Author's Note: I apologize for the ridiculously long delay in updating, but my work has been crazy and I simply did not have much time to write. Thank you so much for the lovely response I received for the last chapter. I am glad my readers have enjoyed the Meryton Assembly. Nothing significant happens in this chapter, but I hope everyone enjoys it nonetheless.
Chapter Six: Teatime with the Darcys
The morning after a ball or assembly was almost always spent sleeping in, and such was the case with the Bennet family, excepting their second daughter who prided herself in being an early morning riser. Not even the rigorous exercise of dancing could keep Elizabeth Bennet in bed longer than she deemed necessary.
Grabbing an apple from the sideboard in the dining room, Elizabeth fastened her cloak and bonnet and slipped out of the kitchen doorway, smiling at the cook as she went. There was nothing like a refreshing walk in the morning to clear her head. The assembly last night had given her much to think about.
After ensuring that no one was watching, Elizabeth ran up her favorite hill until she was out of breath. Spying a thick log nearby, she took a seat and munched on the apple, her eyes bright with exercise and her cheeks a rosy hue. After her rapidly beating heart slowed down to its steady rate, she took a deep breath and let her mind wander to the assembly last night. Her mother had been brasher than usual, making several embarrassing remarks in front of the new residents of Netherfield. Mr. Bingley's sisters clearly looked down upon them all, and Elizabeth spied them snickering at her family in particular, largely due to the unrestrained behavior of Kitty and Lydia. Elizabeth wished her father had been in attendance, so that he could control his wife and daughters' behavior, but as usual Mr. Bennet hardly attended such events. He preferred the solitude of his study where he was free from the constant raptures of his family.
'The men were quite pleasant,' Elizabeth thought, 'Mr. Bingley is all ease and amiability. He clearly prefers Jane to any other woman in the country, and for that I must commend him with good sense. Mr. Goodwin is also very pleasant. I greatly enjoyed my dance with him and he is an excellent conversationalist.'
And what of Mr. Darcy? Elizabeth halted in her thoughts as she thought of the tall, handsome young man from Derbyshire. What did she think of Mr. Darcy, the Master of Pemberley?
'I get the feeling that he does not like Hertfordshire society very much,' she finally conceded to herself, thinking about how he hardly talked to anyone and stood at a corner in silence, 'Perhaps he thinks he is above us all, but I cannot be too harsh. He singled out Mary, Jane and me by asking us to dance, while there were several other young women in need of partners.' Elizabeth prided herself in keeping a cool head. She did not lose her good sense, as other young ladies were wont to do, by the admiration of an eligible young man. However, even she could not ignore the compliment of Mr. Darcy singling her and her sisters out among so many eligible young ladies. If she was not even a bit affected by this, she would be a simpleton indeed.
'He was very kind to Mary, and for that I must think well of him,' Elizabeth decided, 'Perhaps he is not as amiable as his sister, but he was not unkind during our dance. He did not take offense to my expressing my opinion, and he was able to laugh at my words. Is it possible that what many mistake for pride is merely shyness? Could he be introverted like Miss Darcy?'
Elizabeth knew it would be unfair to form an opinion of him so soon. She would have to wait until she knew him better before she could draw a portrait of his character. Deciding thus, she gathered her bonnet and headed back to Longbourn, knowing the rest of her family would be awake by then.
Heading into the dining room after refreshing herself, she greeted everyone and kissed her father on the forehead. She was famished after the walk and noticed chocolate scones on the sideboard. They were her favorite. Surely this was a compliment from the cook, who doted on Lizzy and Jane as if they were her own daughters. There was always a little something she included in every meal that the girls liked.
Filling her plate with all sorts of tasty things, Lizzy took her usual seat next to Jane and asked her father. "Did you have a pleasant evening, Papa? You were in bed by the time we returned, so I could not bid you goodnight."
"Not to worry, my dear," Mr. Bennet replied, giving her a fond smile, "My evening was pleasant enough, but I developed a small cold from the chill outside and retired early."
"Do you feel better, Papa?" Jane asked with concern, "Should I send for the apothecary?"
"No, no Jane, I feel well now," Mr. Bennet reassured his eldest, "It was a trifling cold, nothing more. How was your evening? Did you finally make the acquaintance of Mr. Bingley's party?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrows at her father. He must be ill indeed if he would willingly broach the subject of the assembly, that too without any sarcasm!
"Oh indeed, Mr. Bennet, and what remarkable people!" Mrs. Bennet gushed before Jane could respond. "Mr. Bingley in particular, oh what a charming young man! He is everything a young man should be. Don't you agree, Jane?"
Jane blushed deeply. "He is very pleasant, Mamma," she murmured with embarrassment. Kitty and Lydia giggled at her expression.
"More than pleasant!" Mrs. Bennet's eyes gleamed with excitement, "Why, he danced one dance with everyone and two with Jane! He clearly prefers you to every other woman, my dear, and why should he not? I dare anyone in our acquaintance to produce a finer and handsomer girl than you! Lady Lucas certainly cannot, for her daughters are as plain as they come!"
"Mamma!" Elizabeth chided her mother, though she knew it was to no avail. "Lady Lucas and her family are very kind people, and Charlotte is my closest friend." Jane nodded in agreement, for she disliked being praised, especially at the expense of someone else. Charlotte Lucas had a heart of gold and did not deserve to be so abused by their mother.
Mrs. Bennet pretended not to hear them. "As for Mr. Goodwin, oh! There's another charming young man, and so kind to all my daughters. He danced with each of them, you know, and particularly seemed to enjoy dancing with Lizzy, though I know not why. My Lydia is more good-humored and lively, all Lizzy does is prattle on that nonsense of hers!"
Mr. Bennet caught Elizabeth's eye and both of them hid a smile. It was better to let Mrs. Bennet complete her effusions than interrupting her in the middle, for she would have no peace of mind until she was able to say what she wished.
"Even Mary danced!" Lydia piped up, snickering with Kitty, "To that horrid Mr. Darcy! I certainly do not envy you, Mary! How droll it must be to dance with such a man!"
Mary turned red but said calmly, "Mr. Darcy is a perfectly respectable young man, Lydia. It is not proper of you to disparage him without merit."
"Indeed!" Mrs. Bennet scolded her youngest, much to the astonishment of everyone present, "I shall not hear a word against Mr. Darcy, Lydia. He is the handsomest young man I ever met, and so obliging too! Why Mr. Bennet, he singled out our Mary out all the ladies present, and you know what else? He also danced with Lizzy and Jane, and then do you know what he did? He refused to dance with anyone else! Only our daughters would do for him, Mr. Bennet, for he is a man used to the very best!"
"Is that so?" Mr. Bennet looked genuinely surprised as he gave Mary a keen look. "Mr. Darcy stood up with you, did he, Mary?"
"I do not understand why everyone should be surprised," Mary spoke softly, looking hurt, "I – excuse me, please." She stood up and hurried out of the room, though Jane and Elizabeth could glimpse her tears. They exchanged a concerned look.
None of the Bennets seemed to care about Mary's retreat. Mrs. Bennet went right back to her descriptions of the assembly, and Mr. Bennet droned her out by hiding his face behind the morning newspaper.
Elizabeth and Jane excused themselves and went after their sister. They expected to find her playing the pianoforte in the drawing room, but the housekeeper Mrs. Hill informed them that Mary had gone into the garden.
/
Mary wiped her tears as she took a seat on a bench behind the rose bushes. She felt lonely and wished that her parents had given birth to one other daughter, someone who would be a companion for her. Jane and Elizabeth had each other, and so did Kitty and Lydia. She, Mary Bennet, plain old Mary Bennet, had no one to call her friend, whether it be among her sisters or acquaintances. She had no one to share her feelings with, and as a result she bottled up her emotions and sought comfort in her accomplishments. It never bothered her before, but in recent months Mary found herself feeling lonely and incomplete. She was not frivolous or attention-seeking like many women, but she also wanted her needs to be met.
"Mary?" Elizabeth's voice cut through her thoughts. Mary turned around and saw her elder sisters giving her a concerned look. She quickly wiped her tears and tried to look indifferent.
"Dear Mary, are you alright?" Jane asked softly, taking a seat next to her younger sister, "We saw you leave the dining room in tears."
"Lydia should not have been so unkind," Elizabeth added, "But you know how she is, Mary. She does not mean what she says, so do not take her words to heart."
"It was not Lydia," Mary sighed, "I am never offended by why she says, but I was hurt that everyone seemed so surprised that I danced with Mr. Darcy, particularly father. Am I so undesirable that no man should single me out?"
"Oh Mary," Jane gave her a comforting hug, "You are not at all undesirable. You are a dear sweet girl in your own way. I am sure Papa meant no offense."
"Jane is right, Mary," Elizabeth assured her, "Papa was merely surprised because you never chose to dance before. You must admit that the activity holds no pleasure for you."
"That is true," Mary admitted, "I do not know why I danced yesterday. I think I was tired of Mamma bemoaning my fate for all to hear. It was much easier simply to dance and appease her."
"Why Mary, you have unearthed the secret to pleasing Mamma," Elizabeth laughed, "I always thought it was Jane and me who knew the secret, although I admit I do not do a good job of it most of the time, for pleasing Mamma means marrying the first man she sets her sights on for me!"
"Are you against the institution of marriage, Lizzy?" Mary asked her sister curiously.
"No, not at all," was Elizabeth's reply. "I am however against marriage in which the couple holds no love or mutual respect for each other. Only the deepest love can induce me to matrimony!"
"Do you agree, Jane?" Mary asked her eldest sister.
"I would very much like to marry for love, Mary," Jane replied shyly, "However, I am not sure it is quite possible in our situation, for we have little dowry to recommend us."
"So you both are saying you would like to honor your marriage vows?" Mary asked, finally understanding what her sisters were saying, "For to love and cherish one's spouse until death does them apart is a very sanctimonious vow one makes in the presence of God. I find that many people do not honor their vows, and that makes me wonder why people marry at all."
"It is because many people marry for material concerns, Mary," Elizabeth explained, "I agree with you that we should all honor our wedding vows. However, when one marries with only material concerns on their mind, they can lose respect for their partner once the novelty of marriage wears off. I dread to think how bleak and hopeless their life can become."
"Like Mamma and Papa?" Mary asked quietly, "I know it is improper for me to say this, but Papa does not treat Mama very well, does he?"
Elizabeth immediately rose to her father's defense. "Mama does try his patience, Mary, for all she thinks about is marriage for her daughters! She would be willing to accept any man as her son-in-law as long as he is rich and well-connected."
"But is it truly Mamma's fault, Lizzy?" Mary countered. "I also feel Mamma's nerves are very trying at times, but our estate is entailed, and if anything were to happen to father, what is to become of us? We do not know the man who is to inherit our estate. If he is a good man, we may be safe, but if he forces us to leave, where are we to go?"
"There is always a solution," Lizzy said stubbornly, "I resent being forced into marriage simply to have a comfortable home. I would rather work as a governess in someone's house and have my own income to support my family."
"The income cannot be significant," Mary refuted, "A governess's salary is barely enough to support herself."
"I think you both make a valid point," Jane intervened, never one to bear conflict, "I think both Mamma and Papa are justified in their actions. However, I also agree that their marriage can benefit from improved communication and better understanding of each other. In the end of the day, they are our parents and I love them."
Both Lizzy and Mary agreed with her, and after ensuring that Mary was in better spirits, the three sisters returned inside.
/
Later that day, the Bennets called on the Lucases and exchanged opinions on the assembly. Mrs. Bennet positively gloated about how her daughters had been singled out by the new single (and very eligible) men in the neighborhood. Mrs. Lucas was no less, reveling how her daughters had not sat out a single dance, such was their popularity among the men!
Ignoring their mothers, Charlotte and Elizabeth had a more private audience with each other. Elizabeth complimented Charlotte on the new gown she had worn to the assembly. It was a gift from her wealthy Aunt who lived in London, and it had been styled by a modiste in the latest fashions. Charlotte in turn complimented Elizabeth on her popularity among the new residents and guests of Netherfield.
"I overheard Mr. Goodwin saying how he enjoyed dancing with you, Lizzy," Charlotte confided, "He said it was refreshing to converse with a woman who was so intelligent and witty, and he found you quite a beauty."
Elizabeth blushed prettily at the compliment. "Mr. Goodwin is kind, but I am sure I do not deserve the compliment."
"I am sure you do, Lizzy, and Mr. Darcy was also quite keen on you."
"Whatever can you mean?" Elizabeth looked surprised. "He was a pleasant partner, but he did not show me any particular regard."
"He was watching you the entire time," Charlotte observed, "I am certain he holds you in high regard, for his expression was not unpleasant."
Elizabeth mulled over her friend's words. Wanting to change the subject, she brought up Mr. Bingley. "Jane is quite taken with him. She does not admit it openly, but she blushes when his name is mentioned, and I know she enjoyed his company quite well last evening."
"Jane should monitor Mr. Bingley's behavior, and if she feels certain that he holds her in high regard, she should make her affections known," Charlotte advised.
"Whatever can you mean, Charlotte?" Elizabeth was surprised.
"A woman can never be too safe when it comes to securing a man's affections," Charlotte explained, "Men sometimes need a little push in the right direction, for they are not trained in knowing their own heart. If Jane does not openly show her admiration of Mr. Bingley, he may think she holds no affection for him."
"Why Charlotte, that sounds quite absurd!" Elizabeth laughed, "For Jane to openly show her affections would be going against her character, and I do not believe a woman should change herself to catch a man's attention. If Mr. Bingley cannot discern Jane's affections for himself, then he is quite undeserving of her."
"Jane's modesty does her credit, but I do not wish to see her hurt, Lizzy," Charlotte said, "Jane is a dear girl, but she has a mask on her face that hides her emotions, whether it is pain or happiness. Of course a woman should not be immodest, but displaying her true feelings is not wrong and only serves to assure a man that his proposals will be met with success. I just want to see Jane happy."
"In that we are agreed," Elizabeth said happily, "Do not worry about Jane, dear Charlotte. If Mr. Bingley falls in love with her and Jane with him, I am certain nothing can impede their happiness."
Charlotte let the topic drop, for she did not wish to argue with her friend. Elizabeth knew almost everything about her, but she did not know about the heartbreak she had suffered nine years past. Charlotte, then a shy naïve girl of 18, had fallen in love with a man while in London but had masked her feelings, thinking he would know how she felt about him. The man had called on her several times, and Charlotte met his attentions with a placid attitude, hiding her heart's desires in the deep recesses of her soul. However, the man had come to believe that she was indifferent and stopped calling on her, announcing his engagement to another girl a mere fortnight later. Charlotte had been heartbroken and since then had decided that modesty had its limits, and she would not endanger her future with her shyness if another man were to single her out. She dearly hoped Jane would not suffer the same fate.
/
A few days later, the Bennet family called on the inhabitants of Netherfield. Mr. Bingley was ecstatic to see them and Miss Bingley, in spite of the disdain she held for the country folk, received her guests with all the grace and gentility expected of her role as hostess to her brother. The Bennets were soon joined by other prominent families of the neighborhood, so Mr. Bingley was prevented from spending more time with Jane than he desired. Tea and refreshments were brought in for the company and pleasant conversation ensued.
A day later, the Netherfield party returned the visit and called on the Bennets. Mr. Darcy used this opportunity to introduce Georgiana to the family. If he deduced that she felt comfortable with them, he would encourage the friendship. Georgiana on her part was very excited to see Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth again, but she also felt nervous about meeting the rest of the family. Would they accept her as a companion to their daughters? What if they were offended by her silence and thought her proud? Miss Annesley told her young charge to calm down and assured her that the visit would go well.
The Bingleys, Darcys and Mr. Goodwin arrived promptly and were led inside by the butler, who announced their names to the family. Introductions were made and Kitty was told to ring for tea.
Mrs. Bennet was overcome with joy to see their illustrious neighbors in her sitting room. She arranged the seating in such a way that Mr. Bingley was forced to sit next to Jane, and she eyed them the entire time with a keen look that left no doubt in anyone's mind as to what she was thinking.
Mr. Darcy turned away from the matriarch with a disdainful look and stood in a corner of the room, watching how his sister interacted with the Bennets. She sat next to Miss Elizabeth, who attempted to draw her out of her shyness.
"I am very pleased to see you again, Miss Darcy," Elizabeth said to the younger girl kindly, "I hope Hertfordshire agrees with you."
"Yes, I find the country here quite lovely," Georgiana replied with a small smile.
"If you would like, I can show you some of my favorite haunts nearby," Elizabeth offered.
"I would like that very much, thank you," Georgiana murmured, "But I must ask my brother's permission first."
"Of course, it would only be proper," Elizabeth assured her, "How long has he been your guardian?"
"Our father died less than five years ago," Georgiana said quietly.
"I am sorry, I should not have asked you," Elizabeth looked contrite. She could not imagine the loss of her own father. It was too horrible.
"It is quite alright, Miss Elizabeth," Georgiana reassured her. "Fitzwilliam was very fond of our father, they were quite close, but I did not know him very well. I was always sent away to stay with my Aunt, Lady Felicity Matlock, so that I may grow up under a woman's influence. I wish I knew father more while he was alive."
"I am sure he loved you very much.
"Oh, I know he did. He sent me away for my own wellbeing, but all I wanted was to live with him and Fitzwilliam. Tell me about your family, Miss Elizabeth."
Elizabeth knew the girl was changing the topic on purpose, but she was only too happy to oblige her. She told her about all her sisters and what she loved and disliked about each of them.
"Jane is the sweetest girl you will ever meet. I do not think she has any faults, but perhaps her readiness to think well of everyone can become a fault if she is unable to determine who deserves her kindness and who does not."
"Mr. Bingley has said that Miss Bennet is an angel," Georgiana said with a blush.
"Yes, that is a very apt description of Jane," Elizabeth laughed. "After me is Mary, and you see her sitting near the pianoforte. She loves music very much."
"Oh, so do I!" Georgiana brightened considerably, "What pieces does she enjoy playing?"
"I think Mary would be able to tell you better than I," Elizabeth smiled, "Would you like me to take you over to her?"
When Georgiana nodded, she said, "I do have one request. You must call me Elizabeth, or Lizzy as my family and friends call me."
"Only if you call me Georgiana, Miss – I mean – Elizabeth," Georgiana beamed with happiness.
Off to the corner, Mr. Darcy felt very pleased with what he saw and determined that Miss Elizabeth was just the sort of woman Georgiana would benefit from as a friend. He saw as Miss Mary and Georgiana took a seat at the pianoforte and shifted through the former's sheets. He knew Georgiana was in good hands. Perhaps he should join Miss Elizabeth, who sat alone now, before someone else claimed her attention.
"Miss Elizabeth, I must thank you for your kindness towards my sister."
Elizabeth looked up from her needlework and saw Mr. Darcy hovering over her. She smiled and indicated to the seat next to hers, which he promptly took.
"There is no need to thank me, Mr. Darcy. I genuinely enjoy Miss Darcy's company and find her an engaging girl," Elizabeth said.
"She is very uneasy in company," Mr. Darcy explained, "She was not always like this. There was a time when she was very lively and carefree, but recent events have – stripped her of her confidence. I brought her to Hertfordshire in the hopes that a change in scenery would help her on the road to recovery."
Elizabeth was dying to ask what had happened to Georgiana, but she knew it was not her place. Instead, she changed the topic to their unfinished conversation at the assembly.
"I recall, Mr. Darcy, you promising that we would continue our conversation at the assembly," she playfully said, "I hope you will not go back on your promise, for that would be quite ungentlemanly of you."
"I never withdraw a promise made to a charming lady such as yourself," Mr. Darcy answered, giving her a charming bow. "I even recall what we were speaking of. You expressed surprise at the knowledge that I have not yet found a suitable lady among the "elegant females" of the ton. Am I correct?"
"You are," Elizabeth looked delighted that he had remembered their conversation so precisely. It proved that he had been paying attention to her, and she greatly valued gentlemen who paid heed to the words of a lady.
"Then let me indulge your curiosity, Miss Elizabeth. I have not found a suitable lady thus far, because I have high expectations in the woman who shall become Mrs. Darcy."
"I wonder what they may be, sir," Elizabeth was enjoying their conversation greatly, for it gave her a glimpse into the enigmatic man who was Mr. Darcy. She prided herself in reading characters, and everyone she'd met thus far was very easy to read, everyone that is, except Mr. Darcy. He was a mysterious man on all counts! He had a proud and haughty exterior, and it would be very easy to misunderstand him as an unpleasant man, but his behavior at the assembly signified that he was a man of good character. He had many emotions, but he wore a mask of indifference to the world. Elizabeth wanted to learn more about him, for he was truly an enigma.
"The woman who is to become Mr. Darcy is to have first and foremost, an empathetic nature towards the tenants of Pemberley. She should be naturally kind and just to those who depend on Pemberley for their livelihood."
"That seems a very reasonable expectation to me, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth remarked, her respect for the man growing with every word, "Should not every woman have a kind nature towards the tenants under her husband's care and protection?"
"I agree, Miss Elizabeth, however I have not met a woman who is less interested in my wealth and more in the duties she shall fulfill upon marriage."
"What other expectations do you have, Mr. Darcy? If this were all the expectations you had, I am certain you would have found a woman capable of fulfilling her duties as Mistress of Pemberley."
"I also require that the woman have a genuine love and interest in the welfare of Georgiana," said Darcy. "I have met many women who feigned an interest in Georgiana but talked ill of her behind her back. It breaks her heart as well as mine."
"How could anyone love her less!" Elizabeth protested, "Georgiana is the sweetest girl I ever met. Why, she is equal to Jane in her kindness and sincerity."
"You are kind, Miss Elizabeth. Besides these expectations, I wish for a woman who is intelligent and insightful. I suspect I do not give as much importance to accomplishments as others do, for if a woman fulfills all my other expectations but has few accomplishments, I would consider her a perfect match for me."
"I wish you luck in your search for Mrs. Darcy, sir," Elizabeth replied cheerfully.
"I believe I shall need more than luck, Miss Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy said wryly.
Elizabeth laughed in response to his jest, which turned everyone's head in their direction. Miss Bingley looked astonished and even a bit jealous that Elizabeth Bennet had managed to carry a pleasant conversation with Mr. Darcy, while Mrs. Bennet looked keenly at her second daughter. She had always considered Elizabeth the most difficult daughter to marry off (except for Mary of course), and here she was impressing such a rich young man with her prattling ways! Mrs. Bennet could not comprehend what a man of Mr. Darcy's station saw in her opinionated daughter, but if he was captivated by a daughter of hers, she would certainly not discourage him!
The remainder of the visit went well. Mary and Georgiana entertained the company with a few songs before Miss Bingley insisted that they must return to Netherfield. She was more than eager to bring the visit to an end. The Bennet girls were quite adept at using their arts and allurements to entrap rich young men into marriage. Her brother Charles had already fallen under the spell of Jane Bennet. Miss Bingley simply could not let Elizabeth Bennet trap Mr. Darcy! She had worked too hard, come too far, to let that happen.
A.N. I hope everyone liked Darcy and Lizzy's interaction. I worked hard on it and I hope it's believable. Do not be fooled. Their love story is not going to be smooth just because they started off without misunderstandings. Darcy is still proud and Lizzy is still prejudiced, and these qualities won't go anywhere until they come to realization like they did in the original story. Their path will obviously be different, but there will be obstacles nonetheless.
For all those who are wondering about Mr. Goodwin's role in the story, don't worry. He will have a more significant role in the next chapter!