Such small conversation lasted until dinner was served. Once they were all seated in the dining-room, Miss Bingley’s confidence returned. She had been rather quiet since Mr Darcy’s set-down but she was too opinionated and sure of herself to be quietened for long.
‘I was sorry not to be able to help you with your desire of becoming a governess,’ she said, once they had all finished their soup. She spoke in a very patronising voice. ‘I do hope you find a position soon.’
‘What is this, Lizzy?’ asked Aunt Philips.
‘Oh! Had you not told your aunt of your plans? I hope I have not spoken out of turn,’ cooed Miss Bingley.
She did not look at all sorry. Instead, she was smiling in a self-satisfied manner.
Mr Collins dabbed his mouth with his napkin and prepared to speak. His manner was just as self-satisfied as Miss Bingley’s, and Elizabeth found herself wishing the two of them would make a match. Mr Collins and Miss Bingley! Now that would be a fine thing to see!
Mr Collins began to speak.
‘My dear young lady, there is no need for you to seek employment, I can assure you,’ he said, with a smirk at Jane. ‘I cannot say any more for the present, but there will be no need for you to seek your daily crust outside of these four walls.’
‘Thank you,’ said Elizabeth calmly. ‘But I believe I must do something to earn my crust.’ She emphasised his badly chosen words, and then turned them into something amusing. ‘Perhaps, if I am fortunate, I will manage to earn a cake.’
She saw a smile pass swiftly across Mr Darcy’s face and she was surprised to see how attractive it made him. He looked like a different man from the proud gentleman of the afternoon. But the smile quickly vanished and the haughtiness returned.
Miss Bingley, meanwhile, was enjoying herself. She had Miss Elizabeth in her power and she did not mean to let go.
‘I am so sorry,’ she said. ‘I thought your family knew all about it.’ She turned to Mrs Philips. ‘Miss Elizabeth Bennet asked for my help this afternoon,’ she explained in the most offensive manner. It was clear she was enjoying herself, and enjoying discomfiting Elizabeth. ‘But I am afraid all my acquaintances have exacting standards where music and languages are concerned, so I was unable to give any recommendations.’ She turned to Elizabeth. ‘Perhaps a position as a companion will be more suitable. I know that Mrs Underwood is looking for someone. She is bedridden, poor lady, but she loves music. As she is rather deaf, your lack of proficiency will not matter.’
‘Thank you, but I believe I can do better than Mrs Underwood,’ said Elizabeth with asperity.
She knew she must stand up to the odious woman or else she would become afraid of her.
‘Good positions are difficult to come by,’ said Miss Bingley reprovingly. ‘I do not know anyone else who needs a companion. Do you, Mr Darcy?’
Mr Darcy had been studying Miss Elizabeth Bennet all evening and he had come to like her more and more. The idea that had occurred to him earlier now became a firm decision.
‘As a matter of fact, I do,’ he said with energy, and with an encouraging look at Elizabeth. ‘My sister needs a companion.’
‘Ah yes, dear Georgiana,’ said Miss Bingley, clasping her hands together in front of her in an ecstasy of delight. ‘How I dote on her! She is the loveliest young lady imaginable. So elegant, such style, and only fifteen years old! Already a beauty, and so accomplished! She will need someone with the most thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages to be her companion. A woman of elegance and grace who can teach her the most excellent deportment, and a woman of rare talent in the sciences.’
‘I disagree.’ Mr Darcy put down his wine glass. His manner commanded attention and all eyes were upon him. ‘Georgiana needs a companion, not a teacher. She already has a full complement of masters who instruct her in all the required subjects. But she is inclined to be shy and I believe her ideal companion would be a young lady of good family with a cheerful disposition and a fund of courage. A young lady of about her own age who can provide her with friendship as well as companionship.’ He looked directly at Elizabeth. ‘I wonder if you would consider the position, Miss Elizabeth?’
Miss Bingley looked at him in astonishment.
‘Miss Elizabeth Bennet, to be the companion of Miss Georgiana Darcy?’ she asked, going white with shock. ‘Can I believe my ears?’
The horror in her voice resonated around the room.
Elizabeth was no less surprised, but after the initial surprise wore off she realised he must be teasing. Her eyes sparkled and she smiled, for his sally had lifted her spirits. It had done her good to see Miss Bingley discomposed, and she suspected that that was why he had done it. She strongly suspected that he did not like Miss Bingley’s fawning manners.
‘Mr Darcy is joking,’ said Elizabeth, smiling at him.
That smile awoke all his protective instincts, and he wanted to make sure that she was cared for and looked after.
‘I can assure you I am serious,’ he said. ‘I never joke about matters of business, especially where my sister is concerned. I think you would do her good. What do you say, Miss Elizabeth? Is it something you would consider?’
Elizabeth was surprised. She looked at him earnestly, trying to take his measure. Was he really serious? A study of his face convinced her that he was.
‘If indeed you are serious, then I would certainly consider it,’ said Elizabeth.
The rest of the party had listened to this exchange with mixed emotions. Miss Bingley had been horrified and was now full of a cold and nameless dread. Mr Collins was pleased that so great a gentleman as Mr Darcy was impressed with his prospective sister-in-law, but not sure that his prospective sister-in-law should be allowed to work. Lydia and Kitty thought it a lark. Mary was silent, trying to think of a maxim that would be appropriate for the occasion. Jane was sorrowful that Elizabeth felt she must work, but also pleased that her sister had won the approval of Mr Darcy. Mr and Mrs Philips were uncomfortably aware that they did not know how to proceed. Should they give the idea their blessing or should they not? Young ladies of good birth did work if the need arose, and the position was eminently suitable. And yet they still did not like the idea of it.
Mrs Philips looked at Mr Philips. When he said nothing, she gave him a nudge under the table.
He cleared his throat. Then he paused, not knowing what to say. He evidently decided to let someone else make the decision, for he said, ‘I must inform you, Mr Darcy, that Mr Gardiner is the head of the family now. It is his permission you must seek if you wish to employ my niece.’
‘Then I will do so. If you will kindly give me his direction, I will send a messenger to him this evening.’ Then he corrected himself. ‘No, not this evening. A messenger arriving so late would alarm him. I will make sure the message reaches him first thing in the morning.’
This astounded most of the company, for they seldom even sent a letter express, let alone hired a messenger to take it personally. The cost must be enormous. But, of course, to a man of Mr Darcy’s wealth, the cost would be negligible since he would no doubt send one of his grooms. The post was efficient enough for their purposes, but a messenger could be in London in under three hours.
‘With pleasure,’ said Mr Philips.
He felt a sense of relief that he did not have to deal with the matter. He had Mr Gardiner to take that burden from him. Mr Gardiner had a better idea of what was, and what was not, suitable. He lived in London and was a successful businessman. As such he had a degree of confidence and experience that Mr Philips lacked.
‘If you are sending a messenger I wonder if you would allow me to send a letter to my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner at the same time. I wrote to them this morning but the letter is not yet posted. I would like to add something to it, telling them of your offer. I should be glad of their advice.’
‘Certainly,’ said Mr Darcy.
By this time the main course of roast beef had been brought in and convers
ation died as the party began to eat. In truth, they were all very pleased to have an opportunity for reflection. The situation was unusual and almost everyone at the table was thinking about it.
The roast beef was followed by syllabub and once dinner was over the ladies withdrew.
Miss Bingley had been remarkably silent throughout the meal, ever since Mr Darcy had asked Elizabeth if she would consider being his sister’s companion. Now, however, she seemed to have decided that she could do nothing about it and so she became particularly friendly towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth found this fake friendship tiresome but she consoled herself with the fact that, after this evening was over, she would probably never see Miss Bingley again.
The gentlemen soon joined them. Mr Darcy, finding himself alone with Mr Philips and Mr Collins, had decided that a little male company went a long way, and that he would rather be in the drawing-room with the ladies. Mr Collins had been determined to tell him that they had narrowly avoided meeting in another capacity, as Lady Catherine de Bourgh had almost become Mr Collins’s patron. Mr Darcy listened politely to this tale, but privately he thought his aunt had had a lucky escape. The man was a fool, and he could fully see why Miss Elizabeth did not want her sister to marry him. The sister in question, Miss Jane Bennet, was a lovely young woman. It would be a tragedy to see her chained to a man like Mr Collins for life.
Mr Darcy took his seat on the sofa. Mr Collins sat on the far sofa, next to Miss Jane Bennet, and Mr Philips joined his wife.
As the others talked, he watched Miss Elizabeth Bennet making the coffee. She was completely unaffected and he liked to see her hands moving daintily over the coffee pot and cups. Miss Bingley made a great show of pouring coffee when he dined with the Bingleys, behaving with a lack of naturalness which always offended him. It was as if she were always acting, always playing a part, the part of a gracious lady. But true gentility was lacking in her.
He watched Miss Elizabeth handing the cups of coffee round and thought that she would grace his London drawing-room. Her lively spirits would help his sister to lose her shyness. For despite her difficult situation, Miss Elizabeth Bennet had spent most of the evening laughing and smiling, and he found it was like sunshine on a rainy day.
She would do his sister good . . . if she consented to becoming Georgiana’s companion. And if her uncle would let her. For there was no denying that a young lady of gentle birth would be lowered in the eyes of the world if she took up any sort of employment, no matter what her circumstances.
But the more he thought about it, the more determined he was to employ her. He did not want a crabby old woman to be a companion to Georgiana. He did not want someone cold and unloving, or too strict, or too bitter, to be with her. He wanted someone lively and young, someone with whom Georgiana could have fun, someone she could talk to without reserve, someone from a good family with true refinement but without affectation, who would enhance his sister’s life.
He wanted Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He knew that the prestige of becoming a companion to someone as exalted as Miss Georgiana Darcy would go some way to offsetting the loss of rank she would inevitably suffer if she took employment, and he intended to pay her a very generous salary. In helping his own sister, Georgiana, he hoped also to help Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He wanted to take the shadow from around her fine eyes; the shadow caused by the fear that her sister would be forced to marry the buffoonish Mr Collins.
Helping his sister was his main concern. But he was surprised to find that helping Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and protecting her, had also become a matter of importance to him. The remembrance of her tears as she ran from Miss Bingley’s contempt had awoken something in him that had never been wakened before. He had no name for the sensation. It was not compassion, although compassion played a part in it. It was not pity – Miss Elizabeth’s independent spirit made pity out of the question. It was not simply a desire to protect her, although that was certainly there.
All he knew was that it was something new to him. Perhaps one day he would be able to put a name to it. But for now it was enough to know that he had offered her a way out of her troubles. If her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner approved of the idea, he thought she would accept.
Chapter Seven
The following morning, Mr and Mrs Gardiner were at the breakfast table when the maid brought them news of a messenger, just arrived from Hertfordshire. They looked at each other in concern, and then told the maid to show him in.
The messenger was dressed in livery and was evidently from a wealthy household. He bowed and handed Mr Gardiner two messages. Mrs Gardiner recognised Elizabeth’s handwriting at once and took that letter from her husband. The handwriting on the other letter was unknown to both the Gardiners, and Mr Gardiner opened it.
‘Why, there is nothing very urgent here,’ said Mrs Gardiner. She scanned Elizabeth’s letter quickly to see if anything dreadful had happened. ‘I do not see why it came by messenger.’
‘I think I can answer your question,’ said Mr Gardiner, who had by now opened the other letter.
He turned to the messenger and told him to go down to the kitchens, where he would be given refreshment. The messenger thanked him, but said that he had been instructed to wait for any replies. Mr Gardiner said the man should take some refreshment and return to the drawing-room for replies in an hour. The messenger bowed and then he withdrew.
‘What was in your message, and why did it come by express?’ asked Mrs Gardiner curiously.
She could not think who had sent it.
‘I will answer your second question first,’ said Mr Gardiner.’ It came by express because it was sent by a very wealthy gentleman, a Mr Darcy.’
‘Mr Darcy?’ asked Mrs Gardiner, with a slight frown on her face. ‘Now where have I heard that name? Ah yes, of course, the Darcys own Pemberley. You will remember that I grew up in Derbyshire. It is a long time ago now, but the Darcys were the first family in the neighbourhood. That is why I recognise the name. But why is he writing to you?’
‘I have not yet had a chance to read his letter in detail. Continue with your breakfast, my love, and I will finish my own repast as I peruse his letter. Then, I think, we will have much to talk about.’
Mrs Gardiner saw that this was good advice. Now that she knew nothing terrible had happened she did not want to let her breakfast go cold, so she finished her hot rolls and seed cake. She drank her cup of chocolate, and then read Elizabeth’s letter. By the time she had finished it, Mr Gardiner was dabbing his mouth with a napkin. His own breakfast of ham and eggs had been finished, and his coffee cup was now empty.
‘I think I would like to hear what Elizabeth has to say, before I reveal the contents of Mr Darcy’s letter,’ said Mr Gardiner.
‘As you wish. It is a good letter, as always, and it is in two parts,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘To begin with, she says that Mr Collins seems likely to propose to Jane. She says that Mr Collins is a fool, but that Jane is determined to marry him out of a sense of duty, so that her sisters will not lose their home. She asks us to meet with Mr Collins before you give your consent. If you meet him, she is confident that you will not allow the marriage to go ahead.’
‘Let me see,’ said Mr Gardiner, stretching out his hand for the letter.
Mrs Gardiner handed it to him.
Mr Gardiner read it in silence.
‘I certainly will not give my permission if everything is as Elizabeth says,’ he remarked. ‘Mr Collins may, or may not, be a fool. Elizabeth is very clever and even a reasonably intelligent man may seem foolish to her. I do not think that cleverness is required in a husband for Jane, for Jane is not as clever as Lizzy. But I am troubled by her assertion that Jane does not like the man. I will certainly not give my permission if that is the case. I will do as Elizabeth asks, and insist on meeting Mr Collins. You must write and invite Mr Collins and Jane to stay. I want to see them together so that I might judge Jane’s feelings for myself.’
He handed the letter back to Mr
s Gardiner.
The maid came in to clear the breakfast things and so Mr and Mrs Gardiner moved to the sitting room. It was a pleasant room, facing east, so that it caught the morning sun. Mrs Gardiner sat on the sofa. Her soft muslin gown fluttered down around her. Mr Gardiner sat opposite her in his favourite chair. It had an impression where his head rested. No amount of plumping of cushions by the maids could get rid of it, which was a source of constant irritation to Mrs Gardiner. But Mr Gardiner liked the sense of familiarity it gave him, and he refused to countenance buying another chair.
‘I will write to them and invite them as soon as we have discussed this morning’s news in full,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘If Jane could be happy with Mr Collins it would be an advantageous match, but we will not allow it to go ahead if it will make Jane unhappy.’
She took some plain sewing from the sewing basket next to the sofa, for she did not like to be idle. She began to sew a button back on to one of the children’s shirts.
‘Now that we have dealt with the first part of Elizabeth’s letter, we must deal with the second part,’ she said. ‘I think it must relate to the subject of your own letter from Mr Darcy. Elizabeth says that Mr Darcy has offered her a position as his sister’s companion. She is inclined to accept, but she does not want to proceed without our advice.’
‘Mr Darcy’s letter is on the same subject, as you have guessed,’ said Mr Gardiner. ‘He would like to employ Elizabeth. It is a sensible letter, respectful and polite. I can detect no traces of condescension. He says that he would like to employ a young woman to be his sister’s companion as she is only fifteen and he wants her to feel her companion is a friend.’
‘But will he not want a variety of accomplishments? We love Lizzy, but it must be admitted that her education has been neglected and she has very little in the way of languages. As for music, she plays the piano well enough for us, but I doubt if it will do well enough for Miss Darcy. She plays no other instrument, and although she sings with a great deal of natural charm, she has never been taught by a master. She cannot instruct Miss Darcy in anything very much and I fear she would not be happy in the rôle.’
A Companion For Miss Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 7