Page 10 of A Rational Man (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Y our new friend seemed rather confused, Papa,” Elizabeth observed over dinner that same night.

“He could not stop staring at you , Lizzy,” Jane remarked. “He said you reminded him of someone, but I saw his face. I believe he admires you.”

Mr. Bennet said, quickly. “He is not a man suitable for marriage; I think you should not read too much into his admiration.”

“And why is he not a man suitable for marriage, I should like to know?” Mrs. Bennet demanded, rather heatedly. “He is not married, and he has employment. Mr. Bingley thinks so highly of him that he loaned him an elegant carriage!”

“I thought you had already decided he would do for Mary,” Kitty said.

Mary looked embarrassed and quickly shook her head.

“He is very good-looking,” Elizabeth said, slowly. “He has quite an air about him, far more than one would expect from a man of business.”

“He does, indeed,” Mrs. Bennet said, happy to encourage Lizzy in a possible pursuit of Mr. Darcy. “His manners are exquisite, despite his ill-fitting clothing.”

“Perhaps he is a Duke in disguise!” Kitty said, eagerly.

“You read far too many novels,” her father said, sternly. “Mr. Darcy is not to be pursued, and that is the end of it.”

Mrs. Bennet shook her head. “That is not the end of it at all, Mr. Bennet. If there is something you know about him that renders him unfit as a husband, you shall have to tell me of it. Otherwise, he is as eligible as any attorney might be. Indeed, did not my own sister marry an attorney, Mr. Phillips? And they have a house and live as well as anyone!”

Mr. Bennet frowned ferociously at his wife. He did not dare tell her the truth about Mr. Darcy; it would be all over Meryton in minutes that a wealthy and well-connected landowner was residing in their midst!

Mr. Gardiner, who would spend the night at Longbourn and return to Gracechurch Street in the morning, said nothing whatever on the matter; privately he wondered why the name Fitzwilliam Darcy sounded so familiar. Perhaps Madeleine would know. She had a far better head for names than he did.

***

That night, Jane spoke quietly to her sister. “I saw Mr. Darcy’s face when he first saw you, but I noticed yours as well. You seemed rather taken aback.”

“I was, I suppose,” Elizabeth admitted. “He is very handsome, you know.”

“He is. But there is something odd about the whole thing, Lizzy, though I have said nothing to Papa.”

“Odd?”

“Yes. He is more than just well-mannered; his manners are absolutely superb. He rises when a female enters the room; he always says the right thing at the right time; he tolerates our younger sisters’ behaviour with a grave face, as if he knows they are wrong, but he would die before he would comment on it.

He came here in a very elegant carriage, and I know everyone thinks it is Mr. Bingley’s carriage, but I have it from Mrs. Hill that her husband spoke with the coachman and it is Mr. Darcy’s own carriage, built to his own specifications. ”

“But his clothing –“

“Yes, you see, that is the odd part. He acts in every way a gentleman of the first circles, but he does not dress the part, nor did he bring a valet.”

“So who is he?” Elizabeth’s face brightened at the idea of a mystery.

“And that, my dear Lizzy, is the question!”

After a minute’s contemplation, Elizabeth said, “I will admit to you, though to no one else, that I found him quite attractive.”

“Mother has him earmarked for Mary, but neither of them seems to have any inclination toward one another.”

“And Papa says he is not to be pursued,” Elizabeth mused.

“As if any of us would pursue a man!” Jane scoffed.

“Heavens, Jane, have you not met our younger sisters?”

“Well, there is that,” Jane admitted. “Nonetheless, you cannot help it if he pursues you !” she finished triumphantly.

“True; but for now we can only wait upon events.”

And with that, the two sisters drifted to sleep.