Duels of Every Sort Page 4

  At the other end of the table, Mr. Bennet, John, Elizabeth, and I engaged in political debates, literary discussions, and witty banter of all sorts. My opinion of Mr. Bennet as an intelligent, discerning gentlemen was reinforced. My respect for him also increased in observing that he treated Elizabeth as an absolute equal in every respect and so did John.

  I had rarely been in a company of people in which a female, let alone one that was just twenty years old, was treated with such equality and allowed to speak with such freedom on any topic that came up. The love for Elizabeth that flowed from Mr. Bennet and John as well as their absolute respect for her intelligence and her opinion was palpable. It was astonishing and endearing at once.

  My respect for Elizabeth was further bolstered by the fact that she absolutely deserved such consideration. I watched her join in the various debates on a wide variety of subjects with no little knowledge and much wit. I even found that she and her father shared the same humor and occasionally sardonic turn of mind. It occurred to me that Elizabeth’s liveliness and charm could go a long way toward bringing Georgiana out of the shell she had constructed around her since the summer.

  Without consciously choosing to do so, I remained close to Elizabeth for the remainder of the evening, and we shared several more lively and entertaining discussions. When I retired to my bed that night, I could not stop thinking of her. I was enchanted enough to realize that if I were not careful, I could be very much in love with Elizabeth in a very short time. However much this idea appealed to me, I had to guard my heart more diligently. I could not marry her.

  My family expected me to marry an heiress—I would not marry my cousin, Anne, no matter how much my Aunt Catherine might desire it. I had been raised all my life to seek an agreeable partner in marriage but also one who would bring wealth, connections, and status to the match as well. Elizabeth, for all her plethora of personal charms and the fact that she was the sister of my good friend, was poor. Longbourn provided the Bennets a decent lifestyle, but the girls had almost nothing in the way of dowries and their mother came from a family of tradesmen and solicitors. My family would not be happy with such a match. I had to be careful. Elizabeth and I could be friends and nothing more.

  --- --- ---

  The following week found most of Meryton society, including the Bennets—sans Mr. Bennet who was enjoying his solitude that evening—and my own party, assembled at Lucas Lodge for an evening of merriment. It was the first time I had been in company with any of the Bennets other than John since the dinner a week before. Despite my resolve to pay little attention to her, my eyes immediately found Elizabeth and were riveted by her sparkle. She smiled at me from across the room, and I began to have trouble remembering just why I could not allow myself to court her.

  Bingley seemed to have no such concerns. After greeting Sir William and Lady Lucas, he immediately sought out Miss Bennet and engaged her in close conversation. I watched her again as she conversed with my friend. Miss Bennet’s looks and entire demeanor were cheerful and pleasant, but she seemed to accept Bingley’s attentions with the same serenity that she did anyone else’s. I thought that I might speak with John about it. After all, he was as familiar with Bingley’s propensity to fall in and out of love as I.

  My attention was soon drawn to Elizabeth again by her laughter. She was speaking with Charlotte Lucas with her usual playfulness of manner. I decided that I would not speak with her anymore than necessary that evening, but I would not deprive myself of her company completely. To that end, I began to attend her conversations with others and spent a good portion of the evening amused by her conversation without being required to respond.

  I should have known that Elizabeth would see through my design. She unexpectedly turned from her friend to me and asked, “Do you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball in Meryton?”

  I smiled. How was one supposed to be indifferent to this girl? “With great energy—but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic.”

  “You are severe on us.”

  “It will be her turn soon to be teased,” supplied Miss Lucas. “I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows.”

  “You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!—always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable, but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers.”

  Miss Lucas continued to pester her. When it appeared that she would not be persuaded, I added, “Please do play, Miss Elizabeth. I would very much like to hear you, and please remember you are not performing to strangers.”

  Elizabeth released a dramatic sigh and stated, “Very well; if it must be so, it must,” before taking her place at the pianoforte. She both played and sang very well, though by no means perfectly. However, there was such expression in her song as to render it enthralling. I had rarely heard anything that gave me more pleasure.

  When she had finished, she started to rise from the instrument, but Miss Lydia appeared and begged her, most exuberantly, to play a Scotch or Irish air so that she and some of the young officers could dance. “Very well, I will play, Lydia. But please lower your voice. Remember you are not the only person here.” I was glad I was not the only one who had been discomfited by Miss Lydia’s wild behavior. I stood by in silent indignation as Miss Lydia ignored her sister, gathered a few of the officers and some of the younger Lucases, and began a country romp of a dance.

  Sometime later, Elizabeth relinquished her seat to Miss Maria Lucas who played more airs so that the dancing could continue. I watched as Bingley and Miss Bennet joined in. Sir William then approached me and began, “What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies.”

  “Certainly, sir,” I replied. “And it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance.” I heard Elizabeth, who was standing nearby, attempt to conceal her amusement.

  On seeing Bingley go down the dance, Sir William continued, “Your friend performs delightfully, and I doubt not that you are an adept at the science yourself, Mr. Darcy.”

  “You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir.”

  “Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James’s?”

  “Never, sir.”

  “Do you not think it a proper compliment to the place?”

  Bordering on exasperation, I said, “It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it.” I knew that Elizabeth had been listening this whole time, and she chose that moment to make herself known to Sir William, her eyes gleaming.

  “My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing?” Sir William wanted to know. “Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you.”

  He took her hand and would have given it to me—a circumstance to which I was not at all averse—when she instantly drew back, and said with some amusement to Sir William, “Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.”

  I immediately asked her if she would, in fact, do me the honor of dancing with me, but she declined. I had never in my life had a woman refuse to dance with me! Had it been any other young woman, I might have been affronted. However, it was Elizabeth, and I was only more enchanted, even more so when Sir William entreated, “You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentlemen dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour.”

  “Mr. Darcy is all politeness
,” said Elizabeth, smiling.

  “He is indeed—but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?” Who indeed? I wondered. Elizabeth just looked at me archly before continuing on her way, taking pity on me and pulling Sir William along with her.

  Out of the frying pan and into the fire pit, as they say. Miss Bingley then approached me. “I can guess the subject of your reverie.”

  “I should imagine not.”

  “You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner—in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!”

  There may have been a time at which I would have joined in her censure. And while I could not help but agree with her where certain members of the society were concerned, I had also seen these people through John and Elizabeth’s eyes. They were simple, but they meant well. So, to forestall any further comments of the sort by Miss Bingley, I replied, “Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”

  She asked, as I had known she would, “Dare I ask whose the eyes that inspired these reflections?”

  “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” I had the pleasure of seeing her shock, which soon melted into abject displeasure.

  “Miss Elizabeth Bennet! I am all astonishment.”

  “Why should you be? Miss Elizabeth is a charming young lady and the sister of my good friend, John Bennet.” Shock rekindled in her eyes. “If you will excuse me?”

  I walked away and joined a group of soldiers with which John was conversing. The remainder of the evening passed pleasantly enough.

  However, that night, Elizabeth began to invade my dreams. Now, not only could I not stop thinking of her fine eyes and playful manner when I was awake, but she was also there when I slept. I wondered again why the sister of my friend should be off limits.

  Chapter Four

  My time in Hertfordshire continued in much the same manner, with gatherings and dinners where I continued to spar with Elizabeth, John, and Mr. Bennet while trying to avoid the rest of society. It seemed that most of the neighborhood was not particularly fond of me, though that bothered me little. The Bennets seemed to like me well enough, and that was all that mattered.

  One evening in early November, Bingely and I returned to Netherfield after dinning with the officers to find that Miss Bingley had invited Miss Bennet to dine with her. Apparently, Miss Bennet had been sent to Netherfield on horseback despite the poor weather and had been caught in the rain and soaked. She took ill at some point during dinner, and Miss Bingley had put her to bed in a guest room.

  Bingley was beside himself that Miss Bennet was ill while at the same time being pleased that she was under his roof. He called for the local doctor, a Mr. Jones, to tend to her. She was determined to have a cold, and Mr. Jones recommended she not be moved until she was recovered. Bingley was all too happy to insist she remain at Netherfield until she was entirely well. Miss Bennet wrote a quick note to her family explaining the situation and it was sent off to Longbourn that evening.

  The next day dawned bright and clear, and I decided to take a morning stroll around the grounds. I was startled when I rounded a corner and nearly ran into Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth!”

  Elizabeth looked just as startled at my sudden appearance as I had been at hers. “Mr. Darcy!” I looked around, but found no companion with her. She had removed her bonnet and her curls were sweetly disheveled. Her cheeks were flushed with exercise and her eyes were bright. I realized I was staring at her yet again, when she looked down and stuttered, “I—I am come to inquire after my sister.”

  I could not help myself. “On foot and entirely alone?”

  Her eyes flashed as she looked up indignantly. It occurred to me that her eyes would be irresistible if I were ever to see her truly angry. “As you see, Mr. Darcy.”

  “Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth. I only meant—well, where is John?”

  “John rode out with my father this morning to attend to estate business. He is to come collect me later this afternoon. Would you be so kind, sir, as to take me to my sister?”

  I managed to recollect my manners and led her to the house. We made our way to the breakfast parlor, where the rest of the household was assembled. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst greeted Elizabeth with surprised politeness but no real warmth. Their eyes raked over her as they took in her disheveled appearance. Bingley, however, greeted her with good humor and immediately summoned a servant to take her to Miss Bennet.

  The moment she was out of earshot, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst began disparaging her. “Well, I suppose we must allow her to be an excellent walker, but really, she looked almost wild when she entered the room just now.”

  “She did indeed. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all. Why must she be scampering about the country because her sister has a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!”

  “Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain.”

  I had retreated to the window with a cup of coffee. I did not like to hear Elizabeth disparaged, but I knew that Miss Bingley was already aware of my admiration for her. If I showed too much preference, she would be relentless in tormenting Elizabeth.

  “This was all lost upon me,” Bingley interjected. “I thought Miss Elizabeth looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.”

  “You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,” twittered Miss Bingley. “I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.”

  “Certainly not,” was the only reply I felt I could make.

  “To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence.”

  I silently thanked Bingley when he said, “It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing.”

  Miss Bingley ignored him. “I am afraid, Mr. Darcy, that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.”

  I knew I should not, but I could not help myself as I replied, “Not at all. They were brightened by the exercise.”

  As I had known it would, this remark shocked Miss Bingley into silence. Mrs. Hurst recovered more quickly. “I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.”

  Miss Bingley added, “Yes, their uncle is an attorney in Meryton and they have another in trade who lives somewhere near Cheapside.”

  Bingley was as indignant as he could ever be. “If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside, it would not make them one jot less agreeable.”

  I knew that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst would not stop until they felt they had made their point so I said, “But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world.” Bingley said nothing, but his sisters heartily agreed. At last they remembered that their dear friend was ill above stairs and repaired to her room to check on her—I silently prayed they would not be too rude to Elizabeth.

  Once they had gone, Bingley asked, “How can you agree with Caroline and Louisa, Darce? John Bennet is a good friend, his father an excellent man, and his sisters delightful.”

  “Charles, I have nothing against the Bennets. You know that. However, your sisters would not have been quiet until one of us agreed with them. Besides, what I said is essentially true. However pleasant Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth may be and however much I
like John and Mr. Bennet, their connections are not of the first order and the girls have no dowries. It is unfortunate, but there it is.” By the end of this speech, I was not entirely sure whether I was trying to convince Bingley or myself.

  --- --- ---

  Later that day, John came in the Bennet’s carriage to collect Elizabeth as planned. However, Miss Bennet expressed some trepidation at their leaving and Bingley invited Elizabeth and John to stay until Miss Bennet had recovered. John declined, saying estate business called him home, but Elizabeth accepted. I did not see Elizabeth again until after supper that evening when she joined the rest of our party in the drawing room. We were all playing at loo and invited her to join us. She declined and declared that she would rather read.

  Mr. Hurst, not yet fully in his cups, offered a rare comment, “Do you prefer reading to cards? That is rather singular.”

  Miss Bingley could not pass up an opportunity to disparage Elizabeth—I knew I should have kept my mouth shut earlier. “Miss Eliza Bennet despises cards. She is a great reader and has no pleasure in anything else.”

  “I deserve neither such praise nor such censure,” Elizabeth responded. She caught my eye, and I could see she was more amused than affronted. “I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things.”

  “In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure,” Bingley said. “I hope it will soon be increased by seeing her quite well.”

  Elizabeth thanked him and then walked toward a table where a few books were stacked. Bingley offered to fetch her others; any and all that is library afforded. “I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever look into.”