As they went down the dance together, Elizabeth attempted to make sense of Mr. Darcy’s behavior, which had been even more agreeable tonight than the previous evening, despite her own tempestuous rage. When they reached the end and began the next figure of the dance, Elizabeth smiled brightly at Mr. Darcy, ready to behave as she ought.
“Thank you for telling that horrid Lady Allen that Jane and I are under your protection. If Papa had been present, he would not have done so much – he would only have laughed uproariously.”
“Perhaps ere long,wemight be able to laugh about the whole ordeal.”
“I had not supposed you to be so optimistic, Mr. Darcy.”
“A hidden virtue of mine. Do you approve of it?”
She laughed and nodded emphatically. “I do – but then, I have already told you that a man of your situation in life has no justification for being sullen.”
“Oh, I am also that. I daresay it lends me an air of distinction, to be so complex.”
“Another privilege of being a wealthy man. When a country miss is contrary, it only makes her….”
“Miss Elizabeth, before you slander yourself once more, allow me to say that I find your contrariness to be utterly delightful – when I am not the object of it.”
“Then you may be sorry to hear that I intend to reform myself entirely and be vastly agreeable. My resolution is sure to last the rest of the evening at least, and for perhaps as long as a fortnight.”
He grinned at her as they spun together. “Perhaps you shall inspire me to do the same. I had thought to nettle mycousin by preventing him from being introduced to your sister, purely as a lark, but Georgiana has allied herself with him, and I stand little chance of outmaneuvering him, anyhow.”
“And is your cousin’s interest in my sister only a lark? Mr. Bingleywasa disappointment, and now Mr. Willoughby has been another. If your cousin is merely a flirt, I beg you would not introduce him to Jane.”
Mr. Darcy’s countenance turned serious. “I was surprised at his open eagerness to meet her; I have seldom seen him express himself in such a way. He was a parson before he became the earl’s heir, and he has been a widower for three years now. He and his daughters remained at the vicarage until about six months ago, when the family came out of mourning, and he has since been occupied in learning everything he can from his father, of the duties that he never expected would fall to him. The notion that he should be sought after in society, especially by charming and beautiful women, is entirely new to him.”
“He may have something in common with my sister, then. I fear Mrs. Jennings means to tell everybody she meets about our sudden inheritance, and Jane is sure to appear even lovelier to gentlemen that would not have looked twice at her a month ago.”
Mr. Darcy surveyed Elizabeth curiously for a moment. “I hope you will not think me impertinent, Miss Elizabeth, if I ask… what happened?”
“I nearly wish youwouldbe impertinent, if only to assuage my own guilt for behaving badly. But I do not mind your question. It is all very recent and unexpected. Mr. Collins was killed in a carriage accident on his way to Meryton days before he was to wed Charlotte Lucas. When my family was discussing the matter, my Aunt Gardiner informed us that my late uncle and grandfather had set a sum aside for us as well.”
“Poor Miss Lucas.” Mr. Darcy looked thoughtful for a moment, and then added, “Your friend seemed perfectly suited to the role of parson’s wife in my aunt’s domain; I expect she would have been adept at maintaining the lady’s good opinion, and borne her meddling with cheerful delicacy.”
Elizabeth was not keen to hear such praise of her erstwhile friend, who had not been delicate when last they had spoken. “I do pity her, though she has given up any claim to my sympathy. After such a loss, she was not kind about the turn of my family’s fortunes; we have fallen out over it.”
Mr. Darcy looked pained. “I am sure it was through no fault of your own. For what is it worth, you may find a very devoted new friend in Georgiana. She spoke about her eagerness to see you again all night when we returned home, and again today – only ceasing in her effusions to sleep. Whatever our disagreements have been, Miss Elizabeth, I hope you will keep an open mind about Georgiana.”
“Of course,” Elizabeth cried, giving him a reassuring smile. “She is delightful, and I hope we are past our disagreements. In your affection for your sister, I find at last that we have something in common.” The memory of Mr. Wickham’s tale of woe flitted through her mind, but Elizabeth swatted the unhappy thought away; she was beginning to think rather well for the man who had borne her distemper with considerable grace.
When they went in to supper, Mr. Darcy introduced Jane to Viscount Bellamy, who appeared endearingly nervous at making the acquaintance of a woman who was, though beautiful, entirely beneath him in station. He was equally charming to Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth, and invited the three ladies to dine with him and his cousins.
Small banquet tables filled the dining room, each seating six or eight people, and Elizabeth felt herself fortunate to be in such fine company. Mr. Darcy and the viscount amused the ladies by taking turns mortifying one another with tales of their youth, and Viscount Bellamy echoed Miss Darcy in asking the ladies a great deal of questions about their interests and pursuits, as well as their plans while they were in London.
Jane appeared too lost in thought to notice the viscount’s particular interest in her, and Elizabeth worried that her sister would grow forlorn over the ordeal with Mr. Willoughby. Miss Darcy could not resist inquiring about it, for she was certain that Elizabeth would not have disparaged him without cause.
Elizabeth was also curious, and wished to know what the blackguard had said to her aunt and sister, though she feared they had been moved by some pretty excuse of his. Even the gentlemen could not conceal their intrigue, and Mrs. Garinder related the substance of their conversation. It was just as Elizabeth dreaded – the man had a tragic story ready to soften their hearts to him.
The viscount listened to it all with the same relish that Mrs. Bennet might have shown at such juicy gossip, and afterward asked Mrs. Gardiner, “Are you well enough acquainted with Mrs. Hatchard to trust her faith in him?”
“I believe I am. His own actions speak well enough of him, for he cared more for explaining himself to us than for salvaging his aunt’s good opinion, and it seems she holds the purse strings.”
“That must count for something,” Jane said with a sigh.
The viscount nodded. “I daresay your good opinion is well worth deserving, for Georgiana has been full of praise for you. And I suppose a guilty fellow might have fled; I am sure I should run away from Colonel Brandon if I were caught doing him agreat wrong, for he is a most imposing man! When I saw him, I thought you must be a princess, and he was your bodyguard.”
The other ladies laughed, but Miss Darcy looked stricken. “I do pity this Miss Williams, though. I cannot think why she would lie. What a horrid thing that has been done to her!” Her eyes misted with tears, and Mr. Darcy drew his seat closer to hers so that he might rest an arm about her shoulders.
“It is strange, though, that she had previously refused to reveal the identity of her… her child’s father, until that moment,” Mrs. Gardiner mused. “And then to taunt a stranger with the revelation! Did you not say, Lizzy, that there was a look of malice about her?”
