“Miss Eliza, we were surprised to hear your cousin married Charlotte Lucas,” Miss Bingley interjected. “The rumours in Meryton were that Mr Collins would propose to you. I heard my maid talking about it with the cook one day. It would have been convenient for your family if you had married the man who would inherit Longbourn.”
Elizabeth felt an instant sharp pain in her stomach and became dizzy at such insolence. She dared another look at Mr Darcy and noticed his disconcerted expression. As she struggled to find the right words to reply, Lady Amelia spoke.
“Miss Bingley, you should not trust gossip. If we are to consider them, rumours in London say you have been chasing Mr Darcy for years but he will never marry you.”
The lady ended her statement with a smile; Miss Bingley’s smirk vanished, and her face turned white. Mr Darcy quickly sipped from his glass.
“Lady Amelia, this is not—” Miss Bingley mumbled, but the lady interrupted her.
“Of course, there is worse gossip about me, too, a rich heiress who has not married and will soon be declared a spinster. However, I am fortunate enough not to care about gossip, but I do not entertain it either,” the lady concluded.
“If Mr Collins intended to propose to Miss Elizabeth and changed his mind, I dare say he had more sense and wisdom than I suspected,” Colonel Fitzwilliam intervened. “A man lacking in so many ways should not have the audacity to propose to a witty, spirited woman like Miss Elizabeth, and he would probably have faced a harsh rejection. He was exceedingly lucky that Mrs Collins accepted him.”
“Charlotte Lucas was my best friend for many years, and I always admired her wisdom, strength, and determination,” Elizabeth managed to reply politely. “She now has a lovely home, an honourable husband, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s approval. Mr Collins was indeed fortunate in his choice of wife.”
For a while, there was only an awkward silence, and they all fixed their attention on their plates. Dinner was a feast of delights, but Elizabeth had lost her appetite. Her distress was eased, however, by seeing Jane and Mr Bingley exchanging glances and small gestures, proving they enjoyed each other’s company.
Slowly, the conversation resumed, led by Lady Amelia, the colonel, the viscount, and the Gardiners, with Miss Darcy’s timid comments.
After dinner, Elizabeth fought her restraint, and at the first opportunity, she moved to stand near Mr Darcy; he was stationed next to a window, holding a glass, and appeared startled by her approach.
“Miss Elizabeth?”
“Mr Darcy, I know this is not the time or the place… I only wished to tell you…I thank you for the letter, and I apologise for my previous dreadful manners. I am ashamed at how wrong my judgment was and how I misplaced my trust.”
“Indeed, this is not the place or the time for such a discussion, but no apologies are needed.” He paused. “I heard you had a visit a few days ago…”
“We did. A most unpleasant one, and I believe I showed him he was not welcome. I have shared with my uncle and aunt my recent knowledge about Mr Wickham’s financial dealings — just enough to reveal his deceptive nature.”
He nodded. “I am glad and relieved that my letter offered you some valuable information, Miss Elizabeth. I trust we shall have another opportunity to discuss this matter at length.”
“I would like that very much, Mr Darcy.”
“Miss Elizabeth, a word of advice. Do not assume Wickham will easily accept that he is not welcome any longer. Please be cautious with him.”
“I shall, thank you. He fooled me once, and that will never happen again. If he dares to insist on his lies, he will hear my opinion loudly and clearly.”
“Perhaps we should postpone this conversation and return to the others. I think we are being observed. I wondered…would you mind if I accompany Bingley next time he calls at Gracechurch Street?”
Only then did Elizabeth notice several pairs of eyes were gazing at them; Mr Darcy’s last question left her stunned and puzzled. She needed a moment before she responded.
“No, I would not mind at all.”
He seemed pleased, bowed his head, then walked towards the other gentlemen, while Elizabeth went back to her aunt, who was sitting with Miss Darcy. She was again overwhelmed by thoughts and speculations, some pleasant, others truly disturbing. Mr Darcy wished to call? Why would he take the trouble to do that?
“Miss Elizabeth, would you favour us with some music?” Colonel Fitzwilliam enquired. “I asked the other ladies, but they refused, so you are our only chance. I might turn the pages for you, as I did at Rosings.”
Elizabeth blushed, glancing about.
“Colonel, you surely know that my talent is meagre and my technique even more wanting. If I am your last chance for entertainment, I feel sorry for you all.”
The colonel laughed.
“I have heard you play, Miss Elizabeth, and I was enchanted, so I have no concerns about our enjoyment. As Darcy said once, you like to occasionally profess things that are entirely untrue.”
Elizabeth laughed too, glancing at Mr Darcy. “If you remember that occasion, it is strange that you conveniently forgot the part where neither Mr Darcy nor I perform for strangers.”
“I did not forget it, but there are no strangers here, are there? We are only amongst friends,” the colonel responded, and Elizabeth sighed, declaring herself defeated.
