Chapter 22
“I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me.” Charlotte said as they bade the gentlemen goodbye.
That Mr Darcy had hastened to the parsonage to meet with her again seemed highly implausible. It was evident that Colonel Fitzwilliam took pleasure in the introduction and Eizabeth wondered what description of her had caused that gentleman to be so eager to make her acquaintance. For they had only arrived that very morning. Elizabeth could hardly believe it was positive. So she was left with it being so horrific that the Colonel had to see the specimen that was herself immediately.
Elizabeth assumed that there would be no further invitations to Rosings while Lady Catherine had her nephews company. But she was to be mistaken for the very next day an invitation was received. They were merely asked, on leaving church, to come there in the evening.
The invitation was accepted, of course, and at a proper hour, they joined the party in Lady Catherine’s drawing-room. Her Ladyship received them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact, almost totally engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Mr Darcy, much more than to any other person in the room. Mr Darcy thushad little time to engage with any other member of the party. Elizabeth was all the more surprised then, when addressed her.
“Could we impose on you to play for us Miss Bennet?” He asked. “For my Aunt takes true enjoyment of music and has a natural superior taste. And I can assure her, that your playing and singing gave me the greatest of pleasure,” he said his eyes warm and earnest. He went on to say, “it is sure to please her.”
Elizabeth knew not what to make of these fine compliments to her musical abilities. She could only suppose he meant for her to expose herself. But her courage always rose at any attempt to intimidate her. So with a bow of her head she took her place at the pianoforte.
Elizabeth had never been so glad that when Mrs Fitzherbert sent the governess to her family. Mrs Featherworth was a master at teaching piano. She felt sure that this decision was due entirely to Mary’s bad piano playing during the royal visit. And she sent a silent blessing to Mary now. She had also taken advantage of having such a teacher in her home to improve her playing.
As the first notes of Beethoven’s sonata Appassionata, Op 57 filled the room. She saw not only Mr Darcy startle but everyone else in attendance. Including Lady Catherine De Bourgh. It was a highly technical piece, more complex than anything the Bingley sisters had performed. And at a substantially higher level than anything Mr Darcy had seen her play. She had spent countless hours practising and memorizing the piece. For which she was thankful, as she doubted that Lady Catherine had the music sheet available. As the last notes faded away the room was silent for some moments. Then Colonel Fitzwilliam started to clap and everyone, except Lady Catherine, joined in.
“Of course my nephew could not be mistaken,” Lady Catherine said. “If he praised your playing, I knew it wouldhave to be at a superior level,” thus issuing a compliment to her nephew’s discernment rather than that Elizabeth’s playing. “But you must continue to practice, Miss Bennet,” Lady Catherine instructed. “Your excellence will wither without constant practice,” she warned. “You will come to Rosings every day during your stay at Hunsford. As I know there is no pianoforte in the parsonage. You cannot neglect your practice.”
Elizabeth was not subject to Lady Catherine’s edicts. But she agreed to her command. In truth she would welcome the excuse to make the walk from the parsonage to Rosings house. As well as having a couple of hours each day to practice.
“You are most kind, mam,” Elizabeth acknowledged.
Lady Catherine turned back to Mr Darcy and began questioning him on his sister’s improvements on the same instrument. Which Elizabeth had heard, from the Bingley sisters, that she played exceedingly well.
“I must confess,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “that when Darcy said nothing had given him more pleasure than hearing you play. That he was allowing his fondness of your company to biased his opinion. But it is clear that was not the case.”
A belly laugh, which Elizabeth only just managed to keep at the polite volume, escaped her. “I can assure you that no praise from that quarter be due to fondness.”
The Colonel raised his eyebrows at this.
“He has not heard me play such a complex piece before,” Elizabeth explained. “I am sure that he told you of the excellent of my performance for some mischievous reason of his own,” Elizabeth said, with an arch smile. “For we are not the best of friends.”
“I am surprised at that,” the Colonel replied. “He has spoken most highly of your joie de vie, your intelligence and your talents many times since his time in Hertfordshire.
