“Anne, affection aside, do you have any idea what the mistress of Pemberley must do each day? You have heard me speak of what my mother’s duties; do you believe you are able to fill her shoes?”
“Cousin, my mother hires and fires servants, but she does not do any of those other tasks. My mother says that a competent housekeeper can do all those other things and thatyourmother wears herself out for no reason.”
Mr. Darcy had to stop himself from grinding his teeth. “And that is why Rosings Park is so badly run that the tenants leave whenever they can, and your mother’s expenses exceed her income. Are you not aware of Rosing’s precarious financial situation? Do you think I would allow that to happen to Pemberley?”
Anne looked away. It was clear that there was no point in pursuing the subject, so they both remained silent.
The drive tired Anne out, so upon their return, she went to her room for a nap. Mr. Darcy found the Colonel in the billiards room.
“Are you ready?” the Colonel asked.
“I am,” Mr. Darcy replied, and the two made their way to the parsonage. Mr. Collins was absent again, and Mrs. Collins was clearly very nervous upon seeing them in her home yet again, but her inherent good manners made it impossible for her to do anything but offer them every courtesy.
Miss Bennet joined them in the parlour. She had already learnt their tea preferences, and so assisted Mrs. Collins in serving them. Mr. Darcy asked about her home – Longbourn, was it not? – and soon discovered that Miss Bennet, unlike Anne de Bourgh, had been trained to understand the needs of an estate. She and her elder sister, the new Mrs. Bingley, had been visiting tenants since they were young girls. Miss Bennet had also taken on the responsibility of managing the household budget, as her mother did not enjoy the task. The more he spoke with her, the clearer the difference between Miss Bennet and Miss de Bourgh became.
And she was playful, as well! She taught him a game that she and her father played. “We call the game First Line,” she said. “Each player recites the first line or sentence of a book or poem and the other players try to guess it. I shall begin with an easy one that you will have no trouble recognising.When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning or in rain?”
“The Tragedy of Macbeth, of course,” Mr. Darcy said, immediately.
“Very good; now you quiz us.”
He thought for a moment. “Boatswain! Here, master; what cheer?”
“The Tempest,” she said. “Too easy! Now then, prepare yourself for a more difficult challenge.God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform.”
“Cowper,” he said.
“Of course, but the name of the poem?”
Mr. Darcy’s mind was blank; surprisingly, it was the Colonel who said, “Light Shining out of Darkness.”
Elizabeth laughed and applauded. “Well done, Colonel!”
Mr. Darcy stared at his cousin. “How could you know that?”
“Think you that military men cannot read, Darcy?” the Colonel retorted.
“Of course, I do not think that, but…”
“As it happens, my batman is very fond of poetry, and reads it aloud whenever there is a quiet moment. I have become quite fond of Cowper.”
“Colonel, it is now your turn to stump us,” Elizabeth said.
“Very well.” He thought for a moment, and then recited, “When do I count the clock that tells the time?”
It was Mr. Darcy who quickly said, “Sonnet number twelve. My turn, I believe? Beware, Miss Bennet, I shall stump you now.Having read with great pleasure a pamphlet, which you have lately published, on National Education, I dedicate this volume to you–“
Elizabeth interrupted with glee. “Oh! Oh!A Vindication of the Rights of Woman! Well done, Mr. Darcy, I would not have thought you familiar with that work!”
He smiled at her. “And I should not have been surprised that you do.”
Elizabeth said, “My turn!I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family, though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull.”
It was the Colonel who replied this time, smiling widely. “Robinson Crusoe.A most excellent tale.”
Elizabeth was delighted. “You are both worthy contenders in our game! My father would be pleased to test his mettle against either of you.”
Mrs. Collins interrupted them. “My husband will be home soon; I am certain he will wish to pay his respects to you.”
