“Come now, that is ridiculous.” Miss Bingley appeared almost offended. “Anyone can look at a member of the opposite sex and determine in an instant whether they find that person attractive.”
“I suppose you must be correct,” allowed Darcy, yet not giving an inch. “Yet often first impressions are incorrect, for they can be the work of a moment without true consideration. A person is more than just the face they show to the world.”
“Given that statement, I must wonder at your powers of discernment. Perhaps they are not so profound as I once thought.”
“Miss Bingley,” said Darcy, unwilling to continue to trade words with her, “it would be best if you speak openly. This ambiguity of speech is not conducive to understanding.”
“Very well,” said Miss Bingley as he had known she would. “Then let me speak plainly. I cannot understand how it has escaped your attention, but this... woman who has turned your head is not who you think she is.”
“That is interesting, Miss Bingley,” said Darcy. “You speak of a woman, but you name no names. I wonder if you know what I think of her, whoever this mystery lady is since I have never been explicit about my feelings with you.”
“‘I would as soon call her mother a wit,’” quoted Miss Bingley again, her tone mocking.
“That opinion, as I already said, is months out of date and given with no real thought to the lady in question. I spoke out of turn, and for that, I must blame myself.IfMiss Elizabeth Bennetis the woman of whom you speak, however, you should know that my opinion has altered so much as to be nearly the opposite of what I once espoused. I am now ‘more agreeably engaged,’ as I previously informed you.”
Miss Bingley glared at him, the heat of it enough to provide warmth throughout the entire house. “You know I speak of Miss Elizabeth. Why do you portray a lack of understanding?”
“Of course, I do,” replied Darcy, ignoring her question. “But I have always found it beneficial to speak plainly.”
“Do you toy with me, sir?” spat she.
“I merely speak as I find, Miss Bingley.Youprovoked this conversation. Perhaps you should come to the point and state what you wish. If you are incapable of that, it would be best if we went our separate ways.”
“Very well,” repeated she. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a conniving woman, a fortune-hunting upstart with neither fortune nor standing to her name. Why you cannot see it I do not know, but every good feeling rebels against such a connection, or it would if you were right-minded.”
“Is that so?” asked Darcy. “On what do you base this opinion?”
“It is easy to see, Mr. Darcy,” retorted Miss Bingley. “The man I once thought you were would have labeled her for what she is in an instant.”
“Miss Bingley,” said Darcy, pushing all his displeasure into his reply, “this talk of the man you thought me to be is foolish. You never knew me, regardless of how much you attempt to portray yourself as intimate. Let me refute your charges one at a time and we may be done with this conversation.
“First, Miss Elizabeth is no fortune hunter. I have proof of this, and no, I will not be explicit. Suffice it to say that I am content with what I find in her character. Second, conniving is not a term that describes her, any more than ‘fortune-hunter’ applies. Third, she may not possess wealth or standing, but sheis a gentlewoman, and I am a gentleman. There is no inequality between us in all ways that matter. Fourth,youmay judge her how you like, butmyunderstanding is different. With all due respect to you, my opinion is the only one that applies to me.
“Finally,” continued he, hoping his stern glare would end her protestations at once, “you may consider her without fashion and that will not concern me a jot. You may decry her as insipid and conniving, and it matters not to me. And if you decry her as ill-favored, shifty, or even the unsightliest woman you have ever seen, I might wonder if your eyesight is deficient, but your opinion will not affect me. As I informed you before, I find her to be a beautiful woman with bewitching dark eyes and captivating manners. In short, she is the prettiest woman of my acquaintance.
“If all this is insufficient to induce you to desist, let me also state without disguise that I have no interest in a closer connection with you. To me, you are nothing more than my friend’s sister. To be perfectly blunt, I find your manners obnoxious, your presumption to high society laughable, and your propensity to disparage other women you consider rivals insulting. There is no chance I will offer for you, for we most certainly do not suit. Need I say anything more to convince you that this obsession of yours is destined for failure?”
These were not words any gentleman should say to a woman, regardless of how much she frustrated him. Darcy could not repine them, however, for Miss Bingley had pushed him beyond all endurance. Her stony countenance as she watched him revealed her fury, but she appeared unable to summon any words that would suffice. Then she turned on her heel and marched away.
Sighing, Darcy shook his head. He would need to confess the confrontation to his friend and hope Bingley did not take offense at how thoroughly Darcy had set her down. Eventhough he deplored the way he had spoken to her and how she had provoked him, Darcy could not deny the sentiments he expressed, for they were an accurate representation of his opinion of her. If she saw sense and halted her objectionable behavior, Darcy was not averse to maintaining the acquaintance for Bingley’s sake, a connection she might use to further her dreams of marrying well. It would work even more in her favor if Bingley married Miss Bennet and Darcy married her sister, for the connection would be that much closer. Pushing him, however, would lead to his retaliation and the withdrawal of his patronage. It would be best to inform Bingley of that and allow him to speak to his sister.
“Darcy,” a voice called, startling him.
When he looked up, Darcy saw Lady Catherine approaching him, appearing rather grave. She beckoned to him.
“Come, it appears we must talk.”
After the tense conversation with Miss Bingley, Darcy was not at all eager to endure one similar with his aunt. There appeared to be no choice, so Darcy fell in behind her, following her to the nearby library where he planted himself, his feet set wide, shoulders squared, head erect, preparing himself to do battle with his aunt.
Contrary to popular belief, Lady Catherine de Bourgh was not a bitter termagant. Aware though she was of her nephews’ opinion of her as a meddling, overbearing busybody, Catherine did not concern herself for such things, for she knew her motives were pure.
What she would own to being was a woman possessing supreme confidence in herself. As Catherine had gone through life, she had come to understand that her opinions were usually based on fact, and her ability to see to the heart of a problem and devise a solution profound. When one could be assured of theircapabilities, what use was there to allow dissent? That she was often proven correct did nothing more than teach her to trust her abilities.
This did not mean Catherine was infallible, for she was naught but a woman possessing the frailties attendant on the mortal situation. These episodes were few and far between, such that when they occurred, they almost always caught her by surprise. If she had one failing, it was to be too inflexible. This business with Anne and Darcy seemed to be an example of that flaw, which was doubly unfortunate because Catherine had cherished that wish for many years.
The children had flatly refused to allow her wishes to come to pass, so it appeared there was nothing she could do. In this matter, she had been truly culpable of pushing too far, for while she had wanted the further connection, it had nearly driven her only daughter from her. Ithaddriven her away in all truth, given Anne’s near-disastrous decision to elope with that scoundrel George Wickham. Now that she knew the truth, Catherine had no choice but to allow them to go their way, no matter how much pain their stubbornness caused.
Another matter of which she was aware but knew her relations to be entirely incorrect was her sister’s wish for the same. The subject had arisen between them many times, and Anne had been as staunch a proponent of the match as Catherine was herself. The difference between them had been that Anne had not wished to press them, for she had also believed her son would be happiest if he made his own choice. Catherine had thought they would be happy if they were raised with the knowledge of their destiny together. While she had pressed, Lady Anne Darcy was not a woman who gave ground if she thought she was in the right. Thus, she had not raised Darcy to consider Anne and no other as a potential bride.
