Page 16

Mr. Bingley was the next to be summoned away, when Miss Darcy missed a few notes of the concerto she was playing and called out to him to come and turn the pages for her.

Elizabeth and Jane were left with Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth feared that he would soon be obliged to leave them - or worse, that they would have nothing to say to one another.

She might have complimented Miss Darcy’s performance at the instrument, but had no wish to wound Jane.

She searched her mind for some jape, but Mr. Darcy cleared his throat before speaking softly.

“I must apologize for my relations. I had no idea they would snub you both in such a way.”

Jane shook her head to demur, but Elizabeth laid a hand atop her sister’s. She would not pretend ignorance. “ You have nothing to apologize for, Mr. Darcy. You have come to our rescue most gallantly.”

He looked between the two sisters, his gaze lingering on Jane, who was staring at the pianoforte - at Miss Darcy and smiling up at Mr. Bingley as she played.

“I comprehend what you must be feeling at such ill-usage. I had no idea my aunt and cousins would behave so badly, though perhaps I ought to have anticipated it.”

Jane looked at Mr. Darcy with wide eyes and opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again, glancing nervously at Elizabeth.

Mr. Darcy also directed his gaze, penetrating and compassionate, at Elizabeth.

“My uncle is unwell - ‘tis rather dire - but I would appreciate your discretion. I believe my aunt fears for her daughters’ futures, and perhaps even for Richard. Since Lady Rosamund’s engagement, matrimonial schemes have been foremost in the thoughts and conversations of all the ladies of Matlock House, and the Bingleys must be of some fascination and novelty.

Even my sister has not been immune to this brand of excitement, though it is not her usual behavior.

I was astonished that I should be obliged to remind her she is not of an age to think of marriage.

Even when she is out in society, I should like to have her with me a few years yet.

Her behavior is not yet what it ought to be. ”

Elizabeth was greatly struck by Mr. Darcy’s words, and could discern that her sister was also affected.

He wished to assure them that he did not condone his sister’s behavior toward Mr. Bingley, and wished to soften the quiet hostility she had shown Jane.

He had taken Elizabeth’s subtle reporoofs to heart, and she was grateful that he had found a way to delicately give Jane some reassurance that Miss Darcy was no true rival.

Jane seemed unsure of how to respond, but Elizabeth spoke with warm gratitude for his thoughtfulness.

“You may be assured of our discretion, sir - I am sorry to hear of your uncle’s illness.

I cannot vouch for how my own mother might act under such sad circumstances.

Had I known of the countess’s preoccupation, I am sure we would not have prevailed upon what ought to have been a somber family gathering, had we been aware. ”

Jane nodded her agreement. “Perhaps it is for the best that we shall soon return to Hertfordshire.”

Mr. Darcy smiled. It was not the bright smile he had shown Elizabeth, to her astonishment and inexplicable delight, the day before at the park.

But it was earnest and gentle, and she softened toward him again.

She reminded herself that he had spoken of his ill humor at the Meryton assembly, which she had taken to mean that he was not displeased with her and Jane, but perhaps at the antics of their other relations.

It seemed his own relations were capable of the same matrimonial obsession that often mortified Jane and Elizabeth.

She wished to believe that her own mother and sisters were at least not prone to outright cruelty in the presence of eligible prospects, but she recalled how ill her mother had spoken of Charlotte Lucas when promoting Jane to Mr. Bingley’s notice the night they met. A blush of shame crept over her face.

Mr. Darcy perceived her distress, and extended a hand toward her before retracting it. “I look forward to our return, as well, to such society where you might be comfortable and valued.”

Miss Darcy finished her performance and received a great deal of praise from the ladies of Matlock House. The countess would hear Caroline play, and Colonel Fitzwilliam escorted her to the instrument. As they passed by Jane, Caroline motioned for Jane to join her.

“Will you turn the pages for me? I mean to entreat my brother to a duet, for he has the most pleasant voice, and yet keeps it a great secret.”

Jane rose in acquiescence, and the colonel took her seat as Jane followed Caroline to the instrument. Mr. Bingley was not easily persuaded to sing; after politely ignoring all of Miss Darcy’s entreaties, he yielded only to Jane’s gentle agreement that she would like to hear him.

Miss Darcy pouted, glanced back at her brother, and then positioned herself near the instrument to watch the performance For a minute, Elizabeth and her companions also quietly observed.

Caroline chose an old folk song that Elizabeth would have thought her friend might consider beneath her dignity, but it was a jolly tune that suited Mr. Bingley’s voice very well - and he directed his song of country romance to Jane as she turned the pages.

Colonel Fitzwilliam glanced over at Elizabeth, a shade of concern in his playful gaze.

“Shall I observe to my cousin how fine Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley look together? I believe I shall.” Before Elizabeth could protest, he had risen from the sofa and gone to stand beside his cousin, but he did not speak to her; he appeared intent on watching Caroline as her fingers moved easily over the instrument without a glance at the pages she had asked Jane to turn.

“I believe you must share my pleasure in seeing Miss Bingley so considerate of your sister,” Mr. Darcy said softly to Elizabeth.

“Any kindness to my sister is sure to endear me toward anybody,” Elizabeth replied.

“I dared not hope Miss Bingley would find such excellent friends in Hertfordshire.”

“I had high hopes of finding you all agreeable neighbors,” Elizabeth replied, her gaze locked with Mr. Darcy’s though he made no reply. And then, there was the bright smile again. How much better this expression suited him than his usual solemnity!

“I hope we do not disappoint you,” he said, his eyes still burning into her own.

Elizabeth refused to shy away from the intensity of his staring.

She imagined how she would feel standing up with him at the ball, wearing the exceedingly becoming gown she had ordered.

She knew him to be a fine dancer, and at Lucas Lodge he had even seemed swept up in the delight of the amusement, however briefly.

What would it be like to dance with him amidst such an exhilarating atmosphere as a ball?

Clearly she was already letting her fancy carry her off, and she guiltily recalled herself to her senses.

When Elizabeth made no answer, Mr. Darcy tried again. “I hope it shall please you to hear that I read a few chapters of The Romance of the Forest this afternoon, and enjoyed it very much.”

“That is fortunate for you,” Elizabeth said. “You shall have the pleasure of a good book, and you shall be spared my abusing you to all your relations, as I promised to do if you disliked it.”

“I believe you were looking forward to that activity.”

“I should hardly wish to sink myself any lower in your relations’ esteem,” Elizabeth drawled. She could see at once that she had said the wrong thing, for he grimaced.

Again he reached a hand toward her. “I beg you would think nothing of their good opinion, for it means little given their present preoccupation.” When Elizabeth only nodded, his brow furrowed and he added, “I believe my cousin the colonel has quickly come to esteem you a great deal.”

“If you mean that he flirts with me as much as he does every other lady, I confess it is a diversion I have enjoyed, though I would not wish him to cause my mother any of that undue speculation that you have attributed to the countess.” Elizabeth fidgeted with her hands in the folds of her dress, fearing she ought not to have spoken with such candor, and chastising herself for wishing Mr. Darcy to know that she had no particular designs on his cousin.

His gaze shifted to where Colonel Fitzwilliam stood watching Caroline play, his face lit with such admiration as if she were playing one of the complicated concertos she generally favored.

Elizabeth felt a moment of confusion. She might reasonably expect Mr. Darcy to feel some envy at how the colonel flirted with Caroline - in a way Mr. Darcy never seemed to do himself.

A sense of treachery twisted in her chest once more.

She ought not think of Mr. Darcy as she had begun to, indeed she ought to enjoy the colonel’s attentions in an effort to promote the match to which Caroline aspired.

And yet….

Elizabeth watched her friend, who seemed to glow under the colonel’s steadfast gaze, unaware that Mr. Darcy was also watching her.

Caroline had never encouraged the colonel, and had certainly made her intentions toward Mr. Darcy markedly well known.

But the way she spoke of him, at least to Elizabeth, had not been with any great emotion.

Caroline thought well of Pemberley, of the library and the grounds, but never spoke of the gentleman himself.

Surely Mr. Darcy was more than his estate.

He was thoughtful and intelligent, and even more capable of humor than Elizabeth had initially imagined.

And when he smiled, everything else that was passing faded away as the rare and brilliant expression on his handsome face seemed to make the earth tremble.

Certainly Caroline must notice such things, as much as Elizabeth ought not to.

When the music ended and the countess summoned Darcy to speak with her daughters, he seemed reluctant to leave Elizabeth, but she was relieved at his parting.

She congratulated her friends on a fine performance and once again pushed away the intense awareness of Mr. Darcy that sent shivers up her spine.