“You are considering how insupportable it is to be here among these people and not with those equal to you in society; and indeed, I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise, no class, no fashion, and yet the self-importance of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!” Miss Bingley cooed.
“Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow,” Darcy stated knowing how much displeasure his declaration would bring the shrew. “As we previously discussed, weare notat the same level of society. Do I need to remind you of our conversation then?”
Caroline Bingley chose to ignore that which she did not want to hear, and fixated on the first part of what Mr Darcy had said. As she was sure he meant herself, she fixed her eyes on his face. She batted her eyelashes at Mr Darcy as she gave him more time to admire her. “And who has inspired you to look at her in such a way?” she asked.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Darcy averred without delay.
“Miss Eliza Bennet!” repeated Miss Bingley as she turned red with anger, but fought to control herself. “I see no beauty in her, and I am sure my sister would agree with me!”
“Then it is good my opinions and yours are at a variance. I neither asked for, nor do I desire your opinions on thematter.” Darcy knew it sounded rude, but he could think of nothing else to convey his message to her.
At least for the present, it proved successful as Miss Bingley stormed off to go seek succour from her sister.
After playing one piece, Miss Elizabeth sung a lively air, and Darcy was further entranced by her. She excelled at singing. He knew not if it was natural ability or the training of a master, but either way, he regretted it when she finished her song and stood to make way for her next younger sister.
Lydia Bennet demanded dance music, which Fanny seconded. Rather than go speak to her calmly, the Bennet matron commanded Mary to play music to which they could dance by yelling over the playing. A rug was rolled back in one corner of the room. A line formed, consisting of the two youngest Bennets and the youngest Lucas, standing opposite the two captains and a lieutenant.
Darcy noted his host had come to stand next to him. Almost at the same moment, Miss Elizabeth crossed the room close to the two men. “Miss Eliza, allow me to present Mr Darcy to you as a partner for a dance,” Sir William proposed as he took her hand and offered it to Mr Darcy.
“Do not imagine, Sir William, I walked this way in order to seek a dance partner,” Elizabeth responded, “I happen to know Mr Darcy does not seek enjoyment in the refinement of dancing.” Elizabeth arched an eyebrow in challenge.
“Refinement? Every savage can dance,” Darcy jested. “Miss Elizabeth would you do me the honour of standing up with me for this dance?”
Elizabeth looked at the enigmatic man from Derbyshire and saw sincerity in his looks. As he was not asking just because he felt pressured by Sir William, she accepted him for the dance.
It did not take Elizabeth long to determine Mr Darcy was anything but deficient at the art of dancing.
From where she sat with her sister, Miss Bingley wanted to scream. It became even more critical to uncover anything negative she could about these Bennets. It was not only to separate Charles from Miss Bennet, she needed to be able to prove how unsuitable they were to Mr Darcy.
After chasing him for more than five years, she was not about to quit the field to some country mushroom.
Chapter 4
At every turn, Miss Bingley used any excuse, and if she had none, she manufactured one, to denigrate the Bennets, and most especially Miss Eliza. Whenever she said the name, it was spat out in a way which showed her disdain for the woman.
It had become a somewhat frustrating exercise. Try as she may, even with Louisa’s support, Mr Darcy would not agree with her or say anything to show he shared her antipathy for all things Bennet. As Charles was greatly enamoured with Miss Jane Bennet, meaning they were often in company together, which of course included the hated Miss Eliza, Miss Bingley decided that she needed to discourage her brother as that was another way which would lead to not seeing the Bennets.
“Mr Darcy, I am sure you have noted the same thing as I with regards to Miss Bennet,” Miss Bingley purred. The residents of the house were seated in the primary drawing room after dinner one evening. As she knew he would, as soon as she mentioned his latest angel, Charles looked up and gave her his attention.
“Other than she is a demure lady who always observes propriety, I am sure I know not of what you speak,” Darcy averred.
“Come now, Mr Darcy,” Miss Bingley simpered, “a man as astute as you, must have seen that although Miss Bennet accepts my brother’s attentions, she has no tender feelings for him. If he offers for her, that mercenary, vulgar mother of hers will not allow her to refuse even though she feels nothing for Charles.”
“Please excuse me if I do not take what you say about anyone named Bennet as fact,” Bingley interjected. “You have made your feelings about them abundantly clear.”
Miss Bingley had to school her features. Why was it she was no longer able to manipulate Charles? She shook the thought off, knowing her brother would not ignore Mr Darcy’s opinion, which she was positive was not at variance with her own. “I have made no secret of my feelings about the Bennets, but surely you would not ignore Mr Darcy’s wise counsel?”
“Well Darce, does Caroline have the right of it?” Bingley enquired.
“I will admit it is hard to see Miss Bennet’s affections displayed for you…” Darcy paused when he saw the smug look from the shrew as if she was the cat who had been presented with all the cream.
“You see, it is not only Louisa and me,” Mrs Hurst nodded her agreement, “who see that Miss Bennet cares nothing for you, but Mr Darcy as well,” Miss Bingley crowed triumphantly.
“I thank you not to put your own words into my mouth,” Darcy retorted. “That isneitherwhat Isaidnormeant. Some ladies are aware propriety dictates they do not show their preferences for a man until said man speaks, or for instance, offers them his arm.” Darcy looked at Miss Bingley coldly. The woman gasped. “I have been able to see that although she keeps her feelings to herself, as propriety dictates she should, Miss Bennet feels tenderly about Bingley. If she was like other women who do not behave with propriety…” Again, Darcy gave Miss Bingley a pointed look. “…and was overt in her feelings, then I am sure you would accuse her of being inappropriate, or a fortune hunter, or worse.” He turned to his friend. “In this case, you and I are of one mind on the subject of Miss Bennet and her inviting your attentions for the right reasons.”
If Miss Bingley had been sucking an actual lemon, herface could not have been more contorted and pinched than it was at that moment. “A woman knows how another woman feels,” she stated to try and recover the situation.
“That is rather a ridiculous statement,” Bingley asserted. “Caroline, save your breath to cool your porridge, because it is wasted on me. As I am the one who actually spends time with Miss Bennet, I would have told you that you were wrong before Darcy did in such an eloquent fashion.WhenI choose the woman I want to marry, it will be for my own pleasure, without reference to your feelings and opinions on the matter. Even had Darcy agreed with you, I would not have relented.”
