“Miss Mary, I apologise most sincerely if I have given offense,” Mr. Darcy said, quickly. He was certain that he had gone astray, as the young lady seemed truly upset.
“No, Mr. Darcy, please do not apologise,” Miss Bennet said. “We have been trying to make that very point to Mary for some time now.”
“Have you a recommendation for my reading, Mr. Darcy?” Mary asked. “I welcome suggestions, but I do not prefer fiction. I think life too important for us to take refuge in fantasy.”
“A recommendation? Yes, indeed, and I believe the book is already in your father’s library.”
“What book is that?”
“A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.”
Miss Mary’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You have read that?” Her tone was horrified.
“I have not only read it, but I also agree with it in its entirety. Works such as Fordyce’s Sermons serve to keep lower-class women subservient to their menfolk. But once a woman is educated, once she begins to read and to understand the world around her, she soon discovers that men are truly not more intelligent than women. They simply have more opportunities for education and experience. This is a fault within our society, not a fault within women.”
Warming to his topic, he leant forward and fixed her with his eyes. “God took Adam’s rib and made woman so that they might live together, side-by-side, helping one another. Not one over the other, but side-by-side! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, equal, the same.” He stopped, suddenly embarrassed by his outburst.
There was a long, stunned silence in the parlour. Then Miss Bennet began to applaud, softly, and soon all the ladies were clapping their approbation, smiling widely.
Mr. Bennet appeared in the doorway. “Has Mr. Darcy performed some juggling act for you all and thus earned this ovation?”
Mrs. Bennet answered for them all, “He has just informed us that he believes women are not inferior to men!”
Mr. Bennet said, wryly, “Well done, Mr. Darcy. I see I shall soon be a pariah in my own home if I do not do something equally noble.“
“But surely you agree, Mr. Bennet?” Mr. Darcy enquired, earnestly.
“We cannot lump all men and all women together, but it is obvious that many women are more intelligent than many men. Sex alone cannot make that distinction.”
Miss Bennet then led the applause for Mr. Bennet, who actually reddened with pleasure.
“You are a bold man, Mr. Darcy, to brave the Longbourn parlour,” Mr. Bennet said.
“Tish-tosh, Mr. Bennet!” His lady replied. “Mr. Darcy is not afraid of us; he does not hide away as you do.”
“Indeed? Very well, then, we shall see. Mr. Darcy, once you have had enough of my womenfolk, I invite you to hide away with me in my library. I understand that you are a great reader, and I have many treasures on my shelves.” With that, Mr. Bennet, turned away.
“Before you go, Mr. Bennet…” Mr. Darcy began.
“Yes?” The older man turned back.
“Has King Henry walked forth this morning?”
Mr. Bennet stared at him; then his expression cleared.
“Tell me, have I stumped you?”
“Not at all,” Mr. Bennet replied, walking back into the parlour and settling himself beside his wife. “King Richard III, of course. You will have to do better than that, Mr. Darcy.”
“I shall do my best, but I believe it is now your opportunity to stump me.”
Mr. Bennet thought for a moment, and then spoke. “But wherefore do not you a mightier way, Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time?”
“Shakespeare, sonnet number sixteen,” Mr. Darcy said, immediately. “I had to memorize it in school.”
“Ah, I was too easy on you. Very well; your turn.”
“My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the third of five sons.”
