Page 35 of Ever After End
CHAPTER 34
E lizabeth was not looking forward to the afternoon activity, which was an archery tournament. She never participated in such competitions at home because she was terrible at the sport. Jane, of course, was a competent archer, and looked like perfection doing it. Mary could, at least, distinguish herself, but Elizabeth’s skill was abysmal.
The household traipsed down to the lakeside, where many of the outdoor activities were held. The canopies were close enough to catch the breeze from the water, but far enough for the guests to steer clear of the intensely territorial Barnaby. The guests relaxed under the lovely white canopies to watch the play of the others, and enjoyed the afternoon meal. There was a practice course set up as well as the official archery course, complete with drawings of Napoleon to be used as targets. A copy of Wordsworth was to be the prize of the ladies. A fine pocket knife was to be the prize for the men.
Darcy took Elizabeth to the practice course, for she had confessed to him her dread of the afternoon. Elizabeth was looking forward to some competent instruction, for Mr Bennet’s approach had been to let his daughters figure the sport out for themselves, and she always felt extremely awkward. Darcy mistakenly decided to use the opportunity to be romantic, before the others came over to join them.
When Elizabeth demonstrated her technique, Darcy came forward and said, “You are too shaky, you must be confident.” As he stopped close behind her, he raised his hands and directed first one of her arms, then another, embracing her as he did so. Then bent his mouth down by her ear to whisper into it, and just as he began to instruct her, she panicked.
This was not helping her confidence at all! Elizabeth suddenly felt as if she could not breathe and spun away, releasing the arrow in the wrong direction, burying it in a tree thirty feet from her intended target. Though the others had missed what led to Elizabeth’s abysmal shot, all of their attention was on them now.
“I apologise. That was poorly timed, and not well thought out by me.” Darcy stepped back from Elizabeth, putting his hands up. “Will you forgive me?”
“I seem to be doing a great deal of forgiving so far, Mr Darcy.” Elizabeth somehow managed to look down her nose at him even though he was nearly thirteen inches taller than her. “I do hope it will not become a habit.”
“Oh dear. Poor Lizzy does not enjoy archery. I wish the other ladies and gentlemen had not goaded her into agreeing to compete last night,” Jane fretted under the canopy by Miss Crawford and Miss Bertram.
“I believe she has been distracted by my friend,” Mr Bingley observed. “Darcy underestimates his effect on the ladies.”
“Well, that is no way to learn to shoot, and Mr Darcy ought not advise if he is not going to take the matter seriously,” announced Miss Bingley as she moved in the couple’s direction. “We take our very lives in our hands, allowing Mr Darcy to instruct such dangerous activities.”
“Mr Darcy, whatever have you done to poor Miss Eliza?” Miss Bingley said as she approached them. “Away with you, before you get someone killed.” Then, when Darcy protested, she insisted. “I was first in archery every year at Lady Tomlinson’s Academy for Young Ladies. Off you go, now.”
She turned back to Elizabeth as Darcy returned to the others, and said, “I certainly hope that you like him, for I never thought he would select a lady to marry. He is too exacting. They take bets in London on when he will wed, for no one is ever good enough for him.”
“I am not certain. I thought I did; then he said something that changed my mind. Now I am attempting to decide,” Elizabeth admitted.
“After being chased by every woman alive, including myself, he has chosen the only female who must be convinced. Someone should write a novel about it. I shall speak to that chaperone about it tonight, what is her name?”
“Miss Larkspur,” Elizabeth offered.
“Well, even if I leave here unwed, at least this will be amusing to watch.” Miss Bingley sighed wistfully in Mr Darcy's direction, then turned back to Elizabeth. “Miss Eliza, you have excellent posture, which can only assist you in becoming a superior archer. You are a woman, and I am told your greatest enjoyments are reading and walking, so your arms, like those of many women, are not as strong as your legs. You need additional assistance.”
“I prefer to be called Elizabeth.” Elizabeth could not help but inform the other lady.
“Very well, Miss Elizabeth. Come to the table,” Miss Bingley invited her.
Miss Bingley led her to a nearby table and fit a brace to Elizabeth’s arm. “You need a brace to strengthen your arm, and one of these three fingered gloves for your hand. Does that fit well? It should be snug. It will protect you from discomfort.” She led the way back to the practice course, and began instructing Elizabeth on her posture, displaying how far apart she should place her feet, level her arms, and tilt her head.
When she finished explaining how Elizabeth should place her aim, she said, “Never, under any circumstances, point your bow or arrow at any person or animal you do not wish to harm. Do not spin off target when you are distracted or distressed. Someone could be killed if you lost your arrow in such a manner as you did earlier. Do you feel ready?”
“I feel ready,” Elizabeth answered in a steady voice. This had been the instruction she needed. She would forgive Mr Darcy his blunder – again – but she hoped he became less awkward in his courting habits.
“Prepare yourself, and release your arrow,” Miss Bingley instructed.
Elizabeth followed her instructions, and stood open-mouthed when her arrow flew and hit the target. She had not hit the centre of the bullseye. But she had scored.
“That was brilliant, Miss Bennet!” Miss Bingley praised her. “Practice a bit more, but not too much before we begin the tournament, or you will become tired.”
Elizabeth thanked her, and a few other ladies approached Miss Bingley for advice, which she readily shared with the others, gaining herself some new friends amongst the ladies. Miss Crawford was also a skilled archer, and she assisted the others in their practice as well.
“I forgot how much Caroline enjoyed archery,” Bingley said to Darcy as Jane joined the other ladies. “She is not wrong, she was not only first in her year, she was the first in every year. Her school would compete against other ladies’ schools for some accomplishments just before the end of term each summer. She won twice.”
“It is kind of her to help the others,” Darcy admitted.
“She has not told anyone what you said to her last summer, but she has admitted that she no longer desires to be thought above her company, nor cruel, and that she now does her best to model her behaviour on Miss Darcy’s kindness.” Bingley smiled at the sight of his sister helping the other ladies.
“I take that as a compliment, not only that she considers my sister worthy of emulation, but also that she valued my opinion enough to reflect upon it and take action,” Darcy said in surprise. “I will admit, Miss Bingley has greatly improved since last summer. I have not felt uncomfortable once in her company since we last joined you in Highbury. ”
“I have high hopes for Caroline.” Bingley turned and helped himself to a biscuit from a platter. “Perhaps she will marry for happiness and find all of her dreams met by her own merits. Not because I have married high enough to place her in good society; she deserves it.”
The competition lasted all afternoon. Darcy spent it in Elizabeth’s company, very careful not to distract her in any way while she was shooting. Miss Bingley was adamant that archery could be dangerous, and that heckling was not to be tolerated, and Mrs Darlington agreed with her.
It transpired that it was not only Miss Bingley and Miss Crawford who were skilled in archery, but also Miss Abernathy, who was the last person anyone expected to distinguish herself. Apparently archery was a common activity for genteel ladies in her village, and she practiced often with her neighbours.
Miss Abernathy won the ladies’ tournament. Mr Pemberton, also a lover of the activity for its romantic nature and connection to poetry, won the pocket knife. Upon learning that the lady who won the copy of Wordsworth was not a reader of poetry, the gentleman arranged to spend the following morning with her, reading from her new volume, and discussing the contents.
Elizabeth placed seventh out of twelve ladies, three places behind Jane, but she was cheerful about it. “In Meryton, I would have placed last, so I can hardly complain. I believe that I shall practice more in the future, now that I understand the technique better.”