The two girls looked at each other.
Suddenly the clergyman exclaimed, “Are you the Mr. Darcy of Pemberley whose aunt is Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings Park?”
“I am,” Darcy replied.
“I have the good fortune of being able to inform you that your beneficent aunt was in good health Saturday last.”
Darcy bowed in reply.
“I have the enormous, good fortune to have received her patronage, and I am the current holder of the rectory at Hunsford Parsonage. Her great goodness, as you must know, cannot be surpassed by anyone, and she always shows the finest condescension to every person. As I was just telling my fair cousin—” he gestured to Miss Mary, “there is nothing lacking in the attentions that she has paid me, and she has made many excellent improvements to the parsonage building and the farm.”
Darcy bowed once more in reply.
“I perceive that you have the same perfect politeness and natural condescension that her Ladyship possesses. She shall be delighted to hear that I have met such a person who—”
“Mr. Collins,” Miss Mary took his arm, “I do very much wish to be lined up with everyone else for the dance as soon as possible. You can see that people are already stepping out to the ballroom. We must go quickly—Mr. Darcy, you are of such goodness that you cannot judge Mr. Collins harshly for leaving so abruptly, and after he had barely begun to speak of the goodness of your family.”
“No, I will not judge him at all for that.” He caught Elizabeth’s dancing eyes, and she was smiling quietly. He rather suspected from her expression that Miss Mary also knew that she had done a favor to Darcy by preventing the prolongation of that speech.
Before she stepped away, Mary took Elizabeth’s hand, squeezed it, and gestured in Darcy’s direction.
Darcy and Elizabeth both glanced around the room. Mrs. Bennet had already left the room, but Mr. Bennet stood in the corner holding a steaming cup of either chocolate or coffee, and he frowned at them. He did not look away at noticing Darcy noticing him.
“Not the first dance,” Elizabeth said, “and only if you will also dance with Mary and the other sisters. Perhaps Mary before me, in fact.”
That rage Darcy had felt before on her behalf flared again. Mrs. Bennet’s jealousy. There at least was the explanation for why she never danced with him.
“Oh! I see you are unhappy. And I think I know who you mean to blame—I beg to not look so dour.”
“I dislike injustice.”
“Then give Wilberforce your support—I beg you from my heart to not fight my battle.Ihave no cause for anything but gratitude. And I am most grateful toyouamongst others.” She smiled at him warmly.
A warm glow filled Darcy at seeing that smile.
“If you insist,” Darcy said, “I shall dance with all of the other girls. And Miss Mary before you. Though I dislike the need to dance with the rest. Miss Bennet especially.”
“Are you just so contrary?” Elizabeth asked, smiling. “She is so pretty. And therefore, that contrary thing inside of you demands that you oppose the general inclination in her direction?”
Darcy grinned. “Whether that seems an accurate portrait I must leave foryouto determine.”
“She is sweet, and very kind. Always soft.”
“I do not know that I like softness.”
Mr. Bennet approached them, and that gentleman bowed to Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth smiled cheerfully at the man who was essentially her father. “We were speaking of contrary characters who are determined to oppose anything that the madding crowd likes.Youwould know nothing of that.”
Mr. Bennet smiled at Elizabeth. “I have, simply to remain unpredictable, on occasion agreed with common opinion.”
“No, no! Never. Not you.” Elizabeth was clearly in an excellent mood.
“And what is your opinion?” Mr. Bennet looked at Mr. Darcy with a strong and steady look. It was almost intimidating. “Do you run with madding crowd, or do you stand upon principal always.”
“I hope that I stand upon principle.” Darcy then frowned. “At times one sees someone treated wrongly. I do not respect someone who can see such a thing, in a place where it is their duty to care, and then they do not.”
“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth turned to him, “I already begged you once.”
