As they returned to where Bingley and Darcy had left their horses, Darcy was spared Mr Collins’s company. To his regret, that did not mean he was granted Miss Elizabeth’s sole attention. Miss Lydia walked with them, and she chattered the entire way about the upcoming ball, the soldiers she had met, and how important she believed it was for young ladies to enjoy themselves before they married.
Darcy would never say it aloud, but he found the girl fatiguing, if only because she appeared to think of little but herself and her pleasure. Yet, there was something appealing about her youthful exuberance. He wished Georgiana exhibited a bit of it, and he hoped for Miss Lydia’s sake, and that of her family, that she would become less self-absorbed as she matured. She was, after all, still very young and had an excellent example in Miss Elizabeth.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Alone in his chamber later that day, Darcy reflected on the walk and his other recent meetings with Miss Elizabeth. Nothing he saw convinced him she was, or would soon be, engaged to her cousin. They were friends, a connexion born out of having grown up together. It was little different from him and his cousin Rebecca Reed. They had never lived in the same house, but their grandfathers were brothers, and she, her brother, and her parents had visited Pemberley many times. Darcy often saw the Reeds when he was in town, though it had been several months since they had last met. Thinking about her brought to mind Darcy’s only other female cousin, Anne de Bourgh, the sickly daughter of his maternal aunt, Lady Catherine, who claimed her most fervent wish was to see them wed. That turned Darcy’s mind to matrimony and choosing a wife, which led him back to the subject of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, with her beautiful visage and musical laugh.
Once Darcy was in his night clothes and his valet was gone from the room, he settled in a chair by the fireplace, intending to read before getting into bed. Instead, he stared at the fire and considered the matter that occupied a growing portion of his attention.
Even when he genuinely attempted to, he could not see that Miss Elizabeth and Mr Collins were well suited. Amongst the Bennet daughters, he would think Miss Mary the most likely match in temperament and interests, if any of them were to marry their cousin. There was nothing objectionable about Mr Collins, apart from his loquaciousness and being a trifle unsure of himself, but he was Miss Elizabeth’s intellectual inferior. In Darcy’s view, she would always be taking care of Mr Collins, reassuring him and reminding him what to do and what he should think. Quick witted, lively Miss Elizabeth could not be happy in such a marriage! What she needed was someone who was her equal, if not her superior; someone who could take care of her, rather than depend on her the way Mr Collins obviously did. She deserved a man who would encourage her to become the extraordinary woman Darcy knew she could be.
To be sure, she is remarkable already, but removed from the confined society of Meryton or whatever village Mr Collins finds a position in, she could discover so much. I truly believe she would relish the life she would haveas my wife.
To add to all of this, Darcy discerned no alteration in Miss Elizabeth’s manner towardshimsince the return of her cousin. If anything, her smiles were larger and her laugh freer. Knowing he could not continue to live with the uncertainty without going mad, Darcy resolved to ask her about her connexion to Mr Collins when next they met.
* * *
On the twenty-third of November, the Bennets and Mr Collins were engaged in celebrations from the moment the post arrived until they retired for the night. William had been offered the living in Kent. With Elizabeth’s encouragement, to say nothing of the rest of the family, he had immediately written to accept. Mr Bennet took part in the festivities for as long as he could “bear the exclamations of so many women” then retreated to his book-room. An hour later, Elizabeth went to sit with him and find some rest from the noise and busyness of her family.
“Well then, Lizzy, what do you think of all this? Today’s happy news and an evening party at your aunt and uncle’s. You know your mother will tell her sister about William’s letter. I can hardly wait to observe how excited it makes my dear sister-in-law. Then, in just a few days, we go to Netherfield. I have been trying to decide which topic of conversation I find more irritating—ribbons and shoe roses and dancing partners, or your mother’s and sisters’ attempts to extract details of the parsonage from William, even though he saw it only once. How many closets are there? Does anyone truly need to know that, or the number and type of trees to each side of the house?” He rolled his eyes and shook his head as though one of the two was not enough to display his annoyance.
Elizabeth dutifully chuckled. “You can hardly expect us not to look forward to an elegant evening at Netherfield, although I do agree we debated the subject of ribbons and coiffures quite enough for the week.”
“Balls,” Mr Bennet muttered. “It is a curious business, this waving of arms and legs about, so much walking up and down and in circles. I never did understand the appeal.”
“As I have heard you say countless times since I was old enough to listen.” She arched her brow and gave him a challenging look.
“Yes, well. Do you have your partners all sorted for the evening?”
“Not at all. Other than William, whom have we seen in the last week that might have asked me? I happen to know Jane is dancing the first with a certain gentleman who has recently come to our notice, which I suppose means William will dance it with me, and Jane will take the second.”
Elizabeth had hoped Mr Darcy might request a set during the walk, but he had not. She told herself there had been no opportunity, since William or one of her sisters had always been by her side. William always partnered each of his five cousins, usually from the oldest to the youngest. It was the easiest way to avoid anyone—Lydia in particular—teasing him to dance a particular set with them.
Her father slowly nodded his head, his lips pursed. “Ah, yes,thatgentleman. Do you agree with your mother that Mr Bingley is sufficiently entranced by Jane to offer for her?”
“I would be surprised if he did not—not unless they discover a fundamental incompatibility between them, something that would mean they would be unhappy living together. Given how much time they have spent talking these last weeks, that seems unlikely. Do you doubt it?”
He shook his head. “Not really, but they have not known each other long. I would not encourage Jane to rush into an engagement, yet, of all my fair daughters, she is the one I believe best capable of being satisfied in any situation, or, really, with any man, so long as she started out by esteeming him and feeling confident in her decision to accept him.
“Tell me, daughter-dearest, what do you think about Mr Darcy? He is the more interesting study of the two men from Netherfield.”
“You have known him almost as long as I have. I am surprised you want my opinion of him, or do you hope it contradicts your own so that we might have a debate?”
Her voice suggested amusement; in truth, she had no wish to discuss Mr Darcy. Her feelings and his changeable manner towards her were confusing, and she was beginning to think it would be best for her quietude if he were to leave the neighbourhood. It was exactly what she expected him to do after the ball; likely he would tell her or her father that evening so that he could take his leave of them properly. She would greatly miss his friendship, but at times, she suspected his interest in her had already waned.
“I know whatIthink of the man. I want to know whatyouthink of him.”
Elizabeth pushed herself out of the chair. “He is well-read and his conversation is very interesting. I should begin my preparations for the evening. Mama will hunt me down and drag me to my room by my ear if she realises I have not started already.”
She was at the door, her hand outstretched to open it, when her father said, “Be careful there, Lizzy. I would not want to see you…made dissatisfied.”
Swallowing against the tightness in her throat, Elizabeth nodded.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
As they so frequently did, Darcy’s eyes sought out Miss Elizabeth the moment he entered Mrs Philips’s drawing room. She stood across the room with Mr Collins, Miss Catherine, and Miss Lydia. After greeting their host and hostess, Bingley went to join Miss Bennet and Miss Lucas, while Miss Bingley, whose arm was tightly wrapped about Darcy’s for some reason he did not understand, indicated she wished to stand by the window.
“It is excessively warm in here. Do you not find it so?” she asked.
