“Thank you for that bit of wisdom, Mr. Darcy. Kitty and Lydia rarely consider anything other than their immediate gratification. I believe you prompted them to think of something more than endless revelry.”
“It is no trouble, Miss Bennet,” said Mr. Darcy, bowing over her hand. “I will anticipate seeing you again when you come to Netherfield for dinner.”
With that, the gentleman mounted his horse and rode away,Elizabeth watching him as he went. Upon entering the house again, Mary addressed her.
“I know you dislike Mr. Darcy, Lizzy, but I must say that I consider him a good sort of man.”
“Believe me, Mary,” said Elizabeth, “my opinion has altered significantly.”
Mary eyed her for a moment, and then said one word: “Good.”
Chapter XXIX
With all that had been happening of late requiring Elizabeth’s concentration, she had not much time to focus on other matters. Thus, when a letter arrived for her the following morning, its contents reminded Elizabeth of what she had forgotten in a manner that led to the entire family discussing the ramifications.
“It is from Aunt Gardiner,” said Elizabeth to her mother’s query.
The likely reason for the letter was apparent at once, but her mother did not seem to understand the significance so readily. “Oh? What does my sister say?”
There was no point in reminding her mother that she had not yet read the letter, so Elizabeth turned her attention to the pages, reading quickly, as Mrs. Bennet was not blessed with much patience. The contents concerned, as she had suspected, the upcoming journey to the lakes, a matter that had completely slipped Elizabeth’s mind; it was a testament to how much had happened, for she had been anticipating the amusement keenly. What she had not expected, however, was for her aunt to write that they had altered both the distance and destination of the tour due to Mr. Gardiner’s business.
“Well?” demanded her mother, proving Elizabeth’s supposition about the limits of her mother’s endurance.
“Mrs. Gardiner writes about the upcoming tour of the lakes,” replied Elizabeth, turning attention to her more voluble parent. “As Mr. Gardiner’s business will not allow him enough time to visit the lakes, we can go no further north than Derbyshire.”
Mrs. Bennet showed she understood at once, given her sudden appearance of alarm. “You were to go north with themthis summer!”
“I still am to go north,” replied Elizabeth calmly, folding her letter and setting it beside her plate. “Yet instead of going next week, Uncle has delayed our departure for an additional two weeks.”
“Go to the north?” demanded Mrs. Bennet. “Surely that is not possible now, Lizzy.”
“And why would that be?” asked Elizabeth, determined not to give in. “Nothing has changed, Mama. My aunt and uncle invited me, and I accepted. I will not disappoint them by retracting my acceptance now.”
“Mattershavechanged, Lizzy,” said her mother, gaining her footing as she made her case. “There are good reasons for you to remain at Longbourn for the summer. It would be best if you wrote to your aunt and informed them you may not go. We can send Mary in your stead.”
“Mama!” cried Lydia. “Why should dowdy Mary go? You denied me my amusement in Brighton—I should take Lizzy’s place.”
“Because Mary would actually enjoy a journey to the north,” said Mary, “whereas I am certain Lydia would find it a tedious waste of time.”
“As I recall,” said Mr. Bennet, laughter in his tone, “Lydia said exactly that when she heard of Lizzy’s invitation.”
Lydia fumed, annoyed that her sibling and father had destroyed her pretensions so quickly. Elizabeth ignored the byplay, intent upon her breakfast, though she noted her father could not contain his amusement at the obvious point Mrs. Bennet had missed. Knowing there was no chance of being denied her amusement, Elizabeth remained calm, though she dreaded her mother’s response when she finally understood the implications of Elizabeth’s new destination.
The girls fell into bickering about who should accompany theGardiners to the north. Lydia now wished to go despite her previous opinion, while Kitty whined that she was never allowed to go anywhere, let alone on a tour to the north. Mary added a few comments, mostly digs at Lydia, while Jane stayed clear of the dispute.
“Quiet, girls!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet after some moments of this. “If I required any proof of your need for a companion, your behavior now provides it.”
Lydia and Kitty at once snapped their mouths closed, while Mary appeared a little shamefaced, her glance at Elizabeth full of meaning, given their discussion on the way to Meryton the previous morning. Mr. Bennet regarded his wife, smiling at her when she glanced at him. Elizabeth was surprised that her mother had failed to make the connection.
“Now,” said Mrs. Bennet once she restored order, “we must speak further of this business of the northern tour, and it appears I must speak plainly. Lizzy, you cannot possibly think of going north at present, not considering how charming and attentive Mr. Darcy has been to you of late. No, I absolutely forbid it. You will write the Gardiners and inform them that Mary shall go in your stead.”
Mr. Bennet chuckled, bringing Mrs. Bennet’s eyes to him, a hint of offense in the narrowed gaze she directed at him. Itwasrather amusing, Elizabeth supposed, for her mother had readily understood the poor behavior the younger girls had betrayed, but completely missed the most important point that would make the entire business moot.
“I am astonished, Mrs. Bennet,” said Mr. Bennet with a wink. “There is a monumentally important factor that you have not considered in forbidding Elizabeth from going north.”
“What might that be, Mr. Bennet?” asked his wife, her tone suggesting she thought he meant to laugh at her expense, not an unreasonable assumption.
“It is most amusing that you have not seen it for yourself,” said Mr. Bennet, still chuckling and shaking his head. “Let me help you understand. Lizzy has a tour to the north planned with the Gardiners. Now, where did they intend this tour to take them?”
