Chapter 4

After more than a week of constant talk of lace and the handsome neighbours, the day of the Meryton Assembly finally arrived. All ladies, young and old, were agape; the general emotion was high, and the gathering was loud. Then, at the Netherfield's party rather impressive entrance, and much to Edward's humiliation, all conversation abruptly stopped—taking with it any chance of Hertfordshire's making a good impression. If he had not been so vexed he would have laughed.

Jane, he could tell, had been unaccountably nervous and was having difficulty concentrating in the conversations around her. To all others, even taking into account her distracted demeanour, she must have appeared the most collected person in the room. Barely a hint of pink was present on her cheeks when Bingley came to lead her to the dance.

Free then of his duty to her, Edward approached the rest of Bingley's party and was greeted politely by Darcy, who introduced him to the rest. There was an older gentleman, a Mr. Hurst, who was rendered squat and red-faced by copious amounts of food and drink; and with him two very elegant ladies. One of them was Mrs. Hurst, the other Miss Bingley. Edward could not help noting that the latter lady was very beautiful, and as different from her brother in demeanour as he had predicted. She was dressed considerably better than any other lady in the room and the way her eyes took in her surroundings made it obvious she knew it.

The ladies observed him with initial curiosity but appeared to find him lacking in some respect— income was Edward's guess—quickly enough. He could not be angry by it, he was happy to be left to try to further his acquaintance with the gentlemen, especially Darcy, as Hurst seemed content to be left alone with the wine.

At a loss for a topic, and wary of saying something foolish, Edward initiated the conversation by inquiring after the Netherfield party's recent activity. Had they taken advantage of the good weather, he wondered aloud.

'Indeed we have,' Darcy answered, and then with a slight smile he added, 'Although it is hardly our fault, as there is nothing at all to do but go out. Bingley quite neglects his library.'

Edward had to smile at that critique. 'Myself, I have stayed in all but once. A visit to some tenants was my only good excuse for a lengthy ride. But then, I do not miss any exercise but my morning walk when I am cooped up. I suspect I am very much like my father, to whom a good book is the be all, end all of earthly comforts.'

Darcy raised his brow. 'I would not have thought it. Are you then more attached to the sports of the mind than those of the body?'

'Why, are you that surprised?'

'Only slightly, and that only because that was not what I have come to expect from Bingley's friends.'

'You have expressed such a preference yourself, if I am not mistaken.'

'Yes, I have.'

'And are you not Bingley's friend?'

Darcy smiled at that, however faintly. 'Very well, Bingley's other friends,' he amended.

'Are they all so very silly?'

Darcy looked elsewhere then and did not respond, and for a moment, until he realized Darcy was hiding the widening of his smile, Edward thought he had offended him.

He took courage from this and continued, saying, 'Ah, I see you will not answer. Very well; it would hardly be polite to say anything more. You must allow me to take your silence as a yes.'

He was satisfied with his own management of the conversation, but he did not know quite how to continue. His gaze wandered freely about the company while he racked his brain for a subject. The din that filled the room stifled all easy conversation. Everywhere, couples flirted. Matrons watched with knowing smiles, and, before Edward knew it, the phrase was out of his mouth.

'Your friend is quickly becoming a favourite, or he would be if he had eyes for any lady besides my sister. As it is, the fact that she is from Hertfordshire is compliment enough for the company.'

'He is a favourite wherever he goes.'

'Is that so? Do I detect a note of envy?'

The last phrase drew a sharp look from Darcy, but his voice when he answered was as inscrutable as ever.

'Why should it be? Every temperament has its drawback.'

'But you like Bingley's, or you would not be his friend.' It was more a statement than a question, and Darcy did not say anything in response.

After a little while Edward began again.

'Is it not curious,' Edward asked, 'how we all seem to be attracted to a particular character, even though objective observation would not deem the match so very wise?'

'Not always, I am sure. Although the rules of human attraction indeed may seem mysterious and random at times, and I agree that Bingley and I are somewhat superficially mismatched as friends, it seems to me you and he are not. It could simply be that a character like Bingley's cannot help but attract, regardless of the other party's personality.'

'Not always indeed,' said Edward, deeming it impolite to show more interest into Darcy's character. 'He and my sister seem to like each other, and they are undoubtedly well matched in character. Jane, too, makes only friends wherever she goes.'

Darcy's tone was amused when he said, 'And you have innumerable enemies, do you?'

'You would be surprised,' Edward admitted, and then, because Darcy seemed sincerely taken aback, smiled and added, 'Not many and not precisely enemies. Although I am easy enough in company, I do not care to ingratiate myself to others; I lack Jane's goodness and patience, as I am sure you have noted.'

Miss Bingley, who had by that time wandered to their side, intervened then. With some coldness, she said, 'Young gentlemen find the oddest things about which to boast. You are much too young to have enemies, Mr. Bennet, and much too…' she seemed stumped then and Edward, who had felt himself flush a little when she had begun speaking, supplied with feigned nonchalance the following sequence,

'Handsome? Intelligent? Pleasant? ... No? None of those? Pity…'

She blushed then; silent, as she was in that moment, with surprise in her eyes instead of cold displeasure, Edward had to concede that Miss Bingley painted a surprisingly pretty picture. She seemed both younger and more vulnerable.

They were looking into each other's eyes with what initially was enmity, but soon became something else—what exactly Edward would have been hard pressed to fix upon. Of course, the moment could not last. Miss Bingley broke the enchantment by speaking.

'Why, I never! You must think very highly of yourself!' she huffed before returning to her sister's side.

And with that, Edward was left wondering what she had originally planned to say. He was much too… what? Indeed, he hardly knew his own mind.

A moment later, Darcy's voice broke the silence, startling Edward out of his reverie. 'I can see now that you have yet to learn to distinguish the ladies who will welcome your flirtations from the rest.'

In contrast to his words, he did not look displeased, but rather amused.

'I know perfectly well the distinction,' said Edward, 'but one does not always flirt with the same intention. It would make the world rather boring. I did not expect to be well received just now, but I do not see why that should have stopped me. It proved entertaining for you, did it not?'

Darcy indeed appeared most amused and observed, 'Do you always measure your decisions by how much diversion you will derive from them? She is Bingley's sister. You want to be his friend. It hardly seems productive to provoke her.'

'Is that why you tolerate her company?'

'She is never disagreeable to me,' Darcy pointed out.

'You are definitively correct there,' Edward said under his breath, because then Bingley approached them with Jane on his arm. She looked flushed, and also the happiest Edward had ever seen her.

Jane remained at Edward's side while Bingley took Miss Goulding to the floor, but her eyes followed him, and the smile did not leave her face all the while. Bingley, too, often looked past the other dancers at their corner, and even once had to be reminded of the steps by his patently vexed partner. It was strange; Bingley had proven himself a remarkable dancer just before.

Edward did not know what to say. The previous topic was out of the question and so were the surroundings, as his sister had never shown such inattention in all her life. He knew neither how to call her attention back without embarrassing her, nor what subject he could safely introduce with such dissimilar people as interlocutors. Darcy, his gaze lost somewhere between the room's walls and the window opposite them, did not seem inclined to help him.

Instead, it was Jane who saved him.

'Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley tells me you have a younger sister,' Jane said, only a slight blush giving away her discomfiture.

'Yes, she is not yet out.'

'Ah.'

Mr. Darcy appeared to regret the curt tone almost immediately and continued in a more pleasant one, 'She is staying in London, at the moment, with Mrs. Annesley, her companion.'

'You must miss her,' said Jane.

Darcy smiled and acquiesced, 'I do miss her, though we write frequently and profusely.'

'I cannot imagine being separated from Edward for such a length of time.'

'Oh, Jane.' Edward felt the compliment keenly but nevertheless could not help teasing her. 'That is what you say now, but you forget how you felt just yesterday. I am sure there are moments during which you could not wish me far enough.'

'Indeed, there are no such moments; even when you are your most teasing unsupportable self, you must resign yourself to have your sister by your side.'

Edward could see Darcy watching them with interest, but he remained silent, so Edward decided to take advantage of the lull in the conversation to excuse himself, as he had yet to take anyone to the floor.

He could already envision the tongue wagging he would unleash if he acted differently than it was his wont; if the matrons had missed his encounter with Miss Bingley, they were surely not missing the cold glances she sent his way now.

Edward had always enjoyed dancing immensely, ever since his sister had taught him when they were younger, and she, too, had delighted on it. But tonight, something was different. Although she performed flawlessly, Jane seemed to lack her usual spirit. Edward could not help asking when they found themselves by one of the refreshment tables again.

'Jane, what is the matter? You seem distracted. I hope my teasing has not made you uncomfortable with the gentlemen. I will perfectly understand if you are not interested in either of them.'

He could see her blush and she followed with her eyes the movement of the figures on the dance floor to stall her answer, taking the time to compose herself. When she finally spoke, it was of another subject altogether and in a tone that was both light and playful.

'I have yet to speak with Mr. Bingley's sisters, but he has said he will introduce me later on. They are very elegant women, are they not? Miss Bingley especially, is your age, and yet there is such an air of gentility and confidence about her; and she is such a beauty.'

Edward refused to answer the obvious raillery. A pressure on his arm made him turn to her again.

'Forgive me, I forget, brother dear, that I am not allowed to tease you.' She smiled, her twinkling eyes crinkling at the corners.

Edward had to suddenly bite his lip to avoid laughing. 'Indeed, though my father would have trouble recognizing you as one of his children if you would not.'

Then Bingley appeared at his elbow, immediately asking their leave to introduce Jane to his sisters, who were, apparently, 'very anxious to meet her.' When Jane accepted, he guided them to the ladies.

To Edward it was obvious that they were anything but anxious to make the acquaintance, their eyes more assessing than friendly when perusing Jane's person. Hence he could not be more surprised at Miss Bingley's amiable tone, when she spoke thusly—

'Miss Bennet! I am delighted to make your acquaintance; my brother has spoken so much of you!'

Jane could only blush and express similar feelings. The conversation continued on this vein for a while, all praise from one party to the other, and though Edward was looking for it, he could not now detect any falseness in the elegant lady's manner.

The conversation soon bored Edward, especially since Miss Bingley appeared to be pointedly ignoring him. That lady addressed Jane with an exclusivity that disarmed all attempts on Jane's part to include him in their exchange.

Finally, he thought it best for his sister's sake if he went away. The necessity of making up his previous neglect to the Lucas party was as good an excuse as any, and even gave him the chance of dancing, which he did, with both Charlotte and Maria. Darcy seemed to follow his example and asked, not only a set of each of the ladies of his party, but one of Jane, as well.

Bingley, impeded by politeness from asking Jane again so soon, was quickly the favourite of matrons and young ladies alike. He did not sit out even one dance, and Edward, whose amusement was complete at the fulfilment of his own prediction, could barely talk to him for a moment between the two fifth and the two sixth.

'You are determined to please everybody, Bingley.'

'Indeed, why should I not? I have never seen more lively people, more pleasant music or more beautiful ladies in my life!'

'And the feeling is returned, I assure you; all of Meryton could not love you more, except perhaps if you would marry one of its girls before midnight.'

Bingley laughed then, and said, 'I do not know what Darcy has been telling you about my character, but I am not as rash as all that.'

'Then if I were you I would take care of the wine I am drinking; the matrons look positively feral.'

Darcy was standing a few feet away from them sporting a sour expression, and Bingley, winking at Edward and motioning in his direction, said, 'Oh, I am not afraid of them, or of marriage. I will know when the time for that is come. Besides, I know perfectly well the difference between looking to please everybody for a night and looking for someone to please for all nights to come.'

'Why, Darcy does not?'

'He refuses to give consequence to anyone unnecessarily, and that includes unknown young ladies in a dance. He prefers to be bored to tears than to do it.'

'Perhaps dancing does not give him pleasure, and so it is not a sacrifice.'

'I am sure you are right, but why does it not give him pleasure? It is because he sees it as an obligation to be met rather than an amusement.'

'Or perhaps he is afraid of the matrons.'

'Darcy, afraid?'

'Far greater men have run in terror,' answered Edward with a snort.

'Perhaps you are right. I have never met anyone so determined to deny his family the pleasure of his settling down.'

And he was gone again into the set.

So good was his humour that Edward even considered for a moment asking Miss Bingley for a set in an attempt to make peace with her, but that course seemed unwise, as the lady in question had not stopped looking daggers at him all night.

Even in the midst of such a gathering, it seemed to Edward that the fact that they did not direct words to each other was obvious to anyone who cared to look, and he was sure Jane would.

She would question his incivility later, with her customary gentleness, showing at most a faint disappointment in his behaviour, but provoking nonetheless the stirrings of his conscience. Even though he still could not see how he might act to resolve the situation before it was too late, he was sure to see it later. It did not help in the least that Miss Bingley was unfailingly polite and even very kind to Jane, and the perfect lady with everyone else.

Before the end of the evening, Jane had been asked a second time by Bingley, a circumstance which was probably the reason for the silly smile she sported all the way back to Longbourn. It took all of Edward's self-control to refrain from teasing her so as not to risk upsetting the delicate balance achieved earlier.

It probably helped that he was in excellent spirits too, as Darcy had at the last moment sought him out.

Hurriedly, and in an oddly formal tone, Darcy had said, 'I seem to have been remiss in answering an invitation. If it is still open, when do you think it would be a good time for a picnic?'

'Well, the weather has been unseasonably warm, but I do not think it will last. Midday tomorrow or the next day, not much later. Do you have your fishing gear with you in Hertfordshire? I cannot imagine Bingley has rods enough for even one person if he so dislikes the sport.'

'I do not have it, no.'

'Well, then, I believe I have enough for the three of us. I hope you will not mind the length of my rods; I fear I favour Mackintosh's style for trout fishing,' added Edward with a twinkle in his eyes, as he remembered Darcy's indifference to pistol makers. He wondered if Darcy was one of those men who could not care less about the technical aspects of the sports, or if he could be drawn into a discussion if the sport was one he favoured.

'I'm sure they will do.'

'They will do! They are excellent, I assure you.'

Darcy seemed unimpressed. 'Bingley, you, your sister and me, then?'

'I think you seem to be forgetting part of your party,' said Edward with a smile.

'Yes, of course…' Darcy seemed a trifle flustered for his mistake. 'Although I doubt the Hursts and Miss Bingley would find it pleasant.'

'Nonetheless, it would be remiss of us to not to invite them. But barring that, yes, tomorrow…?'

'Yes, tomorrow. I will ask the rest of my party, of course, though I doubt they will appreciate the exertion on the morn after an assembly.'

Edward nodded, and Darcy took his leave without further delay.