by John Edwards
Elizabeth watched as Mr. Darcy danced with Mr. Bingley’s sisters, then he danced twice with Mrs. Winstead and another time with Jane Bennet and similar dancing arrangements were followed by the ladies with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Winstead. Elizabeth also danced twice with Mr. Winstead and Mr. Bingley, but she soon noticed Mr. Collins watching her as if to ask for the next dance.
Mr. Darcy went to Elizabeth and asked her if he could bring her anything, punch, a glass of wine? She started to speak when Mr. Collins came upon her and Elizabeth shot a startled look to Mr. Darcy for his help. Elizabeth feared that her cousin had come to claim his second dance that had been promised to him. Mr. Darcy saw Elizabeth’s concern and intervened. Elizabeth was grateful for Mr. Darcy’s support because she would never again dance with Mr. Collins, and though she knew Mr. Darcy was doing her a great favor to protect her from the clergyman, she felt the sacrifice was needed.
“Perhaps you can help me, Mr. Collins. I was leaving to get some punch and some things to eat for Miss Bennet and myself. Let us go there now and you can tell me all about my aunt and my cousin.” That was all Mr. Collins needed to engage Mr. Darcy for a full twenty minutes of non-stop-non-sense, only delayed when he took the punch and some food back to Elizabeth, after telling Mr. Collins to wait where he was. Elizabeth took the punch and the food and wanted to speak with Mr. Darcy but heard him say that Mr. Collins was not finished with him just yet so he had to listen some more, but he told Elizabeth that he expected the next dance after he returned to her. He went back to Mr. Collins and he listened as the man continued to talk but his mouth would not rest. Mr. Darcy had as much as convinced himself that Mr. Collins had scarcely come up for air when he spoke. Finally, Mr. Darcy went off with Mr. Collins to speak with Mary Bennet and then he left them and went to Elizabeth who was now standing near Mrs. Winstead.
“What a pleasure to see my two favorite ladies,” Mr. Darcy said, “I hope you are both having a good time this evening.”
Elizabeth then replied that she had told Mrs. Winstead about his rescuing her from Mr. Collins.
“Mr. Darcy, I am quite impressed with your conduct, but I understand you have promised to dance with Miss Bennet after you had dispatched Mr. Collins, so she is yours. And try not to step on her feet sir?”
“I can collect Mr. Collins for you, Mrs. Winstead. I am sure he can show you how easily that can be accomplished.”
Mr. Darcy noticed the playfulness of these women and was warmed through to his heart as he began his dance. He looked over to see Elizabeth and her husband greeting some others and then he looked down to see Elizabeth smiling up at him with those eyes he had first seen at Pemberly many years ago.
‘What are you thinking, Miss Bennet?”
“Now Mr. Darcy, a woman must not tell any gentleman what she is thinking. But I will say thank you for looking out for me.”
“That was nothing Miss Bennet. I felt I could help you in your situation with him and I also thought I could speak with him about himself and my aunt and my cousin. Even though he spoke a great deal, and I should not be inclined to call him a bright fellow, I could not discern any meanness in him.
I see he and your sister are talking now.”
“Yes, what did you say to her?”
“I just told her how very interesting Mr. Collins is and then I whispered, I had seen him looking at her, no doubt because he knew she was a proficient at the pianoforte.”
“Now that is good to hear. Mr. Darcy, as much as you saved me from Mr. Collins, I feel you have looked out for me in other ways. You took care of all of us when we were sick and brought in your own doctor and your cook and maids to help us all. Your quick action in securing their services and your unselfish actions to organize the help and to work through the night to help everyone with equal treatment for all, has most impressed myself and many others.”
The dance being over, Mr. Darcy noticed Elizabeth was starting to get discomposed so he walked with her away from the dance where they were able to talk privately and get some fresh air. “You do not need to thank me, Miss Bennet, I need to thank you.”
“Let us not get into an argument, Mr. Darcy, for you should not win. I do not know why you should thank me. You heard me say to your doctor that I hated you. And then I learned from the housekeeper that you attended to me often, as you used my room after making your rounds that night. There you got little rest as you attended to me.”
“But I had to have some place as my headquarters Miss Bennet, and since your room had been my own, I chose it; also, it is centrally located. And you were more sick than the others Miss Bennet. The doctor said that when he first came into the room, but by then I did not much realize that the housekeeper had made my bed in your own room, albeit with a privacy screen. Had I been in my right mind I should never have slept there. Please accept my apology?”
“That is not needed, but thank you sir, I accept your apology. But you have done more, sir. Your revelations about Mr. Wickham will be helpful in the future, and I have since observed that, though he is friendly and engaging at first, I find he is not a gentleman, while I see such a change in you sir, we all do, and I am proud to be your friend.”
Elizabeth looked up into the eyes of a smiling man and they soon entered the room with the others, but Elizabeth felt the heat from his hand and again experienced the look of those dark eyes as they bore into herself and she felt as if her heart was trying to jump out of her chest.
The grand time continued until past midnight when the remaining parties left, but Mr. Bingley and Mr. Winstead and Mr. Darcy stayed up another hour, the women having gone to bed after the guests had departed.
“Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Winstead and I have enjoyed this evening very much. It has been many moons since I have had such a good time as this evening. Your sisters and Mr. Hurst are fine people and your Miss Jane Bennet is perfect. Then there is Mr. Darcy’s friend, Elizabeth Bennet. You know, when I first saw her this evening, I thought she was my own Elizabeth from many years ago. They are so similar in looks and personality that I am just amazed. I am happy for both of you gentlemen.”
“You are too kind, sir,” said Bingley. “I too noticed how much the two Elizabeths are very much alike. So Darcy, it looks as though you are quite fond of Jane’s sister. Is that not so?”
“Bingley, she is a special lady, and yes, she is not unlike Mrs. Winstead. I believe that the two of them must be related, for they appear to be much the same. I noticed they took a liking to each other.” Then Darcy laughed.
“Darcy, you have evaded answering my question.”
“Perhaps,” said Darcy, “But that is all I can say except I enjoyed myself very much and I thank you both.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Winstead said, “you can bet the two Elizabeths will be discussing quite a lot the morrow about all three of us, so before I go to sleep, let me propose a toast to my friends and a wish for you and your ladies happiness.”
After that toast, he left his friends and soon the others went upstairs.
CHAPTER 19
GETTING BETTER ACQUAINTED
Elizabeth awoke early. She and Jane had talked for another hour after arriving back at Longbourn after leaving Netherfield. They had agreed the event was a success and both were glad that Mr. Wickham did not attend, though he was invited. Of all the things that surprised them the most was the attention that Mr. Collins paid to Mary. At Netherfield they sat and talked for nearly two hours and Elizabeth was the first to notice that Mary was quite happy and unreserved for the first time in her life, and both Elizabeth and Jane were surprised that Mary told them that Mr. Collins wanted to hear her play for him.
With those thoughts behind her, Elizabeth prepared for her day with a brief walk about the grounds before preparing to visit with Mrs. Winstead. She walked about Longbourn but knew that something was missing, or was it someone? She had enjoyed the last evening and even after retiring she thought of how pleasant Mr. Darcy was to her, and how he handled Mr. Collins and even app
roached Mary regarding that gentleman. Elizabeth missed her aunt and uncle and there was much she wanted to discuss with her aunt, but she also missed Mr. Darcy too and she wondered if she was in danger, for she always knew there was a chemistry between them, though things had started out so badly. Now she felt she knew him better and later today she would learn more from Elizabeth Winstead, who she liked very much.
At eleven Elizabeth Winstead came to call at Longbourn and after greetings with those present at Longbourn and after tea, both women went for a long walk.
“Miss Bennet, I must say when I first met you, I believe I had seen myself some years ago. We are near the same size and we have similar styles and I believe our personalities are quite the same and we both wear our hair the same.”
“Yes, I quite agree, plus we have something else in common, Mr. Darcy.”
“Oh yes, that man I met as a nine year old boy many years ago. I liked him the moment I first met him and he and I have had a bond all these years. He reminded me of my brother and I have always been interested in Mr. Darcy’s welfare. Elizabeth, your circumstances in life are not so unlike my own. We had a small manor, not as grand as your Longbourn, and we had a few tenants. So at least those things are similar between us.”
Mrs. Winstead then told her about her losing her family and that her home was entailed away to a cousin after her father died. She then related the story of how she met Mr. Winstead and so many other good people near Hunting Hills and in Wakefield.
“Then you are a gentleman’s daughter much as I am?”
“That is true, Elizabeth, and we appear to have other things in common. I found a man in Mr. Winstead, not so unlike your Mr. Darcy.”
“I cannot call him my Mr. Darcy, though I am learning more about him, but I will say that knowing him better has approved my opinion of him.”
“Mr. Winstead is the best man I have ever known and I love him more each day. And Elizabeth, I have two children, one a daughter of fifteen years and a younger son. Our daughter is another Elizabeth, and she is friends with Mr. Darcy’s sister, Georginia. Our son is but eleven years and he is named William, and he favors me.”
“You and Mr. Winstead must be very proud.”
“We are proud of our children and of our marriage, Elizabeth, and there is not a night that I do not thank the almighty for our many blessings and ask him to watch over John and the children.”
“That, I can certainly understand.” Mrs. Winstead and Elizabeth then spoke about the previous evening and that they had observed Mr. Darcy standing off by himself and Elizabeth commented on this to Mrs. Winstead. “Can you tell me why Mr. Darcy has never been married?”
“He is often sought after by women looking to marry off their daughters. I do not know that he has ever been serious about any woman; however, I have never known him to be as content is he is at present.”
“Well, lately he does appear to be very amicable, but he was not this way when I first came to know him. Yes, he is certainly changed. Though he does not smile often, occasionally I catch a grin or he looks at me with those dark eyes and I am convinced he is the most handsome man I have ever seen.”
“More than that, he is a good man, Elizabeth, but he is shy around strangers and often says little or nothing at all, but now I see that he is more congenial and outspoken. I suppose you deserve much credit for this.”
“Now I doubt that I am responsible for this change, but he surely is not the proud, arrogant, haughty and unfriendly man I first met at the Meryton Assembly.”
“He has told me he is happy for your sister and Mr. Bingley.”
“Yes, he does appear to be. You must know that I have always thought he hated me, but I am so challenged to know why he has changed. Now that he is all friendly and kind to me, I have found myself enjoying his company.”
“So your feelings for him have changed as well? Do you not see the parallel there?”
“Yes, I do not know why he has changed so much, but I like what I see in him. I am happy that he has changed, if not for myself, then for him. If he is a happier person for that, I find comfort that he is thus so. Others have hinted that Mr. Darcy pays me much attention, but I believe if that is so, he is merely trying to show himself as a better man than when I first saw him at the assembly. But again, he is now kind to everyone, just as a good man should be.”
“Yes, but he does seem to favor you, Miss Bennet. Do you not see what this might all be about?”
“No, I do not. He certainly would not be interested in a farmer’s daughter.”
“And why not? Do you not suppose he is tired of the other women who he has met? I can see that he has changed, and for my part I attribute it to you. I have told you about Mr. Winstead and myself. I too am but a farmer’s daughter, much like yourself, and I married John Winstead, a man of good character and wealth, just as Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth was now quite unsettled, but in a good way. Though she had considered some partiality on Mr. Darcy’s part, Mrs. Winstead had hinted that he may have a romantic interest in her. Could there be a reason for all those sleepless nights as a certain gentleman had been on her mind? Even when she had thought ill of him, he crept into her dreams. Suddenly Elizabeth realized what was happening. She had built a wall between her and Mr. Darcy such that he could not endanger her heart. But the wall did not help. He had chipped away at that wall with all his good deeds and other kindness such that he had invaded her heart. But still Elizabeth could not let herself entertain that he might care for her.
Mrs. Winstead noticed the silence and then asked that they return to Longbourn, and then she asked, “Shall we go back to Netherfield and join the men? I think they would enjoy that?”
“You do not think that they would object?”
“They would object more if we did not visit them. Mr. Bingley’s sisters and Mr. Hurst have returned to London for a few days, so we shall have the men all to ourselves.”
They picked up Jane and the three of them went to Netherfield. The men were about the house but at the sound of the ladies arrival, the men soon greeted them. Mrs. Winstead and Elizabeth then noticed the wide smiles that Mr. Darcy and the other men showed as they walked with them into the house.
“Now ladies,” said John Winstead, you have us all to yourselves. I hope this is not going to be some kind of female ambush, for if so, we are not prepared to defend ourselves.”
“Yes, John,” replied his wife. “We have been talking about you for some time now. What should each of you gentleman say about that? You first Mr. Bingley.”
“I,..eh..I hope you were not displeased with last evening? He looked taken back by the questioning so Jane moved to his side.”
“Mr. Bingley,” said Jane, “I feel with two Elizabeths uniting in these discussions, there is little safe harbor if they were inclined to provoke you gentlemen. But let me say for us women, the ball was wonderful and you all acted very gentlemanly last evening.”
Mrs. Winstead then asked Mr. Darcy to answer the question posed to Mr. Bingley but he deferred to Mr. Winstead, who replied, “I believe ladies, that you have been discussing our characters.”
Now Mrs. Winstead looked at Mr. Darcy. “For you sir, I shall ask you two questions, but the first one is why did you choose to pass to Mr. Winstead when I asked you first?
“I,..eh,..I wanted more time to get my answer together and was hoping I could get a clue of something I could say that would make sense. But to the question, I assume you wanted to find out as much as you could about us, and I can say I would like the chance to do likewise with you ladies.”
“Then it is settled,” said Mrs. Winstead. We will meet as friends and discuss what we wish.”
Mr. Bingley rang for service and soon the friends were served port and fine crackers, cakes and cheeses. Though the men expected to hear of gossip, there was little said. This went on for some time when Mrs. Winstead, after her second small glass of port, asked each man to discuss what they had thought good about each of the wom
en. She asked that each man name three things about each woman then next she asked the woman do the same about the men.
The results were interesting and reflected that the men all thought the women were beautiful and intelligent and quite sweet while the women thought the men all quite handsome. They each thought Jane had a thoughtful countenance but that the two Elizabeths were both high spirited and more spontaneous. All the women agreed that Mr. Bingley was the most friendly followed by Mr. Winstead and finally Mr. Darcy, but it was here that Elizabeth Bennet spoke up. “I believe Mr. Darcy to be very kind and friendly in his own way. I should not have believed so the first time I met him but now, having known him better, I consider him one of the best of men.”
Elizabeth did not look up to see Mr. Darcy when she spoke, but for the others, they saw a smile directed at Elizabeth that was as pleasant as any man could give.
They soon went outside for a brief walk but before that, Mr. Bingley arranged with the servants to prepare dinner for his guests and then he