Chapter 3

Elizabeth, having arrived in her father's library, swiftly corrected her posture and disguised her contempt upon noting Mr. Darcy's attendance. Quite confused about his presence, as she had not thought him capable of understanding his error, at least enough to apologize for it, had little expectation of him in her father's study.

"Elizabeth, it seems that Mr. Darcy has called to apologize," said Mr. Bennet.

As she turned her raised eyebrows towards Mr. Darcy, he proceeded, though pride, to further his own error. "Miss Bennet, I wish to extend my apologies for my unfortunate words and put an end to the fancies that have stemmed from a lack of understanding of my character. I pride myself on my own behavior, seeking to never engage in those defects of character that expose some men to ridicule. Ignorant, as you previously were, of everything concerning either my good name or my good character, due to my own ill-humored conversation, detection of the truth could not be in your power, and moderation certainly not in your inclination."

Indeed, moderation certainly was not her current inclination. With her temper rapidly increasing, at the expense of reason, Elizabeth was no longer able to apply any charity to Mr. Darcy, and thus replied, "Sir, I concur that I have faults in plenty, but I do hope that among them is not a lack of understanding. I do hope, that you can extend enough faith in a woman's ability to reason, to believe me capable of understanding an insult." To Elizabeth's ears, it seemed that he was not extending an apology, but instead was so delusional in his arrogance that he came to condescend to forgive her for not understanding his insult.

"Lizzy, aid my own understanding, if you will, as I have Mr. Darcy's version, pray explain your own perception of events," Mr. Bennet inquired, knowing full well that he would further incite the situation unfolding in his study; perfectly willing to increase his own amusement, even at the expense of both his daughter and Mr. Darcy.

Not unaware of her father's character, thus knowing full well that he was sporting with her, and amusing himself at her own expense, she told the tale and added her insights as succinctly as possible.

Mr. Darcy, having had quite enough, opened his mouth to add his own arguments, decreeing, in a tone that brooked no argument, "Madam, that is a flight of fancy fit only for a novel. I can assure you…" Only to have been interrupted by the lady herself, declaring, "Indeed, Mr. Darcy, I am but a woman, perhaps if my father confiscated my books, I wouldn't suffer being troubled with thoughts at all."

"Madam, you willfully misunderstand me, I assure you," replied Mr. Darcy, quite coldly.

Straight-faced, Mr. Bennet held up his hand, halting Elizabeth's reply, and turned his attention to his daughter. "Lizzy, are there any alternative conclusions that you can draw, that would also explain Mr. Darcy's insult?," he inquired, knowing that he would have a good chuckle at Mr. Darcy's departure.

Elizabeth, being her father's daughter, now saw her own opportunity for sport. She determined to take this opportunity to vex him further, having felt all of the sting of his last insult, and thus replied, taking the chance to tease him, "Indeed sir, I suppose that Mr. Darcy could wish to attract fortune hunters and social climbers."

This is not to be borne! How was he supposed to hold his tongue, while she was being indulged in every flight of fancy by her father? Indeed, he didn't just indulge her, he encouraged her, thought Darcy. No wonder that she knows not better than to draft a verbal novel, out loud, and at a public function. Mr. Darcy, rarely having to account for himself, let alone to persons virtually unknown to him, somehow managed to hold his tongue (and ignore his own hypocrisy), knowing full well that it would be beyond the pale to dictate affairs in another man's study.

"Pray, tell me," replied Mr. Bennet, "Why would he wish to achieve such a thing?"

"Well, I suppose sir, that there are those in society, who would wish to attract a partner in life that would be inclined to allow a pocketbook to placate any action, or inattention, on their husband's part. I can also suppose, that for some temperaments, there is a certain sense in having a preference for a wife that would not make demands on her husband's behavior. Having both sense and education, I am sure that Mr. Darcy understands the consequence of his behaviors in public, and that likely, only the most mercenary would seek his attention, if he were to continue behaving in such a manner. Thus freeing himself of any concerns he may have of securing a wife who suffered from the inconvenience of self-respect and would seek to apply standards to his manners."

Having had quite enough at this point Darcy interjected, "Madam, I pray you would allow me a better understanding of my own character, and do me the service of allowing me to explain my own actions."

"Very well, Mr. Darcy, I suppose it's your turn," declared Mr. Bennet, thus giving the floor to Mr. Darcy, unable to hide the mirth in his own eyes. Had Mr. Darcy not been indulging his own sensibilities, he would have seen the warning that he was being made sport of, and curbed his own tendency to delcare himself always in the right.

"I can assure both yourself and Miss Bennet that my character suffers from nothing more than a want for being left to my own company in a ballroom. I certainly have not that talent, which other people possess, of conversing easily with new acquaintances, knowing full well their motives. I cannot appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done. I have, from the first, suffered from endless unwanted attention, from even the very day that I entered society. What right does society have to expect but cold civility, when then they seek to cast their own irritations on me? Must a man engage in endless insipid conversations, allow every daughter, niece, and sister to pay their attentions, feigning admiration where there is only indifference, and then answer every call to raised expectations, even if those expectations are only raised by their own imaginations, in order to be considered a gentleman? Must a man be a notorious flirt to be considered agreeable, perhaps even a charming rake is preferable?"

Mr. Bennet, having had suffered enough of Mrs. Bennet's conversation on ribbons, lace, dance partners, and her infamous stories of suitors that were sure to marry his daughters, that he quite began to sympathize with the gentleman.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, lost any and all charity or good humor that she may have been previously willing to extend. "Mr. Darcy, I can not encourage such a selfish disdain for the feelings of others. If I had been of a shyer, more demure temperament, unwilling to take up my own case, can you not fathom the damage you may have caused my ability to engage with society? If I hadn't already been out in society long enough to build my own consequence and earn the respect of my neighbors, can you not imagine how you may have discouraged others from showing me attention? Nay sir, I could have sympathized with you, having been on the receiving end of my mother's machinations quite enough (though not even she would pair one of her daughters with you), but all sympathy was lost, sir, when you declared that merely for your own comfort, that you're quite right to humiliate a young woman for the simple comfort of avoiding a dance."

Darcy's mind immediately flashed to his shy sister, thinking how she would have taken such statements to heart and been quite hurt by such unfeeling words, but quickly turned his attention back to Miss Bennet, when she went on to say, "Furthermore, is it truly too far beneath anyone to have a sincere interest in the concerns and wellbeing of others? Kings have on occasion given peasants such attention, as has my father to his tenants, and I to the poor. Yet you, Mr. Darcy, can claim it beneath himself to be civil in a ballroom, where, however, you may choose to inflate your own consequence, you are, in fact, among your peers, not outranking anyone you sought to show disdain."

Darcy, having accomplished nothing more than giving more offense with his apology than he did with his insult, and not yet feeling the sting of shame, at the truth in her words, thus prepared to take his leave. "I understand you perfectly madam, I can only apologize for taking up so much of your time."

With as shallow a courtesy as she could complete without being uncivil, she nodded her head to accept the apology and turned to depart.

They parted at last, with mutual civility, and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting again. As one could expect from two people happy to celebrate their own frankness of character, they found little enjoyment with the same virtue being turned on themselves, thus they proceeded, deriving the worst interpretation of anything the other said. It would seem that both these two people, so disliking being under the power of another, that they both proceeded to find everything wrong that they could in the other, in order to stifle their confusing attraction.

Mr. Bennet, on the other hand, feeling the indignity of non of it, thought that he had witnessed a comedy of errors fit for a London stage without the inconvenience or expense of travel.

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