"Well, Miss Bingley, Mr Bingley, I must congratulate you on securing such a fine, elegant property." Mr Collins clapped his hands, and beamed benevolently at their friends as if he were bestowing a great compliment, which was nonetheless undone by his next words. "It does not compare entirely unfavourably with Rosings, would not you say, Mr Darcy?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes skywards, but was nonetheless amused to see Darcy mutter something in agreement, and turning away almost immediately to engage Mrs Bennet in conversation. The fact that poor Mr Darcy chose her mother as a preferable companion to her cousin made Elizabeth bite her tongue hard to keep from laughing out loud. Unfortunately, she must have made some sound, however slight, for Mr Collins turned his attention directly to her.
"I do not say it compares exactly, my dear cousin Elizabeth, because, of course, Rosings is far superior in its style and position, as is entirely befitting for one of Lady Catherine de Bourgh's standing…"
Elizabeth plastered a polite smile on her face, and allowed her thoughts to wander, ensuring only that she nodded at intermittent moments to give the impression of listening to all that Mr Collins chose to say. She was fortunate, having two sisters who twittered just as happily about topics she had no interest in, that she had perfected this skill of appearing to pay attention whilst indulging in her own thoughts quite some time previously. It was a talent that continued to serve her well.
The small party that had intended on calling on Netherfield had doubled, for when Jane and Elizabeth mentioned making the journey on foot, Mr Collins had jumped up and offered to escort them, as he was very eager to form a better acquaintance with Mr Darcy on account of Lady Catherine. This had been disappointing, but Elizabeth did not anticipate Mr Collins' presence to be unduly detrimental to her true intent on calling: that it might afford Jane and Mr Bingley a better opportunity to converse than they had had at Meryton. Mr Collin's suggestion had somehow sparked Mrs Bennet's interest, and she, too, insisted on accompanying her daughters to call on "dear Mr Bingley". Elizabeth did not doubt her mother's intention was similar to her own but did rather suspect that her methods would be lacking in tact and serve to do more harm than good in furthering the fragile connection between Jane and Mr Bingley. Still, Mrs Bennet would not be dissuaded, and eventually all four made the short journey from Longbourn to Netherfield by carriage.
"Miss Eliza, I am surprised that only you and dearest Jane came to visit us. When I saw your cousin and mother in the carriage with you, I half expected all of your sisters to be within, as well." Caroline Bingley's comment was made with every impression of politeness but there was no mistaking her critical tone.
"It is rather a small carriage to comfortably seat such a party. In any case, Mary wished to remain at home, and Lydia and Kitty had…other plans." Lizzy felt a flash of hesitation before admitting her younger sisters' enthusiasm had been for Meryton and for the regiment, sure that saying so would merely give Caroline Bingley more ammunition with which to make thinly veiled criticisms of their family, which Lizzy did not wish to reach Mr Bingley's ears. He seemed a charming man, and perfectly content to know their family and consider them friends, but his sister's opinion of them had never been concealed and Lizzy feared that this, combined with Mr Darcy's evident disdain for her and her whole family would serve to discourage Mr Bingley from pursuing any match with Jane. Lizzy's sole intention was to see her sister happily married, and although she believed in her heart there was no man truly good enough to be worthy of Jane's affections, Mr Bingley appeared to have won them, and as he was quite the nicest gentleman of their acquaintance, he would have to do. They would marry, Elizabeth was determined.
"Oh, yes! My two younger daughters, you know, Mr Darcy, Catherine and Lydia, do you remember them from the Meryton assembly? Such happy, jolly creatures!"
Mr Darcy intimated that he did, and Lizzy found herself watching him so closely that she could hardly miss the brief flash of irritation that crossed his features at the memory of her sisters. Lizzy bristled in annoyance. It was one thing for her to admit privately that Lydia and Kitty could be rowdy and unladylike, but to see Mr Darcy silently possessing such an opinion merely made him still more obnoxious in her estimation.
"Well, they were determined to walk all the way to Meryton and visit the regiment! Is that not a jolly occupation for them?"
"I wonder that you are so fond of them spending time with such people, Mrs Bennet," Caroline's voice was smooth, but Lizzy could detect the danger. Mrs Bennet was less perceptive, and laughed off any suggestion of impropriety.
"On the contrary, I envy them their youth and vitality!" She laughed. "I do think the soldiers such amiable, handsome young men. Do not you agree, Mr Darcy?"
"Not all soldiers," Darcy grumbled. He cleared his throat, glancing up and noticing Elizabeth's eyes on his. "That is, I cannot speak of all soldiers. Those I am acquainted with I consider to be fine, upstanding men."
"That's right!" Caroline trilled. "Your cousin is a colonel, is not he?" She turned a triumphant smile towards Elizabeth. "Colonel Fitzwilliam is due to stay with us a few days this week. When did he say he was to arrive, Mr Darcy?"
"Soon," Mr Darcy said, vaguely. "Charles, I wonder if I might ask a question about one of your horses. I noticed it limping a little last time we went out and it occurs to me that perhaps it has a touch of laminitis…"
Charles, unhappily taken away from the quiet conversation he had been having with Jane, turned a pained look towards his friend.
"You had better take it up with Hodges, in that case, Darcy. You know I am hardly an expert in horses. I can ride 'em and appreciate 'em as well as any other gentleman but beyond that…!" he shrugged, comically, and the party laughed.
Jane has done well to find such a happy, well-meaning gentleman to fall in love with, Lizzy thought, watching the pair return to their conversation with a soft smile. A sharp sigh from Mr Darcy drew her attention, and she noticed he did not regard the couple with anything matching her affection. His perpetual scowl was back in place, with such ferocity that Lizzy almost laughed to see it, for he did look such a comical version of himself. What a pity Mr Bingley's friend has not one-tenth of his amiability, she thought, with a wistful sigh of her own. Certainly, Mr Darcy offered much to be admired. He was handsome, and wealthy, and utterly too aware of the fact, and of his position in society relative to others. Lizzy lifted her chin. She had never admired pride in a person, and Mr Darcy possessed it in spades.
Well, it is not for my own sake or Mr Darcy's that I am here, she reminded herself. I wish only to see dear Jane happy, and if Mr Bingley is the man who will make her so, then I will bear whoever he happens to surround himself with. His sister Caroline might be unavoidable, but Lizzy could not help but wish he had better taste in friends than Mr Darcy.
As if her thoughts had taken wings, Mr Darcy looked up at this moment, meeting her eyes with his own, and looking away just as quickly. Well, Lizzy, she thought. It seems the feeling is mutual: Mr Darcy is precisely as fond of you as you are of him. What a pity we must be forced into proximity because of the affection we have for those who would choose one another!
