Sir William Lucas may be pompous, but I am sure he possesses a compassionate heart. His joy at giving pleasure to his neighbors showed through even your narration. Not all can be exposed to fine society; I admire Sir William for raising himself to the recognition he has been afforded at St. James. However, I was a bit surprised at your censure of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst at the assembly. It must be poor behavior, indeed, for you to take such notice. I was happy you, at least, acted with decorum and gave credit to your dear friend. Bingley is much favored by having you as his commendable model.Your recollection of Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s musical interlude at least brought you some pleasure that particular evening. From your description, Miss Bennet must possess true talent; I am sure such qualities make her all the more attractive to gentlemen. Being accomplished in music is a virtue to which many women strive.
Mrs.Annesley says my needlework needs a purpose. She has, of late, tried to convince me to help the poor in Derbyshire by creating pieces to be given to the children by the local vicar. He, when we attended church there last, preached about the need of the rich to help the poor.The lesson included the rewarding of such actions ten times over. I know my reward is having you as my brother; I am blessed those ten times. Last week in our lessons, I was introduced to the phrase “noblesse oblige,” which you understand to be translated into the “likewise obligation.” I took it to be as a mantra of what I should do. Although I am, admittedly, a bit shy about seeing my needlework given away to others, I hope I have your blessing in this endeavor. Dearest Brother, please give Mr. Bingley and his family my deepest regards and respect.
Your loving sister,
Georgiana
Darcy closed the letter and replaced it in the desk drawer; the missive brought him a sense of repose. He never felt as he did the past few weeks; he was a man of position—of control. It seemed of late he possessed no control; a pair of fine eyes and a wry smile senthim into turmoil. He wished for someone in whom he could confide and from whom he could seek advice. For now, he resolved he would answer his sister this very evening. If she found his narrative of the assembly and the dinner at Sir William’s amusing, the change in the dynamics at Netherfield should bring her “great joy” indeed. Darcy wished he could find the simple pleasure in life Georgiana did. Of course, she was but a child. Such antics would not seem so amusing if his sister knew the extent of his involvement into Hertfordshire society. She might even pity her brother’s position at the hands of a saucy maiden. Darcy wished Georgiana was older and could be his confidant; his “troubles” with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, however, were exactly that—his troubles. No one could resolve them but him.
The Bingley household gathered in the drawing room. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst observed their game. As was his earlier intention, seated at the desk in the room, Darcy wrote his sister. Miss Bingley, finding nothing of her own for amusement, scrutinized his progress. Eventually, Elizabeth joined the group, taking up her needlework.
14 November
My darling sister,
I am happy my letters are of such an entertaining nature.This was not my intent, but I feel no offense in your finding them to be so. Our party at Netherfield Park increased by two of late. Bingley and I returned to Netherfield on the tenth after spending an invigorating evening with Colonel Forster and some of his senior officers to find Miss Jane Bennet took ill during her dinner with Mr. Bingley’s sisters. Rather than sending her back to her home at the Longbourn estate in a consistent downpour, the Bingleys provided Miss Bennet accommodations at Netherfield. Miss Bennet is a favorite with Charles.A pretty face, which Miss Bennet does possess, often smites him; reputably she is the prettiest girl in the area. Bingley was secretlydelighted at having Jane Bennet ill while at Netherfield, while also being extremely concerned about her health. He even considered sending to London for a physician.
Miss Bingley, my dear, wishes me to interrupt my letter at this point to tell how enraptured she is with your design for the table you decorated recently. Truthfully, not wishing to take away from Caroline’s raptures, lately I find her placating compliments for everything relating to the Darcys and to Pemberley as being a reflection of her character. If not for Charles, I would disassociate myself from her.
The other member of our party is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who has been asked to stay and attend her sister. Actually, I suggested this to Bingley. His having shown Miss Bennet to be his local “choice,” it would not be proper for her to stay at Netherfield without a “chaperone.” Propriety must be maintained.This is the same Miss Elizabeth of whom I spoke previously.
Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Bingley are both of a playful nature, and I, unfortunately, became the target of a recent rebuke. Bingley when speaking to Miss Elizabeth earlier in the day confided his tendency toward indecision.Then he insinuated his abstract handwriting to be a result of his thoughts coming too quickly for his hand to translate them properly. Miss Elizabeth found his humility endearing. I should have resisted the impulse to respond to Charles’s rants and ravings, but I do so detest deceitful appearances. Of course, poor Bingley is too good of a friend; he often absorbs my criticisms and still considers me to be his partisan. Unfortunately, I listed in some detail a litany of Bingley’s flaws, including his lack of attention to detail in his muddled script. I find Bingley’s inconstancy to be troublesome where Miss Elizabeth believed in general and ordinary cases between friends, where one of them desired the other to change, the person would comply with the desire, without waiting to be argued into it. Her wit turned my argument in Bingley’s favor.This is not the first time Miss Elizabeth and I verbally opposed each other.Although you probably think I find this to be offensive, I do not. It is such a contrast to Miss Bingley’s fawning over my every move I admit I sometimes try to purposely engage Elizabeth Bennet’s attention.The only thing I regret in theexchange is an offhand remark by Bingley about my “dark” nature. He insinuated I could be an imposing figure, especially of a Sunday evening when I have nothing to do.The gravity of his statement was an indignity I did not expect from my friend.
As far as my objecting to your giving needlework or other such items to the poor in Derbyshire, you will hear no such complaint. Giving to the poor has always been something our family embraced. Our parents are warmly remembered for such generosity. How could I object to your following their example?You are your mother’s daughter; she would be as proud of her daughter as I am of my sister.
Your loving brother,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
As the evening progressed, Darcy, having finished his letter, wanted to relieve the earlier memories of the day. He applied to both Miss Bingley and to Miss Elizabeth for some musical entertainment. Jumping, literally, at the opportunity to do something to achieve Mr. Darcy’s favor, Miss Bingley was beside the pianoforte before she realized her duties as the hostess. “Miss Elizabeth,” she said through gritted teeth,“would you favor us by going first?”
“Please precede, Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth responded sweetly, “your skill should take precedence to my pleasure.”
Mrs. Hurst joined her sister as they took up several Italian love songs to demonstrate their expertise. Elizabeth moved to the instrument to peruse some music books found there. Enthralled with her earlier performance, Elizabeth’s deferment to Miss Bingley initially disappointed Darcy. Still, being given the comparable pleasure of watching her figure from afar was nearly as intoxicating. He mentally created a list of her mannerisms—the biting of her lower lip when concentrating on her needlework, the creased forehead when she challenged him, and the curl, which often fell, along her chin line in a caress of her neck. Fitzwilliam Darcy saw little about Elizabeth Bennet, which did not fascinate him. Before he realized what he did, Darcy moved up to stand beside her at theinstrument. He felt the air intensify around him. Miss Bingley, not wishing to have Darcy standing beside Elizabeth while listening to Italian love songs, varied the charm by now playing a lively Scottish air. In almost a hypnotic trance, Darcy turned to Elizabeth and said, “Do you not feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?”
As soon as he said it, annoyance filled him. He wanted desperately to say something, which would engage Elizabeth and would make her see him in a positive light. Instead, she could easily think Darcy laughed at her social origins.Those of refined and exacting taste did, after all, not prefer reels. Darcy did not mean it to be so, but Elizabeth could interpret his words as such.
She smiled, but made no answer. Her silence surprised him, and instantaneously, Darcy wanted to retract his words, but they were out there; he could not change them now so he repeated the question.
“Never fear, Mr. Darcy, I heard you before, but I could not immediately determine what to say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say ‘Yes,’ that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kinds of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you that I do not want to dance a reel at all—and now despise me if you dare.”
Darcy could not disengage his mind from thoughts of Elizabeth. She was resplendent! That was all he could think. “Despise you? Indeed I do not dare. No, Madam, I could never have such an opinion of you, Miss Elizabeth,” he said, before bowing to her as he took his leave of the room; feeling her eyes piercing his back, he took refuge in the study. Pouring an abundant brandy, Darcy collapsed into a nearby chair.As he ran his fingers through his hair, he realized no woman ever affected him in such a way—he felt bewitched by her. Were it not for the inferiority of her connections, Darcy could easily imagine himself in some danger of falling in love with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Dinnertime found changes in the spherical makeup of the party at Netherfield; Miss Jane Bennet made an appearance in the drawing room upon the meal’s completion. Darcy offered his congratulations regarding her recovery and watched his close friend stoking the fire to warm the room and to attend to Miss Bennet’s every need.
Darcy found a chair where he could observe Elizabeth, who obviously delighted in the attention being given to her sister by the master of the house. Having no wish to play cards, he chose to read, with Miss Bingley following suit. Of course, Miss Bingley held no real interest in books; her pretense was for Darcy’s sake, remembering his words:All this she must possess, and to all this she must yet add something more substantial in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.In reality, Miss Bingley’s attention strayed to watching Mr. Darcy’s every move; she planned to interfere if he showed attention to Miss Elizabeth. She so desired for him to pay attention to her alone she tormented him with questions on what he read and what it meant; however, her design for his consideration remained fruitless. Darcy steadfastly continued to read his book choice. Quite exhausted by her efforts, she tossed her chosen book aside. Finally, Miss Bingley resorted to the one area in which she felt she excelled over Elizabeth Bennet—physical beauty, and she took the chance of being noticed by walking about the room. Darcy, upon whom she directed her attention, remained content to read, never even raising an eyebrow or looking her way. Desperation set in so Caroline turned to Elizabeth to say,“Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.”
Miss Bingley succeeded in one area: she received Darcy’s attention; he looked up, surprised to see Elizabeth consent to such a devious plan.Why Caroline chose to invite Elizabeth to join her peaked his curiosity; Elizabeth, too, seemed wary of the invitation.Without knowledge of his actions, Darcy unconsciously closed his book. “Will you not join us, Mr. Darcy?” Miss Bingley nearly purred.
“I will decline your kind offer, Madam. I assume you have but two motives for choosing to walk up and down the room together, and I would interfere with either of them.”
“What could he mean, Miss Eliza?” Miss Bingley queried, never able to decipher Mr. Darcy’s double-meaning barbs.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, heard that tone before; she remained determined not to let Mr. Darcy win; she would match him wit for wit. Darcy recognized the resolve of her shoulders, the half-stifled grin playing about her lips, and the arching of an eyebrow. All these things sent sensations down his body; every nerve pulsed. Pausing briefly to make her point, Elizabeth turned slightly toward Darcy. It was all he could do not to walk over and take her in his arms. She taunted,“Depend upon it, he means to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it.”
Very good. It was exactly the kind of repartee he came to expect from Elizabeth Bennet.
Caroline Bingley would do nothing that might upset Mr. Darcy so she made it a point to ask, “Mr. Darcy, whatever can you mean by such a remark? You must explain as we are very anxious to know its meaning.”
