Mr. Bingley responded for both of them, “Not at all, Darcy, please sit. We were just discussing Miss Bennet’s tastes in literature. Like yourself, she is quite fond of poetry.”
“Are you?” Darcy exclaimed with genuine interest. “And who is your favorite poet?” While Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet spoke at length about their favorite authors and passages, Mr. Bingley remained mostly silent. His animated personality did not often lend itself to the type of quiet reflection that the study of poetry required.
Mrs. Bennet watched the exchange with some alarm. While she hoped both men found Jane attractive, there was no use in having them pursue her simultaneously. One’s presence would surely impede the other from proposing, and their rivalry could drag on without a tangible result. Determining that it was time to settle the matter, she followed Darcy as he rose to get Miss Bennet a refreshment.
Darcy had offered to fetch some wine as an excuse to make his exit. While he truly appreciated both Miss Bennet and Bingley’s kindness by inviting him to join them, he knew that Bingley was hoping to speak to Miss Bennet alone, and he did not wish to put his own needs before those of his friend. He also hoped his walk would afford him the opportunity once again to scan the room for signs of Elizabeth. As he began to pour some wine, Mrs. Bennet greeted him enthusiastically and exclaimed, “My dear Mr. Darcy, it is so good to see you again. I had been worried that you were not well. I was surprised when you did not call. I think Jane was also concerned.”
Darcy was amazed at Mrs. Bennet’s audacity. That she would make such a pointed inquiry, with Bingley sitting beside Miss Bennet, just a few feet away, was incomprehensible. He thought that if he had one obtainable goal for the evening, it should be to put the matter of his interest in Miss Bennet to rest. “Thank you, madam, for your concern. I have been very well. I apologize for not being able to call, but I do hope that Mr. Bingley expressed my regard on his visits.”
Clearly disappointed, Mrs. Bennet replied in a perfunctory tone, “Yes, yes, he has.”
“I am glad. I knew that while I might not be able to visit as often as I would like, Mr. Bingley would surely come whenever possible.”
Unwilling to take the hint, she replied, “Yes, he has been quite attentive, but I hope you will call on your own accord soon. You should not let your business concerns keep you from your friends.”
“I am afraid, madam, that it is more than likely that they will do exactly that.”
“Mr. Darcy, I know that the responsibilities related to as large an estate as yours must be daunting, but you must make an exception in your schedule for us. I think Jane would be quite disappointed if you did not.”
Darcy replied in a tone meant to put the subject to rest, “Madam, I will try my best, but at this point, I am afraid I cannot make such a promise. But if the opportunity does arise, I will be sure to accompany Mr. Bingley on one of his visits. In the meantime, I will have to satisfy myself with news of your family through him. I hope you will forgive me, in advance, if I am unable to be as attentive as I should.” Moving his head toward Bingley and Miss Bennet, he then added, “Will you excuse me? I promised Miss Bennet that I would bring her some wine.”
For a moment, Mrs. Bennet studied Darcy’s face while she attempted to comprehend his meaning. She barely knew how to react. He clearly did not intend to court Jane. She was, at least, consoled that Mr. Darcy appeared to be encouraging Mr. Bingley toward Jane in his stead. Nonetheless, she could not imagine why he did not want her for himself. What a vexatious man! If he was too timid to defy his aunt, then he would be of no use to her family. Jane had already wasted enough time on him. Her impatience with him began to take tangible form as her face began to color. If he was destined for his cousin, then there was no need for him to continue to distract Jane. At length, she finally replied in as polite a voice as she could muster, “Really, Mr. Darcy, there is no need. I can take the wine to her myself. I need to inquire of Mr. Bingley’s comfort in any regard.”
Darcy stood affixed, somewhat surprised by her brusque manner, but nonetheless happy with the result. Seeing that Mrs. Bennet had thereafter left his friend and Miss Bennet to their own devices, he decided to do the same. As he took a tour of the room, he briefly attempted to converse with Mr. Bennet, curious about Elizabeth’s close relationship with a man who, from the outside, seemed so disengaged from his family. He soon realized, however, that Mr. Bennet was a man of even fewer words than he was when in social situations not to his liking.
As he began to walk about the room again, he saw Elizabeth enter with a book in her hand. His relief at seeing her was short-lived, as John Lucas immediately followed her into the room. He suspected that they had been off talking together, and his chest immediately tightened. He had vowed before he came that he would not overwhelm Elizabeth with his attentions. Instead, he would simply make himself available for conversation if she chose it. But watching her converse with Lucas was too much. His desire to go slowly was overtaken by his fear that Lucas would secure her affections before he had the opportunity to show her that he could change. His fear won out, as he purposefully walked over to them. Bowing, Darcy greeted them each in a solemn voice. “Mr. Lucas, Miss Bennet.”
Lucas was the first to speak. “Ah, Mr. Darcy, it is a pleasure to see you again. I hope you are in good health.”
Looking more at Elizabeth than Lucas, Darcy answered in a perfunctory tone, “Yes, thank you. And yourself?”
Lucas good-naturedly replied, “Quite well, thank you. I noticed you in church this morning. My mother had said that you had arrived with Mr. Bingley, but I did not realize that you planned to stay.”
Responding in a tone that implied more of a challenge than he had intended, Darcy said, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do intend to stay for a while.” He then looked to Elizabeth for her reaction. She continued to stare toward a window. As an awkward pause ensued, Darcy wondered at his lack of control. Why would he declare that he would be staying, when he had not even determined if such a course of action would suit his purpose? Did he expect Elizabeth to voice her approval? Or was he trying to give Lucas a warning? Either motive seemed unlikely to impress Elizabeth. He resisted the urge to close his eyes in despair, as he realized that Elizabeth’s proximity apparently divested him of all reason, and the presence of a competitor for her affections doubled his impulsive behavior. He felt he could barely trust himself to speak in such a situation. Recalling his vow to show Elizabeth his civility, he fought the desire to excuse himself. Instead, he squared his shoulders and said, “Yes, I enjoyed church service this morning a great deal. Your reverend seems an interesting man. Has he been in service here long?”
Darcy had asked the question in the hope that Elizabeth would understand his reference to their encounter at the church door. He would have been surprised to learn, however, that it was the mention of her minister that sparked her interest. Rewarding him with a smile, she replied, “Yes, Mr. Darcy, he has been with our parish for over fifteen years. I always find him an engaging speaker.”
“Yes,” interrupted Lucas, “he is a very good man, but he is constantly threatening to move to the seaside. While I would miss him, I must say that there is something to be said of change for change’s sake. I sometimes think that it is hard to listen to the same passages of the Bible, given over and over again by someone who, by human nature, possesses the same perspective.”
Elizabeth eagerly interjected, “But I disagree, Mr. Lucas. The passages of the Bible are, hopefully, quite familiar to all of us. It is a minister’s ability to help us to relate them to new situations that makes the sermon worthwhile. It should not matter whether the message or the messenger is familiar, as long as the underlying meaning is new.”
“I suppose,” Mr. Lucas replied, “but take today, for example. Reverend Fischer read a passage from Acts.”
“Corinthians,” corrected Darcy, as Elizabeth nodded her acknowledgment.
Lucas smiled easily at Darcy’s correction and Elizabeth’s assent
. “Yes, I obviously misspoke. He read a passage from Corinthians that I have heard many times before, but I cannot say I felt any new insight was offered.”
To Elizabeth’s surprise, it was Darcy who responded. “I think perhaps you are looking at it from the wrong perspective. It is not whether the passage was offered in a different fashion; it is whether you were willing to hear it in a manner you had never allowed before. It is only in such a state that new meaning is evident. The job of the minister is to present the chosen passages freshly, each time, in the eternal hope that they may indeed reach someone in a new way. If the minister can do that, time and time again, then the mark of his ministry is ensured.”
Caught up in his words, Elizabeth impulsively added, “Yes, that is it exactly. It is the promise of new understanding that makes the difference. It is the point of the service.” At her words, Darcy looked intently at her, hoping she understood some of his recently acquired vision. Caught off guard by his intense gaze, she smiled weakly in response.
Lucas, however, soon interrupted the moment by asking in a jovial air, “But, Mr. Darcy, having had the benefit of hearing my brother-in-law’s sermons during your visit to your aunt, you cannot argue that sometimes a fresh voice might be a good thing? I would imagine that is what drove you from Kent.”
Darcy looked down quickly in embarrassment. Being reminded of what drove him from Kent, in front of Elizabeth, was the last thing he wanted at that moment. Struggling for a reply, he stated, “I suppose there is always some benefit from change.”
As both fell silent, Lucas studied their reactions. He assumed their silence was due to their unwillingness to openly chide Mr. Collins’s ability. He had thought both of them less fainthearted, but apparently Mr. Darcy’s aunt held more sway over him than he would have imagined, and Miss Elizabeth was holding her tongue for his sake. Taking the hint, Lucas replied, “I suspect, Mr. Darcy, that you are more accustomed to the oratory style presently en vogue in London.”
Darcy could see from Elizabeth’s heightened color and her sudden unwillingness to return his gaze that the reference to Kent had also embarrassed her. It made him feel how tenuous his position was. No matter how much progress he made with her, his past missteps were always lurking in the shadows, waiting to intrude. It seemed an impossible task for him to start any conversation without invoking their prior interactions. In a vain attempt to change the subject, Darcy offered, “Actually, I am more at home in the smaller setting of the parish at Pemberley, in Derbyshire.”
Unwilling to let pass an invitation to discuss an issue that he had wondered about, Lucas smiled politely and slowly said, “Yes, I think I had heard that you were very particular about who is installed in the clerical positions you bestow.”
Before Darcy could answer this oblique reference to the slander that Wickham had circulated, Elizabeth came to his defense. She spoke in a lighthearted manner, but Lucas could see that it masked a serious message. “I am not sure, Mr. Lucas, that it is our place to opine on the methodology that Mr. Darcy employs to make his appointments, but I have every confidence that he accomplishes the task in a fair and thoughtful manner. Nonetheless, the process must produce disappointment in those who feel themselves worthy of a position when they are, in fact, undeserving. I suppose enduring their bitterness is an unfortunate by-product that cannot be avoided.”
Darcy stared at her for an extra beat before turning to Lucas and adding, “Actually, the criteria I use when I am charged with the responsibility of bestowing a living in the church is quite simple, and I am more than willing to share it with anyone who is interested. I have no qualms discussing any of the details of any of my appointments. Though I am aware that not everyone would agree with all of the actions I have taken, I am more than willing to defend them.”
Somewhat surprised by his earnest reply, Lucas regretted having brought up the rumors he had heard about Darcy, and vowed to give them no further credence. “Yes, Mr. Darcy, I can see that. I apologize if I seemed to imply otherwise. It must be a difficult responsibility that inevitably creates critics of your actions. I think most people would understand, though, that the perspective of such a critic is necessarily biased.”
Darcy responded with a slight bow. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate the sentiment. I hope you are right.” More than encouraged by Elizabeth’s defense of his character, Darcy decided to press his luck. “But, Miss Bennet, let us talk of more pleasant things. I know you are fond of reading, but I recall that you once told me you would not discuss books in a ballroom. I see that you are now holding a volume. Do you adhere to the same prohibition during small, informal gatherings?”
Surprised by his playful tone, Elizabeth met his challenge. “Sir, lately, I have had an opportunity to reevaluate many of the rules of conduct that I live by. Not only am I willing to discuss books at small gatherings, but I might even be prepared to revise my ban regarding the dance floor. I have found that in the past, I have been too rigid in the application of some of my more decided opinions.”
As his pulse began to race at her response, Darcy gave her a wide smile that revealed his dimples. “I am very glad to hear it. I can only hope that there is an opportunity to test your resolve. I do so love books.”
She was saved from responding to that provocative comment by the call for dinner. She was half relieved and half disappointed to see that Mr. Darcy was seated as far away from her as possible. She could not help but feel some discomfort on his account, as she realized that the only people he probably wished to speak with during dinner, his friend and her sister Jane, were seated with her. She smiled to herself at the thought of him enduring Mrs. Long and Mary’s dinner conversation, but knew there was nothing to be done about it.
She wondered why she cared. She thought it odd that her estimation of him had changed so radically. She understood that her previous opinion of him was in serious need of revision, as it was based on misinformation and bruised feelings. Mr. Lucas’s reference to Mr. Wickham was proof of that. But she questioned the degree of his transformation in her own mind. She now thought him a good man and appreciated his help with her sister. But there was more.
To her surprise, she sometimes enjoyed his company. She thought it strange that she would get the opportunity to see this side of him now, when it was really too late. She knew that her presence in company must on some level embarrass him; as a spurned suitor, how could it not? But she was amazed to see that he still tried to interact with her. Was this part of his effort to make amends for any affront she suffered during his proposal? It seemed more than was called for, given that she had insulted him just as much. Perhaps he was just trying to set matters straight between them, and the most convenient method to do so was to show her his friendship. But even that explanation did not really account for their oddly evolving relationship. She resolved, however, to put him out of her mind, as she realized that her dinner partner to her left, John Lucas, was asking her a question.
Darcy took his seat, somewhat disappointed with its location. He consoled himself with the thought that his recent conversation with Elizabeth more than made up the difference. While he was troubled by Lucas’s reference to Wickham, he was heartened by Elizabeth’s quick defense of his character. He now knew he would need to pay more attention to the damage Wickham had done to his reputation in the neighborhood, but for the time being he could only think of the challenge Elizabeth’s proximity posed. He would have preferred their discourse to involve more neutral topics, but on the whole, he was satisfied with the smile she had given him and the loose promise that she might dance with him again.
As dinner progressed, Darcy engaged in polite conversation with those around him. Mrs. Long was willing to speak about almost anything as long as Darcy periodically made a feeble response to her statements. Mary was also willing to talk at length. Unfortunately, the only topic that interested her was morality, and he had neither the inclination nor the time to puzzle over that subject. Instead, he felt moved to spend most of the
meal glancing at Elizabeth as she talked to John Lucas.
After dinner, Darcy roamed about the room, looking for an opportunity to approach Elizabeth again. Unfortunately, as coffee was served, she was surrounded by several women who refused to give way to his attempts to move toward her. Realizing that he could not fall into his old behavior and simply stare out the window until she was available, Darcy turned to Elizabeth’s neighbor, Mr. Robinson. Darcy’s efforts were soon rewarded as they shared a common view on the troubles in France and what England might do to stop Napoleon. Elizabeth, from her vantage point behind them, could not help but overhear their discourse. She was struck by the wisdom supporting Mr. Darcy’s beliefs and his knowledge of the world. She had seldom heard such an interesting exchange in her mother’s parlor and had a sudden impulse to join them but was distracted by her mother, and the moment passed.
Later, after the coffee things were put away, Darcy was pleased to see Elizabeth standing alone behind the piano. He walked over to her immediately and asked, “Miss Bennet, can I prevail upon you to play?”
“I…”
“I hope you will say yes. There are few things that give me greater pleasure than hearing you sing and play.”
Surprised by his words, she meekly said, “Yes, I did intend to play. I am afraid, though, with such high praise, I am bound to disappoint.”
With complete earnestness, he solemnly replied, “Madam, that is simply not possible.” As she looked at him from across the piano, she was once again surprised by his intense gaze and began to wonder if it was friendship he felt.
As she took her seat, however, John Lucas once again joined them. “Ah, Darcy, you are in for a treat! Miss Elizabeth has agreed to play for me. She is quite good, I am sure that she cannot compare to what you have heard in London, but she always gives it quite an effort.” Easily taking the seat beside her on the bench, Lucas added in a low, playful voice that was still audible to Darcy, “I will turn the pages for you, but I want you to play this for me. It is my favorite.”
Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman Page 14