As soon as the musicians finished the current melody, Bingley came to his friend and urged him to dance, going so far as to offer an introduction to Elizabeth who was sitting just behind him.
Elizabeth saw Darcy’s shoulders stiffen before he turned around and looked her in the eye. Turning back to Bingley he coldly stated, ‘She is tolerable I suppose but not handsome enough to tempt me, and I am in no mood to give consequence to ladies who have been slighted by other men. I suggest you return to your partner and enjoy her smiles.’
Bingley blushed at his friend’s words and hastened away while Darcy sighed in relief. Not only had Bingley stopped pestering him but he had quashed any expectations the local inhabitants might have had about him.
~T~
Elizabeth had been amused when Bingley pestered his friend who obviously did not wish to dance, which she thought hardly surprising as she had found out that he had only arrived during the afternoon.
But then he looked at her and uttered such a terrible insult.
The fury she felt seemed quite out of proportion to the words. After all everyone compared her beauty to her sister’s and Jane was invariably considered the more beautiful of the two. She was used to it. Therefore, a comment like that should not affect her, she had heard it often enough. And yet, she was in a killing rage.
How dare that arrogant, biggety, contemptuous, disdainful, egotistic, galling, haughty, insolent, lordly, over-bearing, monocratic, presumptuous, rude, smug, toplofty, uppity, vainglorious… she ran out of letters and her temper had not cooled in the slightest.
While she could not take him to task for his words, after all since they had not been introduced it would be improper for her to speak to him, there was a way for her to let him know that he had behaved in a most ungentlemanlike manner.
She rose and smoothed her skirts and took a deep breath.
Once she achieved a modicum of control she walked over to Mr Darcy and stopped about a yard in front of him before she turned to face him.
For a moment, almost too quick to see, a range of emotions flickered across Darcy’s face before a stony mask settled upon his countenance.
Elizabeth slowly surveyed the gentleman from the top of the dark curls on his head to his elegantly shod feet before she raised her flashing eyes back up to meet his gaze. Her left eyebrow rose, and her lip curled in disgust. She noticed a quick indrawn breath and for a moment wondered if he was going to apologise. But the moment passed, and she held his gaze a second longer before she turned her back on him and stalked away with her head held high.
Elizabeth had hoped for an elegant glide, but her control was insufficient. She noticed a few people looking at her, giving her a smile and a nod. She felt warmed by the unvoiced support of her neighbours.
~T~
Whispers started immediately afterwards, and disgusted looks were directed not only at Darcy but Bingley as well. It was fortunate for Bingley’s peace of mind that he remained oblivious to the change in atmosphere.
For the rest of the evening, even men who did not normally dance, vied for an opportunity to partner Elizabeth.
~T~
Immediately after breakfast the next morning, when he had found out about the events of the previous evening, Mr Bennet quietly left the house to visit Mr Phillips.
‘Phillips, I know that I am considered to be an indifferent father, and while that is true, I will not tolerate some jumped up prig to insult my girls.’
‘So, what would you like to do? I have to warn you, duelling is against the law.’
’Oh no. I have no wish to kill him. I would rather wound him in a way that will hurt much more… In his pride.’ A grin of malicious amusement spread over his features.
‘So, what do you have in mind?’
‘I know you have been cagey about keeping the identity of the owner of Netherfield secret, but can you get in touch with him and see if he would cancel the lease?’
A slow smile spread over Phillips’ face. ‘You do know how to hurt a man,’ he chuckled. ‘Hurt him in his pride indeed. I bet neither Darcy nor even Bingley have ever been thrown out from any place before.’ He shook his head. ‘When I first heard about that insult, I was torn whether that man was blind or a fool. Everyone can see that Lizzy is uncommonly pretty. Not as classically beautiful as Jane, but just as beautiful in her own way. If he did not want to dance, he could have just said so. There was no need to hurt the girl.’
’Well, he hurt my Lizzy, now I want to hurt him. I also thought that until you can get that lease cancelled, we could get everyone to give them the cut. Let them find out the hard way who has the consequence around here.’ Bennet grinned wolfishly. ‘So, even if you cannot get the lease cancelled, we can make it so uncomfortable for them around here, that they will leave on their own account.’
‘If that is what you want to do, we have to bring out the big guns.’ Phillips grinned at Bennet’s puzzled expression. ‘Martha too was incensed about what that man said, and she has the ear of all the ladies in town.’
~T~
Since it was the morning after the assembly, several ladies congregated at Longbourn to discuss the event, as was their habit.
The main topic of conversation was of course the party from Netherfield.
