Chapter 6
Dinner that first evening was a trying affair for Darcy. As soon as Miss Elizabeth entered the room, she was ushered by Miss Bingley to the seat farthest from him. Conversation at first focused on her elder sister and the Bingley's concern for her health. It did not take long though before Miss Bingley tired of the topic of her ill friend and turned her focus onto Darcy. Unable to escape her attentions, Darcy let his frustration at being unable to converse with Miss Elizabeth steadily grow.
As soon as the final course was finished, Miss Elizabeth excused herself to once again attend her sister. Not sharing the same concern for her ailing guest, Miss Bingley failed to understand Elizabeth's haste, and began to abuse her as soon as the door behind her shut.
"I must say, what poor manners Miss Elizabeth has; such a mixture of pride and impertinence. She has absolutely no conversation, no style, no taste, and no beauty."
"She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker," Mrs. Hurst said in agreement. "I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild."
"She did indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the county, because her sister has a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy?"
"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office."
"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice."
"You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition."
"Certainly not," Mr. Darcy replied. Turning to hide his smile he tried to picture Georgiana covered in mud. She was such a proper young lady that the thought was humorous. Indeed, he would not wish to see her in such a state; but she was not an elf who had lived hundreds of lives.
Miss Bingley, having caught sight of Mr. Darcy's smile before he turned, understood it to mean that he was enjoying hearing of Miss Elizabeth's many faults so continued her tirade. "To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most county-town indifference to decorum."
"It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said Bingley to which Darcy silently agreed. In all their lives, she had never been one for following proper decorum in such matters as these, and he would not have it any other way. It was one of the first of her many self-perceived character flaws that he had fallen in love with.
"I am afraid, Mr. Darcy," observed Miss Bingley, in a half whisper, "that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes."
"Not at all," he replied; "they were brightened by the exercise." Indeed, they had been so bright and green that for a moment that morning he thought that perhaps she might have remembered him.
After a short pause, Mrs. Hurst was eager to begin again. "I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it."
"I think I have heard you say, that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton." Miss Bingley said, favoring her elder sister with a grateful smile.
"Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside."
"That is capital," added her sister as they both laughed heartily.
"If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside," cried Bingley, "it would not make them one jot less agreeable."
"But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world," replied Darcy. Although Bingley had no reply to this speech, his sisters delighted in it very much and continued their amusement at their friend's expense. Darcy, however, could only think about Miss Elizabeth and the truth of his statement. If he could only succeed this time and end the curse, then he had just lied; for his marriage to Miss Elizabeth would indeed raise her family's standing. If, however, they once again failed and they both died, then who could say what would happen. If only Bingley had more of a backbone and truly loved Miss Bennet he mused.
Before long, the ladies repaired to Miss Bennet's room much to the gentlemen's relief, and remained until coffee was served. Much to Darcy's disappointment, Miss Elizabeth did not return with them claiming that her sister was too ill to be left alone while still awake.
The whole party was immersed in a game of loo when Miss Elizabeth finally rejoined the household. She was immediately asked if she would care to join them, but declined and instead selected a book from a nearby table.
"Do you prefer reading to cards?" Mr. Hurst asked with astonishment and a tinge of disgust. "That is rather singular."
"Miss Eliza Bennet despises cards. She is a great reader and has no pleasure in anything else." Miss Bingley smirked.
"I deserve neither such praise nor such censure," cried Elizabeth; "I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things."
"In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley; "and I hope it will soon be increased by seeing her quite well. In the meantime, I pray you feel free to help yourself to any of my books. I only wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever look into."
"Indeed, sir, I thank you," she replied with a soft smile; "Let me only assure you that I shall be quite content with what I have found here."
"I am astonished," said Miss Bingley, "that my father should have left so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!"
"It ought to be good," he replied, "it has been the work of many generations."
"And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying books."
"I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these." Knowing that Miss Bingley was willing to discuss any subject she deemed herself superior in to exclude Miss Elizabeth from the conversation, he turned to the latter before Miss Bingley could continue her unsolicited praise of him. "If I may be so bold as to inquire, Miss Elizabeth, what book is it that you have selected for your enjoyment this evening?"
He watched as her eyebrows shot up in surprise at having been directly addressed by him. He knew then that he needed to apologize for his words at the assembly as soon as may be.
"Certainly sir," she replied, eyeing him warily. "It is one of my favorites, 'Romeo and Juliet'"
"You cannot be serious!" he said letting disbelief and disdain color his voice as the entire party looked upon him in astonishment. Realizing his mistake he hastily added, "Pray forgive me Miss Bennet for my outburst. I was simply astonished to hear you confess to enjoying a tragedy. It was not what I would have imagined you to enjoy." Uncomfortable with the eyes of all the rooms' occupants upon him, he began to fidget in his seat and struggled to maintain eye contact with Miss Elizabeth.
Darcy watched as Miss Elizabeth began to speak only to quickly close her mouth and swallow the harsh retort he was sure she desired to give. Instead she looked down into her lap as though her composure relied upon the sight. "And may I ask, sir, why you find this discovery of my character so surprising. We have hardly spoken after all, and I am quite sure the topic of books has never been raised between us before."
Forcing back a snort, Darcy willed her to once again meet his eyes, thinking of the many conversations regarding books they had had over the years. Although she had in the past enjoyed many a tragedy, she had always religiously avoided 'Romeo and Juliet'; it was a story she abhorred above all others. To hear her proclaim it a favorite, he could not believe. Doubt regarding her identity began to resurface, but he quickly pushed it back down just as he gave up hope of her looking up from her lap.
"While it may be true, Miss Bennet, that we have not been acquainted long nor have had such a discussion as you suggest, I believe I may safely say that I am sure of my opinion. I highly doubt that one who seems to be as cheerful as often as you seem to be cannot seriously entertain preferences of such a dismal nature."
Shocked by his reply, she looked back up at him. "There you would be wrong, Mr. Darcy. While I do enjoy a cheerful disposition, what you imply is that I do not believe in the power of love."
"I said nothing of the kind, madam."
"Oh? But indeed you did. This tragic story is one of Shakespeare's most popular for such a reason, sir and has been en vogue for several generations I understand. Is it not the idea of their true love for each other that has all the fashionable ladies of the ton swooning at the mere mention of the work? Ask any lady in town who she believed has most accurately portrayed the ideal of true love and I can guarantee most if not all would say Romeo and Juliet."
Ignoring Miss Bingley's and Mrs. Hurst's objections to her insinuations, Darcy narrowed his eyes in challenge and said, "I would not stoop to call such a love between two children as true. They had known each other for a mere three days before they secretly wed then killed themselves."
"Are you saying that you would not willingly sacrifice yourself for one you love, Mr. Darcy?"
Darcy recoiled as her words hit him, almost dropping his cards upon the floor. Putting his hand down on the table so as not to lose it, he turned further in his chair towards her, willing to keep the pain from his expression. "I would do anything necessary to protect those I love, even if it meant sacrificing my own life. There will always be honor in that. I cannot find honor, however, in giving up hope ignorantly as they had done and calling that love. Their actions were nothing more than pure desperation born from what could have easily been a passing folly. Is it not human nature to want most what we have been told we cannot have? Such is the case with your favorite couple, Miss Bennet."
"Who is to say that a love as strong as theirs is not possible to find in such a short time? Not to mention that even at such a young age they were willing to take the necessary steps to declare their love eternal through marriage."
"Certainly, if you desire a hasty marriage done in secret," Darcy huffed.
"You believe they did wrong?"
"I do. If what they felt was indeed true affection and love for each other, they would not have let anything stand in their way. They would have proudly shared their connection for all to see and been willing to face the consequences together. I would call them no less than ignorant cowards; for secrets can never end in happiness."
"And this you must speak from experience to have such a firm opinion of it," she replied.
"Indeed I am well aware of what damage such secrets can create," Darcy sighed in defeat finally looking away from her smug smile. It was, after all, a like secret that had led to their being cursed.
Even without her memories, Darcy was at a loss to understand how she had taken such a liking to the play. He well remembered the day one of The Lord Chamberlain's Men had taken ill before a performance and he had been required to fill the role of Juliet. At the time, the play was only a few months old and had become quite a favorite. As an aspiring young actor who had worked for the company as a stagehand for well over a year, he had been overjoyed to take over the role, if even for a single night. He had been in the middle of the beloved balcony scene when he caught sight of a pair of green eyes filled with tears staring at him from the audience in horror. He was still unsure all these years later, how he managed to finish the scene, let alone the rest of the play, amidst the onslaught of his returning memories.
After the performance was completed, he quickly sought Iliana out of the crowd and begged her on bended knees for her forgiveness in his participating in the play. It had not taken him long to realize that the stories from which Shakespeare had based his play off of were loosely based off of their own tragic story. Though the only similarities between Romeo and Juliet and themselves were differing houses, or in their own case races, and their deaths, it was enough of a similarity to occasion great pain.
The following day he had quit the company only to discover that his beloved was wanted for a crime she had committed before her own memories had returned. After suffering through her public hanging, he had gone and thrown himself before a carriage, his last thoughts being of his jealousy for Romeo's simple life and having thrown it all away.
"Darcy! I say man, are you still with us?" Bingley asked concern in his voice.
"Pardon me, Bingley, I seem to have been woolgathering." Darcy said, shaking his head to rid it of the painful memory.
"That does seem to be a recent habit of yours, Darcy. But I must say it is not to me to whom you must apologize."
Darcy quickly looked back towards Miss Elizabeth and saw much amusement in her eyes as she attempted to hide her smile. Gritting his teeth he forced himself to voice an apology to the lady and inquired as to what she had last said which in turn only increased her amusement.
"That is quite alright, Mr. Darcy," she said. "I do not believe we could agree on the subject, so I suggest we lay it to rest."
With those words, she again turned to her book while the rest of the party returned to their game. Darcy, however, was not able to concentrate on the game as his mind kept wandering to the puzzle Miss Elizabeth presented him. He was certain she was indeed Iliana, but could not help but wonder why things were so different this time around. Never before had it taken him so long to find her, and never before had he not instantly recognized her. To top it all off, she seemed different than before. So lost was he in his thoughts, he played several rounds very poorly and failed to notice Miss Elizabeth's approach to the table.
Miss Bingley rightfully understood the unpleasant conversation with Miss Elizabeth to have been the culprit for his poor performance and wished to put the man at ease. "How does your sister get along, Mr. Darcy?" she asked.
Surprised Darcy looked up and replied, "very well, I thank you Miss Bingley."
"Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring? Will she be as tall as I am?"
"I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height, or rather taller."
Sharing an annoyed look with her elder sister across the table, she sought once more to exclude Miss Elizabeth from possibly joining the conversation. She wanted to alleviate Mr. Darcy's discomfort, not aggravate it. "How I long to see her again!" she simpered. "I never met anybody who delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such manner, and so extremely accomplished for her age! Her performance on the piano-forte is exquisite."
Barely managing to keep from letting out a harsh laugh, Darcy considered that Miss Bingley had just credited Georgiana with everything she had accused Miss Elizabeth lacking of only earlier that morning. Unable to think of a kind reply, he was grateful that Bingley decided to join the discussion.
"It is amazing to me," said Bingley, "how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished as they all are."
"All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?" Miss Bingley demanded.
"Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished."
"Your list of the common extent of accomplishments has too much truth," Darcy said. Although he knew he should not indulge himself, he wished to once again draw Miss Elizabeth into the discussion hoping for a new insight into her character that might help him understand her better. He also could not deny himself the opportunity to bring Miss Bingley's ego down a notch or two. He continued, "the word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse, or covering a screen. But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished."
"Nor I, I am sure," said Miss Bingley eager to agree with anything he said.
"Then," observed Miss Elizabeth, "you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman."
Pleased with his success thus far he replied, "Yes; I do comprehend a great deal in it."
"Oh! Certainly," cried his annoyingly faithful assistant, "no one can be really esteemed accomplished, who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved."
Chuckling to himself, Darcy knew that while Miss Bingley might be correct in the fact that Miss Elizabeth might not fit the list of required accomplishments, Iliana did, as well as surpass it. To this thought he added aloud, "All this she must possess, and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."
"I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any." Miss Elizabeth said knowing full well that Darcy had only added the last as a slight to Miss Bingley.
"Are you so severe upon your own sex, as to doubt the possibility of all this?" he asked.
"I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe, united."
Ignoring once again the many objections of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst to her implied doubt, Darcy leaned back comfortably in his chair, looking forward to the day when her memories returned and he could remind her that she did not believe a woman such as herself could truly exist.
Shortly afterwards, Mr. Hurst drew their attention back to the game having grown tired of the inane conversations of the evening. It was then that Miss Elizabeth retired again to her sister's room only to briefly appear once more to inform her hosts of her sister's worsened condition. Proper concern was shown by all as assurances that Mr. Jones the apothecary would be called for in the morning.
Refusing to give heed to Miss Bingley's continued insults, Darcy considered sneaking into Miss Bennet's room that evening to heal her thus relieving Miss Elizabeth of her worry. To do that, however, would lead to the ladies' vacating Netherfield sooner than he wanted. Instead he settled into his own bed that night, determined to wait. If indeed Miss Bennet's health continued to worsen, he would help; if not, he would let nature take its course thus offering him more time to attempt to restore Miss Elizabeth's memories.
AN: Just to clarify, although "Romeo and Juliet" is far from being a favorite of mine, I do not hate it. I do, however, tend to view the play from Darcy's point of view. I actually based this off of an hour long discussion I had in my Advanced English class my freshman year of High School over 10 years ago. Our class was equally divided between those who viewed it at the most romantic of stories, and those of us who see it as nothing more than a tragedy of two young teens passing folly. If I had to choose the ultimate couple who to me most accurately portrayed my ideal of true love (Besides Darcy and Elizabeth of course), I would have to choose Benedick and Beatrice from Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" which consequently is my favorite work of his. They had known each other for years, including each others faults, and were willing to overcome everything to be together, with a little help from their friends. To me, "Romeo and Juliet" is over romanticized, and though I admire it as a classic work, I tend to avoid it. However, it just happened to fit perfectly into my story here so I just had to use it. With that in mind, I would love to hear your own thoughts about the young tragic couple. I simply added this AN so as to avoid any hating for "bashing" a classic.
I also want to thank each and every one of you for your support thus far. I am amazed at the incredible and kind reviews I have received as well as all the followers and favorites. I hope you continue to enjoy! Much love to you all, Allahteeah!
