Page 4 of Resilience

“I will hardly have her stand up with a clerk or a shopkeeper, Priscilla.”

“Of course not, she may stand up with you and Mr Bingley, and I am not too elevated to reel with my young cousin at a country assembly, as sisters and young girls do. We will keep her safe and ensure that she enjoys herself.” Priscilla paused. “Perhaps you could enjoy yourself too.”

“I will do my best, Prissy,” Darcy grumbled as he stood, patted his cousin on the hand, then left the parlor to have a tray in his room and prepare for the assembly.

Elizabeth Bennet was surprised that the Netherfield party did not arrive all at once. Mr Bingley came first with his friend Mr Darcy, who only bowed in acknowledgement of their introduction, but did not speak. With them were Mr Darcy’s cousin, Lady Priscilla, and his younger sister Miss Darcy, who was attended by her companion, Mrs Annesley.

Mr Bingley’s sisters arrived quite late, and might as well not have come at all. Mr Hurst headed directly to the card room, so he might possibly have been acceptable to the local men, but Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley were intolerably bored and rude. Miss Bingley’s eyes followed Mr Darcy all night, Elizabeth noted, but none of the local men asked her to dance once they saw her being avoided by the men in her own party.

Elizabeth might have made an instant decision to put the entire group out of her mind entirely if her sister Jane had not immediately taken the notice of Mr Bingley, and if Lady Priscilla and Miss Darcy were not utterly delightful.

“Some of our new neighbours find themselves above their company, I believe.” Elizabeth approached Charlotte Lucas. “How disappointing, though perhaps one or two of them might be friendly enough. Time will tell.”

“That is because some of them are above their company, Eliza,” Charlotte chided. “Lady Priscilla is the daughter of an earl, and Miss Darcy is the niece of one and granddaughter of another.”

“And yet the pair of ladies in question appear to be the friendliest and most obliging of their party.” Elizabeth observed ironically.

“Mr Darcy certainly has cause to think well of himself. He owns half of Derbyshire, or so I have heard.”

“The disapproving half?” Elizabeth quipped before a voice piped up from behind her.

“The melancholic half, actually.” Lady Priscilla entered their conversation with a wry smile and no apology for eavesdropping. “And the dismal half of Kent as well, do not forget that.”

“How interesting.” Elizabeth smiled quizzically at Charlotte and then at the new young lady and her even younger cousin. “Did they become melancholic and dismal when he obtained them? Or have they rubbed off upon him?”

“The answer is complicated to say the least,” Lady Priscilla returned.

“All the most interesting gentlemen are.” Elizabeth peered across the room at Mr Darcy. “Your cousin appears to be fascinating in terms of character study. I shall not be bored whilst you all visit Meryton.”

She eyed Georgiana. “How do you occupy your time in Derbyshire since you left your school room, Miss Darcy? My aunt lived there for many years in her youth. Do you prefer indoor activities such as music and embroidery, or are you an explorer of the peaks?”

“A bit of both, perhaps, but I cannot pretend not to be quite passionate about the pianoforte. I also enjoy getting out to sketch and enjoy nature. I walk almost every day, and I ride out with my brother often,” Miss Darcy answered timidly as her cousin smiled at her encouragingly.

“I never took to riding. My own feet serve me well enough. I go out nearly every day as well,” Elizabeth confessed. “ Though I have never practiced as I ought, I enjoy the pianoforte. I can play well enough for myself, and our friends here in Meryton, but I admit I am no great performer. I fear I have too many interests to be a true proficient at anything.”

“Eliza, you are too modest,” Charlotte chided, then assured their new acquaintances, “Perhaps her technique is not always perfect, but her playing is light and pleasing.”

“Do you play duets, Miss Elizabeth?” Miss Darcy asked eagerly.

“Only when forced.” Elizabeth was cheerful in her response. She pointed out her next younger sibling. “My sister Mary lives for the instrument, and I believe she might be more easily persuaded.”

She observed Mr Darcy approach her father just as Mr Bingley led Jane to the floor for a dance.

“Mr Thomas Bennet, I believe, of Longbourn, is how you were introduced, sir?” Darcy inquired of Mr Bennet.

“Indeed, Mr Darcy,” Bennet answered briefly. The young man appeared serious enough, though Bennet still had his doubts about the young man being suitably bookish.

“I come bearing a letter from a Mr William Collins. I believe he is your cousin, and possibly the heir presumptive to your estate.”

Darcy wondered what kind of man Mr Bennet was. Collins only knew that his own father, who was woefully uneducated and cruel, had loathed his second cousin. “He has asked me to deliver it into your hands, and so I have done, sir.”

“I am certain this will be amusing.” Mr Bennet pocketed the missive. “How do you know my cousin, Mr Darcy?”

“Mr Collins holds the three livings in my gift.” Mr Darcy answered without any further elaboration.

“Really? Three livings at–what age is that boy now–twenty-eight? Twenty-nine? Perhaps he will be less entertaining than I hoped.” Mr Bennet shook his head in disappointment. “Well, Mr Darcy, your friend Mr Bingley claims you are exceedingly well read. What say you of books?”

A pleasant half hour passed where the two men spoke of university, the Greeks, and several scholarly texts. Mr Bennet was ready to admit that Mr Bingley’s bookish friend might make tolerable company when Bingley and Jane joined them after a set, followed immediately by Mrs Bennet, Elizabeth, Mr Darcy’s relations, and Miss Bingley, who was hoping for an invitation to dance from Mr Darcy.