Chapter Six

Darcy’s next two weeks were taken up with a combination of estate business, to assist Bingley in adapting to his new role; and social obligations, to help secure Bingley’s place in the new neighborhood. The gentleman from Derbyshire was rather more interested in the former undertakings than the latter but understood how essential it was for Bingley’s long-term success and happiness to make a good name for himself in his new society.

Miss Bingley could not seem to understand that the consequence and polish of the individuals involved was of little matter; a country gentleman had to flourish within the local social order for the enduring well-being of the estate. Recluses and outcasts did not prosper in the close confines of country living.

This meant that Bingley and his guests either collectively, or in small groups, were obliged to attend any number of luncheons, teas, soirees, and other festivities. Several times Darcy and Bingley were brought into company with the residents of Longbourn, as the Bennets were considered one of the first families of the neighborhood. On the fourth or fifth such occasion, an evening party at Lucas Lodge, Darcy began to admit that his defenses against the entirety of the feminine gender were beginning to be breached by the increasingly intriguing Miss Elizabeth.

At first Darcy had scarcely allowed her to be pretty. He had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticize. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing. And in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness with both friends and acquaintances. The obvious care with which she fulfilled not only her own duties to her dependents, but many of those related responsibilities belonging to her both father and mother, could only lead him to admire her integrity and rectitude.

He began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards conversing with her himself, he attended to her conversations with others. His doing so drew her notice.

“What does Mr. Darcy mean,” said she to Charlotte, “by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?”

“That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer.”

“But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.”

On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately provoked Miss Elizabeth to do it. She turned to Darcy and said, “Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"

“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,” said 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.” On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, “Very well; if it must be, it must be.”

Gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, “This puts me in mind of a fine old saying, with which everybody here is of course familiar - 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge, and I shall keep mine to swell my song.”

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Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary.

The middle Bennet sister, Darcy observed, was easily the most accomplished of the family on the instrument. She had both a precision of technique and a depth of expression with which she infused her performance. In appearance, she was the least attractive of her sisters, but Darcy had heard her expound on topics both political and philosophical at some of the gatherings at which they had been in company. He had been ready to dismiss her as a bluestocking, before he heard her in discussion with Sir William later that evening.

“… can you honestly say that your possession of a gift makes you more suited to managing an estate or offering your voice in the determination of our nation’s policies and laws than was you father, estimable man that he is said to have been? I did not have the honor of making his acquaintance, but all that I have heard of him describes a most thoughtful and discerning man. Why should he not have had the same rights as you now enjoy, based solely on happenstance?”

Darcy was surprised to hear such radical ideas coming from a country miss. He had noticed the book she was carrying was the third of Wollstonecraft’s Vindications series - Vindication of the Rights of the Non-gifted. Mary Wollstonecraft, like Lord Byron and Lady Caroline Lamb, was a proponent of the Ordinary movement that agitated for a return to the original jurisdiction of the non-gifted as seen before the Great Charter of 1066. The gentleman rather thought this political allegiance might give some credence to the rumor that Miss Bingley had brought to his attention, that the middle Miss Bennet was born a null, without even a paltry gift. If this were the case, he could feel nothing but pity for her situation.

“Well …,” Sir William stammered. “That is to say … I … He ...” Casting around the room in desperation for a polite excuse to end the uncomfortable debate, the knight encountered Darcy. “Miss Mary, I am afraid we will have to continue this at another time. I must speak with Mr. Darcy at this very moment. It cannot be delayed. Perhaps I can persuade you to play for us once again. I believe the younger set wishes to dance now, and you are by far the best able to provide the inspiration for such activity.”

Miss Mary glared at Darcy with stormy eyes, then agreed to Sir William’s entreaty. This lead to several couples taking to the floor, including Bingley and the elder Miss Bennet. After several minutes of strained discourse on the iniquities of the exercise, Sir William took it upon himself to importune Darcy to partner with Miss Elizabeth.

“"My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? 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." And taking her hand, Sir William would have given it to Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it.

Miss Elizabeth instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure 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."

Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honor of her hand; but in vain. Miss Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.

"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman 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 Miss Elizabeth, smiling.

"He is indeed—but considering the inducement, we cannot wonder at his complaisance. For who would object to such a partner?"

Miss Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away.

Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman from Pemberley, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley.

"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!"

"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."

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Darcy replied with great intrepidity,

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favorite? Pray when am I to wish you joy?"

"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."

"Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed, and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you."

He listened to her with perfect indifference, while she chose to entertain herself in this manner, and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed long.