“You did not, but it is not hard to believe when hearing her play,” Louisa replied.
The battle for the remainder of their game, which had begun two months previously via the post, was joined. Their record of wins and losses already proved it, but it was not long before they were reminded that they were very evenly matched.
Elizabeth, who had been enjoying a debate with Mr Darcy, regarding a book they had both read, stopped speaking and looked at the game between Papa and Lulu. “Have you recovered from the drubbing Lyddie gave you this morning?” She enquired as she cocked her head towards the two playingchess.
“Until I played against Miss Lydia, I was not sure your father was not exaggerating her prowess for his own entertainment. I discovered that if anything, he had understated her abilities. I have never lost with the speed Miss Lydia beat me in each of our three games. Not even against my late father when I first began to play the game. It was Father who taught me and imparted his love of the game to me. At least his games against Miss Lydia—even though he knew not who his opponent was—took longer because of the post.” Darcy paused and looked directly at Miss Elizabeth so that she would see that he spoke the truth. “I did not mind that I lost to a female; all I could see was a player who was vastly superior to me,” he answered.
His reply impressed Elizabeth. How many men were sour when they were beaten by a mere female? Those men would make excuses and refuse to play against Lyddie again to test their hypotheses. Mr Darcy showed no rancour at losing to Lyddie. “I play,” Elizabeth reported. “Would you like me to retrieve a board and pieces from the study so we may enjoy a game of chess?”
“You do not remove any pieces to give me a chance, do you?” Darcy quipped.
“No, Mr Darcy, the only one who does that is Lyddie. I am a mere mortal, while my little sister is a chess goddess.” Elizabeth stood and made her way to the study to collect a chess set.
While he waited for Miss Elizabeth to return, Darcy listened to the music floating through the double doors from the room beyond. Whoever was playing sounded like the best pianist he could remember hearing, even eclipsing Anna. He wondered if perhaps after Miss Caroline was removed from the house, he should ask Anna if she would like to join him in Hertfordshire. He was certain his sister would feel verycomfortable with the genteel Misses Bennet, especially as the youngest two, whom he met this very day, were close in age to her.
He was brought out of his cogitation when he saw the incredibly intelligent and beautiful Miss Elizabeth enter the drawing room, a folded board in one hand, a box in the other.
Elizabeth moved a taller, small table a little, so it was between where she and Mr Darcy would sit. She opened the board and placed it on the table. “Papa has some of his boards made with hinges so they take up less room in storage,” Elizabeth explained when she saw Mr Darcy looking at the board questioningly. Before setting up the pieces, she took a black and a white pawn, mixed them behind her back, and then extended her arms, her fists closed, towards Mr Darcy.
Darcy touched one hand, and inexplicably he felt what was like a bolt of lightning shoot through his body from the point of the contact between their ungloved hands. He did not want to think what it portended until they had safely played their game. Darcy was certain that if he allowed himself to be distracted he would lose for certain. From the debate they had, his opinion that she was intelligent was confirmed, but what amazed him was her ability to recite passages from the book verbatim.
“You selected white, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth related after she had gathered herself. She had felt a frisson of pleasure when Mr Darcy touched her hand. She knew not what it meant yet, but now was the time to concentrate on the game.
Soon, they had the board set up, and Darcy made his first move.
Bingley was using the time in the drawing room to speak to Miss Bennet. She was not one of the empty-headed women who only wanted to make themselves fit whatever the man who they were trying to attract desired. When she disagreedwith him, she did not change her opinion to placate him.
Miss Bennet told him about the entail and her uncle in London, who lived near his warehouses in Cheapside. About her birthmother, she could not tell him very much at all, as she had not known the woman. She spoke about her late aunt, Mrs Phillips, very warmly. In a way, she filled a role for the Bennet sisters like Aunt Hildebrand did for Lulu and himself. That of a surrogate mother.
“How is it now that your very close friend is technically your aunt?” Bingley enquired after Miss Bennet told of Mr Phillips’s second marriage.
“We would never call Charlotte ‘aunt’, and as we were related to our late Aunt Hattie by blood, and not Uncle Frank, Charlotte is not really our aunt in any case, even if we will always call her husband ‘uncle’. We do count little Lawrence, their son, as a cousin,” Jane responded.
“As you have an uncle in trade, I assume that you are not as class conscious as some?” Bingley wondered.
“Not at all. We judge on the content of one’s character, not by accident of birth.” Jane paused. “I hope this is not too sensitive, but how is your younger sister? We have never met her, but Papa did tell us about her breakdown this morning.”
“I am afraid that Caroline is lost to reality and must be put in an asylum. It is very sad, but it can all be traced back to the inculcation by our late mother about the imperative for Caroline to rise in society,” Bingley responded.
“It seems that neither the woman who bore you and Lulu nor the one who gave my sisters and me life were very good people,” Jane said contemplatively.
“If we discuss them, we may become maudlin,” Bingley opined. “I much prefer to discuss more pleasurable things. What are your interests, Miss Bennet?” He was sure they werenot all connected to fashion and society, but Bingley needed to know.
“Like all of my sisters, I play an instrument, which in my case is the harp. Aside from my duties as the mistress of the estate, with which Lizzy and Mary assist me greatly, I enjoy walking—not as much as Lizzy does—riding my mare, Penelope, reading, and my favourite thing is working in the still room,” Jane replied. “It may scandalise you, but my sisters and I ride astride. We are able to ride side-saddle, but it is so much safer the other way, at least that is what Papa says. I tend to agree with him.”
Miss Bennet was so artless. Never once did she try to learn about his wealth, his intentions about becoming landed, or anything of the sort. Bingley wanted to know more about her. That was because he had a growing feeling that he may have met the lady with whom he could build a life. Of course, he would have to learn what her opinion on the matter was.
“If your father allows you to ride that way, who am I to speak against it,” Bingley stated. “The truth is, I agree with Bennet. I think the man who invented the side-saddle disliked women. Do you ride most mornings?”
“We are to ride as a group of sisters on the morrow. We will join Lizzy and make for Oakham Mount to watch the sun rise, as long as the weather is fair, that is,” Jane replied. “Does Lulu ride?” Jane saw Mr Bingley nod. “In that case, if you are free, and do not mind rising so early, would you, Lulu, and Mr Darcy like to join us at Longbourn’s stables a half hour prior to sunrise?”
“Yes, thank you, we will be there. It is good you did not mention Aunt Hildebrand; she does not ride.” Bingley remembered something. “The only thing which will cause me to be absent is if the doctor has written to tell me to bring Caroline to London; otherwise, I will be present.”
“Do you mind my asking where Miss Bingley will be sent?” Jane queried.
“Not at all. She will be committed to Bedlam.” Bingley saw the shock in Miss Bennet’s look. “Not the public side. There is a part of the institution dedicated to patients whose families are able to pay for humane and good care. That is where my sister will be.” Bingley looked over when he heard Lulu let out an exclamation of joy.
Mr Bennet had just tipped his king. Now, he had won only two more games than her. Louisa had enjoyed the game immensely. For his part, Bennet could not remember a more enjoyable evening with guests. His determination never to marry again was beginning to crack. Granted, tiny cracks, but it was something.
