Chapter 26
When the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth and Mary left to get Jane and seeing her well guarded from the cold, attended her into the drawing room; where she was welcomed by her two friends with many professions of pleasure. Elizabeth and Mary shared several glances which communicated well enough their amusement at the way in which their hostesses could, when it suited them, be so very agreeable. Their powers of conversation were considerable and while they were glad the sisters roused themselves on Jane's behalf they were not naïve enough to imagine sincerity lay beneath their efforts. As if to affirm this, as soon as the gentlemen entered Jane was all but forgotten. Miss Bingley's eyes were instantly turned toward Darcy and she had something to say to him almost before he had cleared the doorway. That gentleman, after a glance at Elizabeth seeming to ask for her commiseration for such attention, addressed himself to Miss Bennet with a polite congratulations on her progress toward recovery. Mr. Hurst also made her a slight bow, and said he was "very glad;" but diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingley's salutation.
"Miss Bennet, it is a pleasure to see you up and about. Please let me escort you to a seat closer to the fire. I would not wish for you to catch a chill on your first foray outside your room." The two moved to the sofa next to the fireplace which just so happened to be slightly secluded. Elizabeth and Mary shared a knowing glance. When she looked away, Elizabeth saw Darcy watching the couple as well. He looked . . . contemplative.
After Mr. Hurst unsuccessfully reminded his sister-in-law of the card table, she seemed to know Darcy had no intentions of playing and so tersely declined, the occupants settled into their respective activities. Without cards to entertain him Mr. Hurst fell asleep on the sofa. His wife chose a seat far from him and close to Miss Bennet and her brother where she proceeded to play with her bracelets and occasionally offer comments on their conversation. Mary sat down with her needlework and the others all took up books. Miss Bingley found a seat next to Mr. Darcy and Mary and Elizabeth sat together on a sofa opposite them.
It seems that though she professed great interest in her book, which was the second volume of Mr. Darcy's, Miss Bingley could not go more than a minute or two without making some comment to him or looking at his page. At length she gave up the endeavor and closed her book, gave a great yawn and said, "How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! – When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library."
After exchanging a small smile with Elizabeth at the mild absurdity of this, Mary made to answer, "A wise sentiment, Miss Bingley," she said. "An excellent library is something every house should hope to have and to share."
Miss Bingley paid no attention to this civil response. Instead, when hearing her brother mention a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly towards him and said:
"By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a dance at Netherfield? I would advise you, before you determine on it, to consult the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a pleasure."
"If you mean Darcy," Bingley responded," he may go to bed, if he chooses, before it begins – but as for the ball, it is quite as settled thing, as I told Miss Lydia earlier when she asked. I meant it. As soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough, I shall send round my cards."
Before Miss Bingley could further her argument, whatever that might have been, Mr. Darcy had something to say in his own defense.
"If it is all the same to you, Bingley, I think I should like to attend rather than sulk in my room," smiling at Elizabeth he added, "it would allow me to show some, who might not believe it, that I do know how to conduct myself as a gentleman when dancing is the order of the day."
"Mr. Darcy how could anyone doubt your gentlemanly conduct?" Miss Bingley sounded truly scandalized.
Though still smiling at Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy answered this question, in a very serious tone, "I assure you, Miss Bingley, there are some who have had cause to question it."
"I agree with Miss Bingley, Mr. Darcy, this seems highly unlikely," Elizabeth said with a smile of her own directed at Mr. Darcy. "Are you not always the perfect gentleman?"
"Well of course he is," Miss Bingley answered for him.
"You of all people know this is not true," he answered. Despite Miss Bingley's interjections Mr. Darcy had yet to look away from Elizabeth, she broke their eye contact.
"I am not certain I do," she said, her tone light. "What do you think, Miss Bingley, your friend seems to believe he has acted less than the gentleman at times. Intimate as you are you must be able to tell us of his faults?"
"Upon my honour, I am not able. My intimacy has not shown me that. I have seen only gentlemanly behavior, I assure you, at balls, soirees, teas and any other venue where we happen to find ourselves."
"Well then, Mr. Darcy, it is settled. You are a gentleman, a gentleman without fault, it seems. That is an uncommon occurrence, and uncommon I hope it will continue. For it would be a great loss to have many such acquittances. Perfect people can be very tiresome and provide very little to laugh at and as you may know I dearly love a laugh."
"I would like you to remember I have made no such claims for myself," Mr. Darcy said.
"I will remember," she conceded, but then quickly added, "but I do not hear you offering up any flaws for my inspection in contradiction of Miss Bingley's claim."
"Do you think I am the best judge of my own character?" he asked.
"Perhaps not, but of those present who is better?"
Mr. Darcy looked about the room. Miss Bingley seemed at once eager and worried that she might be chosen for such a task.
"Bingley is one of my closest friends. Other than my cousins he likely knows me best. Bingley," Darcy raised his voice as that gentleman and Miss Bennet were involved in their own conversation and clearly uninterested in what was going on around them. When his friend looked up, Darcy continued, "Miss Elizabeth would like a list of my faults, if you don't mind. Miss Elizabeth, should he provide them to you alphabetically, chronologically or in order of importance?"
Though she had seen hints of a teasing and self-deprecating nature, this was simply too much. This Mr. Darcy was entirely too pleasant, too pleasing. . . too too many things. Elizabeth looked at him in wonder. He continued to regard Mr. Bingley, clearly awaiting an answer. Bingley had let out a great laugh at Darcy's words, but then seemed to give the mater some serious thought.
"Well, I am afraid now that you have expressed your willingness to dance, I have no objections at all," Bingley said with his typical smile.
"You are no help," Elizabeth said to Mr. Bingley. "Everyone is insisting on your perfection, Mr. Darcy. I fear I may have to believe it and discount the possibility of a friendship with you as a consequence unless you tell me yourself what amusing foibles I might have to look forward to from you."
"You would mock someone who has tried to avoid fault and folly in pursuit of your own amusement, Miss Eliza?" Miss Bingley challenged.
"Of course not, Miss Bingley. You are right. I will concede the point." Elizabeth said with an indulgent smile at her hostess. It seemed that with his admirer present, even good-natured teasing of Mr. Darcy would not be permitted, and so Elizabeth gave up and returned to her book. She did not see the look of disappointment on Mr. Darcy's face before he too resumed reading. Instead of taking up her book Miss Bingley returned to the task of soliciting Mr. Darcy's opinion, thoughts and feelings on various ideas that occurred to her, seemingly every few moments. At length Darcy, with little or no evidence of exasperation, requested she indulge them with some music. Moving to the piano-forte with alacrity Miss Bingley asked her sister if she minded waking Mr. Hurst only a moment before her fingers landed on the keys.
After a few notes Mary put her work down and told Elizabeth she thought Jane needed to return to her room. After some conversation with their eldest sister this was determined to be the wisest course though two of the room's occupants looked decidedly dejected at this turn of events. Mary assured Elizabeth she could see Jane settled, including mixing her tea and that she might return if it seemed prudent.
Mrs. Hurst joined her sister at the instrument for several more songs. When the ladies were through Mr. Hurst, newly rested and unusually belligerent, insisted a card table be established. Bingley was typically compliant, and Mrs. Hurst felt compelled to indulge her husband. The only question was - who would be the fourth. Miss Bingley had a definite plan for that. It answered all her desires for the remainder of the evening.
"Miss Eliza I would not dream of depriving you of the pleasure of a game," she said sweetly.
Realizing she was cornered; Elizabeth closed her book and approached the table. The players needed a fourth and it would be rude to decline. She did not particularly wish to play at present, but neither did she mind. Cards could be an enjoyable pastime.
"I thank you for your consideration. . ." before she could finish Mr. Bingley interjected with his own idea. "I apologize for interrupting, Miss Elizabeth, but your sister did mention you are not particularly fond of cards, though you play often for their benefit. I would not have you sacrifice here when you are our guest. Caroline will be our fourth."
With that he nodded to Louisa who, though she looked troubled at this turn of events, followed what seemed to be her brother's unspoken command and began to deal the cards. After a moment's hesitation Elizabeth moved away from the table and resumed her seat. Once the card game had begun Darcy, who had remained silent, seated and seemingly absorbed in his book for the past half an hour, rose and came to in front of her.
"May I?" he asked, indicating the seat beside her. Elizabeth nodded her assent and Mr. Darcy sat down.
"Have you come to confess your faults?" she asked in hushed tones.
"I think I have decided you must discover them yourself."
Elizabeth laughed lightly at this. It was clever and implied that she would have time with him that would allow such discovery. She chose not to point this out, afraid of what he would do with such an observation. Instead, she began a discourse on the book she had begun reading. It was a fairly dense account of the life of Oliver Cromwell. Not the best she had read, but it was a topic that interested her and certainly one that could keep them busy for the hour and a half the others played cards.
When he noticed the card game breaking up Darcy interrupted Elizabeth's speech about Cromwell and the Irish.
"Pardon me, Miss Elizabeth," he said softly, looking toward Miss Bingley who was even then rising from her chair. There could be no doubt as to her destination, "I simply want to confirm our morning."
"Yes, thank you," she replied, remembering her desire to seek his advice. "Would eight o-clock be convenient?"
He nodded and then his attention was required elsewhere.