Page 44 of A Rational Man (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
M r. Darcy had made a bargain with himself.
For every dozen society events he attended, he would reward himself with a visit to Hatchards.
He understood himself well enough to know that he had a secret hope that he would find Miss Elizabeth there one day, for did she not visit her relatives in London, and would she not perforce go to Hatchards?
Nothing could come of such a meeting, of course, but it would be very pleasant to speak to a young lady who was intelligent, sensible and beautiful.
Not just pleasant, but a relief , for all the young ladies he had met thus far were evidently incapable of speaking of anything other than the latest fashions, the latest on-dits , and the latest royal escapades.
Was there not more to talk about? It was rumoured that King Frederick William III of Prussia had been forced by Napoleon to supply twenty thousand men – surely that was worthy of a comment or two!
Of course, young ladies were not supposed to know about such things; they were too delicate.
But Miss Elizabeth was delicate enough – so small-boned, so dainty!
– and yet she kept herself informed of political matters.
The Colonel had told him of his conversation with Miss Elizabeth and her understanding of the battles he had been involved in.
She even read newspapers with her father’s consent!
She could not possibly be the only young lady in the kingdom with an interest in the world around her.
Perhaps the young ladies he danced with had been instructed not to talk on such subjects, lest they appear ill-bred.
Yes, that must be it. He could not discuss the war while dancing, of course, but he could certainly ask about their reading habits, could he not?
That would give him some clue as to the young ladies’ characters.
***
At the next ball, Mr. Darcy put his idea into practice.
Miss Clarissa Davenport told him that she read La Belle Assemblée from cover to cover, but had no time for anything else, for there were parties to attend every night.
Miss Edith Farrington was allowed to read only the Bible but, she asked, was that not the best book of all?
Miss Dorothy Giles had read everything by Ann Radcliffe multiple times; in fact, she and her sisters took turns reading The Romance of the Forest aloud in the evening.
Miss Penelope Armstrong proved to be a great lover of Shakespeare, and was able to quote two sonnets from memory, but drew the line at newspapers, as Shakespeare was racy enough, was he not?
He had no more success with any of the other young ladies that he queried. Perhaps, he thought at last, it did not matter if the future Mrs. Darcy was not a reader.
***
The Viscount of Middleton was the favourite of the Season, a fact which he enjoyed boasting about whenever Mr. Darcy joined the Matlocks for dinner. In fact, he said, he was so desired as a husband that the ladies were willing to bestow small favours upon him in the hopes of winning his regard!
Much concerned, his mother asked, “What favours are these, Daniel?” Her tone should have been enough to quell the conversation, but the Viscount went on, heedless.
“Kisses behind the draperies and the shrubberies,” he said, grinning widely. “And out on the balconies, when the lady asks for a bit of air! Oh, there is no harm in it, just a little enjoyment for both, and a possible taste of the delights that await, you know.”
“No, I do not know,” his mother snapped. “No young lady of a good family should permit such license!”
“If they wish me to consider them as a marriage partner, then they shall,” her son replied. “For I wish no shrinking violet as a wife!”
Mr. Darcy was unable to remain silent. “So this wife of yours must be beautiful, wealthy, willing to remain in the country while you parade about town, and now also ready to allow you to sample her charms beforehand?”
“Exactly right, cuz,” the Viscount drawled. “And whatever wife you eventually land upon must be ugly, bookish, and a prude! Ha! I have struck a nerve, have I? You must have someone in mind at this very moment who meets all these qualifications admirably, have you not?”
As it happened, Mr. Darcy had indeed been thinking of Miss Elizabeth at that very moment, and having her so described by Daniel was more than he could bear. Without stopping to think, he advanced on the Viscount and punched him solidly on the nose.
The Viscount howled in outrage and raised his fists to retaliate, but the Earl had entered the room just as the Viscount had launched into his description of Mr. Darcy’s future wife; thinking his nephew entirely in the right, he stopped the impending brawl by the simple expedient of stepping in between the two would-be combatants.
Fists dropped; the two gentlemen stepped back. Mr. Darcy began an apology, but the Earl would not let him finish it. “My son is ashamed of his words,” he said, heavily. “Are you not, Daniel?”
The Viscount merely growled.
The Earl shook his head, sadly.
“Under the circumstances, I think it best that I not stay for dinner, Aunt,” Mr. Darcy said. His voice was calm and polite.
“Darcy, I am so embarrassed for my son that I know not what to say,” the Countess replied. “But you are right; another time, perhaps.”