“Actually, it was Mr Darcy who suggested you be invited to stay over and that I should send for your clothes at the same time that I let your parents know.”
“Mr Darcy?” For some reason, Elizabeth still had the idea that the man was even richer than Mr Bingley, and that therefore hemustbe less kind, less tolerant, less courteous….
“Yes. Mr Darcy is training Mr Bingley in all aspects of estate management, including hospitality and tenant relations. Mr Darcy…is the most impressive man of my acquaintance.”
Elizabeth tried to squelch the desire to laugh and managed to hold her laughter down to a rather quiet giggle.Is Mrs Nicholls infatuated with Mr Darcy?she wondered, but it was such an improper question, she blushed, thankful that nobody could know of her thought.
“Well,” she said, “if that is the case, perhaps you should just thank the gentlemen in general for their consideration.”
“Very well. Should I send Becky up when it is time to change for dinner?”
“Yes, please. Jane and I thank you sincerely for your excellent care.”
Mrs Nicholls bustled away, and Jane rasped out a comment: “Well, it turned out that it is notmyMr Bingley who is thoughtful, but ratheryourMr Darcy.”
“Oh, my, I definitely would not characterise Mr Darcy as mine! I hardly know the man, and I believe my vague picture of him, formed before I even met him, was quite mistaken.”
“Oh!” Jane laid there, still and silent, her expression indicating that she was deep in thought.
Elizabeth began to read some poetry aloud, although she felt that her efforts to entertain her sister were wasted; Jane still looked to be absorbed in her own private thoughts.
After some time, Jane asked for water. After drinking several sips, Jane began to speak with less grit in her voice: “You are very clever, Lizzy, and often, when you tease, only Papa seems to understand the joke.” Taking another sip of water, she said, “You said earlier today that you made a jesting remark and MrDarcy laughed. Perhaps Mr Darcy is another who appreciates your sense of humour, and if so, perhaps he is destined to beyourMr Darcy.”
“Oh, Jane, whatever can you possibly mean?” Elizabeth laughed.
At that moment Becky knocked on the door with a bowl of broth and a fruit compote on a tray.
“I am to help you dress for dinner first, Miss Elizabeth,” Becky said, “and then I will help Miss Bennet with her meal.”
“Thank you, Becky.”
A quarter hour later, Elizabeth neared the door of the blue drawing room. Unfortunately, before she even stepped into the room, she heard Miss Bingley apparently insulting everyone Elizabeth knew and loved, in one fell swoop.
That would not do! She squared her shoulders and marched in.
CHAPTER 9
13 November 1811
DARCY
Darcy arrived in the drawing room a quarter hour before dinner would be served. He discovered that he was the last to appear…unless Miss Elizabeth were to join them.
Miss Bingley glided up to him and attempted to clutch his arm, but he stepped aside as if he meant to look out of the window. “Netherfield Park is most impressive, Bingley,” Darcy said. “There is a pleasing prospect from nearly every window.”
“I am thrilled to have found such a well-maintained estate, and I am already contemplating purchasing it, if the owner will sell.”
“Oh, Charles, you cannot mean it!” Miss Bingley cried. “It is…the society is…it is so veryrustic!”
Darcy responded, although she had not addressed him: “A country estate does tend to be in the country, Miss Bingley.” He need not remind her that the goal their father clearly stated the day he passed was that his son should purchase a country estate—not a house in Town.
Darcy’s words caused an immediate reversal; Miss Bingley said, “You are correct, sir. I suppose that, when we are hosting people who actuallymatter, at house parties and shooting parties—well, Netherfield will feel quite different!”
“People who actuallymatter?”
The voice was, Darcy knew, Miss Elizabeth’s. As he spun to see her enter the room, he contemplated her voice for the first time. She spoke more firmly than most ladies, and her voice was quite low in pitch, bell-like rather than squeaky. At the moment, she sounded offended.
All those thoughts about her voice occurred to him in a flash as he turned quickly towards her, and he felt as if his focus locked onto her person, as if he would never be able to look away.
