“I rarely have time to ride for pleasure. But I enjoy it when I have the chance. Do you enjoy riding?”
Miss Elizabeth Bennet shrugged. “We do not have a horse that is worthy of the task. But I do love walking around the outskirts of the village and down the country lanes. I do not think there is anything more lovely than walking around in the sunshine with a good book in hand.”
He glanced about the room, feeling as if his every move was being watched by the whole of the Bennet family. The younger sisters were snickering at him, holding their mouths behind their hands as they passed judgement on him. He shifted. “Your father allows you to walk about unattended?”
“It is not dangerous. There are few things to entertain here in Meryton, as I am sure you have come to understand during your short stay here.” She sighed. “One does not need many diversions if one has a quick mind and can exercise a bit of imagination. My books take me to places I would not otherwise be able to visit. And then, of course, there are the public assemblies. I dearly love to dance.”
“I see,” was all he could think to say.
“Do you like to dance, Mr Darcy?”
She was being so welcoming and friendly that he had a difficult time holding himself aloof. However, as he was about to answer, he overheard Mrs Bennet turn to Mrs Younge and whisper in a conspiratorial tone. “It is fortunate that Elizabeth went to speak with Miss Darcy at the assembly, when no one else would.” She paused for a moment, and Darcy held his breath to listen all the better, turning his face to the side to make them believe he was merely lost in thought. “It will surely putElizabeth and my Jane in the path of rich men. All of my girls, really.”
Darcy tried not to let his face show his disgust. Elizabeth frowned. “Are you well, Mr Darcy?”
He was sure his face had gone as white as a sheet. Or perhaps had turned a dark shade of red at the anger bubbling up inside him. It was all too clear that Mrs Younge’s warning had been justified. Mrs Bennet was indeed baldly mercenary, and it was too much to expect that her daughters would think differently. It was shameful, but he knew well how to answer such behaviour. Darcy took a steadying breath, narrowing his eyes at her. “I would count it a punishment to stand up with most women,” he said curtly.
Elizabeth’s eyes lost some of their lustre. Though he felt a momentary regret, it was just as well. She ought to know that he would not be corralled into making an “advantageous match” with her. From where he sat, the match would only be an advantage to her and her family, while he had to deal with a mother-in-law who did not know when to stop talking. He glanced at Mr Bennet. Nor would he make much of a father-in-law, since he allowed his family to run amuck.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth stood at the back of the group as the Darcys and Mrs Younge said their goodbyes in preparation to return to their rented house. Mr Darcy looked as if the goodbyes were torture, standing aloof as his sister gave hearty thanks for the evening. There was no doubt that Miss Darcy had enjoyed the evening, forshe and Mary were quickly becoming fast friends through their shared love of music. Or at least they would, if Mr Darcy allowed it.
He was a puzzle to her. At first, he had seemed warm and genteel. At other times, he had acted cold and withdrawn. Perhaps he was shy, just as Miss Darcy was. But there was something behind his gaze that made her question whether it was only shyness that made him glare at her as he walked out of the house. Had she said or done something to offend him?
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” he said as he passed, giving her a polite nod.
“Mr Darcy,” she said curtly. If he were going to treat them this way, she would not go out of her way to be especially friendly.
Miss Darcy came up to her next in the long lineup of her family wishing them a good evening. “It was a splendid supper party, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Thank you so much for inviting us. I do not know when I have had a more wonderful time.”
Forgetting her discomfort, Elizabeth leaned in and pressed her hand firmly, as she would one of her sisters. “It was our pleasure to have you all here with us tonight. We shall have to do it again soon.”
“Yes, we shall. It may be a little while before I am back, though. I am thinking of going to London with my brother for a short time. May I give you my address, so we may write to each other while I am away?”
Elizabeth was touched by the suggestion. “I would count it a privilege.”
Miss Darcy gave her the address for their London townhouse, and as soon as their guests were gone, Elizabeth headed up to the room she shared with Jane to write it down. Jane came in as she was finishing at the writing desk. She turned and smiled at her sister.
“That went well, do not you think?” Jane asked. She went behind the screen and began to change for bed.
“I do. At least, I believe Miss Darcy had a good time.” She stood and walked over to the screen, standing on the other side to retrieve her sister’s gown for the laundry while Jane changed into her nightdress. Elizabeth slung it over her arm, running her fingers over the beautiful light blue fabric. Her sister looked best in more vibrant colours, but felt that she would draw too much attention to herself if she wore them. Jane was entirely too modest.
“You do not think Mr Darcy enjoyed himself?” Jane asked as she came out from behind the screen and went to sit at the vanity to undo her hair.
Elizabeth placed her sister’s gown on the trunk at the foot of their bed, folding it loosely. “I do not know what to make of him. At times, he seemed so wonderful. At others, it felt as if he were forced to be here upon pain of death. He is a difficult man to read.” His comment about dancing had stung, for Elizabeth could not help but feel that his comment was pointed, quite deliberately pointed. “It is no matter. We shall see very little of him from now on, I believe, as he is on his way to London. It is a pity that his sister will be going with him, even if it is for a short time. I shall miss her.”
“Yes, I think our acquaintance with Miss Darcy shall blossom into a beautiful friendship,” Jane said. She got up and retrieved Elizabeth’s gown where she had hung it over the top ofthe screen. Elizabeth struggled to loosen her stays. They seemed to have grown as difficult and unwieldy as Mr Darcy himself. She tried not to grunt in frustration. Hopefully, Mr Darcy would not discourage Miss Darcy from writing, but only time would tell.
“Yes, I believe it will as well,” Elizabeth said. She slipped her nightdress over her head and walked out from behind the screen in her stocking feet. They helped each other with their hair, brushing and plaiting it for each other. But despite the excitement of the evening and how much work it had been to prepare for the evening’s festivities, Elizabeth could not sleep. Whatever Mr Darcy’s reasons for snubbing her, she would simply have to dismiss it from her mind, for there was certainly nothing she could do to change them.
Chapter 10
“What a wonderful evening. Was it not, brother? Are they not a most charming family?” Georgiana asked as they entered the foyer of the rented house.
Mrs Younge turned to Darcy with a significant expression, though she did not say a word. She did not need to, for her opinion was obvious. She was not pleased. No, indeed. He would say she was not pleased in the slightest. But was it only that the Bennets were uncouth at times, or was it their scheming to use him in pursuit of the “rich gentlemen” her daughters so desperately needed? Surely there was not something more sinister at work.
No. He did not think so. He pushed the thought away almost as soon as it had presented itself. Mrs Bennet was vapid and concerned with the family’s welfare in equal measure. He could not fault her for the latter, even if he did not care for her methods. She loved her daughters; that much was obvious. How she went about securing their places in the world was not how he would have done things, but that did not make her a bad person.
