Good Sense Is Heritable
I
"Clara, my sweet, have you heard? Netherfield Park is let at last!"
"Yes, but how can it affect me, my dear Mama? It is not, after all, as if a single young man of large fortune has leased it. Merely a married couple; and the wife is reputed to be very pretty and in excellent health."
"Ah, Clara, I see you have not heard the full report, though I do not wonder at it. I had it firsthand, you know, from my excellent sister Mrs. Phillips – and she assured me that Mrs. Bingley's brother is also to come."
"Oh? Pray continue, Mama."
"His name is Mr. Darcy, and he has ten thousand a year, Clara. Ten thousand a year! – and very likely more."
Clara's eyes gleamed. "And this is the whole of the Netherfield party?"
"Not quite," Mrs. Bennet looked hesitant. "Mrs. Bingley's sister is also come. I think I do recall her name being Georgia, perhaps, or Anne, or something similar. There is also Mr. Bingley's sister; a Miss Catherine Bingley. By the by, I really do think that 'Catherine' is such a hideous name. – So common! Do not you agree, Clara my dear?"
"I am not afraid of her," declared Clara stoutly.
"No, indeed. – Not for a minute did I think so," her mother answered admiringly.
Elizabeth stood to the side observing the assembly of people surrounding her; it was always a hobby of hers, to study the characters of others, and laugh at her neighbours in her turn. Yet, tonight, her mind wandered from her observations; she found herself dwelling morosely on her brother Richard's absence from the assembly, as well as her friend Charlotte's. They would have laughed together, and had a grand time. But she was indisposed, and he was pretending to be, the coward.
Out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth caught sight of Isabella Thorpe simpering beside an unenthusiastic Mr. Goulding – and she wondered if perhaps Richard was more wise than cowardly.
She then saw Clara reclining gracefully on a seat, strategically placed in such a way as to make the light shine most flatteringly on her. Even while Elizabeth giggled at the way in which her vain sister was arranging her skirts (her perplexity concerning which arrangement showed off her figure most advantageously evident in her countenance), she must admit that Clara did, indeed, look splendid. Clara had always been extremely pretty, and tonight she was magnificent; although the new dress was slightly ostentatious, it complimented her. And her blush, brought on by the excitement which a busy assembly such as this effected, was not unbecoming.
Elizabeth was distracted from her thoughts by the sudden hush that fell over the crowd. This abrupt silence, Elizabeth saw, was caused by the entrance of what could only be the Netherfield party. A jovial-looking man, a glowing lady hanging on his arm, two pretty young girls, and a very tall, very handsome gentleman, made up the group that had inspired such awe in the assembly, which now was aflutter with nervous murmurs.
Sir William Lucas came forward to greet them, and introductions were soon made abound in the room. Mrs. Bennet, not to be outdone by her neighbours, led her daughters to the cluster.
"My excellent Mrs. Bennet! Allow me to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Bingley, Miss Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Miss Darcy. Please, may I present Mrs. Bennet and her daughters, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Miss Clara Bennet."
All the necessary pleasantries so essential to polite company were exchanged; Mr. Bingley, whom Elizabeth recognized as the 'jovial-looking man', declared that he was delighted, which prompted Mrs. Bennet at once to protest that she, indeed, was by far the most delighted. This went on for some time, until a few couples began to take their places on the dance floor in preparation for the first set, and Mr. Bingley led his wife to the floor.
Clara looked expectantly at the tall, handsome gentleman, who had been identified as Mr. Darcy. He only looked grave, and turned to the brown-haired young girl beside him.
"Miss Bingley, I would be honoured if you would join me for this dance."
Elizabeth watched with suppressed amusement as Clara gaped after the pair. With an injured look, she turned away, and issued an inviting smile to the hapless Mr. Goulding; that gentleman, on perceiving the invitation, approached her with alacrity and claimed her for the first set. Mrs. Bennet hid her disappointment well enough, for her, and went to join Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long seated not far away, lamenting the ill manners of one young man from Derbyshire – and consequently, Elizabeth found herself standing alone with Miss Darcy.
She made an inane comment on the size of the room, and the number of couples; Miss Darcy replied briefly; and after a short while conversation languished. Elizabeth looked archly, and tried again:
"Well, Miss Darcy, it is your turn to say something now. Perhaps you could make some remark about how delightful you find Hertfordshire scenery, or the dreadful drab weather we have experienced since your arrival."
"Whatever you wish me to say will be said," Miss Darcy replied with a shy smile. "And I certainly do hope you do not blame us for the disappointing weather."
Elizabeth laughed, and said in a teasing tone, "I fear, Miss Darcy, that you must have been the cause of it. I imagine that the sun saw a rival for its brightness in your eyes, and therefore refused to come out in fear of being disregarded for a fairer object."
Miss Darcy blushed, and protested. "Miss Bennet!"
Elizabeth only laughed again, and said conspiratorially, "It is the exact same thing someone said to me once, you know, in an attempt at flattery. It was rather too blatant for my taste, which fact I made known to him."
"You did not!"
"Indeed I did. – He is my brother Richard."
Miss Darcy giggled. The conversation then turned to Elizabeth's family at Longbourn, and progressed agreeably from there. By the end of the first set, they were calling each other by their first names, and when Elizabeth left her for a dance with Mr. Goulding, they parted on both sides with equal satisfaction at having found a friend in the other.
Since the ratio of genders for that evening was much in favour of the gentlemen, Elizabeth found herself obliged to sit out a dance, and conversed with Mrs. and Miss Bingley, who were seated on either side of her, as Miss Darcy enjoyed a set with her brother-in-law. She found them both to be well-bred ladies of sense and education, and reflected that wealth did not always necessitate a snobbishness of behaviour.
Mrs. Bingley was a serene, beautiful young woman, only recently married. There was a light in her eyes as she regarded her husband that Elizabeth envied, at least for her father and Mrs. Bennet, in whose eyes she had never detected such emotion. She imagined that she might have, were her mother still alive, and the thought sobered her – but only for the fraction of an instant, as the atmosphere of a dance is not entirely conducive to solemnity, and Elizabeth was not the sort of dramatic heroine who seemed made for unhappiness.
Miss Bingley was a pleasant, fresh-faced young girl, about the same age as Georgiana Darcy. She was less shy than her friend, but was by no means forward, although this hardly reduced from her amicability, for she took part in the conversation with gratifying pleasure.
"You must call on us sometime, Miss Bennet," Mrs. Bingley said. "You would always be welcome at Netherfield."
"I would not wish to impose."
They hastened to assure her that it would not be an imposition at all, rather a pleasure, and Elizabeth smilingly thanked them for the courtesy. To be so sincerely liked was very flattering, and she found herself anxious to continue the acquaintance.
Elizabeth was surprised when Mr. Darcy approached her, the gravity of his countenance still apparent, to claim her for the next set. Elizabeth faltered a little in replying that the honour would be hers, but despite this refused to be affected. His ten thousand a year, astonishingly good looks, alleged ownership of nearly half of Derbyshire, and grave mien, shall not faze her.
Their dance was silent, and during which Elizabeth concluded that he must be either painfully shy, or disdainfully mute. She did not know why he had asked her to dance in the first place, when it was distressingly evident that he was not deriving any pleasure from the activity at all.
"Mr. Darcy, do you find yourself enjoying the evening?" she asked eventually.
"Yes."
The answer was abrupt and unyielding; Elizabeth felt a faint anger rise in her chest, and regarded him defiantly. Insufferable man! – Could he not at least give the appearance of pleasure? He must have an abominable quantity of pride.
"Your sisters are lovely," she persisted.
He seemed on the brink of speaking, perhaps echoing the complimentary sentiment, but stopped himself after throwing an apprehensive glance in Clara's direction. He simply nodded. Elizabeth lowered her head to hide a smile, but her annoyance at the man did not abate.
She was a little surprised when he spoke.
"My sisters like you." There was such frankness in his tone as to be refreshing – but the slight perplexity also evident was not quite so flattering.
"There is a small group of people who do, yes," replied Elizabeth, with a pert smile. "Or so I flatter myself." She was, however, a little offended, which her partner noted with a little alarm.
Discomfited, he stumbled, "Forgive me. I did not mean to say—"
The dance ended, and Darcy escorted his partner back to her seat. He wavered for a moment as he stood uncertainly by her side, until a breathless Mrs. Bennet approached and regarded him coolly.
"And what have you been up to, Miss Lizzy?" she said pointedly. "Neglecting your sister shamefully! Clara has been wanting to speak with you. Ah, she is coming right now."
Elizabeth was amused to see Mr. Darcy's expression transform into one of alarm, as he noted the predatory gleam in both Clara's and Mrs. Bennet's eyes. He stiffened perceptibly.
"What would you speak to me of, Clara?" asked Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet narrowed her eyes at her step-daughter as she said this, and retreated back to her place by Mrs. Long's side, attempting to bring Elizabeth with her, but failing.
Clara smiled coyly at Darcy while addressing Elizabeth, "Merely to inquire as to how you are getting on, my dear Eliza. I saw you sitting out quite a few sets, and I worried that you might feel... neglected."
Elizabeth merely smiled grimly and said, "Thank you for your concern." Clara chose to ignore the light sarcasm in her sister's tone.
"You always sit out so very frequently at this type of thing," she said. "I suppose it is nothing new or surprising at all, but it must be a trial. Poor Eliza, but you are looking well tonight, I suppose." Clara's tone was scornful.
Darcy shifted awkwardly, and looked at Elizabeth, who was blushing slightly in mortification. He said stiffly, "It has been a pleasure, Miss Bennet. If you will excuse me now?"
Clara watched in dissatisfaction as he left; and after a while went away herself, making her initial purpose in coming over abundantly clear to Elizabeth.
She was not permitted to dwell overmuch on these depressing sentiments, however, as soon her new friends made their way over to her, and kept for her a much more pleasant company. Elizabeth soon found herself accepting an invitation to call on them at Netherfield the day after next.
When Longbourn's carriage came round to collect the three Bennet ladies home at the conclusion of the assembly, Elizabeth reflected that perhaps it was not such a waste of an evening after all, as she had feared initially.
