin.
“I do not have the talent which many people possess of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done,” Darcy explained.
To Elizabeth, it sounded like an attempt to justify bad behaviour so she was not willing to let him off so lightly. “My fingers do not move over the keyboard in the masterly manner which I see so many do when they exhibit. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault. It is me who has not taken the time and trouble of practising.”
“You have a point,” Darcy conceded. “You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.”
Lady Catherine, who evidently did not like not being the centre of attention, interrupted them. “Of what are you talking?” she called out rudely.
Elizabeth began playing again. Lady Catherine approached, standing near her Darcy nephew. “Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne’s. Anne would have been a delightful performer had her health allowed her to learn.” Then she returned to her ‘throne’.
As Miss de Bourgh had not been seen, other than briefly that first time, Elizabeth was disappointed she could not see Mr Darcy with his cousin to try and get an inkling of what their marriage would be like. He certainly did not react with pleasure when his future mother-in-law praised her daughter.
Lady Catherine never stopped making nonsensical remarks about Elizabeth’s performance, mixing with them many equally inane instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth gave the impression of listening with forbearance and civility. Thanks to Colonel Fitzwilliam requesting she continue to play, Elizabeth kept providing music until her Ladyship’s carriage was ready to return those residing there to the parsonage.
As the coach trundled towards the parsonage, Elizabeth could not imagine what Mr Darcy had been about.
For his part, Darcy was charmed by the banter he had shared with Miss Elizabeth. Notwithstanding his aunt’s rudeness, it had all gone very well. He looked forward to the morrow when he could walk with her again.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Elizabeth walked out on Monday morning, much to her distaste, Mr Darcy was waiting for her in almost the same spot as he had the previous time. It was a repeat of what had occurred that morning. They exchanged greetings, and after requesting permission to walk with her, he offered Elizabeth his arm. As much as she wanted to refuse his entreaty, politeness would not allow her to do so. This time she did not initiate conversation. If the insufferable man wanted silence, then that was what they would have.
For Darcy, it was thrilling being able to walk in companionable silence. Then he remembered he had information to impart. “Miss Bennet, my cousin’s parents, and possibly his brother should arrive later today. It is possible I will be distracted and not able to walk while they are here,” he reported. What was happening with Anne was family business so Darcy said nothing about it.
Knowing that Colonel Fitzwilliam’s parents were an earl and a countess, and his brother, a viscount, Elizabeth supposed they were more like Mr Darcy than the colonel which explained why those at Rosings Park would not be seen until the nobles left.
Their coming was a boon for Elizabeth if it meant that Mr Darcy would no longer be importuning her when she walked.
Darcy walked with Miss Elizabeth until they were onceagain in sight of the parsonage. As he strode back towards Rosings Park’s manor house, Darcy lamented his inability to be articulate in Miss Elizabeth’s company. He had asked how her family was multiple times. Before he honoured her with a proposal, he needed to rehearse his words.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A little after eleven on Monday morning an elegant coach with a coat of arms on the doors came to a halt outside the Gardiners’ house. As a note had arrived earlier that morning to announce their coming, Edward Gardiner was home as well.
Jane recognised the man, Mr Carrington, and his two younger sisters she hadmetin the park. She assumed the older, fashionable couple were the parents.
“Gardiner, will you introduce your niece to us?” Paul Carrington requested.
“Jane, I know you metViscountHadlock, andLadiesEmily and Priscilla in Hyde Park. I present to you their parents, Lord Paul and Lady Edith Carrington, the Earl and Countess of Holder. “My Lord, my Ladies, my eldest niece, Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire.”
Hadlock was pleased. Other than to arch an eyebrow when they were introduced with their titles, Miss Bennet did not react. There was no fawning, only, he suspected, a desire on her part to take him to task for his obfuscation.
“Please pardon the subterfuge, Miss Bennet,” Hadlock said contritely, “there are times when I just want to be seen as myself and not my title. I hope you understand.”
“It is not quite the same, but as I am more often than not judged based on my looks and not who I am, I do understand your motivation. There was no harm done; hence, it is easy to forgive you,” Jane replied.
“With my parents and your relatives present, I repeat that I stand ready to do what I must after I technically compromised you,” Hadlock reiterated.
“Lord Hadlock, I am not interested in marrying because of a nonsensical societal rule. When I marry it will be for respect, love, and felicity, nothing else,” Jane refused.
