Chapter 15: One Thing Lizzy Could Not Do Well
When they arrived at the drawing room, Mr. Bingley asked Miss Bennet, "Do all the Bennet sisters sing and play? We would be honoured to be graced by a performance."
Miss Bennet replied, "We all can, to different degrees. Elizabeth and our next younger sister Mary are the ones who could display without fear of offending the listeners' ears. You have of course seen them perform at Lucas Lodge."
Mr. Bingley grinned broadly at the self-deprecating wit that Miss Bennet displayed that he had not expected. He thought that it would be the most marvelous thing to have Miss Bennet sing just for him in their own bed chamber. He immediately chastised himself for having such indecorous thoughts, in company no less.
"Miss Georgiana Darcy's ability on the pianoforte is without equal among ladies in the ton, in my opinion," exclaimed Miss Bingley.
"I have understood that Miss Darcy is not yet out. She must be a prodigy then," remarked Miss Elizabeth.
"I am afraid Miss Bingley has given my sister more praise than deserved. Georgiana does love to play, and she actually enjoys practising constantly. In terms of technique, she is quite proficient. She is now beginning to merge what she excels in her fingering with feelings to bring the performance to the next level."
"Expressing feelings in music, in my own experience, comes with age. That is indeed quite an accomplishment for a young lady. She would shame the likes of me who would not take the trouble of practising more. I am still waiting for Herr van Beethoven to write a sonata that I can play without inadvertently inserting many notes of my own. I do hope to have an opportunity to listen to Miss Darcy play someday."
Mr. Darcy smiled at her and said, "No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. In fact, to me you play with a rich understanding of the music not commonly found. My sister could learn much from you."
Miss Bingley, feeling once again that Mr. Darcy was doling out praises to Miss Elizabeth that were entirely undeserved, immediately interjected, "Miss Darcy's proficiency on the pianoforte, is indeed an accomplishment because she has attained it through diligent practice. In the seminary I attended, we were constantly reminded of the importance of practice, be it music, modern languages, walking, dancing, drawing, needlework, table designs, and a plethora of other important accomplishments that make up a fine lady," Miss Bingley preened on her impeccable training and looked at Elizabeth challengingly, thinking that the Bennet sisters did not even engage a governess, let alone attend a fine academy. She continued, "Speaking of music, should we have some? Louisa and I will lead the way, and then perhaps the Miss Bennets will grace us with their accomplishments as well?"
Without delay, Miss Bingley sang some arias in Italian with Mrs. Hurst accompanying on the piano.
The audience applauded because it was just the level of accomplishment one expected in a soiree in town. Miss Bingley walked away from the pianoforte with a gleeful look on her face because she was certain that the Bennet sisters would look like country bumpkins with their provincial folk songs after such a refined display as hers. Rich understanding of the music indeed!
Miss Bingley then turned to the Bennet sisters as if to summon them to best her. Elizabeth and Jane bent their heads together and walked to the pianoforte. Elizabeth sat down at the instrument with Jane standing beside her, and they sang a country ballad 'Scarborough Fair' in duet. Jane Bennet had a clear soprano voice that was bell-like, though not full-volume, and Elizabeth supported her with the richest contralto voice that Mr. Darcy had ever heard. The result was a very pleasing blend of voices that gave the sentiments of the song a heartfelt lift. At the end of this song, the applause from the gentlemen, especially Mr. Bingley, was enthusiastic indeed.
Then Jane sat down beside Elizabeth who began to play a song from memory, 'Plaisir d'amour', a French song that was becoming popular in town. Elizabeth had received the music from her Aunt Gardiner a couple of months before and had been practising at home- that was why Mr. Darcy had not heard it during one of his eavesdropping forays to Oakham Mount. She decided that she should show the superior sisters what she was made of and not hide behind simple folk ballads that she usually exhibited in neighbourhood gatherings. When she started singing, using her soprano voice this time, the room became silent. Even Mrs. Hurst stopped fidgeting with her bracelets. When she was finished, the silence persisted until Elizabeth looked up, and the applause was loud and sustained. Miss Bingley was quite stunned. Even she had to admit that she was touched by the song, its melody, its lyrics, and most of all, the feelings the singer conveyed.
To Mr. Darcy, to say that it was haunting was an understatement. Why a song about an unfaithful lover should have such an effect on him he could not fathom. Perhaps it was the longing for the lost love such as what he witnessed of his father after his mother's death that hit him, or perhaps it was the joys of love that he had not experienced but longed for. He felt that he was on the verge of feeling this strong love. Would he be courageous enough to grasp it?
While he was still contemplating, it was Mr. Bingley who was able to profusely lavish praise on the performances of the Bennet sisters. He was definitely going to try to have Miss Bennet sing to him in their bed chambers.
Soon after, the Bennet sisters begged to retire after an exciting day for Elizabeth, and the Netherfield party was left to their own devices.
Almost immediately after the Bennet ladies had left the room and the doors to the drawing room closed on them, Miss Bingley started abusing not just Miss Eliza but the rest of the family as well.
"You were not here when Miss Eliza appeared in the most scandalous manner. Her hair was flying about and her dress, did you see her petticoat, Louisa? It was at least six inches deep in mud! Mr. Darcy, you would not allow your sister, dear Miss Darcy, to be traipsing about in a big storm, would you?"
"No, of course not, but Miss Elizabeth is not my sister. She is an intrepid young lady. I do wish my sister could learn some of that. As for Miss Elizabeth's 'traipsing' about, as you put it, she was not the only one caught in a sudden storm, as your brother and I were and so many others. "
"Does that mean that you also approved of her wild appearance? Especially her wild eyes?"
"I did not notice her dress, but I can understand if it was wet as I myself was quite soaked through. As for her eyes, I did notice that they were brightened even more than usual by the excitement and the exercise."
Miss Bingley was alarmed by this open show of admiration by Mr. Darcy toward a young lady. She thought the best way to discredit Miss Elizabeth was to accuse her of being mercenary.
"I see that you admire Miss Elizabeth quite unreservedly. When am I to wish you joy?" Miss Bingley huffed.
Mr. Darcy was startled to hear that, especially the part on wishing him joy. Did people really jump from admiration to matrimony in a blink as Miss Elizabeth also mentioned the exact same sentiment about being seen dancing with him? He did not think that he was showing any overt admiration, not more than the usual amount for an accomplished lady. However, Miss Bingley's accusation meant that he had to be more watchful of his behavior toward Miss Elizabeth if he did not want to raise expectations. Before he could retort, Miss Bingley continued, "You need to look no further than Mr. Bennet for help in your suit. I would never have expected that. Matchmaking is usually under the purview of mothers, but Mr. Bennet has done a fine scheming by putting his two daughters under the same roof with two eligible bachelors so far above their own sphere."
By now, Mr. Darcy was seething. He had developed a resistance to inane mutterings of society women and usually just tuned them out without comprehending anything. However, this time, Miss Bingley had gone too far. He spat out through gnashed teeth, "Miss Bingley, Mr. Bennet is my esteemed friend. He is a gentleman and a scholar of the first rank. I do not appreciate derogatory remarks about him even if these remarks were based on complete speculation and ignorance. Please desist and never again let such diatribes come within my hearing. Excuse me, I am rather tired and would like to retire. Good evening." With that he turned and left quite without ceremony. Miss Bingley was shocked and was stunned speechless, which was becoming too frequent for her liking.
Mr. Bingley chimed in, "Caroline, Darcy is my friend. Please do not aggravate him with nonsense. Mr. Bennet's family has been gentry for hundreds of years. He is of the same sphere as Darcy. We are the ones who are below them."
Miss Bingley had to admit defeat now, but she was by no means ready to admit that she was wrong. The Bennets must be discredited somehow.
Meanwhile Mr. Darcy was in his chamber fuming until he was too tired to think. He had never let Miss Bingley and her ilk make him lose sleep. He was not going to start now. Perhaps his harsh words, though less than courteous, would finally silence Miss Bingley so that he would have some peace while remaining in her company at Netherfield. He would, however, apologize to Bingley in the morning to make sure that there would be no hard feelings between them. He valued Bingley's friendship greatly.
Chapter notes:
"Für Elise", one of the most popular piano pieces introduced to beginning piano students everywhere was not published until 1867, 40 years after Beethoven's death.
Kathleen Battle's version of "Plaisir d'amour" is great. If you prefer more modern music, Joan Baez has a version that has only the first two lines of the song.
