“That means he ismyage, and only seven years older than Elizabeth. That is not an enormous gap.”
Jane smiled, murmured an apology and said, “As I said, for years I thought he was much older than us. But Mr Bingley has now clarified things, and I misspoke.”
Elizabeth had introduced Charlotte to Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley at the assembly, and each man had asked Charlotte for a dance. She asked her friend, “Tell me, Charlotte, what do you think of our new neighbour and his guest?”
She laughed. “Given that they may soon be connected with the two of you, I could not be honest if I had thought ill of the gentlemen. Happily, I found them both very handsome and very courteous. Mr Bingley seems to be more openly friendly, and Mr Darcy seems to be more broadly knowledgeable, but they are both sufficiently cordial and well informed that there is little need to compare.”
Elizabeth privately thought that there was every need to compare. At the assembly, she had very much enjoyed hearing Mr Darcy’s opinions on literature; however, when she had danced with Mr Bingley, Elizabeth had broached topics of poetry, music, and classical sculptures in the British Museum, and Mr Bingley had no opinions on any aspect of the arts. He had laughed affably and said things like, “I am quite a dunderpate about that, Miss Elizabeth.”
She had firmly decided that she would rather not marry at all than to marry a dunderpate.
Then she had asked herself why-oh-why she was thinking about marriage at all?
Could it be because, earlier that day, Mr Darcy had said she was beautiful? Because Jane seemed to think he might be romantically interested in her? Because Mr Bingley had claimed that his friend had never called on any woman before?
Elizabeth shook her head. It would be wise to rein in any expectations.
When the Lucases had left,and before dinner was served, Elizabeth asked Mary if they might talk privately.
Mary lifted her eyebrows at Elizabeth’s unusual request, but she nodded and led Elizabeth into the practice room. Sitting together on the settee and keeping their voices down, Elizabeth was confident that they would not be overheard.
“Mr Darcy has offered to teach us riding. I know you already ride some, but his tips might help you ride more confidently. I, obviously, need far more instruction than you. He will bring at least one horse tomorrow, earlier than the usual calling hours, and he was hoping you will join us.”
Mary blushed a little, smiled, and eagerly said, “That would be splendid. I should love to have another accomplishment.”
“By the way, while we were walking, Mr Darcy and I had a very odd conversation. He noticed from what I said that Mama is constantly saying that Jane and Lydia are the most beautiful of us Bennets, and he felt a bit insulted on our behalf. He told me very firmly that all of us are pretty, and he asked with a great deal of circumspection—” the latter being a polite lie, as the man should likely never have brought up the topic at all— “if there was some reason you were hiding your loveliness. He did not seem to think there would be any spiritual detriment if you wore green instead of brown or if you wore curls around your face.”
Elizabeth found it awkward to fudge the actual words Mr Darcy used, but she was attempting to redeem a conversation that was indecorous and potentially embarrassing.
Mary’s question displayed her intelligence: “Why would he even think about such a thing? I cannot imagine why he would think about, let alone speak to you about, my hair and gowns!”
“I think he has a really elevated sense of justice. And he has a much younger sister, about Lydia’s age, and he is her guardian because his parents passed quite some time ago. I imagine that he thinks much more than most men about how expectations and treatment of ladies can be unfair.”
Mary looked thoughtful. She nodded and said, “I do not have a riding habit of my own. I believe we will both have to borrow one—you from Lydia and me from Jane. So I will not be wearing brown or grey. I will do my hair however you like tomorrow, and perhaps it will please him that we took his advice to heart.”
She suddenly looked puzzled, and she asked, “Do you think that he means to court you, Lizzy? Is that why he is paying so much attention to our family?”
Elizabeth wished she could handle the question with complete calm, but she felt a blush heat her cheeks. “I believethat Mr Darcy is so very high above us in consequence, he would not consider courting any of us. But I do not know what he is thinking, and I honestly cannot imagine his motivation in giving us riding lessons.”
“He probably just likes improvement projects,” Mary said with a laugh.
“Oh, dear, that does not sound so well for us, does it? We may well be the objects of pity, given our lack of opportunity to ride.”
But Elizabeth did not feel as if Mr Darcy looked down upon her, except of course in the literal, physical sense. There was something about his unwavering gaze that seemed…soulful rather than critical or pitying.
Or so she dearly hoped.
Four
The following day was crisp and sunny, and Bingley was glad that his friend’s riding lesson would give him the excuse to spend more time with Miss Bennet.
“What time are we expected, Darcy?”
“At eleven. But I thought we would take a circuitous route to Longbourn. Since we have to go slowly enough to bring the extra horses, we can investigate fencing, hedges, drainage ditches, and culverts, just as you did with the steward on the northern half of the estate before you took the lease.”
“This will be my favourite aspect of being a landowner, Darce. The books…are books! Put me on a horse and out of doors, any day, rather than sticking me at a desk with one of those enormous tomes.”
“I have to admit that riding the estate is my favourite part as well.”
