“I am very glad,” Mrs. Bennet declared. “It would not have been complete without you.” Mrs. Bennet had not missed the young lady’s superior manners and disdain for her company, but she suspected that Miss Bingley might prove an enemy to a possible union of Mr. Bingley and Jane. Nothing would be served by increasing Miss Bingley’s ire, which would doubtless occur were she to be ignored.
Satisfied as to his sister’s comfort, Mr. Darcy gave his attention to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He began by saying, “I am surprised that you did not play for us as well, Miss Elizabeth.”
His companion arched one brow and said, “I am not in any way adverse to entertaining guests, but I did not wish to give Miss Bingley any further opportunity to disdain my family.”
Mr. Darcy looked down, momentarily embarrassed.
“Oh, no, Mr. Darcy, I did not intend to cause you discomfort. Her behaviour is her own; if there is any correction to be made, it is surely her brother’s province to do so, not yours.”
“Mr. Bingley is too kind to do so, I fear.”
“I suspected as much,” she nodded. Then she glanced over at Jane and Mr. Bingley. “Is he often so quickly in love?” she asked, quietly,
“He does tend to favour a certain…” He trailed off, uncertain how to proceed.
“Type, I suppose?”
“Well, yes; blonde, blue-eyed.”
“So he took one look at Jane at the assembly and that was it.” Her tone was severe.
“He means your sister no harm, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Does he not? If his own heart is not at risk, he nonetheless risks injuring hers.”
Mr. Darcy bowed his head. “You are right. I do not think that has ever happened in the past; his little romances tend to be short and light-hearted.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “My sister is tender-hearted, not light-hearted.”
Mr. Darcy briefly wondered if he should tell Miss Elizabeth that Bingley was actually ready to propose to her sister, but decided at once that this was not his secret to reveal. Instead, he said, “I will caution Bingley to be careful.”
Elizabeth looked at him gratefully. “I would be very appreciative, Mr. Darcy.”
“You are protective of your sister,” he observed.
“As you are of yours,” she replied.
Ah, she had noticed that! “I am,” he said, carefully.
He saw Miss Elizabeth look over at Georgiana, who was laughing with the younger Bennet sisters. Then she said, softly, “She is more than just shy, I think. She is fragile.”
Mr. Darcy sat up in alarm, but Elizabeth quickly said, “No, no, Mr. Darcy. I do not mean to cause you unease or enquire about what has made her so. You may rest easy; my youngest sisters are rather boisterous and not always well-mannered, but they would not harm anyone. And my mother has taken a particular interest in your sister; she will guard Miss Darcy as fiercely as would you.”
Mr. Darcy closed his eyes for a moment. As fiercely as would he! He had not guarded her at all! When he opened them again, he saw Miss Elizabeth eyeing him with concern.
“I am well,” he answered her unspoken question. “It has been a…difficult time for both my sister and myself, and we are both still affected by it.” The moment the words left his mouth, he was astonished at himself. He was not a person who generally revealed himself to others.
“I understand,” she said, quietly. Then she brightened and said, “Tell me, Mr. Darcy, are you a reader?”
“There is little I enjoy more,” he said at once, happy for the change of subject.
“Poetry? Plays? Moral essays? Novels? Tracts on farming?” she asked, smiling widely.
“I suppose all of those, Miss Elizabeth. And I have even read Mary Wollstonecraft.” He laughed at her astonishment.
“Have you, indeed! And what did you think?”
“She makes good points,” Mr. Darcy admitted.
