If he had looked at all contrite—even if he hadsoundedcontrite—she might have listened to him. Instead, she said, “I have told you, my father has forbidden?—”
“He is not here.”
“I commend you on your powers of observation. You must also have noticed that we are on a public path. Anyone might come by. Have you not learnt that people here talk to each other? I doubt there is a single man, woman, or child in the vicinity who has not heard of your insult to me and dismissive deportment to everyone at the assembly. If we are seen speaking, itwillbe gossiped about. My family—my father—will know. Are you asking me to disobey him? To risk his disappointment and anxiety?”
“Anxiety?” he interjected, his brow furrowed as though puzzled or taken aback by the implication.
“That you might injure my feelings and make me doubt myself, my worth as a person. I assure you, I would never allow you or anyone else to make me believe I am less important than they are, especially not for something so trivial as my looks or because I was unable to dance a set at a public assembly where there were not enough gentlemen present and some of those that were are too arrogant to even permit themselves to be introduced to the other participants. Frankly, Mr Darcy, regardless of what my father has told me, I have no wish to see you, let alone speak to you. You told me everything I need to know about you that night. Good morning, sir.”
With that, she pointed her toes in the direction of Longbourn and stamped away. It took her almost the entire walk home to resume her previous good mood. How that man vexed her!
Darcy watchedElizabeth Bennet’s retreat—which was becoming a habit—and only returned to his horse once he could no longer see her. Never—never—had he met such anobstinate girl. And he had met scores of young ladies, many of them giving every sign that they were prepared to do whatever necessary to distinguish themselves from others, even if their behaviour would only earn them censure. He could well imagine what his aunts—either Lady Romsley or Lady Catherine—would have to say about Miss Elizabeth’sconduct. Speaking to a gentleman of his quality in such a fashion? It was not to be borne.
“The entire Bennet family is unreasonable!” he grumbled, belatedly looking about him. The last thing he wanted was for such words to reach Bingley’s ears; it would make his friend even more displeased with him.
But really, what was he thinking? Was he truly going to allow Bingley—friend or not—to force him to humble himself to such people as the Bennets or anyone else in this insignificant neighbourhood? No, he was not. Especially nother.
Avoiding the direction she had gone, Darcy encouraged his horse to take the path as quickly as it would go for as long as possible, using the rush of wind across his skin to cool his temper. Only then was he able to recall the interview with Miss Elizabeth with anything like rational thought. As unwilling as he was to admit it, he came to several important conclusions. First, he ought not to have attempted to convince the lady to hear him when she was reluctant to, especially once she informed him that her father had forbidden her to speak to him. Second, it was possible that Mr Edward Best had hurt her with his ill-advised comment suggesting people were gossiping about her, which had added to her reluctance to do anything that might result in yet more talk. On the whole, Darcy thought it unlikely; rather, he imagined she had found it irritating. There was something about her that suggested strength—possibly that she did not shy away from telling him how disagreeable she found him. Third, while he would seek to apologise and improve his standing with the Bennets and wider localsociety, it would not be for Bingley’s sake alone. It was an important reason, but it was that combined with knowing it was the right thing to do that would make the effort worth the while. Heshouldhave behaved with greater decorum at the assembly and when he went to Longbourn for dinner, whatever his feelings and discomfort. He would have to try again to apologise to Miss Elizabeth and do so in a manner she found acceptable.
The thought occurred to Darcy that the even greater reason was to have an excuse to speak to her again. It was not that he liked her all of a sudden, but having her attention on him meant he would have the opportunity to closely observe her fine eyes and delicate features, to insist she give all of her conversation to him alone, and that, he decided, would not be so terribly unpleasant as he had imagined at the assembly.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Returning to Longbourn, Elizabeth found that—try as she might—she could not put the unexpected encounter with Mr Darcy from her thoughts. It was unbearable that her reflections were lasting so much longer than the meeting itself had! Why could she not set it—him—aside once and for all?
“I shall say this for him,” she muttered to herself, “he is one of the more interesting characters I have met. Unfortunately, for both of us, it is not in a good way. What in his life led him to become so arrogant and aggravating that I want to shake him?” Maybe if his brain was rattled sufficiently, it would give him some sense.
Elizabeth had always had a dislike for perfunctory apologies as she believed Mr Darcy’s had been. As she had told him in the churchyard, an apology ought to be heartfelt, or it was as worthless as asking someone how they were and walking away without waiting for their response.
“Do Iwanthim to know me well enough to genuinely regret what he said at the assembly?” For Mr Darcy to give her an expression of regret that would truly satisfy her, they would have to become far more familiar with each other, which meant spending time together, andthatshe had no interest in—and she was certain he did not either.
And yet…she could not deny she thought of him often, and the snippets of conversation she had overheard him having with various people at Lane Park had suggested he could be interesting—when he extended himself.
With great effort, Elizabeth was able to put him from her thoughts. It was a very good thing he appeared to be trying to be civil, but they had better avoid each other for however long he remained at Netherfield. It meant he would never sincerely apologise, but she did not care.
Later that day, she was in the parlour with her parents and sisters. They were again discussing the recent news that a regiment of the militia would soon settle in the neighbourhood.
“I shall not have you girls chasing after the soldiers,” Mr Bennet said after her mother’s enthusiastic assertions that Elizabeth and her sisters would find having the regiment there extremely diverting.
“Oh, but Mr Bennet, there can be no harm in it,” Mrs Bennet said.
“By ‘it’ I suppose you mean flirting and throwing themselves at men?” he interjected.
“They will like us above all the other girls in theneighbourhood. What fun we shall have!” Lydia exclaimed before joining Kitty in giggling gleefully.
Mary, sitting beside Elizabeth, sighed and regarded the pair with her lips pursed in disapproval.
“And bring shame to us all? I think not,” her father said. “Mr Darcy has opened my eyes. If he could look at Lizzy and say such disparaging things, I can?—”
“You cannot still be going on about that disagreeable man!” her mother exclaimed. “And I would have you stop speaking as though Lizzy is better than her sisters.”
“Lizzy’s comportment is undeniably more admirable, and that is what concerns me at the moment.” Mr Bennet briefly regarded Jane. “I cannot fault your manners either, my dear.”
Jane offered him a smile; she otherwise looked upon her sisters and mother with sympathy.
“No soldier will enter this house,” Mr Bennet stated firmly.
This, naturally, resulted in more complaints from her mother. He listened for a moment, shaking his head as she spoke, eventually saying, “It is enough that I allowed you to invite our esteemed”—this was said in a mocking tone—“new neighbours. I am resolved. We cannot avoid meeting the officers, I suppose, but we shall not befriend them—not until I am assured our daughters can behave appropriately in their company.”
