‘Mr Bingley cut quite a dash, dancing every dance,’ said Lady Lucas. ‘I must confess that I was surprised when he only danced once with Jane, the same as all the other ladies.’
Jane blushed as she answered, ‘In truth, he did ask me for a second set, but I pointed out to him that since there are such few gentlemen in our neighbourhood, ladies not only each sit out a set to give others a chance to dance should they wish, for the same reason it would not do to dance more than once with the same partner.’
‘That was most considerate of you,’ Charlotte complimented her friend.
‘I do not deserve the praise for this. It was mama who suggested this stratagem.’
‘Well, you would not have had to employ this excuse if his friend had done his duty to the ladies and danced. But no, that man is too full of himself. Insulting Elizabeth the way he did. Not handsome enough indeed,’ huffed Charlotte.
‘Charlotte it is good of you to say so, but as I told Mr Bennet this morning, I also must tell you not to put it into Lizzy’s head to be vexed by his ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride. Another time, Lizzy, I would not dance with him, if I were you.’
‘I have no intention of dancing with Mr Darcy,’ confirmed Elizabeth.
At that point in their conversation, Mrs Phillips arrived, and it was not long before Mr Bennet’s plan was discussed.
Everyone cut their visit short to spread the word as fast and far as possible.
Mrs Bennet surprised herself by feeling extremely pleased with her husband. Perhaps there was hope for him yet.
~T~
6Eviction
Fitzwilliam Darcy simply had to get away from Netherfield even if only for a few hours.
The previous day he had been polite and had spent the day with his hosts. This had proved to be an ordeal since Miss Bingley had been in a snit because her brother had asked for a second dance with Miss Jane Bennet at the assembly the night before. Darcy had to endure endless complaints and snide remarks about the inhabitants of Meryton in general and Miss Bennet in particular.
While he agreed with Miss Bingley that the locals were rustic and unsophisticated, it was unacceptable for the daughter of a tradesman to complain about and insult members of the gentry.
Darcy himself had only attended the assembly because Miss Bingley had wanted to keep him company if he remained behind at Netherfield. He regretted accepting Bingley’s invitation to join him at the estate which he had recently leased, almost as soon as he stepped foot into the ballroom. Within minutes of their arrival at the hall, he heard the locals discussing his putative income and he was certain that every matchmaking matron in the county was about to throw her daughters into his path.
Bingley had not helped matters by urging him to dance when he was thoroughly disinclined to do so. After all, he could ill afford to give consequence to any of the mushrooms since they were sure to misinterpret his condescension and raise their expectations.
It was a pity because the young woman whom he favoured with barely a glance, when Bingley pointed her out as a potential dance partner had been uncommonly pretty… perhaps not as classically beautiful as her sister with whom Bingley was enamoured, but her intelligent and expressive eyes were exceedingly fine. In his frustration he had expressed himself quite forcefully.
Fortunately, Miss Bingley had not heard Darcy’s comment to her brother and was also oblivious to the lady’s reaction to that comment. Caroline’s remarks were bad enough without such fuel.
This morning he could no longer tolerate Miss Bingley’s rantings and had decided to go for a ride.
Darcy could have accompanied Bingley, who was planning on visiting some of their neighbours, but pleasant as his friend was, today he needed some solitude to regain his composure.
Feeling the cool wind in his hair helped to cool his temper. He was positively cheerful by the time he came into the High Street of Meryton where he replaced his hat. While since he was in the market town, even though the destination was completely unplanned, Darcy thought he would see if he could find a trinket which his sister might enjoy, and which would cheer her up. Ever since that scoundrel had wounded his sister’s heart, Darcy had been at pains to ease her suffering.
As he ambled along, looking for likely shops, he nodded to a few of the men whose faces he recognised who were engaged on errands along the street. After several such courtesies, he wondered if there was an issue with the eyesight of the community since none of them returned his greeting.
When he spotted a haberdasher’s shop, he put aside his musings, dismounted and tied his horse to a convenient post. As he approached the door, a well-dressed matron exited the shop. Darcy politely stepped aside and raised his hat. The only response was a cold look as the lady turned her back on him and stalked off. Darcy’s eyes followed her, and his brows furrowed at the unusual reaction. After a moment he shook himself, thinking that perhaps the lady was reluctant to reply to his courtesy as they had not been introduced.
He noticed that a woman, whom he assumed to be the haberdasher, had escorted the lady to the door and was now looking at him with an equally cold expression. Undeterred, Darcy made to enter the shop, only to have the door closed in his face, and the bolt shot home.
‘What the hell is going on in this benighted town?’ he muttered.
Since the question was rhetorical, he was surprised to hear a quiet chuckle behind him. When he turned around, Darcy saw a man of about fifty years of age giving him a sardonic smile.
‘I do not know how things are done wherever you come from, but in this benighted town, as you call it, gentlemen do not insult ladies, especially not when half the town is listening and then expect to be treated with respect.’
‘What?’ spluttered Darcy.
‘Even my wife, who is the most relentless matchmaker, has not the slightest interest in you or your friend. Let me see if I can remember exactly what she said.’ The man grinned as he added in a falsetto voice, ‘I beg you would not put it into Lizzy’s head to be vexed by his ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride. Another time, Lizzy, I would not dance with him, if I were you.’
