Was she a fool to hope for more still? To wish, more than anything, to marry for love?
That, at any rate, was a question for the future, and in the present, she would have to hurry to avoid her odious cousin. Elizabeth went out into the hall, keeping Mr Collins in her sights. If she wished to escape dancing with him again, she would have to keep ahead of his next move. As Elizabeth reached the end of the hall, she saw a small side-room, open to the corridor. Elizabeth smiled — she recognised the nook from prior visits, and it was perfect. As she recalled, it had a capital view over the lawn, and better still for her purposes, the walls were angled, allowing anyone standing there to shield themselves from view. It would be an ideal hiding place, at least when escaping from someone as unobservant as Mr Collins.
Elizabeth was almost at the point of stepping into the nook when she saw Miss Bingley rapidly walking down the corridor towards her. Though pausing to greet her might allow Mr Collins to catch up to her, Elizabeth felt that civility demanded that she offer her hostess at least that much courtesy. Accordingly, she offered Miss Bingley a smile and a quick bow.
To her astonishment, Miss Bingley did not return the gesture. She barely inclined her head as she walked by without stopping to exchange even the most rudimentary pleasantries. More shocking still, Elizabeth did not think her expression could be described as anything but a sneer. As she stepped into the little window nook, Elizabeth resolved to forget the slight. She could not be much hurt by such an affront, for it only confirmed her opinion of Caroline Bingley. The woman liked to think herself above her company in Meryton, but any hostess of real taste and elegance would never have offered such a slight to a guest under her roof.
“There you are!” Elizabeth turned as Charlotte Lucas came to join her. Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, Charlotte’s keen eyes had found her out, and she could not regret it. Her dear friend was exactly the understanding companion she would have chosen.“Whatever are you doing tucked into this shadowy corner?” Charlotte linked her arm with Elizabeth’s and settled in to listen.“I know you would never show it nor admit it, but you have been looking forward to the ball nearly as much as Lydia.”
Elizabeth nodded, giving a short laugh.“I have been brought down a peg or two, Charlotte,” she sighed. She leaned her head against Charlotte’s shoulder.
Poor Charlotte — already twenty-seven and still unwed. She would have been snapped up long ago, if only the gentlemen of Meryton could see Charlotte’s true worth. She was intelligent, kind, and sensible. Elizabeth could not have wished for a more devoted friend — and any gentleman that had the sense to propose to her would gain a most able and loving wife. But Charlotte was undeniably plain, her dowry small, and such defects seemed to outweigh her virtues in the eyes of Meryton’s eligible bachelors.
“What on earth do you mean?” Charlotte asked.“Why do you look so annoyed, my friend? I know you are much happier on the dance floor than anywhere else. How is it that no one has asked you to dance?”
“Someone has asked. Indeed, two gentlemen that I would rather not speak to or be around for the rest of my time here on earth. And yet they are the only gentlemen that have gained my hand for the dancing this evening.”
“Oh?” Charlotte said.
“First, I danced with my cousin, Mr Collins.”
“Do you really find him so disagreeable?” Charlotte asked with a tilt of her head.
Elizabeth sighed. “I assure you, I do. Have you ever met a man with less sense, Charlotte? I know I should be grateful never to hear about the Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her many wondrous chimney pieces again. And I most particularly would be grateful never to have my feet stepped on a dozen times over the course of a single country dance again.”
“I cannot blame you there,” Charlotte agreed, “but who, then, is the second gentleman?”
“None other, I am afraid, than Mr Darcy!”
“You will find Mr Darcy a most excellent partner, I assure you, Lizzy.”
“Oh, Charlotte, do not wish such a misfortune on me! I do not wish to dance with him. But as you can no doubt see, I have no choice. If I were to have refused him, it might damage Jane’s chances with Mr Bingley, since he does not seem to bat an eye without Mr Darcy’s approval. And you know I would not ruin Jane’s future happiness for a quarter hour of discomfort for myself.”
“I think you are being sorely unfair to Mr Darcy. I have been in company with him several times over the last few weeks, and he is a most genteel man, full of good breeding and compassion. Most men in this town would not lower themselves to speak to a spinster like me, but Mr Darcy treats me with respect and kindness. Why do you not give him a chance? He is, after all, even more wealthy than Jane’s Mr Bingley.” Thankfully, Charlotte had the good sense and breeding to lower her voice, preventing their conversation from being overheard. Elizabeth was grateful that she had not said it loudly enough for everyone to hear, as her father — by the accident of his fading hearing, or her mother — out of an accidental disregard of social etiquette — might have done.
“I do not care a jot about his wealth, Charlotte,” Elizabeth retorted.“You should know by now that I could never marry a man simply because of his large estate or many shares in the Funds.” Elizabeth hesitated for a moment. At last, she went on. Charlotte was very nearly her dearest friend, second only to Jane. Who better to understand her heart?“I must be hopelessly in love with the man I wed, or I shall not wed at all.”
Charlotte shook her head and gave a short laugh.“You are a hopeless romantic, Lizzy. For your sake, I only hope you may do so. I do not think that I will have so free a choice. But truly, you should not dismiss Mr Darcy so easily. It would be a brilliant match.”
“Oh, Charlotte, I do not think Mr Darcy means to present any attentions to me beyond simple courtesy. Nor do I wish them. After tonight, I do not think we shall speak much. He is likely to return to Pemberley soon, thank goodness, and hopefully we shall not be forced to suffer his presence but on rare occasions, after Jane and Mr Bingley are married, as we hope they will be.”
Elizabeth had hardly finished speaking before a servant approached and gave a quick curtsy. She extended her hand, in it, a small folded piece of paper.“A message for you, miss,” she explained.
Elizabeth took the note and frowned, glancing at Charlotte.“Thank you.”
The girl left, and she turned to open the note. She turned it so Charlotte could read it as well.“Miss Elizabeth, please come to the library as soon as is convenient for you. We must discuss a matter of grave importance.”
It was simply signed,“Mrs X”.
Charlotte took the note and read it more closely.“Who is this Mrs X?” she asked.
“I haven’t the faintest idea. But whoever she is, her handwriting is atrocious.” Indeed, the scribbled hand was almost illegible. Elizabeth bit her lower lip. Whoever she was, Elizabeth could not very well refuse to appear. The urgency of the message could not have been clearer. And if it concerned Jane and Mr Bingley, she would feel as if she had let her sister down. What if the mysterious Mrs X knew something that might secure her happiness, or worse still, knew of a reason they must not wed? Elizabeth did not much like the idea of going to a mysterious meeting with a woman she did not know. Then again, she knew her curiosity would not let her rest until she had found out what the person wanted.
“Do you think I ought to go, Charlotte?” Elizabeth asked. “This Mrs X seems to have something important to tell me, and yet I would not wish to do anything imprudent.”
“I see no harm in it, Lizzy. The library is not far from the ballroom. There will likely be people nearby. And since the writer is a woman, I see no reason not to meet with her.”
“You are right.” Elizabeth said, reading the note again. Her curiosity was piqued, and the only way to satisfy it would be to go to this clandestine meeting. She refolded the note and put it inside her reticule with her dance card.“I shall go now, and see what this Mrs X wants before my dreaded dance with Mr Darcy. Perhaps she will have some good news to share with me.”
