“Welcome to Netherfield Park, Mrs. Hammond. Miss Elizabeth.”
CHAPTER 11
The Bennet carriage pulled up to Netherfield Park right behind Mr. Darcy’s town coach. Elizabeth was grateful that Mr. Darcy was a man of his word. The wind swirled about them as raindrops started falling. A footman carefully handed Mrs. Hammond down, then held an umbrella over her to shield her from the inclement weather. Mr. Darcy waited at the end of the receiving line for his guest of honor.
She hoped to discover his cousin standing next to him, but Colonel Fitzwilliam was not there. Possibly, he had recently arrived and was rushing to dress in his finest. She would wait, though she wished he would hurry.
When Mr. Darcy greeted them with a smile, Elizabeth barely caught her breath. Truly, he was wickedly handsome.Good heavens!For as much as Elizabeth vowed to despise Mr. Darcy upon their first meeting, his treating her friend with dignity, plus the few things she discovered about him, certainly elevated him out of the deep, dark pit of her ire. For a certainty, she was unsure what she thought about him or whether she was quite ready to forgive him completely. She just wished he was not so appealing to the eye.
Mrs. Hammond blushed when he offered to escort her into the room.He turned toward Elizabeth with his other arm. Before she could accept, Mr. Collins ignored Mary and stepped forward. In his attempt to avoid crashing into Mr. Darcy, he knocked Elizabeth off balance.
He sniveled. “Do look where you are going, Cousin Elizabeth. It simply would not do for you to cause a scene in front of your exalted neighbors. Had the daughter of my patroness been here, she would have demonstrated how a lady of modesty and grace would move about in a crowd. As it is, I shall take you in hand to demonstrate proper conduct in society.”
The weasel failed to look at her even once during his tirade. Instead, he studied Mr. Darcy, likely expecting to have the gentleman heap praise upon the clergyman for doing his duty with a magnanimity borne out of possessing an excellent character. Or he might have hoped that Mr. Darcy would beg her for an introduction to the oaf.
Egad!Elizabeth could not say that she knew Mr. Darcy well, but she knew enough to be confident that Mr. Collins would earn no accolades from him.
“Miss Elizabeth! Are you well?” Mr. Darcy turned to stand directly in front of Mr. Collins. When he took a small step forward, the parson was forced to move back. Mary dodged out of his way, excusing herself to the music room. Her dear, sweet Jane was greeted warmly by Mr. Bingley. Jane’s happiness lit the room more than the crystal chandeliers.
Without a word, Mr. Darcy again offered his arm. This time, Elizabeth quickly accepted his munificence. At least with him, she should make it through the crush with her hem intact and her toes unbruised.
The eyes of her neighbors turned toward them as Mr. Darcy escorted her across the room. From the corner of her eye, she witnessed Miss Bingley’s face pale as her gloved hand shot up tocover her gaping mouth. Elizabeth did not doubt that her hostess was horrified to see who was at Mr. Darcy’s side since it was exactly where the lady desired to be.
In response to Miss Bingley’s shock, Elizabeth lifted her chin. Was it pride flowing through her veins at being the center of attention for the first time in her memory? Over the years, being overlooked for not being as beautiful as Jane or as lively as Lydia assuredly chipped away at her self-esteem. Yet, tonight, in her finest gown on the arm of the handsomest gentleman, her confidence blossomed.
Rarely did she brood over her situation since there was little within her power that she could do to make changes. Her father could not be moved to show a more active interest in his family or his estate. Her mother stubbornly insisted that pushing herself and her daughters forward was the only way they would ever marry. Elizabeth knew they loved her in their own ways, perhaps, but the fact that she was so often criticized and unnoticed made her feel less while, at the same time, motivated her to put herself forward where she expressed her own opinions freely.
Good grief!She was no better than Mary, who used her music to draw attention to herself. What an epiphany to have in the middle of a ballroom! Elizabeth dropped her eyes to the floor.
Often, she reprimanded Kitty and Lydia for thinking more of themselves than they should. It was humbling to realize that, for that moment in time, she was doing the same. And for what purpose? Because a wealthy, attractive man whom Miss Bingley pursued like a hungry dog to a meaty bone offered her his arm? Inhaling slowly, she blinked twice. Apparently, Mr. Collins was not the only ridiculous guest at Mr. Bingley’s ball.
Stiffening her spine, she chose to hold her head high. She was the daughter of a country squire, which elevated her above theBingleys. More than that, she was not mean-spirited. At least, she hoped she was not.
Mr. Darcy’s attention toward her meant little. The truth was that he was being polite, a gentleman. Even now, his focus was not on her but on Mrs. Hammond.
Elizabeth sighed as Mr. Darcy excused himself to procure punch for her friend. When he asked if she desired a cup, Elizabeth barely hesitated to accept his kindness. “I thank you.”
Her gaze swept the crowd, hoping for a glimpse of Colonel Fitzwilliam. Had he arrived yet? Was he currently upstairs throwing off his traveling clothes and then preparing for the opening set? She was eager to see him, for until he appeared…well, she was used to disappointment, wasn’t she?
Oh, good heavens!What an inconstant female she was for being flattered with the honor of being escorted by handsome Mr. Darcy. His good looks should have paled compared to Colonel Fitzwilliam’s…Elizabeth struggled to recall the color of the colonel’s hair. When she blinked, it was Mr. Darcy’s dark waves that filled her thoughts. She was ridiculous!
“Are you well, Miss Lizzy?” Mrs. Hammond stepped close enough to whisper.
Smiling somewhat, Elizabeth replied, “I believe I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of elegance, Mrs. Hammond. Never have I seen Netherfield Park with as much opulence nor my neighbors as finely turned out.”
Mrs. Hammond’s arthritic fingers smoothed the fabric of her gown. “Miss Lizzy, I have never worn anything this beautifully trimmed. Why, the matrons of our local society will wonder how I was able to afford a French modiste to fashion my garment so quickly.”
They chuckled. It had taken hours each day to convert the piece to its current design. When her mother and Lydia, both skilled with a needle and the imagination to turn a piece ofcloth into a garment of beauty, joined in the task, a magnificent creation was formed. All were pleased with the results.
Mrs. Hammond tilted her head to study Elizabeth closely. “I used to have a fair hand with a needle, but those days are long over for me. Thank you for tirelessly assisting me. For all the effort Mr. Darcy went to in seeing I was personally invited, then having his lovely coach bring me to the ball, I feel like a duchess. An aged duchess, of course.” She swayed side to side, feeling the fabric swirl around her ankles. “My dear girl, what is your opinion of Mr. Darcy now?”
Elizabeth hesitated before replying. Any condemnation of the man would make her appear surly. At the same time, overt praise would be false. Therefore, she sought the most honest answer. “He sees your worth, which means he is discerning. That he took responsibility for your care is a mark of kindness. His intelligence is revealed due to his attendance on you to the exclusion of others. All in all, he might not be as miserable as I first suspected him to be.”
Mrs. Hammond’s eyes were sharp. “I can hear the bite of your tone, dear girl. I beg you to let go of your anger, all of it. You are meant for joy and laughter, not cynicism or prejudice. I see how hard you try to guard and protect your sisters. I hear how you evade criticism of your mother and even, on occasion, your father. I know from experience how hard you work to be the best version of yourself.” She wrapped her fingers around Elizabeth’s. “Take it from this old woman that you already are everything a lady should be. The responsibility for your sisters or your parents is not your weight to bear. Tonight is your opportunity to make memories you can take out and cherish for your lifetime. Dance. Be merry. Be happy.”
How Elizabeth loved this dear lady.Blinking away tears pooling at the corners of her eyes from the winsome words, Elizabeth asked, “And what shall you do this evening? Will youscandalously dance the waltz with Mr. Darcy? Or will you chase an officer across the floor?”
Mr. Hammond chuckled. “No, my dear, I shall sit and listen to the music while sharing idle talk with the other old women.” She glanced behind Elizabeth. “If my memory has not failed me, did you not mention that you are engaged with Colonel Fitzwilliam for the first?”
