Page 86 of Dear Friend

November 1811

Meryton

Elizabeth

Following a conversation with her father which Elizabeth suspected Mr. Bennet enjoyed considerably more than Mr. Darcy did, she and Darcy subsequently began their courtship.

Mr. Collins required no formal announcement of the alteration. Mr. Darcy called at Longbourn the following afternoon, and again the day after that, and by his third visit even a gentleman less attentive to the concerns of Lady Catherine de Bourgh might have understood the particular object of his visits. Mrs. Bennet's satisfaction certainly left very little room for doubt.

Mr. Collins was horrified. As far as he understood the matter, Mr. Darcy had long been intended for Miss de Bourgh, and the possibility that he might choose another lady appeared to him not merely surprising, but a direct opposition to Lady Catherine's wishes. He attempted more than once to warn Elizabeth of the consequences of encouraging such attentions, until she finally informed him that Mr. Darcy was surely capable of determining his own intentions.

His indignation was not improved when, on Thursday morning, he proposed to Mary and was refused.

Mrs. Bennet had been so persuaded of Mary's suitability for her cousin that the possibility of a refusal had scarcely occurred to her. Mr. Collins was equally astonished, having apparently considered his own willingness to marry her sufficient recommendation, but Mary remained firm. She could not respect him, she said, and no argument from her mother could persuade her that gratitude for an offer was sufficient reason to accept it.

Mrs. Bennet was horrified, Mr. Collins offended, and Mr. Bennet so entertained by the entire affair that Elizabeth suspected Mary had risen considerably in his estimation. Elizabeth herself thought her sister had never shown better judgement.

Mr. Collins soon discovered that Lucas Lodge offered greater sympathy than Longbourn and began spending rather more time there. Elizabeth was content to let him. She had other matters occupying her attention.

Mr. Darcy called every day.

Elizabeth had not known precisely what she expected from being courted by him, but the greatest alteration proved to be the ease with which they could now seek one another's company. Darcy no longer required Bingley's visits as an excuse to come to Longbourn, nor did he hesitate before taking the chair beside her. If the weather allowed them to walk, everyone seemed to understand where he would place himself, while Mrs. Bennet became so offensively helpful in providing opportunities that Elizabeth occasionally wished her mother possessed rather less enthusiasm for the match.

She nevertheless took advantage of every opportunity offered.

Their conversations altered too. Darcy spoke more readily of Pemberley, his parents and the responsibilities which had fallen upon him after his father's death. Elizabeth learnt that he preferred Derbyshire to London, that he disliked unnecessary alterations to an estate merely for fashion, and that although he could discuss books for an hour, he became remarkably obstinate whenever she disliked one he admired.

He learnt more of her in return. He asked about her childhood, her reading, her walks and the thousand small matters which ought to have been of no consequence to him, yet somehow appeared to be. Elizabeth occasionally found his interest curious, but she no longer found it unwelcome.

By Friday, she had begun expecting him.

She knew approximately when he and Bingley would appear and caught herself listening for horses in the lane. Worse, she had begun saving things to tell him. Some absurdity of Lydia's, an observation of her father's, a passage in a book which she knew he would dispute, all were remembered because she wanted to know what Darcy would make of them.

She did not examine this habit too closely.

On Saturday, a clear afternoon allowed Jane and Elizabeth to walk with Bingley and Darcy. Mrs. Bennet had at first suggested that one of the maids accompany them, but Mr. Bennet observed that four sensible adults ought to be capable of walking through Hertfordshire without bringing the household into disgrace. Whether all four deserved his description was left for Mrs. Bennet to decide.

Jane and Bingley gradually moved ahead. Bingley had begun some account which required a great deal of smiling from Jane, and Elizabeth watched them for a moment before turning to Darcy.

“Your friend is remarkably poor at concealment. I knew of his feelings for Jane from the assembly, in fact.”

Darcy followed her gaze. “Bingley has never possessed much talent for disguising his feelings.”

“Unlike his friend?”

He looked down at her. “I had believed myself rather better at it.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Then I fear I must disappoint you.”

“Was I so obvious?”

“Not at first. At first I thought you merely peculiar.”

“Peculiar?”

“You stared at me when we were introduced, rescued me from Mr. Sotherton without being asked, and then danced three sets with me after scarcely speaking to another lady in the room. I had several theories.”

“Such as?”