“This Thursday,” Mr Collins answered for her, spraying bits of pastry over the tablecloth as he said it. “I could not have waited a day longer or wished for a more lovely bride.”
Darcy closed his eyes. The entire evening had been torture. For somebody who was determined to keep their engagement a secret, Elizabeth seemed perversely resolved on doing everything in her power to arouse him. Feigning indifference to her allurements had left him with little wit to counter Miss Bingley’s unrelenting advances. He had long since run out of patience for the entire damnable charade, and he certainly had no desire to entertain a discussion about somebodyelse’swedding.
“It is fortunate Lizzy refused you, then.”
He looked up sharply. He knew not who had said it—undoubtedly one of Elizabeth’s younger sisters—but he could scarcely contain his indignation. The impropriety of such a remark notwithstanding, he absolutely could not listen to a conversation about somebody else’s weddingto Elizabeth!He took a gulp of his wine and glanced in her direction. He ought not to have been surprised to discover she was laughing. Not aloud, of course, but her entire countenance was aglow with mirth. She lifted her glass to her lips and gave him an arch look over the rim. He remained utterly still, unwilling that any outward trace of the effect her expression had upon him should be visible.
“You are quite right, it is most fortunate. Had Eliza not had the courage to correct Mr Collins’s erroneous belief that hemustmarry one of his cousins, he would never have had the opportunity to discover his perfect partner in Charlotte,” replied Lady Lucas.
Miss Marysnorted at her dinner plate.
“But just think, Mary,” said Miss Lydia in a whimsical manner, “if Mr Collins had not proposed to Charlotte, then Miss de Bourgh would never have come to Hertfordshire to make her acquaintance, Mr Darcy would never have come to fetch her, and Mr Bingley would never have returned for Jane.”
“And hadnoneof those events occurred, our present circumstances would still be exactly as they are, Lydia,” muttered Mr Bennet with a weary glance at Bingley. “If your sister is Mr Bingley’s perfect partner, he does not yet seem to have noticed.”
Darcy took another sip of his wine in a private toast to that. Would that Bingley could pay as much attention to his courtship as he was to his present discussion with Sir William! Occupied with resenting his friend’s lassitude, Darcy paid little attention to whatever Miss Lucas said in reply to her mother, but his attention was caught, as it always was, when Elizabeth began speaking.
“You once said to me that a woman ought not to be too guarded in her affections, Charlotte. That few people have heart enough to be reallyinlove without encouragement, and she ought to show enough affection to help her admirer on. I laughed at you at the time, but I am beginning to think the theory has merit.”
Darcy’s stomach clenched to see Elizabeth’s gaze fixed upon her eldest sister as she said this. It gave a slightly wild edge to his own impatience to know she was as anxious as he for Miss Bennet to get engaged.
“Why yes,” Miss Lucas replied. “When one’s acquaintance is limited to a few dinners or dance sets, it would be inadvisable to rely solely on the thin chance that one’s wishes will be discovered by accident.”
“Well, we all knowyoutook no such chance,” muttered Mrs Bennet.
Miss Bingley, with a pointed look at her brother, congratulated Miss Lucas for her insight. “By the same token, if a woman showsnosigns of affection, it is probable that she does not feel any, and it would be better to give up on the attachment.”
“I cannot agree,” Anne replied. “There is something acutely vulgar about a woman who feels the need to advertise her availability by such means as flattery and deference. It would be far better to remain circumspect.”
His gaze still fixed sullenly on Bingley, Darcy complained, “Subtlety is overrated. In some cases, particularly those where a gentleman might be uncertain of his reception, it isimperativethat the lady gives some encouragement.”
These were words he never thought to hear himself say, and he despaired when his friend paid them no heed. He did more than despair when he caught sight of Miss Bingley regarding him with an expression of hopeful delight.
Damn!
She leant towards him slightly with her elbow rested on the table and spoke in an irritatingly silky tone.
“Yes, in some cases, such inducements might be beneficial.”
“Yet, in other cases, they are completely wasted, Miss Bingley,” Anne said sharply, looking askance at Darcy even as she said it. He could hardly explain that he had been trying to provoke Bingley into action, thus he only drank his wine and said nothing.
“What are you talking about at that end of the table that has you all looking so gloomy?” Bingley enquired, taking an interest at last.
“Marriage,” Mr Bennet replied. He put a forkful of food in his mouth and grinned around it. “It has that effect on people.”
“We were discussing the relative advantages and disadvantages of marrying in haste,” Mr Collins said. “The timing of my own happy celebrations was guided by my most estimable patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who desired that I marry as soon as possible. It is a matter of great honour to me that I have been able to accede to her wishes, and as my dear Miss Lucas assures me, there will be ample time after the ceremony for happiness to firmly establish itself.”
“Fascinating as that is, Mr Collins, such an approach would not suit my brother,” Miss Bingley said. “He is naturally more modest. The sort of person for whom something as momentous as securing a partner shouldneverbe hastily undertaken.”
“Well, he can certainly learn from your example there,” Anne snapped.
“Quite so! A precipitate arrangement does not suit everybody,” Mr Collins replied. “The delightful Miss de Bourgh, for example, has enjoyed a life-long engagement to the noble Mr Darcy and without any need to rush into marriage.” He somehow managed to bow to each of them whilst still in his seat.
Darcy had now reached the limit of his patience. Bingley, fully armed with all the facts of Anne’srejectionin London, was openly laughing at him, though one hard glare was enough to curb his amusement. He promptly stopped grinning and suggested to his sisters it was a good time for the ladies to go through. It was with a vast sense of relief that Darcy stood to see them all file out.
“I look forward to playing for you in a short while,” Miss Bingley said in a grossly coquettish manner as she passed him.
Elizabeth said nothing when she went by. Her countenance was a mask, her eyes, usually so expressive, were fixed blankly on the back of the lady in front of her, and her steps were quick as she walked around the table to the door.
