Page 66 of Obligation and Redemption
There was no separation of the sexes that evening, for if there had been, Elizabeth would have made her exit for the night.
Fitzwilliam suggested they withdraw to the music room so that Elizabeth could perform.
He was interested in her ability even though she herself had never given reason to suppose she was a great proficient.
Darcy on the other hand had insinuated that she was inferior to the ladies whose company he had most often enjoyed.
When entering the music room, Elizabeth walked over to the pianoforte.
Again, she perused the sheet music, remembering that there was a song that might fit the occasion.
She decided upon a lively Irish tune that she had not played in a while, but with Colonel Fitzwilliam in attendance, she felt to be appropriate as he was a lively sort of man.
He offered to turn pages for her, which she accepted happily.
Fitzwilliam was pleasantly surprised at her competence.
Elizabeth played with feeling and zeal, and he had to stop himself more than once from clapping his hands to the tune along with her.
Elizabeth laughed at his enthusiasm for the performance as she finished the song with a flourish.
Fitzwilliam was finally able to clap in earnest for her lively rendition, and although she had missed a few notes perhaps, her spiritedness more than made up for the mistakes.
“That was marvellous! And do you sing? I would dearly love to hear you sing,” said the colonel. Darcy had heard her sing once before and could not remember anything extraordinary about her performance.
“I can sing, but how well I sing will be for you to judge.” And so she began a love song.
She did not need him to turn pages for she knew the song by heart, so Fitzwilliam stood in front of her where he could study her countenance.
He had always believed that one could learn a great deal about a person by the subtle changes in his or her mien while engaged in an activity, be it drill formations in a regiment or a woman’s eyes and smile while performing.
He came to the same conclusion that Darcy had long ago, that Elizabeth wore her feelings in the open for all to see, but he also saw something Darcy had not.
Elizabeth’s voice, though not perfect, had a sincerity that drove the song forward bringing the hearer along with her, sharing the emotions that consumed her.
The words conveyed such a longing when accompanied by her melodious voice that he was completely bewitched by the end, as a sailor lost to the song of a siren.
When the last note ended, silence reigned for the next five long seconds; then he burst forth with applause.
“Mrs. Darcy, I confess that I have rarely heard anything so lovely. Don’t you agree Darcy?” Fitzwilliam turned to his cousin and saw a look of puzzlement. “Darcy, does the cat have your tongue? Would you not say your wife performed exceptionally?”
The other two in the room looked at Darcy, expectant of an answer.
“Elizabeth has talent to be sure, but she will not play really well without practising. I plan to ask Georgiana’s music master to begin lessons with Elizabeth on Friday, so she will have plenty of time to prepare for Christmas when she will want to play in front of your family. ”
Fitzwilliam looked on with wonder. How could his usually well-mannered cousin be so obtuse?
“I daresay they will love her performance with or without a master’s input.
Do you know any Christmas songs, Mrs. Darcy?
We have a tradition of singing carols at our gathering.
Georgiana and my brother’s wife play, but I do believe they would welcome your contribution. ”
Elizabeth looked down to her hands before answering, “Indeed I do know many carols and would be happy to play and sing. We, too, have traditions at my home in Hertfordshire that include music. My sister, Mary, will be the only one this year to provide the accompaniment for my family’s entertainment, so she for one will appreciate my absence, for she loves an audience.
” Then she laughed lightly, but melancholy had entered her eyes, not missed by the two gentlemen. “Shall I play another?”
“If you are willing; I would love to hear more,” said Fitzwilliam.
“Mrs. Darcy, won’t you play the one that you played for me a week ago, on your first night here?
” She blushed at the recollection of that night and their conversation that followed the song, but quickly acquiesced to Darcy’s request and began playing, but this time, Elizabeth added the words, for she felt that perhaps she was equal to the challenge the song would place on her emotions.
At the conclusion, both men sat mesmerised while she stared at her hands trying to keep her emotions under regulation.
Elizabeth then ventured looking up and saw a pained look on the colonel’s face.
Mr. Darcy had stood up and was facing the fire in the hearth.
Not knowing if the gentlemen had approved of her playing, she stood.
“Well, I believe at that I will leave you to your own entertainment. If you will excuse me.” She curtseyed and walked towards the door.
“Mrs. Darcy,” said the colonel, “that was lovely. Thank you for indulging us.” She smiled and bowed her head in thanks and continued out the door.
After a few moments of silence, Fitzwilliam spoke, “Darcy, you didn’t tell me your wife played so beautifully. I have a feeling that she is full of surprises.”
“Yes, I believe you are correct. What could her uncle have meant by teaching her to fence? I was appalled.”
“Man, do you hear yourself? You are going to drive a wedge between the two of you – if you have not already – that will not easily come down. Truly, you must stop placing judgement on her and her family. My own father once played pretend swords with Vickie when she was eight. She had been watching my brother and me as we contended with one another and asked if she could join in. When we told her to leave us, she went straight to Father, and rather than tell her that swordplay was no place for a little girl, he got out two stick swords and played until her curiosity was satisfied, and she never asked to play that particular game again.”
Darcy looked away not wanting to agree with his cousin, but convicted of his own mental attacks against his wife.
“Darcy, your wife is a lovely woman with a true passion for life that could so easily disappear under a domineering influence. Rather than try to change her, why don’t you consider the benefits to such a wife.
Her passionate nature could mean many nights of pleasure for you. ”
“Must you be vulgar?”
“I’m not. I know you would never take a mistress or pay a visit to the courtesans, which means that you must find that passion at home.
Rather than be her master, why not try to be her guide and friend?
I would bet that she would begin to welcome you in her life, and bed, if you showed her the respect that she deserves.
” After a pause with no input from Darcy, he continued, “Give it a month. Try to be solicitous of her needs as you would any other lady of our circle. Pull her chair out for her rather than leave that pleasure to a footman, pay her compliments, praise her performance rather than degrade her.”
“I do not degrade her. She knows she can do better with practice; she said so herself.”
“Don’t be so obtuse. She only says that for fear of disappointing you. If she sets you up to believe that she is incapable then she won’t be offended when you criticise her. She would just say that she told you so.”
“That’s absurd.”
“I am telling you, Darcy, if you do not begin to show her your approbation, she will never open herself to you. I suspect you will find multiple attributes to admire.”
“Fitzwilliam, you are speaking of my wife, not some debutante. I begin to think that you might admire Elizabeth a little too much.”
“Don’t be ridiculous; she is your wife, as well I know, but if you do not show her some deference, someone else will. How do you think Wickham got into her good graces?”
“I am trying, truly I am, but I cannot get past her origins and possible artifice related to Wickham. I would ask that you not pass judgement on my actions until you are in my position.”
“I am not judging, just wishing for your wellbeing.” Darcy walked over and poured them each a brandy.
After a few more moments of reflection, Fitzwilliam continued, “Just something to think about: give her a month to get comfortable with being Mrs. Darcy without demands for change, or anything else you might desire.” He held up his hand to stay Darcy from interrupting.
“That will take you to the new year. During that time, take opportunities to verbally appreciate her attributes, while exploring them yourself. If after that time, you find that nothing has improved, then go back to doing things your own way, and I will stay out of it.”
“You should stay out of it anyway.”
“Perhaps, but I care too much about you to sit idly by. You know I won’t be available for the next few weeks, but I hope to see things much better by Christmas.”
“I will consider what you’ve said. I can promise no more.” After a pause, Darcy continued, “So, we have the rest of the evening to ourselves. How about some billiards?”
“Certainly! I am feeling quite lucky tonight,” replied his cousin and from there did not revisit the topic again.