“Ididsee him there,” confessed Elizabeth. “I shall not say he showed himself to better advantage there than he did in Hertfordshire, though as he was among his family, I believe I understood him better.”
“Oh, la!” exclaimed Lydia, proving she had overheard something of their conversation. “Who would want to marry dull Mr. Darcy? Why, I should much prefer to marry an officer and live a life of adventure!”
“Any woman would count themselves lucky to be singled out by the gentleman!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet.
“But Mama!” gasped Lydia, horrified. “Did you not rail against Mr. Darcy and call him the most odious man of your acquaintance?”
“Mr. Darcy did not present himself to the best advantage,” said Mrs. Bennet, though her admission was grudging. “Now he is more amiable, and his sister is everything lovely. I mustsuppose something was weighing on his mind when he was here last. Or perhaps his family allows him to feel more comfortable.”
This did not fit Lydia’s feelings, for she protested further, earning her mother’s reproof. That, of course, led Lydia to sullenness, which provoked Mrs. Bennet to regard her youngest with more asperity.
“If you cannot speak well of Mr. Darcy,” instructed Mrs. Bennet, “then you should not speak of him at all. He is paying attention to your sister and is a man in possession of a handsome estate. Say nothing to push him away, Lydia, for none of us could have expected a man of his prominence to pay attention to one of you.”
That silenced Lydia, though she cast injured looks at her mother, who returned them with pointed glares. Elizabeth exchanged a glance with Mary and chuckled. Trust Mrs. Bennet to consider a man’s position in society and wealth before all other concerns! Then Elizabeth turned her attention back to her conversation with Mary.
“Why this interest in Mr. Darcy, Mary?”
While she appeared embarrassed, Mary did not hesitate to answer. “It may be foolish, Lizzy, but I enjoy Georgiana’s company and would like to maintain her friendship.”
“Why you think such a girl would be interested inyouis beyond my understanding,” spat Lydia.
“Lydia!” cried Mrs. Bennet.
“And you suppose she would preferyou?” rejoined Mary. “Unlike some I could name, Georgiana has more than a bit of fluff in her head and does not feel the need to chase after officers every moment of the day.”
Lydia drew herself up for an impressive retort when Mrs. Bennet again inserted herself between them.
“That is enough, Lydia.”
The daughter most likely to escape her mother’s censureregardless of the situation, Lydia looked at her and pouted. Mrs. Bennet did not give an inch.
“From what I can see,” said Mrs. Bennet, “Mary got on well with Georgiana.”
“You suppose I did not?” grumbled Lydia.
“No, I do not suppose it,” said her mother. “There is no need to disparage your sister. You can all have friendly relations with Miss Darcy, particularly if Mr. Darcy persuades your sister to accept him.”
A thought came to Mrs. Bennet, and she scowled at Elizabeth. “I trust, daughter, that you will not reject Mr. Darcy out of hand like you did with Mr. Collins.”
“I make no promise to accept him,” replied Elizabeth. “And I will point out that he has not as yet made any overt gestures toward me.”
Mrs. Bennet’s frown deepened, provoking Elizabeth to reassure her.
“Mama, do you suppose that Mr. Darcy is like Mr. Collins, of all men?”
“How do you mean?” demanded a suspicious Mrs. Bennet.
“Well, if nothing else,” said Lydia, “Mr. Darcy bathes occasionally. If Mr. Collins has ever encountered a bar of soap, he did not put it to any use.”
Kitty giggled, crying: “Mr. Collinswasrather malodorous!”
“Not only that,” said Elizabeth. “Mr. Darcy is intelligent, proper, and no woman could compare him to Mr. Collins in face and form.”
Mrs. Bennet regarded Elizabeth for a long moment and then nodded. “Yes, Mr. Darcyisa handsome man. There is no denying that.”
“Then it would be best to allow the subject to rest, Mama,” said Elizabeth. “I will not reject him out of hand, but I will not accept him without coming to know him better either.”
“Did he not say you were ‘not handsome enough to tempt him?’” challenged Lydia.
