Soon, two card tables had been set up. While everyone else congregated around the card tables, Mr Darcy came to her with a rather apologetic look. He spoke in an undertone. “MissBennet, I assure you I spoke entirely in earnest. You did very well.”
Elizabeth smiled at him. “You do not have to say that, Mr Darcy. I know I am not particularly accomplished. My sister, Mary, is the musician of the family. I suppose I always had my eyes too much in my books to really take my playing seriously.”
“Even so, I should like to apologise for Miss Bingley misspeaking.”
Miss Bingley certainly had not misspoken. Her comment had been calculated and cruel. But to say so could only cause unnecessary embarrassment. “I thank you, Mr Darcy. It has been a great pleasure to make your acquaintance. You have been so welcoming to me and my aunt and uncle.”
“It is you who should receive my thanks, Miss Bennet. I shall never forget your kindness in lending Georgiana your novel. She was honoured by your trust in her, as was I. And I think your friendship a most beneficial influence on my sister.”
For a moment, Elizabeth was too surprised to reply. It was so very high a compliment. “You are too good,” she said at last. “I can only say that I treasure her friendship, and I will do my best to live up to the compliment.”
Mr Darcy seemed almost at the point of saying something more, but before he could do so, they were called to join the others and help decide on what was to be played. As Elizabeth did not much care for cards, and it transpired that Mr Darcy did not either, the value of this was doubtful, but it did at least put an end to a conversation that was rapidly becoming too intimate.
When it was time to say their goodbyes, Elizabeth could not help but think of how much she had enjoyed herself, despite Miss Bingley’s stinging remarks. Miss Bingley so obviouslyprided herself on her good breeding and thought herself above all the company except her hosts, and yet her behaviour was very far from ladylike. She would have done better to look to Mrs Annesley, whom she obviously regarded as little more than a servant, for an example of real elegance.
Yet one unpleasant companion could not ruin an evening supported by so many pleasant ones. Mr Bingley was a charming man, and Miss Darcy, as always, all sweetness and elegance.
And then there was her brother. Mr Darcy’s quick wit and dry humour had almost made up for Miss Bingley’s rudeness. But she must remember that she was Miss Darcy’s friend, not his. Surely he would not see out her company if he did not wish to facilitate her friendship with his sister.
Surely it was Miss Darcy’s company that had made the evening so pleasant, not Mr Darcy’s.
Chapter 10
Darcy half-wished they had never held a supper party at all, for even days later, Georgiana remained disturbed by the social undercurrents that had swirled through their dining room. She raised the subject yet again as they sat in the drawing room one day, shortly before Miss Bennet and Mrs Gardiner were to arrive for tea.
“I thought Miss Bennet played well the other night,” Georgiana said cautiously, after expressing her excitement to see her friend. “I hope that Miss Bingley did not make her feel as if she did not.”
“Indeed, she did,” Darcy said. No wonder Georgiana was still thinking of it, for he could not seem to get Miss Bennet out of his thoughts since the night of the supper party. She was such a mixture of sweetness and wit, strength and gentleness. With true propriety, she held her own against Miss Bingley’s sniping, all without causing greater conflict or awkwardness. To balance so many concerns so adeptly was no simple task, yet she had done it as though it were nothing.
“Miss Bennet does not have the refined skill of a young lady who has practised often and had the advantage of Town masters,” Mrs Annesley said judiciously, “but she playedwith spirit, I thought. Sometimes, that is preferable to skill. Particularly a skill tainted with arrogance.”
“Quite so,” Darcy agreed. Mrs Annesley was a woman of impressive taste and judgement, not to mention a vast and kindly heart. She had been of immeasurable assistance in helping Georgiana regain her confidence and improve her judgement after the disaster of Ramsgate. Was it foolish of him to be pleased, just a little, by how she seemed to approve of Elizabeth?
Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet were soon announced. In their cheerful presence, the room took on almost a festive air. Georgiana sprang up from her chair and trotted over to greet their guests. Darcy and Mrs Annesley rose from their seats as Georgiana brought the ladies over to the sitting area.
Darcy willed himself not to notice how his heartbeat quickened at the sight of Miss Bennet. It could not be that he was allowing himself to become infatuated with her, could it? He knew perfectly well she was not a suitable candidate for a wife. His parents would have been appalled by the suggestion that he might marry a woman with no connections or dowry. He could never consider it.
Now, if he could only convince his racing pulse of that.
“Miss Bennet, I have happened upon a new book, and I wonder if you might give me your opinion on it?” Georgiana asked as they waited for tea to arrive.
Mrs Gardiner and Mrs Annesley sat down near him, and Darcy forced himself to let the younger women alone for a time. He turned to Mrs Gardiner and tried to engage her in conversation, if only to take his mind off her niece for a moment. “How are things at Gracechurch Street, Mrs Gardiner?”
“Oh, they trundle along as always. As a mother of four, I have time to think about little else save for their upbringing. But you know how quickly the years pass, do you not?” She sighed and looked over at Miss Bennet and Georgiana, who had gone off to the corner of the room where the pianoforte was kept. Georgiana had brought down the book she had found a few days prior while they had been out and about London, shopping on one of the rare clear mornings that London had to offer.
“The days go slowly, but the years go quickly,” Mrs Annesley sighed. “I have never had children myself, but my nieces and nephews seem to change so drastically anytime I have occasion to visit. How old is Mary now, Mrs Gardiner?”
“She will be eight this summer. It boggles the mind to think she will soon be coming with me to the dressmaker!” Mrs Gardiner shook her head. “It seems impossible, and yet it is so.”
Georgiana and Miss Bennet soon returned to them so that tea might be served. Miss Bennet sat next to him, a choice that Darcy reproved himself for noticing. Surely it meant nothing. She had done it without the slightest display, and had not singled him out in conversation, but had spoken to the group.
In any case, he had no business hoping that she had chosen the place next to him deliberately. He would do better to prefer she did no such thing.
“Well, what does the spring hold for the Darcys, I wonder?” Mrs Gardiner asked. She took a sip of her tea. “I hope we shall be able to have you over for supper? We should greatly like to return your civility.”
“We should like that very much, Mrs Gardiner,” Darcy answered. “However, it shall have to be within the next month.Georgiana and I will be returning to Pemberley for the spring. I have much business to attend to, you see.”
Mrs Gardiner’s face fell, as did Miss Bennet’s. “Ah, how sad we shall all be parted!” Mrs Gardiner said.
