Page 34 of Obligation and Redemption
“Oh! Certainly,” cried Miss Bingley, “no one can be really esteemed accomplished, who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved.”
“And, Mr. Darcy, do you also agree with Miss Bingley’s description of an accomplished woman?”
“Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it. All this she must possess, and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading. There are very few truly accomplished women of my acquaintance, I daresay not more than half a dozen at most.”
“With the extensive list that you and Miss Bingley design, I am not surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. In truth, I rather wonder at your knowing any .”
“Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all this?”
“I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe, united.”
Miss Bingley cried out against the injustice of her implied doubt, and was protesting that they knew many women who answered this description, while Elizabeth looked down to her food in mirth.
“Miss Eliza, please, do tell; what are your accomplishments? We know you to be a great walker, as you seem to always be about the countryside, but what else can you add to your list of talents?” Elizabeth knew this was said to make sport with her, but she was not intimidated and determined to respond in truth. Let Mr. Darcy know her failings.
“I confess that I do enjoy walking and even running when the fancy takes hold. I have pleasure in many things, but am proficient in none. I enjoy reading next to walking, and when I can accomplish both in one outing, I am satisfied.” Miss Bingley sneered at her, having made her point to Mr. Darcy.
If she could not have him, she would make him regret having lost her, anyway.
Miss Bingley had not finished with her intent as she moved on to pile praise onto Mr. Darcy and his choice of estate.
“Miss Eliza, you should then be quite content at Pemberley, as Mr. Darcy’s estate has a delightful library and the finest grounds to be found in all of England, do you not, sir?
” Before he could respond, she continued, “I venture, you will probably be situated there a month straight without having an occasion to see one another, but perhaps Mr. Darcy will not want you removing his books to the open air. His collection is quite fine and worthy of better care than you may be willing or able to provide.”
“Perhaps you are right. I will make sure to bring my own, for I would not want to sully anything at so fine a home.” Elizabeth smiled sweetly then began a conversation with Charlotte, who had been greatly amused at the exchange going on around her.
She knew that Elizabeth was teasing the two dinner guests, but held in her laughter, as she doubted not that the principal listeners were in ignorance of her friend’s provocations.
Mr. Darcy’s intervention in pulling Mr. Bingley away from Jane resulted in their being separated for dinner.
Instead Bingley found himself between Lydia and Mary.
Although Mr. Bingley was adept at conversing with most anyone, he found Lydia without need of a partner in her chatter.
Mary, sensing the discomfort of the meal as she watched Mr. Bingley stare at her eldest sister across the table, knowing that he wished to be with Jane instead of herself, tried to come up with something sensible to say, but knew not how, so she concentrated on her soup.
After a short time, Bingley was roused from his reverie by Mrs. Bennet, just across the table and two up from him, who inquired about the upcoming ball and who was to be invited.
He responded that he hoped all of their friends would be able to come and certainly the Bennets could invite whomever they wished, since it was to be given in honour of Miss Elizabeth as well as Mr. Darcy.
“Oh, how generous of you, sir. I have been thinking upon who might come to help us celebrate. You know, the officers have spent some time with our family. I am sure you have issued an invitation there. Dancing can be a difficult endeavour when there are too few men, you know. My girls are especially fond of Mr. Wickham, so you must include him.”
Her unrestrained voice was regarded across the table.
Upon hearing the name of Wickham, Mr. Darcy looked up.
Bingley, not knowing Darcy’s history with Wickham nor the need to say otherwise, agreed to the inclusion of all of the officers, as he had found their company pleasant and entertaining, and indicated that he had already issued the invitation.
Elizabeth smiled to herself as she considered Mr. Darcy’s discomfort at the prospect and secretly hoped to at least see Mr. Wickham at the ball, that he might discover the reason for her incivility and place the blame where it lay.
Dinner passed in like manner for the rest of the meal and was followed by a short separation of the sexes, the men staying in the dining room and the ladies retiring to the drawing room.
Mr. Bennet used this time to approach Mr. Darcy to enquire about his plans for after the wedding.
“I intend to take Miss Elizabeth to London for the festive season, then on to Pemberley until spring.”
“Will you be returning for Mary’s wedding before you depart for the North? Lizzy would not like missing a day so important to her sister.”
“I have made no plans for such an occasion, and have only learnt of the engagement earlier this evening over dinner,” responded Darcy and then paused before continuing.
“Allow me to congratulate you on your fortunate alliances. I understand that my aunt’s rector is the one soon to be your son.
You must be proud for two of your daughters to make advantageous matches. ”
“Indeed, I admire both of my sons-in-law highly but cannot decide which of you is to be my favourite.” He paused here as if in contemplation before recalling himself.
“I do hope for Lizzy’s sake that you make plans to bring her or at least let her come on her own.
Although she and Mary are unlike in manner and interests, Lizzy loves her and would be sorry to miss the occasion. ”
“I will take that under advisement, sir.” Darcy looked around to see if anyone was listening, and finding that the others were occupied in their own conversations, he continued, “Mr. Bennet, while I have this opportunity, I would like to reiterate my wishes regarding Mr. Wickham. Your wife specifically asked my friend to invite him to the ball. Bingley knows nothing about my former dealings with the man, and so did not exclude him from the invitation. I have every reason to doubt his attendance; nevertheless, I would ask that you do your part to ensure that he not be encouraged by your family to make a showing. I stand by my threat to you and your daughter. If she has communication with that man before the wedding, I will walk away from this business without remorse.”
“I am curious as to your connection with Mr. Wickham. You have asked me to ensure my family’s distance from him, but have not told me the details behind the reason for our lack of civility.
If I am to listen to the constant complaints of my family on this matter, you can at least give me justification for such a course. ”
Darcy did not know Mr. Bennet well enough to trust his confidence in this matter, and so replied in general terms about his toying with respectable ladies and those of the lower classes, as well as his amassing sizeable debt wherever he goes.
Before Mr. Bennet could ask more specific questions, Sir William announced that it was time to join the ladies.
Mr. Bennet had no reason not to agree to Darcy’s terms, except perhaps the peace that he longed to keep in his home.
He knew that all he had to do in this case was to let his wife know that avoiding Wickham was a wish of Mr. Darcy, and it would be done.
Her desire to please the man was greater than her desire to attach Wickham to one of her other daughters, especially as he had no fortune.
The men joined the ladies, and the night continued on in congenial, if not completely pleasant, conversation.
Mr. Darcy knew his duty and remained by Miss Elizabeth’s side; therefore, when she was summoned by her friend to play and sing for the company, he offered to turn her pages and make a show of affability.
He would not have considered her playing to match that of his sister’s, and he would agree with her own assessment of herself – that she was not proficient in the art.
However, Elizabeth did not shrink from her presentation, and although not accomplished, she had pluck and did not cower in the face of a challenge.
And although he usually esteemed men with courage such as this, his feelings were too coloured by resentment to truly acknowledge the idea as yet in her case.