Page 10 of Superior Connections
“W hat is it, Caroline? Can it not wait till morning? It is absurd to bring me here in the middle of the ball!”
“It cannot wait, Charles. Not a moment longer. It might be too late already!”
“Charles, I have heard a most alarming report. Are you engaged to Jane Bennet? Is it true?”
“Louisa, that is not alarming, it is ridiculous! Where did you hear such a report? I am certainly not engaged. If I were, I would have told you.”
“Where? I heard your ridiculous so-called mother-in-law bragging to her friends, with not even the decency to keep her voice down! And Jane Bennet has so little character that she obeys whatever her mother demands! Do you remember how she came to Netherfield on horseback, even though it was obvious it would rain?”
“I am not engaged. It is nothing but a silly rumour. And I shall not listen to another word against Jane Bennet! Now let us return to the party and discuss this tomorrow.”
“I heard Mrs Bennet too,” Mr Darcy interjected. “She said she expected them to be engaged by tomorrow, not that they already are.”
“Charles, even if it is just a rumour, it is dreadful and dangerous and entirely your fault! Your behaviour has been appalling! You have been chasing Jane Bennet around the room all night like a puppy! And she treats you like she treats everybody else — with a formal smile and a silly superiority under her feigned demureness. Can you not see that you are being fooled? It was the Bennets’ plan from the very beginning — to lure you with Jane’s pretty face and trap you! She is so annoying, smiling all the time. Even Mr Darcy agrees that she smiles too much,” Miss Bingley said.
“If I may correct you, my remark about Miss Bennet was from the first time I met her, not recently. And I agree with Bingley — this is not a suitable time or place for such a conversation,” Mr Darcy uttered.
“But Charles must immediately change his behaviour! He should avoid Jane Bennet for the rest of the evening and should certainly not dance another set with her.”
“This is ridiculous, Caroline. I have already asked her for a second set. That cannot be changed.”
“It must be changed! People already think there is more between you than there is. A second set will only confirm their expectations,” Mrs Hurst insisted.
“And why on earth did Eliza Bennet come to the ball at all since she has supposedly injured her ankle? And you all foolishly believed her!” Miss Bingley continued. “And what about their aunt, who appeared from nowhere? Does anyone know who she is? She says she is a countess, but have you heard of her before, Mr Darcy? I never have. Who knows what sort of penniless so-called lady she is — if she truly has any title at all! They must have brought her here to impress Charles and to push him into proposing!”
“This is absurd! If I had seen you drinking, I would say you had overindulged, Caroline.”
“Charles, this is not a joke and not absurd. We are talking about your life and ours. About your future and ours! You cannot tie yourself to a country girl with nothing to recommend her but a pretty face! Even Mr Darcy agrees with us!”
At this statement, Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat, and she held her breath.
“Does he?” Mr Bingley replied, anger apparent in his voice. “I am surprised to hear that. As far as I know, Darcy disagrees with everything you two say or do. What do you say, Darcy?” he asked.
“I say this conversation has gone too far, and it should end now. If needed, it might be continued tomorrow.”
“But Mr Darcy, you agreed it would be a huge mistake for Charles to propose to Jane Bennet. And you were as appalled as we were about the Bennet family and even laughed about Eliza’s reported beauty! But then, for some strange reason, you suddenly found her rather pretty and began to visit Longbourn. You cannot allow Charles to ruin his future just because you have been charmed by Eliza’s fine eyes!” Miss Bingley cried.
Thrills of disbelief, puzzlement, and dread shook Elizabeth as she listened, and she glanced at the sofa through the darkness and wondered when Lady Rosseford would wake up.
“Miss Bingley, your sarcasm is not at all appreciated, and such rude statements are certainly not helpful. Bingley, I have already given you my opinion. I have been honest with you from the beginning and expressed my doubts. That is why I recommended you not propose in haste but go to London for a while and consider your feelings from a distance.”
“Yes, you did, Darcy. Should I assume those concerns remain?”
“They do. I am still worried that your admiration might be fleeting since you have not known the lady long enough to form a deep attachment. We all know you have been in love before — at least three times in the last two years. And I am also worried that Miss Bennet, induced by the need for a good marriage and the desire to secure your affection, might accept your admiration without necessarily returning it. That does not mean I have any objections to Miss Bennet as a person.”
“So, you actually believe I am a shallow, irresponsible man and Jane Bennet is a dishonest, deceptive woman, using her beauty to lure rich men into a marriage for her own comfort,” Mr Bingley said, his tone heavy with rage.
“That is not what I said, Bingley!”
“Then what did you say exactly, Mr Darcy?” Elizabeth heard Lady Rosseford’s voice, and she jumped to her feet. With only one boot on, she almost slipped, and she grabbed a chair to regain her balance.
“Lady Rosseford?” Mr Bingley enquired, stepping into the room, his voice now hesitant. “What are you doing here? Are you unwell?”
“My niece Elizabeth brought me here to rest for a while. I did not expect to witness such slander about my family, and yes, I am unwell because of it.”
Mr Bingley immediately lit more candles, and Elizabeth could see Lady Rosseford sitting on the sofa and both Bingley sisters as well as Mr Darcy standing by the door, their faces revealing their utter shock.
“You should have made your presence known, Eliza!” Miss Bingley said.
“You should have minded your words and your spitefulness, Miss Bingley!” Lady Rosseford cried. “Why would you ridiculously presume you are better than my niece Jane? She is more beautiful than you, she is a gentleman’s daughter, and she is sweet, gentle, and kind-hearted, which one could never say about you or your sister!”
“Lady Rosseford, how can you…?” Mrs Hurst cried.
“I wonder why you are so arrogant,” the lady continued, her voice growing angrier. “Neither your fortune nor your situation in life can grant you access to high society. And your character and behaviour are certainly not helpful.”
“We cannot be forced to listen to this,” Miss Bingley interjected. “Especially in our own house.”
“Nobody is forcing you to listen, but I shall have my say, regardless! Besides, you are not in your house but in one rented by your brother. You do not own it.”
This new insult caused more stupefaction, but still Lady Rosseford had not finished.
“You called the Bennets dreadful. What do you think others call you? Do you wish me to make arrangements so you will not be allowed in any respectable place in London? Do you believe the Bennets have no connections that please you? I shall take my nieces to places where you would not even be allowed to dust!”
The scolding had become so offensive that all the others seemed frozen in horror. Elizabeth tried to intervene, but her aunt was not to be stopped.
“And you, Mr Darcy, plotting with two women against your friend. Offending my relatives after they welcomed you into their home. What sort of a man does that? I trusted you, I liked you, but you are such a disappointment!”
“Lady Rosseford, please allow me—” Mr Darcy attempted to speak. Elizabeth looked at him and noticed his troubled countenance. Their eyes met, but this time he was the first to avert his.
“I shall allow you nothing, Mr Darcy. I have heard enough. You, young man, take pride in your family’s worth, but you still must prove yourself worthy of your good name. I have my own pride, which I will not allow to be subjugated by yours!”
“I am only asking for a chance to explain myself.”
“Explain yourself, Mr Darcy? Was something I heard untrue?”
“Not entirely…but—”
“Then there is nothing to explain. You have your opinion, and I have mine. Your arrogance is no greater than mine, Mr Darcy.”
“At least you should not blame Bingley for this discussion,” Mr Darcy said.
“I do not blame him, but I believe you and his sisters may be correct. Mr Bingley, you seem a pleasant young man, but if you fall in love every other day and if you are not certain of my niece’s feelings, you are certainly not ready to marry her. You may dance with her if you wish, but do not dare to propose to her. I shall not approve of her marrying you. Go to London, as Mr Darcy suggested. Meet other young women and be sure of your unsteady heart.”
The lady stood and took a few steps forwards, then turned to the Bingley sisters again, her voice even colder and harsher, like a sharp blade.
“And you ladies may rest assured that none of my nieces are desperate to marry your brother. In fact, even yesterday I told Jane that I think she might find someone better.”
Mr Bingley looked so desperate, so disturbed, that Elizabeth took great pity on him. She felt he did not deserve such harsh censure, but her aunt seemed to disagree.
“And one last thing, Mr Bingley. You should know Jane truly cares for you and believes you to be the best of men. But then again, that girl has such a sweet nature that she thinks well of anyone, including your sisters.”
A gasp of horror escaped from Miss Bingley’s lips, which Lady Rosseford disregarded.
“Come, Lizzy, let us return to the party. Do not worry, Mr Bingley, I shall not cause a scandal. I am tempted to take the entire family from here this very moment, but I shall not do that. I wish to avoid embarrassment and gossip. And I shall not reveal this conversation to any of the Bennets — especially not to sweet Jane. I could not pain her with your betrayal.”
“Lady Rosseford, please, just a moment,” Mr Bingley pleaded, while Elizabeth quickly slipped her foot back into her boot and tied it securely.
“You should return to your guests too, Mr Bingley. You may talk to Jane, you may dance with her as you planned, and then you should go to London. We shall too, and hopefully, each of you will find your perfect match.”
The lady took Elizabeth’s arm, and they walked together, then she turned one more time to the Bingley sisters.
“And Mrs Hurst, Miss Bingley, you should know your arrogance is simply ridiculous. You are nothing but average in every way — fortune, beauty, education. You declare a superiority over others that you certainly do not possess.”
With that, Elizabeth and her aunt stepped out into the hall and slowly returned to the rest of their family.