Page 5 of A Rational Man (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

H e did not come after all?” Lady Lucas demanded.

“No; my brother Phillips said that he sent his man of business, a Mr. Darcy. Our kitchen maid told Cook that Netherfield’s downstairs maid says he arrived in quite a fine carriage, but that everyone said it must be Mr. Bingley’s carriage, loaned to this Mr. Darcy for this particular errand.”

“This is quite a disappointment,” Lady Lucas said. Privately, she thought it more of a disappointment for Mrs. Bennet than for herself, as Miss Jane was the one to be deprived of a potential suitor.

“It certainly is! I was already selecting fabric for a new dress for Jane; I suppose there is no point to it now.” Indeed, Mrs. Bennet’s countenance evinced her dissatisfaction at this unexpected turn of events.

“To have been promised a young man of fortune and instead receive a – a man of business! Still,” she said, her face brightening.

“He may be single; and while he cannot possibly have five thousand a year, he may be able to support a wife. He would do very well for Mary.”

“Or Charlotte,” Lady Lucas added, her face brightening. “I shall have Sir William visit him, even if he is just a man of business.”

***

Immediately after Lady Lucas had taken her leave, Mrs. Bennet made her way to Mr. Bennet’s study. “You must visit him in any case, Mr. Bennet.”

“Must I indeed? I think not. I will visit Mr. Bingley, should he ever deign to make an appearance, but a man of business does not necessitate a visit.”

“But this man of business may yet be able to support a wife, you know.”

“Or he may be an underpaid lackey, and I will have ventured far from my comfortable study for no good reason at all.”

“Mr. Bennet.” The matron’s voice was firm.

Mr. Bennet sighed.

***

Mr. Graham led Mr. Bennet to Netherfield’s drawing room. “I will inform Mr. Darcy that he has a visitor.”

Mr. Bennet glanced around the room as the butler withdrew.

The room looked just as he remembered it from his visit to the previous tenant, except that the pieces on the chessboard had been moved.

He saw that black and white were well-matched, as both had lost two pawns.

Mr. Bennet chuckled. Clearly, the man was playing against himself!

He sat down behind black and contemplated the board before making a move.

“May I join your game?” The voice held a touch of sarcasm.

Finding himself rather at a disadvantage, having rather rudely interrupted the man’s game, Mr. Bennet rose at once. “I beg your pardon; I find it difficult to resist the opportunity to play.”

“Not at all, sir; I understand completely. As there is no one here to do the honours, I shall introduce myself. I am Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

“Mr. Thomas Bennet.”

Both men bowed.

“Doubtless you know that I am here at the behest of my good friend, Charles Bingley.” At that, Mr. Darcy winced, fearing that he had betrayed himself to this sharp-eyed older man.

“Good friend? Word is that you are his man of business.”

Mr. Darcy sighed. “I shall have to be more careful with my language in the future.”

“Are you not his friend, then?”

“I am, but…”

“You do not wish to be known as Mr. Bingley’s friend, I take it.”

Mr. Darcy shook his head. “I prefer that the neighbourhood not take too great an interest in me.”

Mr. Bennet threw his head back and laughed. “Thus your clothing?” he asked.

“The clothing is the result of my valet being called to his mother’s bedside.

I insisted that he attend her, of course, but the result is that I must wear clothing that I can manage myself.

This is the sort of thing I would wear to walk about my estate,” he said, gesturing to his comfortable trousers and loose coat.

“Estate?”

“Yes; I prefer that bit of information not be passed on to others.”

Mr. Darcy and his guest eyed one another thoughtfully, each taking the measure of the other.

Mr. Bennet said, softly, “I have five daughters, Mr. Darcy, and my wife is eager to marry them off.”

“I mean no disrespect, Mr. Bennet,” Mr. Darcy began.

“Oh, no, not at all,” Mr. Bennet interrupted. “I merely hoped to indicate that I understand your wish to not be seen as, well – is prey too strong a word?”

“It is not too strong at all,” Mr. Darcy said, recalling how hunted he had felt in London ballrooms.

“Very well; your secret is safe with me. Now, then, shall we finish this game?” Mr. Bennet rubbed his hands together, delightedly. Things were turning out far better than he had imagined.

***

“Well, Mr. Bennet?”

“Well, Mrs. Bennet?”

His wife scowled at him. “Is he married?”

“I have no idea.”

“You did not enquire?” Her voice rose in disbelief.

“We played chess,” her husband replied, shrugging. “The question of his marital status did not arise.”

“Is he well-looking?”

“He has two eyes, a nose, and a mouth, all in the right places in his face. More than that, I cannot tell you.”

“You are the most frustrating man in the world,” Mrs. Bennet declared.

“I do not doubt it,” Mr. Bennet replied, agreeably.

“I suppose I must invite him to dinner to discover anything at all about him.”

“I am certain that he would be grateful for your hospitality, Mrs. Bennet. But remember that he is a working man and not likely to be wealthy.” Mr. Bennet squirmed inside, remembering the mention of an estate, but he would not break his word to this new friend.

“He will not do for Jane, of course, but perhaps Mary would suit him.”

Or Lizzy, Mr. Bennet thought, as his wife gathered her skirts and marched from the room.