Page 70 of Obligation and Redemption
Elizabeth was happy to have survived the lesson with her pride intact.
Mr. Carrington had praised her affectation, if not her actual execution, and pronounced that she was indeed adequately proficient to benefit from a master such as himself.
He told her because she had an inherent sensibility, that he would be able to improve her playing with diligence and practice.
This gave Elizabeth something upon which to focus her days while left alone in the grand house, which pleased her more than she would have thought.
Darcy had secretly listened to Elizabeth’s first lesson from behind partly closed doors, and he perceived an improvement in her performance beyond that which he had heard before.
Indeed, if truth were told, he had to admit that she was much better than he had given credit in the past. He pondered that had Elizabeth the benefit of a master in her formative years and time spent in practice with a good instrument, that she would have been the superior of even his own sister.
He rejoiced in the occasion to add to the accomplishments of his wife, which in turn would add to his own esteem.
These lessons would indeed be an investment with a significant payoff.
At the end of the lesson, Darcy entered the room, “Mr. Carrington, it is a pleasure to see you again. I am certain I join my wife in thanking you for sharing your expertise.”
“Teaching your wife has been a pleasure. As you already know, she has an inherent skill upon the instrument that delights despite lack of formal instruction, and due to this, she will, with training and practice, become a most proficient musician.”
Elizabeth glanced to Mr. Darcy to see how he took the news.
She had always suspected that he held her skill, as he did everything else about her, in derision, but she was surprised to perceive his look of pleasure as he said, “I thank you. Mrs. Darcy will flourish under your tutelage, just as Miss Darcy has.” A few more moments of conversation upon the virtues of constant practice ensued before Mr. Carrington made his departure.
Then Darcy turned to Elizabeth and said, “How did you enjoy your lesson, Elizabeth?”
“Very well indeed.”
“I am glad to hear it, for your enjoyment will make the upcoming lessons easier to bear.”
“And what if I had said that they were sorely endured, would you scold me for my failure to recognise the benefit of a master and send me to my room to ponder the graces bestowed upon myself?”
“I find no pleasure in scolding a woman and hope that you would see the benefit without my having to point it out to you.”
“How fortunate for you that I am astute enough to agree with you,” said she with a smile.
“I find that I am almost overwrought with the idea of working with Mr. Carrington. I have never been one much for practising, as I have always found something else more agreeable to do, but having a diversion while alone in this big house suits me admirably.”
“He will be coming three days a week until we leave for Pemberley, so you should improve significantly enough to carry on without his assistance until we return for the Season.”
“How propitious.”
“Yes, well, I will be in my study should you need me.”
“Of course.” And so they parted ways for the day.
Elizabeth was truly anxious to apply her newly learnt lesson on the pianoforte and so devoted herself to another hour of playing, after which she met with the cook and sat down to write some long overdue letters to her family.
She had received a letter from Jane, which spoke of her distress at the departure of the Bingleys shortly after Elizabeth’s own removal from Meryton.
Apparently, Mr. Bingley had come to town as expected one day after the Darcy wedding; however, on the following day, his sisters joined him, closing up Netherfield for the winter.
What greatly upset Jane was that Mr. Bingley had not only said that he would be returning to the neighbourhood within the week, but he had also agreed upon having dinner at the Bennets on the fifth of December.
That day had come and gone without a word from the man, and now the whole family was in upheaval over the dereliction of his promise.
The news of these events shocked Elizabeth exceedingly as she considered what this would mean for Jane whose affections had been long engaged by the seemingly kind attentions of Mr. Bingley.
Could they all have been wrong about his intentions or perhaps even his character?
Elizabeth decided to ask Mr. Darcy if he had heard from his friend in order to determine the truth of the matter.
WHILE SITTING AT DINNER THAT EVENING, Elizabeth said, “Mr. Darcy, by chance have you had the opportunity of seeing your friend, Mr. Bingley, since his arrival in town?”
He looked up from his soup and calmly answered, “I have had the pleasure.”
“Oh, good. And did he happen to tell you of his plans on returning to Netherfield? My family was under the impression that he would be coming back to the neighbourhood, as he had accepted a dinner invitation, but to their disappointment, he did not show up. I know he once said that when he would leave he would be gone in a trice, but really even for him, to close Netherfield without so much as a by-your-leave is most abominable. Has he given you any reason to suppose that he would not be returning to Meryton?”
Darcy hated disguise of any sort and was sore to know how to respond to this unexpected attack. “I am sure I do not know his intentions. Did he write to your father explaining his plans?”
“He left the day after our wedding and has not spoken or written to anyone at Longbourn since the breakfast. His sister, Miss Bingley, however, did write to Jane and related to her that the family was bound for London and planned closing the house for the winter with no expectation of returning any time in the near future.”
“Then I suppose his plans are to remain in London.”
“Do you not see how his marked attentions to Jane have left her in the difficult position of having a regard for a man – with expectations of a declaration – who would subsequently leave her without the hope of ever returning? I admit that I had thought more highly of Mr. Bingley than that. Could he be so capricious as to disregard all respect due a gentleman’s daughter?
— And one whose kindness and generosity of spirit cannot even now think ill of him for his undeniably discourteous behaviour towards her? ”
“Mr. Bingley has many friends in town, and I believe he did say that if he were to leave Netherfield, he would probably be off in five minutes, and that whatever he does is done in a hurry. That has certainly been my experience with the man.”
“But he also said that he was quite fixed there and promised to return within a week. His attentions to Jane could not be mistaken. Upon my word, even you cannot deny his inclination on that point.”
“I have seen Bingley fall in and out of love so many times that I cannot give credence to any such thing. He has always given his attentions to the most beautiful woman in a room. I cannot say that he behaved any differently around your sister than any other lovely woman.” Darcy knew that he was stretching the truth somewhat, but he did not want Elizabeth to suspect that Bingley might have an attachment to her sister, for it could be disastrous when next they saw one another, which was sure to happen at some point, but hopefully not until the Spring Season.
“Then shame on him for toying with the emotions of women who would form an attachment with him based on his attentions. I daresay I never suspected that he could be so cruel.” Darcy truly felt affected by his wife’s insinuations regarding one of his dearest and most valued friends, for there truly were few more worthy of esteem in regards to a steadfast and abiding devotion to his friendships, but he could not in good conscience expose his wife to his own interference, nor could he expose his friend to the scheming of the Bennet family.
He would not let his friend suffer alongside him, no matter the deceit he must enact in the process.
“I can assure you that he had no intention of hurting your sister. He is not of a malicious sort; he just likes the company of beautiful women. Perhaps I should have warned you while in Meryton, but I suspected that his overt and excessive flirting would be seen for what it was, an enjoyable way to spend a holiday in a country village. You don’t think that a man of his wealth could truly have designs on a poor gentleman’s daughter?
” As soon as he said the words, he realised his mistake, but as they could not be taken back, he decided to stand by his assertion, even if the truth were to hurt.
He had always been forthright and chose to be clear as to his meaning; surely Elizabeth could see the justice in his words for she was a discerning woman, regardless of where and how she was raised.