Now, Bingley interrupted his thoughts, saying, “I truly appreciate your help and tutelage, Darce. I felt like I was floating before you arrived. I was unsure what my role should be, and I did not enjoy the feel of my days. Now, I feel as if I am on the right track, ready and willing to do well, although I am humble enough to realise that I still have much to learn. You have made a tremendous change for the positive…and I thank you.”
Darcy nodded and said, “You are most welcome. I truly think you will become a wonderful landowner and master.”
“I appreciate your confidence,” Bingley said.
“I wonder if I might askyouto teachmesomething.”
Sitting up straighter, Bingley looked at Darcy with surprise. “I doubt that there is a single skill I have mastered that you have not, but if you can think of something, pray, tell me of it. As you know, I would be delighted to share my expertise, if such a thing exists.”
Lowering his forehead to his clenched hands, Darcy braced himself to do two things with which he had far too little experience: sharing his feelings and asking for help. But he soon straightened, squared his shoulders, and told himself firmly that he was a Darcy. He could and should admit his faults andmistakes, he could and would seek aid when necessary, and he ought to seriously work towards the future he wished for and his legacy demanded.
“Bingley, do you remember the list of five hundred sixteen characteristics I deemed necessary for the future Mrs Darcy?”
Bingley sat up, too, his eyes flying open. “Yes. I mean, you exaggerate, but I remember quite the gigantic list!”
“Well, consider that list consigned to the fire. I believe that, when I spouted off all those items, I had no idea of what I actually need, what Pemberley needs.”
“No idea? What do you mean?”
Darcy spoke slowly. “Naturally, there were things on that list that remain important…. Honesty, for example, is an important characteristic for a friend as well as for a wife. So not every item on the list was ridiculous. However, most of the listed traits are not in the least important, and it may be that the idea of a list at all was wrongheaded.”
“What has happened in four and twenty hours to cause this reversal?”
Darcy felt his cheeks heat. He shot a crooked smile at Bingley, whose whole face lit up in excitement.
“Is this about Miss Elizabeth? Do you like her? I mean, you barely know her! And it is not as if you ever looked at any lady, anywhere…. What is going on, friend?”
Darcy gave his face a swipe but could not wipe his smile entirely away. He said, “I feel—I do not know what I am feeling. I do not know enough about this to explain it to you, Bingley. I was hoping you could be my teacher in this.”
“Oh, a role reversal! I believe I shall like this very much indeed!” Bingley rubbed his hands together with hyperbolic glee and said, “Now, the ABC’s of flirtation are simple enough. Pray, listen carefully, student; there will be an exam:
“Ais foracknowledgment. When you notice a lady,acknowledgeher with yourappreciativegaze.Acton yourattraction, and you mayachieveaffection.”
Bingley spoke in a silly singsong voice, and Darcy shook his head and grinned at his friend. He always admired how willing Bingley was to laugh at himself.
“Bis forbowing.Bowto thebeautyin thebonnet, and possiblybussher hand as youbow. Most important, I feel, is the metaphoricalbowing: Bendto her needs.
“Cis forconversation.Converseon many topics, and when you can,complimentthe lady. Soon you may find yourselfcourtingher.”
Darcy laughed. “You are quite the instructor, Bingley. Stripped of all your silliness, you are saying I should stare at her, bow to her, talk with her, and praise her. Is that right?”
Bingley gave a playful grimace. “Your stare can be quite intimidating, you know. I said—and I stand by my choice of wording—gazeat her.”
“Gaze, bow, talk, praise.”
“Exactly. But we always bow to ladies. You must make your bow special. Think about how much you like her and give an extra deep bow. Or bow over her hand, holding that hand tenderly, brushing or pressing your lips to her hand, lingering with the kiss or at least with the hold.”
Darcy nodded.
“And do not just talkather. You can be quite professorial, you know, so possibly considernotgiving lectures but instead asking the lady about her life, about her taste in literature or music, about her opinions and concerns.”
“That sounds doable.”
“Finally,” Bingley said, looking quite proud of himself, “be sure any compliments you pay the lady are entirely sincere and heartfelt.”
“It all sounds so simple.” Darcy shook himself a bit and said, “I was wondering if I could discuss with you what I really need in a wife. If my list was mostly nonsense, what do I actually need?”
Bingley shrugged. “There must be something about Miss Elizabeth that had you questioning your list. Can you identify what that something was?”
