Chapter 15
Jane
When they had spoken of Mr. Darcy last night and she had told Lizzy her thoughts, she had not expected that Mr. Darcy would come to call on them the next day. Clearly, she had been more than a little correct with her assumptions. When Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy had arrived she and her aunt had tried to subtly let Lizzy talk with Mr. Darcy alone. She had tried to overhear their conversation, but had not wanted to be rude to Miss Darcy so she had not managed to listen to what they were talking about. Her aunt Gardiner was also very curious it seemed because the moment that the front door closed she started to interrogate her.
"So Lizzy, how was your talk with Mr. Darcy?" Lizzy thought about it for a minute before responding.
"It was illuminating." This did not satisfy Jane, and it obviously did not satisfy her aunt either as she kept pushing.
"Come on my dear, you can tell us more than that. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley came to Gracechurch Street, near Cheapside, the day after he was surprised to see us all in his house, and all you can say is illuminating. You can do a bit better than that Lizzy."
"The truth is, that his presence also took me completely by surprise. I don't know how much Jane told you about our conversation last night."
"Only the broad strokes, that you might have misjudged Mr. Darcy, but that Jane believes it is much more than that. And after this, I am inclined to agree with her."
"Me too, as much as it surprises me. Mr. Darcy said felt guilty for leaving so soon yesterday, he also said that he thought we were a positive influence on his sister. He also wanted to know how our family was doing after the loss of our mother, he was so kind and gentle about it I felt compelled to hint that changes had been made after her passing. I mentioned Mrs. Taylor, and that led to the revelation of what had been done with our younger sisters. Mr. Darcy seemed pleased and somehow that pleased me. I'm just feeling a bit confused. I always thought I was a good judge of character, but Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy have proven me wrong."
"Oh Lizzy, do not be too harsh on yourself. It is true, your judgment has failed a few times lately, but you have also been able to admit your mistakes, and you are trying to figure out the truth. Also, my dear, I do not wish to hurt you or your sister, but you have both been very sheltered until lately. Your fathers dislike of town has kept you mostly on Herdforshire, were the people and the socialization is limited. You have known your neighbors all your lives, and they are all mostly of the same social status as you. It is also simple to figure out people in books after you have read them and discovered the clues. But people in real life are harder to read and many times you can miss the cues completely, or are to personally involved to be able to see them objectively. Think of this as a lesson, not everything is what it seems, people are more complicated."
"They are indeed aunt, thank you. I won't jump to conclusions or harsh judgments from now own."
"The question now is Lizzy, what do you think of Mr. Darcy?"
"The truth is, that I am not certain myself. It is like discovering a new Mr. Darcy. If Jane is right, and we keep seeing more of him, I will be interested in getting to know him better, and then I'll see what I think."
"It seems like a very sensible thing to do."
Jane truly admired her aunt's sense and intelligence. She had always been very grateful to her and her uncle for their presence in their lives, but she was truly learning to admire them even more. She wished that they had come to London with this purpose years ago, that their father would have entrusted them to lead them during a London season. But was done was done. Now she was going to get ready for dinner, the closer it got, the more anxious she became. But she was not alone, she would have her aunt and uncle's backing and her dear sisters as well.
She had talked to her aunt about the seating arrangement. This was not going to be an overly formal dinner, and there were only going to be five of them so they were going to break some of the rules. Normally her aunt would sit and the head of the table and her uncle at the foot. The gentlemen of honor would sit to the right of the hostess and the Lady of Honor at the right of the Host. The gentlemen being Mr. Harrington and Jane as the eldest would be the Lady of Honor leaving Lizzy to choose where she wanted to be seated. But that seating would mean that Jane and Mr. Harrington would not be seated close to each other, and that would make conversation difficult. So it was agreed they would eat a bit more informally. Her uncle would sit at the foot of the table with her aunt on his left and Mr. Harrington on his right, leaving Jane to sit next to Mr. Harrington and Lizzy next to her aunt, right in front of Jane. She could then talk with him while having the full support of her family if something did not go well.
Jane dressed carefully for dinner, in a soft pink dress with light blue details and instructed her maid how to do her hair. She wanted to look beautiful and elegant but not overdone, like she had put an effort in her looks, but not too much. She adorned herself with just a simple delicate necklace that her aunt lent her. It was simple but made of gold and clearly expensive. She looked at the mirror and was pleased with the result. Then she went down to wait.
She didn't have to wait long before his arrival. He arrived early, dressed as fine and as elegant as he had in the opera, in dark brown. It suited his dark hair and eyes very well. Somehow Jane had started to believe that he could not be as handsome as she had imagined, that part of it was her mind just fantasizing. But seeing him again in person she realized that she had not imagined anything, he was just as stunningly handsome as she remembered. All that calm that she had managed to summon disappeared and her stomach started to fill with butterflies.
Thankfully, her aunt was unaffected, but saw that Jane might need a little time to get her bearings and got them all through the greetings and through some small talk until dinner was announced. As the hostess, she lead Mr. Harrington to the dining room. She and her uncle followed behind with Lizzy. She listened intently to the conversation happening before her.
"Mr. Harrington, I hope you do not mind overly much, but since it is only the five of us we decided not to be overly formal."
"While I appreciate manners and rules, I also appreciate that there are moments to bend or break them."
"I am glad you feel that way. We just thought that it would be easier to converse if we all sat on one side of the table, instead of having to spread about the table."
"That seems like a fabulous idea to me."
"Wonderful then, Mr. Gardiner you will sit at the foot of the table then. Mr. Harrington, you will sit on Mr. Gardiners right and Jane will sit on your right. And I will sit on his left with Lizzy on my left." They all took their seats as the footmen started to bring in the first course of soup and fish. Jane decided she had been silent long enough.
"I do hope you enjoy dinner, my aunt has been working very hard in anticipation to your visit." He smiled at her.
"I have barely started but I can say that I am already enjoying it immensely. Everything smell divine anyhow, so I am sure I will enjoy the food as well."
"If you haven't tried anything, how can you say you are enjoying it?"
"I meant the company Miss Bennet. I am very glad to be here." That made her blush a bit and she could see Lizzy hiding a smile as she talked with her aunt an uncle. But she could tell they were all trying to listening discreetly.
"Do you often invite people you've just met to watch the opera with you in your private box?" She decided to try to be bolder.
"First time actually. I thought, anyone that can incur such a wrath from Miss Bingley, must be someone I would like to get to know better." That made Jane laugh. She tried to hide it modestly behind her hand but she could not stop it. She could see that Lizzy was having difficulty trying to contain herself as well.
"You mentioned that you were familiar with her but from your comment, it seems that you are more than just familiar with her."
"I have friends from various walks of life. Miss Bingley only tries to befriend people that will help her climb higher. Through my brother, I became friends with a Navy Captain who had retired after a battle had left lame. He had earned some decent prize money to live on and given his sister half of the money as a dowry so that she could marry well.10,000 pounds is not a bad dowry, but it was inferior to what Miss Bingley thought acceptable of a woman of superior worth."
"Oh dear." Jane could tell where this was going to go.
"The fact that her brother was only a retired Navy Captain did not help. She wanted to do a London season to find a husband and I facilitated introductions. As we have some similar acquaintances Miss Bingley and my friends met. And she took an instant dislike of them. She was condescending of them, she was underhanded and made their lives very unpleasant when they met at balls or public places."
"Did your friends sister eventually find a husband?"
"Yes. She eventually managed to find a very good match for herself and is very happy, but I have not forgotten and I greatly dislike such attitude."
"As much as I would like to say it surprises me to hear, it really does not. I used to believe she was my friend when we were in Hertfordshire, but the moment she was free to leave she revealed her true colors. Lizzy was able to see what kind of a person she was from the beginning. I was to blind then, wanting to see only the best in people. I learned to be more cautious." She could see the compassion in his eyes, he clearly realized that something painful had caused the awakening, but he didn't ask or press on.
"Either way, you will find out Miss Bingley is quite well known in certain circles." He said it with a twinkle in his eye. That drew Lizzy's attention and she could not help herself before she asked.
"Truly? In what way?" The conversation now taking over the entire table.
"Let just say that her relentless pursuit to lift her social status has not gone unnoticed, neither has a certain gentleman's efforts in evading her." Before her mother's death, she would have felt great pity for Miss Bingley, and while she was not so cruel now as to rejoice in what she heard, she did feel a bit of amusement. Although Jane felt it was a bit of a waste. The fact that Mr. Darcy had no intention of marrying Miss Bingley had been obvious during their short stay in Netherfield, how Miss Bingley would not see it baffled Jane. But Lizzy did not seem to suffer any sympathy for Miss Bingley, she wasn't even trying to hide her smirk and satisfaction about that piece of information.
"Well, good luck for the gentleman, may he keep evading with success." Lizzy said in an amused tone.
Her aunt then changed the subject to balls and parties that would be going on during their stay in London. She was very discreetly fishing for information, while seemingly just pretending interest. But Mr. Harrington was a clever man that could see what her aunt was getting at.
"If you are interested I could reach out to some of my acquaintances. I normally do not go to many balls but I am invited to many. The next one I have been invited to is the Matlock ball. I can ask the hostess if you can come with me as guests. It would normally be hard to achieve, especially with such little time, but Lady Matlock, the hostess, is Mr. Darcy's aunt. I will talk to him and see if he can help me achieve it." Jane's stomach butterflies multiplied and started spinning out of control. For them to go with him would send such a strong message. It would say that they were more than acquaintances, they were close friends. "I can also reach out to friends who will be hosting parties and introduce you."
"We would be so grateful Mr. Harrington, it would be a delight." Those words coming from her mother would have sounded, vulgar and an attempt to flatter him. But her aunt made them sound completely different, she sounded like a grateful woman with good manners.
Dinner had ended and it was decided that with a party so small there was no need for the separation of the sexes, and they all removed themselves to the drawing room. While Jane, Lizzy and her aunt brewed the tea and coffee, her uncle and Mr. Harrington started talking about business. Jane did not understand what they were talking about, but her uncle was truly enjoying himself. Mr. Harrington had to be a very informed man to get that reaction out of her uncle. When they served the tea and coffee she sat by him again.
"Well, now that the dinner is over you can now properly judge whether the dinner was good or not." His smiled at her comment, and his smile sent a shiver down her spine. It was the same feeling she had felt at the opera when he whispered in her ear.
"Indeed, and it was excellent, on all accounts." His pointed gaze made her blush. She had enjoyed his presence, was still enjoying it. More than she had enjoyed anyone elses. She had not wanted to get her hopes up yet, but it was hard, he affected her in ways she didn't expect, and he was not disguising his interest in her.
When he left, he left with promises to talk to Lady Matlock and other introductions, and promises that he would call on them soon. Despite her previous disappointments with men, she believed him, and could not wait to see him again.