Page 10 of The Widower of Pemberley

Mrs. Bennet now asked, “Do you know why Mr. Bingley refused to dance with you again?”

“On the contrary, Mama, he happily pursued dances with other women in preference to a second turn with me, but there was no refusal.”

“That is worse!”

Mr. Bennet sardonically asked, “Is it?”

“Mr. Bennet!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “You know that it is.”

Mr. Bennet caught Elizabeth’s eye. “Lizzy, you do not seem to be offended by the notion that our new neighbour bachelor, proclaimed as your property since you danced with him first, prefers other ladies to you. Do you not think it would be more propitious if he particularly hated you?”

“It would not be,” Elizabeth replied.

“And here I thought Mr. Bingley a good-looking sort,” her father teased. “But I am no judge of male beauty.”

Soon afterwards Mr. Bennet loudly declared his exhaustion, and that sent everyone to bed. Elizabeth went up with Jane to talk over the evening in private. Since her sister had become blind, Elizabeth had always made a particular effort to take notice of many of the colours and physical details of events she went to, so that she could give her an accurate description of them.

Jane had less interest this night in the lace on Miss Bingley’s gown than in information about the single gentlemen.

In response to her sister’s question about whether she really did not like Mr. Bingley or if she affected disinterest to avoid being teased by Papa and tormented by Mama, Elizabeth replied with a huff, “The man exudes bland good nature.”

“What a person!” Jane replied with a laugh. “I can scarce imagine that such a monster has entered our neighbourhood. I fear for the chickens and the children.”

“I could not love Mr. Bingley. If I am to marry a man, I ought to have a strong feeling in his direction.”

“You must not marry if you are not in love. You know that.” Jane put her hand on Elizabeth’s face. “Dear Elizabeth, you liked this Miss Darcy?”

“Very much. Though her brother was quite amusing to watch.”

“It is shocking what Mama said about his wife.”

“I would place no great reliance uponthattale. I refuse, on general grounds, to believe shocking stories about people I meet. The truth is always sordid. The tale that she could not join her lover and so she killed herself is more probable by far than the allegation that Mr. Darcy killed her. There is something harsh in his looks. Mr. Darcy is deeply unhappy—or that is what he appears to be. His sister is filled with concern for him. It speaks well to him that a sweet girl like Miss Darcy can be a devoted sister, and that she claims him to be the best of men. But I can never forget, nor forgive, hearing him insult Charlotte.”

“You do not mind that he cast an aspersion on your character?”

“There was too much of flattery inthatto leave me anything but pleased. I am a vain creature, I fear.” Elizabeth imitated the deep tones of a man’s voice. “I never trustparticularlypretty women.”

Elizabeth and Jane laughed together.

Jane said, “Poor man, he must have been terribly hurt by his wife if he is filled with such bitterness. But I am sure it was a matter of misunderstanding. If they had made the effort to love each other better, they would have found a way to be happy.”

“Thatis much like you,” Elizabeth replied. “But even if Mrs. Darcy had a lover, I shall not judge her with harshness. With such a rude man for a husband—I would not like to be married tohim. You may depend upon it. I will not let my head be turned by the flattery of such a handsome and rich man.”

Jane laughed. “His statement showed more misogyny than anything else. And to say it about a woman he had barely met… I see why you do not take his words seriously.”

“I take them too seriously.” Elizabeth laughed. “It is stupid on my part, butdespitewhat else he said, and his awful rudeness to Charlotte, I must vigorously fight the tendency to think well of him simply because he flattered my vanity. I may not succeed. And if I fail and do fall in love with him, I shall inevitably believe him to have been a murderer, for what could be more romantic than that?”

The next day the Bennet ladies walked to Lucas Lodge, Elizabeth leading Jane by the arm down the mile-long path.

They found Charlotte in good spirits, and she laughed when reminded by Mrs. Bennet about how shocking it was that Mr. Darcy had insulted her.

In reply to Charlotte’s clear amusement at having been declared (and reminded regularly that she had been) not a pretty partner, Mrs. Bennet said, “Lord! How canyoube so happy? I would sink in shame and be miserable forever if anyone insultedmylooks at a ball.”

Charlotte laughed. “I take the world as I find it. Mr. Darcy is a confusing figure. But I never pretended to myself that I was the handsomest woman in a room—his praise of Eliza was sincere. My dear Elizabeth, did I tell you that Mr. Darcy asked about you during our second dance?”

“No!” Elizabeth blushed. She could not help it. Laughingly she said, “With such encouragement, I shall soon fancy that he is in love with me.”

Mr. Darcy was a very handsome man.