“You must put your mind at ease! I feel what I ought for him.”
Jane’s affection for Mr Bingley seemed placid by comparison. Elizabeth could not imagine Mr Bingley bursting into the drawing room with the words,“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”She could not envision Jane and Mr Bingley having fervent disagreements and then laughing about their misunderstandings. Jane was more likely to demonstrate her regular composure, and Mr Bingley, his uniform cheerfulness.
As much as she adored her older sister, Elizabeth knew they would never have the same ideas of marital happiness. Fitzwilliam had enough heart to be in love with her without her encouragement. Mr Bingley’s affection for Jane was swept aside because his sisters and friend suggested Jane had nothing more than a slight preference for him. Elizabeth admired her betrothed’s decisiveness, his cleverness, and his unwavering loyalty to those he loved, and she was again grateful they had encountered each other at the parsonage after she read his letter.
When Elizabeth and Jane returned to the house, they found Mr Bennet arguing with his wife about the fishing expedition. He attempted to ignore her as she insisted he entertain the Netherfield gentlemen.
“How can you be so tiresome?” her mother cried. “You must allow Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley to fish in your stream.”
“They may come if they like,” he said without looking at her, “but I see no reason to join them.”
“Mr Bennet! It is your trout stream. You must accompany them. Mr Darcy is to marry Lizzy, and Mr Bingley may offer to Jane.” Mrs Bennet’s voice became increasingly piercing.
“I shall accompany Mr Bingley out of consideration for Jane, but as Lizzy has done enough to capture the wealthy Mr Darcy, there is little more the arrogant man can be to me.”
“Nonsense. You cannot invite one without the other. You ought to become acquainted with both young men.”
“My daughter may spend enough time with Mr Darcy for both our sakes, I assure you.”
Elizabeth did not wish to hear any more slights against her or her intended, and Jane led her into the other room where Kitty reclined on a sofa with an air of idleness. After several moments of silence, Kitty asked, “Does Miss Darcy come to Netherfield with her brother?”
“No, she did not choose it, perhaps since she is not yet out. She will summer at Pemberley.”
“Oh.” She slumped in her seat. “She seemed shy, but we might have had fun while she stayed at Netherfield through your engagement.”
Elizabeth, trying to make an advantage of the opportunity presented, offered that Kitty could spend time with them at Pemberley, and hoped Fitzwilliam would not mind. Kitty would be improved for being out of Lydia’s influence, and Georgiana could benefit from time with a friendly young girl near her own age.
“When Lydia went away, she promised to write often and thoroughly,” Kitty said, tossing aside a single sheet of paper, “but her letters are always long expected and always very short. All she speaks of is her—” Kitty broke off suddenly.
“What does Lydia say?” asked Jane.
“She wrote in confidence. I should not speak of it.”
“If it was to be a secret, say not another word on the subject,” said Jane. “You may depend upon us seeking no further.”
Elizabeth agreed but wished to know of what Lydia had written. Kitty was always taking Lydia’s letters to read privately, and she feared that her youngest sister had become an embarrassing flirt in Brighton.
* * *
Darcy and Bingleywere punctual to their appointment on Saturday to join Mr Bennet and his neighbours to fish. Darcy vowed to do his best to appear agreeable spending the morning with a man for whom he had no respect. Mr Bennet’s disregard for Elizabeth—in fact, for all of his children—was deplorable. That he exposed his wife to the contempt of her own children was equally reprehensible, however silly that wife may be.
“Well, gentlemen,” Mr Bennet said when they met him, “let us get this delightful endeavour over with as soon as possible. How fortunate for you, Mr Darcy, that fishing is such a solitary undertaking and you need not speak to those of us beneath your notice.”
Bingley glanced between them and looked as if he wished to say something, but he knew not what. Some of the other gentlemen exchanged knowing glances as they cast their lines. Darcy was keenly aware that he had amends to make when it came to the people of Meryton. These were Elizabeth’s neighbours, and he would be civil and gracious. If anything, he would prove to the caustic Mr Bennet that he was not an unlikeable man.
Darcy took it upon himself to speak to the elder Mr Goulding and asked whether he would be gracious enough to point out those parts of the stream where there was usually more sport. The man looked astonished at being pleasantly addressed but walked with Darcy farther down the stream. Bingley joined them, and Darcy asked Mr Goulding about Haye Park. Soon, a small group of men were speaking amiably of the attics and drawing rooms of their respective homes. As the morning went on, Darcy even bore all of Sir William Lucas’s hopes of seeing him dance at the next assembly with tranquillity.
Mr Bennet watched him in silence as Darcy interacted with the other gentlemen for over an hour, then moved nearer to him. He resigned himself to his future father-in-law entertaining himself at his expense.
“Mr Darcy, you must tell my wife that you enjoyed this day’s sport. Both her and Lizzy have harassed me to show you further courtesy than I believe you deserve. If you would condescend to tell them we chatted amiably, I could return to my library in peace.”
I shall behave in a gentleman-like manner; I shall behave in a gentleman-like manner.He was certain the others nearby could hear, and he would have preferred to ignore such an ill-mannered speech. “I enjoyed the sport and shall say so to Mrs Bennet.”
After a pause, Mr Bennet chose another line of questioning. “Did you feel such guilt about paying my Lizzy too much attention that your sense of honour now obliges you to offer for her?”
Darcy took a deep breath and ignored him.
“I can think of no other reason you would choose a country girl with no fortune to be your wife,” he went on. “You need not fear I would be bound by such an outdated manner of thinking and force you to marry. If you left her with disappointed hopes, she would at least have the distinction of being crossed in love like her sister Jane.”
