Page 55 of A Rational Man (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“And I danced with Miss Bennet when I was there, as well!” the Colonel added. “Come, let us sit, Miss Bennet.” Elizabeth allowed the Colonel to sit her in a chair beside his own.

Mr. Darcy retreated to the corner of the drawing room.

What was happening? Miss Elizabeth – no, he must think of her as Miss Bennet now – was all but ignoring him!

Had he misinterpreted her feelings all this time?

He tried to catch her eye, but she was not looking his way.

Perhaps he could sit beside her at dinner.

Lady Catherine directed her attention to her new guest. “Miss Bennet, I have learned from Mrs. Collins that your elder sister has recently married Darcy’s friend, Mr. Bingley.”

Elizabeth nodded. “That is correct, Lady Catherine.”

“I am surprised your father allowed the match; is he not the son of a tradesman?”

Elizabeth’s brows rose at such a question. She supposed she could say that she and her sisters had little in the way of dowries, the estate was entailed, and her family had been entirely overjoyed at the match, but instead she replied with, “They fell in love, Lady Catherine.”

“Love! Love? Bah.” Lady Catherine almost snorted.

“Yes, I am told that the first circles prefer to marry for financial advantage,” Elizabeth said, coolly.

Miss de Bourgh, most unexpectedly, spoke up. “And I think the first circles wrong in this regard. I would not marry anyone for whom I did not have a decided preference.”

Elizabeth smiled at this unexpected support. “Thank you for saying so, Miss de Bourgh. My elder sister and I swore, many years ago, not to marry except for the deepest love.”

“And she was able to do so! I am glad for her.”

“Thank you again, Miss de Bourgh.”

Lady Catherine interrupted again. “I see you have freckles, Miss Bennet. That speaks of a good deal of time out of doors. It is not good for a lady’s complexion to have so much time under the sun.

If you must go out, you must take great care to wear a bonnet with a wide brim, sufficient to cover your face entirely.

The sun is your enemy, Miss Bennet; never forget it. ”

Elizabeth managed to stifle a laugh. “I thank you for your concern, Lady Catherine. It is true that I enjoy being out of doors, and I must say that being outside in your lovely gardens has been a treat.”

“Oh!” Lady Catherine tossed her head. “I designed them myself, you know.”

“They are quite beautiful.” Privately, Elizabeth thought them over-manicured, but she would not say so.

Mr. Darcy felt now that he could participate in the conversation. “How is the rest of your family, Miss Bennet? Bingley is an indifferent correspondent, so I hear little news of Meryton.”

“Likely he thinks you disinterested,” Elizabeth returned. “But we are all well.”

“I do miss playing chess with your father,” he pushed on.

“Doubtless the ton contains superior players; I am certain you could find a substitute,” she said. She could not help the tinge of bitterness in her voice.

A brief silence fell upon the group. Happily, they were then called in to dinner.

Mr. Darcy’s hope of sitting beside Miss Bennet was not to be gratified; he was between Lady Catherine and Mrs. Collins.

But he took advantage of the arrangement to speak to Mrs. Collins.

He was glad – and rather surprised – to learn that she was quite happy in her new situation.

Indeed, she looked a good deal better than he remembered.

Less thin, less pale, less reserved; in fact, he could not recall ever seeing her smile before, but now she smiled a good deal.

“You look well, Mrs. Collins, if I may be forgiven for such an observation.”

“I feel very well!” she exclaimed. “Marriage has been truly wonderful.” She sent a warm glance toward Mr. Collins; the recipient of her gaze evidently felt her eyes on him, for he looked at her and smiled warmly in return.

Mr. Darcy felt a stab of – was it envy? Was he actually envious of a country parson? He shook his head, and then looked at Miss Bennet. She was seated between the Colonel and Mrs. Jenkinson, and was deep in conversation with the Colonel. Mr. Darcy scowled at his cousin, but he was ignored.

Face the facts, Darcy, he thought. She no longer cares for you. Did she ever? Perhaps he had imagined her regard! He had been certain that she felt as he did, but – had it just been merely his hopes informing his beliefs?

Lady Catherine finally rose and led the ladies from the table, leaving Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Collins behind. Mr. Darcy wasted not a moment. “What do you think you are about, Richard?”

The Colonel did not pretend to misunderstand. “I was seated beside her, Darcy; would you have me ignore her?”

“No! Yes! I do not know. Was she acting cold toward me, think you?”

“What does it matter?” the Colonel responded, leaning his chair back on its rear two legs.

Mr. Collins had been listening in some confusion, and he finally said, “See here! Are you speaking of my Cousin Elizabeth?”

Both men ignored him. Mr. Darcy said, “It does matter, of course it does! Her regard is important to me!”

“Indeed? And can you tell me why?”

“Stop teasing me!”

“Then answer me honestly for once!”

Mr. Collins stood up. “Gentlemen, I stand as guardian to Miss Bennet in her father’s absence. I demand an explanation!”

There was a minute’s silence; it was broken by Mr. Darcy. “I apologise, Mr. Collins; you are quite right.”

“Whatever can you mean by all this?”

Mr. Darcy sighed. “I have long held a…certain regard for Miss Bennet.”

“Do you plan to offer for her?”

Mr. Darcy’s eyes snapped to Mr. Collins’ face. “I do.”

The Colonel gasped and then began to chuckle. “At last he sees sense!”

Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins continued to stare at one another. Mr. Darcy added, softly, “But I do not know if she will accept me.”

“Mr. Darcy, I am struggling to believe – but you are my cousin Elizabeth’s superior in every way!”

“I am not; in a good many ways, I am her inferior.”

“I cannot allow you to hurt her; do not toy with her affections,” Mr. Collins warned him, solemnly.

“I received similar advice from her father some months ago, Mr. Collins. I assure you that I have no interest in toying with her. I mean to marry her, if she will have me. But I beg you to say nothing of this to anyone. I must be allowed to try to regain her regard.”

Mr. Collins looked at Mr. Darcy in consternation. “You wish me to say nothing to her?”

“Precisely.” Then he added, softly, “Please.”

Mr. Collins sighed. “Very well; but I shall be keeping an eye on both of you.”

Upon their return to the drawing room, the Colonel had the pleasure of watching Mr. Darcy try to make himself agreeable to Miss Bennet, who pointedly ignored him.

He begged her to play for the company, saying that he would be happy to turn pages for her, but she turned to Mary and asked her sister to do so, saying that Mary was able to read music and so would be of more help.

When he asked after Mrs. Bingley, she shrugged and simply said, “All my family are well.”

“And Miss Kitty? Miss Lydia?” He was desperate now for something from her, but what? An acknowledgement of him, some sign of – anything!

But she simply stared at him and then turned to Mrs. Collins, saying that she was weary. Mrs. Collins obediently turned to her husband, and they soon thanked their hostess most sincerely, made their farewells to everyone, and departed in Lady Catherine’s carriage.

Mr. Darcy stared after them, utterly shocked.