“That he is,” agreed Lord Matlock. “I find Mr. Bingley to be an excellent young fellow. Have you known him for long?”
“Since university,” agreed Darcy. “Bingley was a year behind me.”
“He means to purchase an estate?”
“It was his father’s wish, and one he could not accomplish during his lifetime.” Darcy paused and then grinned at his wife and eldest sister-in-law. “It was my thought that Bingley might purchase an estate in Hertfordshire, but with recent events, I suspect he might prefer a county further north.”
“The north would be closer to his ancestral home,” said Jane, a bit of daring Bennet had not expected from her.
“That it would,” said Bennet. “But it would also situate his future wife near the home of her closest sister and put him near his excellent friend.”
The company erupted in mirth at Bennet’s quip, and though Jane’s cheeks grew rosy again, she repeated her earlier glare. Unaffected by her feigned displeasure, Bennet turned to Elizabeth.
“What say you, Elizabeth?”
“Little that has not already been said,” replied his second eldest. “Should matters fall in such a way, I would not oppose having Jane nearby.”
“Yes, we all know how close you are,” said Mrs. Bennet. She turned to her middle daughter and said: “How are you getting on, Mary?”
The most socially awkward of his daughters, Mary was not accustomed to being the focus of attention, and this manifested in her hesitation before she answered. Mary, too, showed that she had matured, for she raised her head and met her mother’s gaze.
“I have enjoyed my time with Lady Susan and Lord Matlock. They have even introduced me to new literature, which has broadened my mind.”
“Your daughters’ company has been a treasure, Mrs. Bennet,” said Lady Susan. “Not since my daughters left my home for their own have I enjoyed the company of such ladies.”
Lady Susan turned a glare on her son. “As I must endure Anthony’s presence since he refuses to find a wife, the presence of other ladies is a boon.”
“All in good time, Mother,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, putting his mother off with a laugh. “I must find a woman of fortune so that I may maintain my lifestyle, after all.”
“Or a woman who will endure him,” said the earlsotto voce.
“Aye, that is important too!”
“Enough of this banter,” said Lady Susan, motioning to her family to be silent. “Our purpose for visiting today is to invite you all to an evening at the theater.”
Lady Susan turned a smile on the younger girls. “You are also invited, for such an activity is acceptable.”
“What a fine thing that will be!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet. “Why, I do not think I have ever attended.”
As conversation continued about him, Bennet watched his wife with no little amusement. The old Margaret Bennet cared little for such things as the theater, and Bennet knew she still possessed little knowledge of such literature. Mrs. Bennet, he knew, would never be a woman of cerebral conversation or prodigious levels of information, but she would no doubt enjoy an evening, even if she was not familiar with the material the theater troupe presented.
Or perhaps this was not the best development, for even a few days in London was not enough to convince Bennet of the wisdom of taking part in much society. Then again, if Mrs. Bennet had developed a taste for such things, Bennet knew shewould be well in the countess’s company, or even that of her daughters. Such things would not interrupt Bennet’s enjoyment of Darcy’s library, so he decided it was nothing to indulge his wife.
THE EVENING AT THEtheater went about as one might expect. The Darcy and Bennet families were the subject of much curiosity, and a few of the more influential approached either for introductions or to expand existing acquaintances. Among those who did so were those such as Lord Winchester, who continued his good behavior, speaking with the earl and Fitzwilliam, and then Elizabeth and Darcy with perfect composure and no clear ulterior motives.
“Look at them,” said Elizabeth, laughter in her tone. “The way they watch us, one might think we were wild beasts in the menagerie, displayed for all to see.”
Darcy turned a grin on his wife. “Do you not suppose that to them weareakin to unfathomable creatures?”
“Perhaps we are,” agreed Elizabeth. “I hope, however, that we are giving a better account of ourselves than that.”
“Anyone who cannot see your worth and appreciate it is not only not worth our time, but blind in the bargain.”
“Still colored by the eyes of love, I see,” said Elizabeth, contentment radiating from her.
“Always, my love,” replied Darcy, raising her hand to his lips. “Always.”
Their little intimate moment did not go unnoticed by the onlookers, such that there was an explosion of whispering in response. Darcy cared not a jot, for all that he rarely appreciated being the focus of attention. If others saw his devotion and her returning regard, perhaps it would warn them frominappropriate behavior such as that displayed by the detestable Douglas.
