Elizabeth finally coaxed Lydia from the milliners. They emerged to see their mother and aunt in the company of Mr. Darcy. "La, Mr. Darcy squiring Mama and Aunt Phillips about Meryton. How amusing that is." Lydia was, indeed, greatly amused.
They caught up with the trio as they reached the Phillips's home. Mr. Darcy declined an offer for tea, insisting he had to return to Netherfield.
"I am quite willing to stay for tea on another day. However, I am assisting Bingley with some estate business this afternoon."
"I have your promise, Mr. Darcy? I shall be very put off if you do not join us soon. Do I need to see that your favorite biscuits are on offer?
Darcy stroked his chin as if thinking on it, "Hmm, that would help."
"Mr. Darcy you need not make excuses. My aunt was just being kind." Elizabeth asked stridently, interrupting the cheerfulness the others had enjoyed throughout the afternoon.
"Lizzy, whatever are you talking about? You must apologize to Mr. Darcy." Mrs. Phillips was aghast that her normally well-behaved niece would act so rudely. Mrs. Bennet just looked on in surprise.
"Miss Elizabeth, Miss Lydia," Darcy acknowledged the new arrivals. "Mrs. Phillips, there is no need. Though I must be on my way. I thank you both for your assistance this afternoon. I think my sister will be greatly pleased."
He took his leave and made to return to the stables to retrieve his horse. He had not gone far when he heard a voice behind him.
"What are you playing at, Mr. Darcy?" asked Elizabeth in an icy tone. She had encouraged the others to go inside. She would have her say with Mr. Darcy.
I do not have the pleasure of understanding you, Miss Elizabeth."
"I cannot conceive of any reason that would put you in company with my mother and aunt. You will not have you mock my mother and my aunt. You may think them beneath you, but they are good people."
"Miss Elizabeth, I caution you against the folly of ascribing thoughts and feelings to others. More often than not, you will find your understanding is lacking."
"Oh, thank you very much but I am sure my understanding is quite accurate. I ask again, what game are you playing at, Mr. Darcy?"
"Your very question proves your vaunted understanding is actually quite flawed. For, you will find, I do not play games." He said with a nod, looking over her head.
Elizabeth huffed as he walked off, upset that Mr. Darcy got the last word in their exchange. She turned to find her Uncle Phillips only a few feet away. "Come with me, Lizzy." He led his niece to his office and seated her before his desk.
"Uncle, are you angry with me for some reason?" When Mr. Phillips did not respond she pressed forward. "I know you have become friendly with Mr. Darcy, but you cannot expect me to remain passive in the face of his persistent rudeness."
"And what rudeness might that be? If you grant me the greater knowledge, I can assure you that you have misunderstood Mr. Darcy's conduct with your aunt and mother." Mr. Phillips asked. "You do owe the man an apology."
"Did you forget how he acted only a few mornings ago? There was disdain practically dripping from his voice. And the contempt he showed toward Mama was intolerable. I see." She affected a deep voice for the last two words, mocking Mr. Darcy's words from their last meeting.
Mr. Phillips had to think back to the conversation. Mr. Darcy had uttered those words but his memory of them was at odds with Elizabeth's. "I did not hear anything of the sort. What I heard was a young man who was, perhaps, distressed to learn that he is thought of so poorly."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Why should he not be? It is of his own making. First, he insulted me at the assembly, for all to hear. And he- "
Mr. Phillips interrupted with a sigh. "And you have insulted him, so far you are equal. In fact, you have insulted him many times, both in his presence and beyond. Need I remind you that you are the one who told the story of the insult, with great spirit, among your friends, delighting in the ridiculousness of the situation. Had you not done so, the tale might not have travelled any further."
"Ah, but everybody at the assembly had already decided his character. They thought him the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and hoped that he would never come there again."
"Think about that, a roomful of people making such a judgement based on one evening's acquaintance. It does not speak well of our little community. That and the fact that it was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. He could not be blamed for thinking we cared only for his wealth and status."
"What of his unsocial, taciturn disposition. Why is he so unwilling to speak if it not because he looks down on us all? He just stalks any room he is in, silently judging everybody."
"As opposed to you vocally judging everybody?"
"I do not judge anybody." Mr. Phillips raised an eyebrow this statement.
"What would you have the man do, Lizzy? If he speaks, he is deemed disagreeable. If he is silent, he is also deemed disagreeable."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and glared at uncle.
"I agree he needs to be more mindful of what he says but it seems you are determined to misunderstand him. You attribute the worst possible motivations to his behavior and words. If you dislike him so just leave him be. You need not protect the populace from Mr. Darcy. Let them make their own decisions as to the value of his acquaintance."
~~WP~~
It seemed the populace of Meryton was coming to value Mr. Darcy's acquaintance very much.
Word of Mr. Wickham's untrustworthiness spread beyond the merchants. Though the miscreant was now gone from Meryton, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Darcy were praised for protecting the town's interests. It resulted in the softening the neighborhood toward Mr. Darcy.
Just as they had been integral to the undoing of Mr. Wickham, Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Bennet's opinion went even further to reform Mr. Darcy's character among the town. While he spoke more easily with others he did not dramatically change his behavior. It came to be widely believed that Mr. Darcy was perhaps just shy. They wondered why they ever disliked him so.
Elizabeth could only watch this warming with amazement. Elizabeth found herself in Mr. Darcy's company quite often. She noticed he did not stare at her as he once did. She noticed this because she was watching him. If their eyes did meet, he gave a polite nod and continued with what he was doing. They had a few conversations, but he did not single her out nor did he engage in any stimulating debate as was his previous habit.
She also noticed Miss Bingley had become nicer to her. They would never be the best of friends, but her barbs found other targets. Though even this friendlier Miss Bingley could not contain her amusement at Elizabeth's presumed attachment to Mr. Collins.
The evening of the Netherfield ball saw her mirth increase as Mr. Collins led Elizabeth to the floor for a dreadful display during the first set. However, Elizabeth would later wonder if that set would be the highlight of her evening. Her mother and sisters were true to form. Loud and exuberant, and embarrassing.
She looked for Mr. Darcy to see if he noticed. When her gaze found him, she saw Jane standing up with him. They appeared to be having a very serious conversation. Elizabeth saw that Jane's usual serene countenance was had lost its glow.
"If Mr. Darcy ruins this night for Jane, I shall never forgive him." Elizabeth said to Charlotte.
"What would that look like, seeing as you have never forgiven him for his previous offenses?" Charlotte teased.
"Charlotte, you are most uncharitable. Why must everybody now burden me with all the apparent wrongs I have done to Mr. Darcy? Even my mother and aunt, and all the other matrons seem quite fond of him now and will not hear a word against him."
"And why are you speaking against Mr. Darcy now?" Charlotte was perplexed by her friend's behavior lately. As far as she knew, opinion had shifted Mr. Darcy's way among many in the community. He was now regarded as an agreeable, if not sociable, acquaintance.
"Eliza, I am not chastising you. If you take it as such that is statement of your own sensibilities. I simply wish to know why, after everything, you hold Mr. Darcy is such contempt. I have seen you extend patience and kindness to Mr. Collins and Mr. Bingley's sisters, but you treat Mr. Darcy as a rogue?
"Charlotte, I would have thought you would share my distaste for Mr. Darcy's proud manners." Elizabeth wondered how she had come to be alone in her disapprobation of the man.
"Am I supposed to dislike everybody you dislike? I am of my own mind just as you are. I will not be persuaded to go against my own principles, even for you. Mr. Darcy has not harmed me." Charlotte spoke the last few words to the empty space her friend had once occupied" Elizabeth had hastened to Jane's side where Mr. Darcy had left her seated by Mary.
"Jane, what did Mr. Darcy say to upset you so?"
Jane was surprised at Elizabeth's question. "Why nothing. We had a very enjoyable conversation."
"I am all astonishment. Of what did you speak?" Knowing Jane's disposition, Elizabeth questioned how enjoyable their conversation had been.
"We were simply noting a similar aspect of our personalities. That when you are of a quiet nature people tend to fill your silences for you. Not just in conversation but in assuming your silences mean more than they do or assigning different intentions to them. Our quiet defines us in distinct ways - I am considered serene, while Mr. Darcy considered is proud. Neither of us are thought to have strong feelings. Nor do people seem to care if there is more to us."
"That hardly sounds enjoyable. In fact, it sounds like a most improper conversation. Certainly not one for the ballroom."
"It was enjoyable, or maybe welcome is a better word. Seldom does anyone engage me in such thoughtful conversation. He did me the honor of taking me seriously." Jane was also seriously displeased at her sister. "Lizzy, Mr. Darcy is not the villain you think him. And if there is any conversation that is not proper for a ballroom it is this one." Jane hauled Mary to her feet and took them both towards the refreshments, leaving a dumbfounded Elizabeth behind.
~~WP~~
A/N: Well, I didn't say it would be "good" Darcy and Elizabeth interaction. Things will start to even out soon.