Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman

by Maria Hamilton

  As Elizabeth and Jane took the short carriage ride back to Longbourn to dress for dinner, Elizabeth tried to sift through her feelings for Mr. Darcy. She had not expected to see him at Netherfield. Now, though, she anticipated their next meeting with a fair amount of impatience. She had to admit that her opinion of him had undergone a dramatic transformation. When he went away, without explanation, she regretted his absence; as she got to know him better, she began to develop an affinity for his quick wit, superior intellect, and determined style. And if she was truly honest with herself, whenever he was close to her, she found him most attractive.

  But the more uncertain side of her personality wondered at what her emotions actually amounted to. Was this just vanity, enjoying the attentions of a man she had rejected? His steadfastness was certainly flattering. Or did it stem from a simple desire to find her own happiness as she watched her beloved Jane find her partner in life? No, that seemed unlikely. There were other men who had expressed their interest; John Lucas, for example. But it was not the general need for a husband or attention that was spurring her on; it was a specific interest in Mr. Darcy himself.

  Despite all this, she wondered if she really knew him well enough to be developing these feelings. Understanding that all her prior opinions of him were wrong was not the same as knowing him. In some ways, she knew his character far more intimately than she did that of any other man. The intensity of their fights had allowed them to speak more frankly than was otherwise permitted in society, and his initial declaration and his subsequent actions toward her told her more about his temperament than would be obvious if their acquaintance had followed a traditional path. But she did not know much about his interests or tastes. They both seemed to have a similar affinity for literature, and each had a close bond with a sister, but she did not know about his childhood or what his everyday life was like. This, she thought, was not really a stumbling block, since it simply required that she try to get to know him better. He had requested as much, and she now thought the idea not just pleasant but essential.

  As the Bennets entered Netherfield, Elizabeth tried to remain subdued and resist the temptation to seek out Mr. Darcy’s countenance. Their eyes, however, soon met and they exchanged a smile as they performed their formal acknowledgments. As Mrs. Bennet began to speak at length about the beauty of the decor, Elizabeth sought a chair at the far end of the room, next to an empty seat. While her actions stemmed from a desire to separate herself from her mother, she soon realized that it had the added benefit of providing an opportunity for Mr. Darcy to seek her out. As she watched him in conversation with Miss Bingley, she noticed that he often looked her way. The realization made her look down at her hands in embarrassment, as he excused himself and began to walk toward her in an unhurried manner.

  Before he reached her side, however, she heard her father’s voice as he took the seat beside her. “Ah, Lizzy, I see that you have anticipated me. You have found a most secluded spot from which to monitor the forms of human folly that will most likely exhibit themselves here tonight. Well done. We will look on together and compare notes later.” Elizabeth smiled at him, as she noticed Mr. Darcy move past her and take up a place by the window behind her.

  As the group was called to the dining room, Elizabeth was surprised to find Mr. Bingley at her side, extending his arm and saying, “If you would not mind my company, I thought this might be a good opportunity to better acquaint myself with my new sister.”

  Caroline was upon them in a moment. Her only consolation in having to host this tiresome dinner was her knowledge that she would be seated at the head of the table with Charles and Jane, which, in turn, would allow her to ignore the rest of the Bennets as much as her role as mistress of the house would allow. She had already arranged for Mr. Darcy to be her escort, and she intended to spend the night impressing him with her skills as a hostess and her attention to his comfort. They did not need Eliza Bennet ruining the ambiance. “Charles, whatever are you doing? As her fiancé, you should be escorting Jane.”

  “I thought we might try something new this evening. I want our two families to get to know each other better. We will, after all, soon be one family. Hurst, would you do me the honor of escorting Jane to dinner? Perhaps Mr. Bennet would be so kind as to escort Louisa with Mrs. Bennet?”

  Jane, seemingly unfazed by the turn of events, smiled graciously at Mr. Hurst and said, “Sir, I hope you are not too disappointed. I am afraid you will have to make do with me.”

  Looking confused, and anxious that dinner not be further delayed, Mr. Hurst simply grunted and offered Jane his arm.

  Somewhat baffled by what was transpiring, Elizabeth nodded her acquiescence to Mr. Bingley as she approached what should have been Jane’s seat. She began to suspect something was afoot when she saw Mr. Darcy standing behind his chair, attempting to suppress a smile. As she reached the table, she saw that Mr. Darcy was directly on her other side. Elizabeth immediately sought out Jane’s face, but it was now Jane’s turn to stare steadfastly at her hands folded in her lap. As Mr. Bingley pulled out her chair, Mr. Darcy cocked an eyebrow and bowed to her.

  Seeing that she had been outmaneuvered, Caroline indignantly took her place, throwing Elizabeth a venomous stare in the process. As Mr. Darcy’s name began to form on Caroline’s lips, Mr. Bingley turned to her and impatiently indicated that the first course should begin. After Caroline saw that it was accomplished, Mr. Bingley began to question her thoroughly as to the minute details of the meal. By the time he finished, she looked up to see Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy deep in conversation.

  Once Elizabeth sat down, Darcy addressed her. “Miss Bennet, this is a lovely surprise. I had hoped to speak to you earlier but was unable. I was beginning to feel that Fate was not on my side. Your presence here may mean that the tide has turned.”

  She replied in an embarrassed manner, “I am not sure that Fate would ever be bothered by such a trivial matter as our seating arrangements. It seems more likely my soon-to-be brother and my sister are to thank.” Elizabeth caught her sister’s eye. Jane looked a little contrite but then smiled back broadly at them both.

  Noting Elizabeth’s exasperated expression toward her sister, Darcy added in a sincere manner, “I believe that the debate over the degree to which Fate intervenes in our everyday lives has raged for centuries. Without attempting to solve that conundrum, I would nevertheless want you to know how sincerely grateful I am for the results.” Softening his tone even more, he added, “I am sure Charles and your sister simply want to share their joy by having their families become better acquainted. I do not think anyone should take anything by it.” Taking his meaning, she nodded her response. He then continued in a lighter manner, “But in any regard, I have long thought that the entire system of prearranged seating is oppressive. I know its purpose is to ensure that conversation is well rounded about the dinner table, but I inevitably find that I am somewhere other than where I would wish to be. If there is a benefit to be had, I do not recall it ever being bestowed upon me. If this is the result of anarchy, I would opt for it every time.”

  “You sound quite the radical, Mr. Darcy. Am I to believe you? Do you really hold social conventions in such disdain?”

  “I would think, Miss Bennet, that by now you would have noticed that I am often unable to follow social conventions. That being the case, it should come as no surprise that I do not hold many of them in high regard.”

  His response made her laugh involuntarily, and the release of tension put her at ease. It seemed clear that he did not think her responsible for her change in location, and she had to admit that she had often also felt victimized by the order of precedence. Why could she not accept that this unexpected change was not only for the best, but being placed beside Mr. Darcy for the evening was something she had secretly been hoping for? In an attempt to remain focused on their conversation, she asked, “You must, however, think there is some efficacy in there being rules for social interactions?”

  After pau
sing to think for a moment, he replied in a serious tone, “I suppose my answer would be both yes and no. I understand the usefulness of such rules in establishing order and to show respect where respect is due, but their effect is often to elevate form over substance. For instance, the rules of social discourse often seem designed to mask one’s comments with a sense of sameness. Certain statements are required, and certain responses expected. When such a conversation is complete, I know no more about the speaker than when we began. I am not sure if the person’s intention in seeking my companionship stemmed from an urge for friendly intercourse or whether the conversation was preordained to fulfill a social obligation.”

  “You sound quite cynical.”

  Smiling, he replied, “I do not mean to be.”

  Smiling back, she retorted, “Then, sir, I believe you must explain yourself.”

  “I simply intended to convey that the rules regarding social interaction are so formalized that they are sometimes beyond me. I am often unsure where the rules of discourse end and where more personal remarks are appropriate. I am afraid I often find it easier to remain silent than to attempt to navigate unfathomable waters. Otherwise, I fear all of my conversations would involve only the weather.”

  “I see what you mean, but there is a happy medium.”

  “That may well be, but I have a hard time locating it. I know you have told me, in the past, that the solution to my problem lies in practice, but I fear it is not that easy. Perhaps now is a golden opportunity to test your premise. Knowing Miss Bingley’s love for elaborate meals, I am sure we will have some uninterrupted time to talk at length. We can, if you wish, attempt a prolonged conversation, and you can teach me what I am lacking.”

  Once again, she had to laugh at the charm of his response. Seeing his behavior now, she thought it amazing that she ever thought him cold or in need of improvement. He was certainly doing quite well. That he would honestly discuss the subject of one of her previous reproofs made her respect him all the more. And the wit with which he approached the subject made her see him in a new light. Trying to hide her amusement, she replied, “While it is true that I might once have suggested that practice would improve both one’s skills at conversation and musical accomplishment, I do not believe I ever went so far, either in the past or the present, as to infer that you needed formal instruction in that regard. I believe it would be foolhardy for me to take on such a task.”

  “Perhaps, then, I spoke too strongly. I am not sure I need a teacher, so much as a friendly guide. Could I not entreat you to take on that role? My motives are not all selfish, after all. Otherwise, I fear that I will bore you the whole of the evening: The weather has not really been interesting enough of late to sustain much prolonged analysis.”

  As he smiled disarmingly, she knew she could hardly refuse him the request. As a matter of fact, at that moment, she wondered if she could refuse him any request and found herself involuntarily leaning closer to him as she retorted, “Perhaps we can come to a compromise. You will agree that I need not hold school on the subject, and in return, we shall dispense with any concern as to each other’s verbal performance. We will simply talk to each other about whatever subject interests us, without judging whether it falls strictly within the borders of polite dinner conversation or whether our utterances contain the degree of whimsy and fawning required of fashionable social exchanges.”

  Happy to agree to any idea where Elizabeth would talk to him exclusively, he eagerly replied, “I think that a fine idea, and I thank you in advance for your kindness. But I am still somewhat unsure of the ground rules. Is any topic of conversation fair game? That certainly seems interesting, but I wonder if that is what you truly mean.”

  Catching the mischievousness in his eye, Elizabeth replied, “I may have spoken too quickly. I simply meant to imply that we need not wait for an opening to broach a topic. That is what I consider to be the hardest part of polite banter. I can often think of what I might wish to ask someone or what I might want to relate about myself, but the difficult task is fitting that information into a preexisting conversation. Because we are, as you put it, inclined to do away with the rules of social discourse, we may simply discuss whatever subject interests us without fear of the order in which we approach a topic.”

  As Darcy leaned toward her in the same manner, he said, “I appreciate the fine points of your response, but unless I misunderstand you, you have answered my question in the affirmative: I can ask whatever I wish?”

  As Elizabeth laughed, she also sensed the danger and replied impertinently, “Perhaps it would be best if I went first.” After a pause, she asked, “I suppose I have been wondering whether, given the length of your stay here in Hertfordshire, you miss your home at Pemberley?”

  Darcy understood, though maybe Elizabeth did not, the fuller implications of her question, but decided it was yet too early to discuss the real reason for his extended stay in the neighborhood. Instead, he decided to answer her more direct inquiry. “I would have to say both yes and no. Pemberley is my home in every sense of the word. I only feel totally comfortable there. But I have learned of late that a house is only a home to the extent it contains the people whom you care about. At present, my sister is not residing there and… my closest friend, Mr. Bingley, is here. I would not want to miss his engagement, so while I do miss the comforts of my home, I would rather remain here to share in his and your sister’s joy.”

  “Are there comforts there, then, that are not available here?”

  “Not anything in the material sense. Just the familiarity of my surroundings, my memories, my sense of family, and, I suppose, the land itself.”

  “Yes, I have heard from Miss Bingley that your landholdings are quite extensive. Do you find Netherfield too confining, then?”

  “I was not referring to the extent of the surrounding lands, as much as to their character. The countryside around Pemberley is quite wild, and I spend a good deal of my time outdoors. The land here is lovely, but I am afraid I have become so partial to the more rugged beauty of Derbyshire, that other terrains pale in comparison.”

  “Then Pemberley’s surrounding park is materially different from Netherfield’s, or say, Rosings’? I have always had an interest in nature in all its forms and the different manners in which the countryside is utilized.”

  Smiling, he retorted, “Miss Bennet, your question is quite astute. I think the best way to describe Pemberley is by reference to Rosings.”

  Trying to mask her true opinion of Rosings, she simply added, “Oh, is that so?”

  “Yes, I think it is useful because we are both familiar with that estate, and sometimes comparison is the best manner of description. Pemberley is much older than Rosings, and as such, its gardens and park were designed long before the formal French fashion that so characterizes Rosings. The Darcys, as a lot, are a stubborn breed and, consequently, never deviated from the early style of the English rustic garden. The park therefore can barely be considered a garden at all. The natural landscaping that has developed over hundreds of years has, for the most part, remained intact. It is more accurate to say that the house is surrounded by a forest and a lake, rather than by a park, as that term is now used. I find the variety of its natural beauty quite breathtaking, but some, such as my aunt for instance, find it an untamed wilderness. In some ways, the beauty of Pemberley is truly in the eye of the beholder. Most people either love it or find it wanting—although few people actually say so to me directly.”

  “Then how do you know it is true?”

  “From the comments of certain guests who are always suggesting that I obtain the services of a French master gardener or ask if I have ever visited some nearby garden that employs a more formalized design. I think they believe I am unaware of what could be done and hope to direct me toward what they believe to be a more civilized approach.”

  “Am I wrong to wonder, sir, if many of these guests are women?”

  Laughing, he replied, “It seems, Miss Ben
net, that all of your questions tonight are quite astute. But I do not want you to get the wrong idea. While some aspects of Pemberley might only appeal to a select type of woman, there are also more formalized gardens that I believe have universal appeal. My mother cultivated a very fine rose garden that produces a dazzling array of species in great abundance. I think it one of the finer examples of a formal garden. My mother’s tastes, however, on the whole tended to a more naturalistic approach. She executed a very exacting planting design around the lake that employs a wide variety of local and rare wildflowers. Her success in that regard cannot be understated. The lake is an integral part of the house, visible from most vantage points within it, and her plantings surrounding the lake enhance its natural beauty in a most dramatic way. I think one would be surprised to find that the flowers were planted by design, as they blend into the natural order of the landscape so wonderfully, but, at the same time, the variety of color, height, and texture is glorious.” Suddenly, Darcy stopped, cleared his throat in embarrassment, and added in a subdued tone, “I fear I have gone on too long.”

  “Not at all, Mr. Darcy. Your passion has made your descriptions so clear that I can almost imagine the views. I have found it most interesting.”

  Darcy, however, hardly heard her words. He had felt so comfortable talking to her about Pemberley, and he thought her interested. But, as he realized he had been speaking at length, he sudden wondered how his glowing descriptions of Pemberley sounded to someone else. In trying to judge her reaction, he suddenly recalled all of the times that he had misread her mood and was drained of his former assurance. He quietly replied, “If you are sure. I know I have released you from any obligation as my instructor, but I do hope you will stop me if I am trying your patience.”

  Elizabeth was struck by his sudden tentative demeanor and his lack of confidence. When she had disliked him, she imagined him haughty, cold, recalcitrant, and demanding. Since getting to know him better, she had found him witty, honest, and sincere. She had never before understood that he was also somewhat shy and, at moments, oddly uncertain of himself. Desiring to put him at ease once again, she asked, “And how would you describe the house?”