Page 27 of Bitterness of Spirit

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Elizabeth stopped in the main hall and looked out the window, waiting for Darcy to leave. She was relieved when they finally separated. His company made her uncomfortable, and his incoherent answers regarding the weak and undecided Mr. Bingley made her angry. But at least she had confirmation about the lies of the Bingley sisters—and he was aware of it too. She rejoiced in that small victory.

It was somehow satisfying that he did not appear at ease either. But then why did he walk with her? Was he only being polite? Was he attempting to learn something from her? He was such a strange man and managed to disturb her every time they met—so very opposite to the colonel!

“Lizzy, was that Mr. Darcy?” Charlotte asked puzzled. “Did you walk out together? Alone?”

“Not at all. I walked alone, he rode out, and we met on my way home. For some strange reason, he decided to escort me.”

“My dear Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he never would have called on us on the second day of his arrival, nor kept you company alone with the risk of finding yourselves in a compromising situation.”

Elizabeth laughed wholeheartedly. “Not at all! We had little conversation and spent half of the time in an awkward silence. No one who sees us could ever assume a compromising situation, unless it is one in which we are trying to kill each other. I tell you—he is a strange man.”

“Well, you are strange together,” Charlotte reluctantly admitted. “Although I do believe he has a certain regard for you.”

“I cannot agree. He is simply bored and tries to amuse himself during this visit to his aunt.”

After more teasing and jokes, their disagreement ended.

Chapter 7

In the following days, Mr. Darcy and the colonel seemed tempted by either the proximity of the Parsonage, the pleasantness of the walk thereto, or the geniality of the residents. Consequently, they visited daily for three consecutive days.

Each of the gentlemen was very much himself during these calls. Elizabeth continued her amiable association with the colonel and gradually became more at ease with Mr. Darcy, so the visits were awaited eagerly.

Mr. Darcy seldom spoke with any of them. He appeared to bear Mr. Collins’s attention with politeness, and he complimented Mrs. Collins several times. Towards Elizabeth, he mostly gazed silently. On the fourth day, a dinner invitation arrived from Rosings, much to the Collinses’ excitement, and the invitation was accepted with enthusiasm.

Elizabeth wondered and worried about Miss de Bourgh as they had not met since their last—and heated—conversation. She was curious to observe her appearance and behaviour in the company of her cousins. That something grave was happening with Anne de Bourgh troubled Elizabeth as much as the notion that she could do nothing to prevent it.

Preparation for dinner began at the parsonage early in the morning. Maria changed her mind about her gown several times and seemed panicked by not being properly attired. Mr. Collins attempted to comfort her and Elizabeth in his usual manner.

“Do not worry, my dear sister and cousin, about having proper attire for such an occasion. Lady Catherine and her nephews surely do not expect from you the same elegance to which they are accustomed.”

“We shall bear it as well as we can,” Elizabeth replied with a mocking sincerity that Mr. Collins took to heart.

At the proper hour, they joined the party in Lady Catherine’s drawing room, and they were received with civility.

Miss de Bourgh was in her usual place with her companion. Elizabeth met her eyes, and their glances lingered a moment. Then, Lady Catherine intervened in the conversation and demanded to know how Elizabeth and Maria employed their time and when they planned to leave Kent.

Her ladyship did not grant them the same interest as on previous occasions. She was more engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them—especially to Darcy—much more than to any other person in the room.

Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed genuinely pleased to see them, and he quickly secured a chair near Elizabeth. Mrs. Collins’s pretty friend had caught his fancy, and her presence was a welcome change from the usual dinners at Rosings.

He talked so agreeably—of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying at home, of new books and music—that Elizabeth’s interest quickly turned to him entirely. He was pleasant and amiable and appeared to be equally intelligent, well educated, and unpretentious.

They conversed with spirit and flow until they drew the attention of Lady Catherine, as well as Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth noticed his eyes repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity, and she wondered at his thoughts. He likely disapproved of his cousin’s open preference for her. Would he hastily remove him as he had done with Mr. Bingley? Was the colonel as easily removed to Town and convinced against his wishes as the younger and more naïve Mr. Bingley?

Willing to vex the haughty and aloof gentleman, she became more voluble in her conversation with the colonel, smiling at him frequently, and laughing loudly at times.

But their interaction soon drew the attention of Lady Catherine, who called them out.

“What is it you are talking of, Fitzwilliam? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what you are saying.”

“We are speaking of music, madam,” said he.

“Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation.”

“Gladly, Aunt. I thought you were in the midst of a discussion with Darcy and Mr. Collins, and I did not want to disturb you.”