Mr Bennet takes an interest

by sysa22

What might have happened if a year earlier Mr Bennet had become more involved with the lives of his family. Could things have worked out differently?

3. 3 - Conclusions

Loved your comments. Thanks.

Some of you raised a concern. It might not be PC to have a favourite child these days, many attitudes were different 2 centuries ago.

But no one had an issue that Mr B threatened D with violence. 😊

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Conclusions

The Netherfield party had barely entered their carriage when Miss Bingley started her complaints.

'Charles, how could you drag us to this barbaric backwater. The locals have no style and no sense of fashion, they are almost savages.'

'I thought the ladies were lovely,' her brother protested.

'I concur,' said Mr Darcy. 'Whilst they might not be up with the latest fashions, I found most of the ladies elegant and their dresses becoming. Which is a relief after being assaulted by those eye-searing creations which ladies in town are wearing this season.'

'But those dresses the ladies wore, are years out of date and quite out of fashion,' protested Miss Bingley, trying to defend the brightly coloured fashionable gown she was wearing.

'I always felt that good taste has very little to do with fashion,' Darcy tried to sound casual and not look too pointedly at Miss Bingley's gown.

'I quite agree, Darcy. I can never understand why ladies would want to cover their dresses in feathers. And why throw away a perfectly good gown, just because the sleeves are the wrong length this season? But I must say, the gown which Miss Bennet wore, was most becoming, and she looked quite charming. Was she not an angel? I cannot remember ever seeing a lady who is her equal.' Bingley was rapturous.

'She was a sweet girl, I suppose, but nothing compared to the elegant ladies in London.' Miss Bingley was diverted from considering her wardrobe, which was exceedingly fashionable, but apparently not to Mr Darcy's taste. This was most disappointing, since she had just spent her whole year's allowance on the dresses which she had brought with her, to impress the gentleman, and encourage him to offer for her at last.

~~~o0o~~~

Mr Bennet was happy that he had accompanied his daughters to the assembly this night. While his wife had improved over the past year, he suspected that she would have agreed with Darcy about Lizzy's looks.

Instead, he had been there to deal with the man's slight to his favourite daughter. Although Mr Bennet had discovered that he loved all his daughters, Elizabeth's intelligence and lively wit drew him to her. He delighted in their debates about a variety of esoteric subjects, and he was not about to let some arrogant puppy insult her.

Admittedly, since he had become more involved the lives of his family, he had noticed that Mary too had the ability to learn, which he had ignored for much of her life. On the other hand, in Jane he had discovered an iron core of determination. While she tried to see the best in everyone, she could only be pushed as far as she allowed.

Now, on the way back to Longbourn, he was content to listen to the sisters discuss the evening.

'Mr Bingley seemed quite taken with you, Jane' commented Elizabeth.

'He is a charming gentleman. But I noticed he danced with you as well, and he seemed to be enjoying himself.'

'But he only danced with me once, while you had the pleasure of his company twice.'

Jane was grateful for the dim light in the carriage to hide her blush. 'But he also danced with Mary. Did you enjoy his company?' Jane turned to their youngest sister.

'I did indeed find him amiable, but he is perhaps a little shallow for my taste.' Mary replied. She too had had a surprisingly pleasant evening. She had been asked to dance for at least half the dances, a fact she attributed to her father singling her out for the first set. 'But I noticed Elizabeth speaking to Mr Bingley's friend. I believe that apart from Sir William, you and father were the only people he spoke to, outside his own party.'

Elizabeth giggled. 'I did notice him avoiding Miss Bingley.' She turned the conversation, since she was not inclined to explain the reason for the introduction, or dwell on the man's insult.

'I think Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst are the most fashionable ladies whom we have ever seen in Meryton.' Jane, ever kind and the peacemaker, had no wish to laugh at anyone.

'I am just pleased that none of you insist on being as fashionable as those ladies,' Mr Bennet commented dryly. Unbeknownst to him, he quite agreed with Mr Darcy's ideas about fashion. He thought the ladies would have been better served with a simpler style of clothing, rather than London's high fashion. 'I would appreciate it if you did not go into too much detail about their dresses with you mother. She has too many ideas about the proper amount of embellishments as it is.'

The sisters, whose taste in dresses was much simpler and more elegant than their mother's, laughingly agreed. 'Very well, Father, we will spare you discussions about feathers and lace.'

~~~o0o~~~

Elizabeth was relieved when she could go to bed, where she would have the needed peace and quiet to consider the events of the evening.

At the end of the first set, which she had danced with John Lucas, she had noted the arrival of the party from Netherfield. When she caught sight of the tall and exceedingly handsome gentleman, she had been struck by how uncomfortable he looked. At the time she felt sorry for him. She had seen how Miss Bingley was gripping his arm possessively, and the subtle movements, as if he was trying to extricate himself from her clutches.

She had almost laughed out loud, when he managed to scrape off the lady during the introduction with Sir William, and he had fled to the opposite side of the room.

Soon after, her neighbours embarrassed her by discussing the purported wealth of the two gentlemen. Elizabeth was grateful that her mother had not been able to attend. She was certain that Mrs Bennet's voice would have rung out above all the others, exclaiming ten thousand a year.

As it was, Elizabeth wondered if it was like this wherever he went. If women saw his wealth as an incentive to pursue him. It was not to be wondered at that he tried to put everyone off by adopting a discouraging mien.

For some unfathomable reason, she had remained aware of him for the rest of the evening. She attributed this awareness to his undeniable good looks. Meryton did not have his equivalent.

She had been amused when he had stopped in her vicinity, while she waited for her father to fetch her a cup of punch, and heard Mr Bingley trying to persuade him to dance. Elizabeth stopped being amused when he uttered his insult.

But then her father had intervened and Mr Darcy had apologised. He had not tried to make excuses, simply admitted that his behaviour had been ungentlemanly. He even tried to make amends by asking her to dance.

When her father had wordlessly offered to concede his promised set to Mr Darcy, she had been tempted to accept, but decided that the man must be too used to having his own way, and needed to learn different.

Elizabeth had thoroughly enjoyed her dances with her father, but for the rest of the evening remained aware that Mr Darcy was watching her intently.

Now she considered if she wanted to know him better.

He was certainly very pleasing to look at, but did his character match his handsome looks?

Yes, he had appeared exceedingly arrogant towards her neighbours. But was that his true character, or a defensive mechanism to keep sycophants at bay.

She could not make it out on such a short acquaintance. Elizabeth resolved to spend time sketching his character, but would not worry about anything that might or might not happen in the future.

~~~o0o~~~

Mr Darcy too, had a restless night, thinking about everything that had happened this evening.

He had come to Meryton to help Bingley, expecting to meet nothing but country bumpkins, who would be beneath his notice.

Darcy had been raised to be proud of his heritage. His mother was the daughter of an Earl, and while the Darcys did not have a title, the family had a long and noble history. He had prided himself on his manners, and thought that he was a perfect gentleman of the first circles.

When Darcy was in Town, his family and wealth had been respected, and he was highly sought after as a match for the daughters of the best families. In his opinion he had been too highly sought after, since he found the machinations to get his attention exceedingly exasperating.

Ever since he entered society nearly a decade ago, he had been considered eligible, but once his father died, leaving him as Master of Pemberley, his popularity had increased exponentially. Most young men were dependent on their families for many years after they married.

For a man as young as Darcy to be master of his own fate, seemed to make him irresistible to the matchmaking mothers.

Even though he was shy and uncomfortable in unfamiliar company, in his early years, Darcy had made an effort to meet young ladies. Back in those days, he had had the assistance of his cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam, the second son of the Earl of Matlock, to smooth over Darcy's ineptness at conversation.

During that time, Darcy discovered that the young ladies he met, had all been trained to be the perfect wives… by society's standards. Unfortunately, Darcy was not interested in fashion and gossip. And the only interest he had in the weather was in regard to how it would affect the crops at Pemberley. Any time he tried to introduce subjects that he was interested in, he received disconcerted looks, followed by uncomprehending, but fawning agreement.

By the time his cousin joined the army, Darcy was thoroughly sick of simpering females, and he adopted his scowling mien to keep them away.

After his father's death, despite his obvious reluctance, the efforts to gain his hand in marriage had increased substantially, making him withdraw ever further into his shell.

In retrospect, Darcy realised that he must have become quite rude in recent years, to utter such an insult as he did tonight, without even thinking about it, as if it were an everyday occurrence.

While it was acceptable for a gentleman to be reserved, even standoffish, to realise how low he had sunk to display such disdain and complete disregard for the feelings of others, was mortifying to him.

Although, he most certainly had not expected to be taken to task by one of the locals for his manners, he was grateful to Mr Bennet for his reprimand. He had needed this prompt to examine his conduct in recent times, and Darcy was not at all proud of the man he had become.

A Darcy was polite to all, and he would be so again.

Perhaps, if he mended his manners, Miss Elizabeth would be prepared to dance with him, if the opportunity presented itself.

In the meantime, he hoped to become better acquainted with this most unusual young lady.

He eventually fell asleep, dreaming of a pair of sparkling eyes.

~~~o0o~~~

While drifting off to sleep, Mr Bennet composed part of a letter which he was going to write to his friend Reggie in the morning.

Last night I had the dubious pleasure of meeting your godson.

You were correct in saying that he has become an arrogant puppy. Would you believe he had the temerity of insulting Lizzy – to her face. He claimed that she was not handsome enough to tempt him to dance, and he would not give consequence to ladies who were slighted by other men.

No, this was not in some London ballroom where he is known. This happened right here in Meryton, where he has no consequence to speak of.

Although he changed his tune quickly enough when I threatened to thrash him, especially after I told him that you would probably approve of my actions, since no one has taught him the manners of a gentleman.

Although he apologised, I have not yet withdrawn my threat to chastise him, and to teach him some manners. But before I do, I thought I would ask for your ideas on the subject.

~~~o0o~~~

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Mr Bennet takes an interest by Sydney Salier, Copyright © 2021