Elizabeth nearly laughed the next day during services, for the sermon was about the sin of pridefulness. She glanced several times at Darcy throughout the service, but he stared straight ahead most of the time. Jane could not help but notice her sister's distraction and the direction of her gaze. She could not determine if the gaze was of admiration or censure, for it seemed that Elizabeth felt both in equal measure for Mr. Darcy.
Upon returning to Brawnstead, Elizabeth was surprised to learn that the day went on much like the others. At Longbourn and while visiting their relations, Sundays were spent in quiet reflection, as hymns were sung, sermons were read, and cards and bets were strictly prohibited. Elizabeth declined to play when the others brought out the cards, but said nothing to censure those who did. Instead, she sat embroidering with her sister and Miss Darcy while Mr. Collins read aloud to them from a sermon detailing the lives of Ruth and Naomi and those women's many fine qualities. Afterward, they ambled through the garden not talking loudly or making very merry, letting the sound of creation provide them with serenity.
Mr. and Mrs. Collins were required to depart the house party on the next day, for Mr. Collins had an unavoidable meeting to attend. It was still the day before Lord Melbridge's actual birthday, but they could not delay. They thanked their hosts for their hospitality, wishing Lord Melbridge many more happy years of life. Jane once again offered that Elizabeth might return with them to London, for they certainly could make up some sort of excuse for her returning with them, but she did not wish to go. She liked the Melbridges far too much to allow Mr. Darcy to send her running back to Hertfordshire.
The rest of the morning was quite uneventful, with walks in the gardens, pall mall and cards occupying the chief of the day. Elizabeth wished she could have said the same for dinner, but alas, she was once again seated by Mr. Darcy. He was extremely courteous to her, since he had deduced from her manner that he had transgressed, but not how. He wondered if whatever servant overheard him and his cousin had spoken to Miss Bennet of what they heard. He sincerely hoped not. While he meant what he said, it was not something he would say in front of the lady.
Darcy, unable to apologise without knowing what he had done wrong, asked Elizabeth if he had offended her. She claimed nothing was the matter, and she was not offended, but Darcy knew it to be a lie. Her eyes did not light up when she smiled and laughed any longer. Even before they had become friends, before he had apologised for the slight at the assembly, she was never so cool towards him. Yet, if she would not admit her grievance with him, he could not apologise.
"Miss Bennet," Lady Shillingford greeted Elizabeth. Lord Melbridge's party was underway, and Elizabeth was sitting alone, watching the dancers.
"Good evening, Lady Shillingford." Elizabeth rose and curtsied to her ladyship.
"Did I hear you refuse to dance with Mr. Darcy just now?"
"I am tired, my lady. I must have spent too much time out of doors."
"You are truly willing to give up dancing all evening just because you are cross with Mr. Darcy? More than that, you reject his hand for a dance, when he might have been attempting to make amends for whatever he has done?" asked Lady Shillingford, ignoring Elizabeth's previous answer.
"I do not wish to speak of this, if you do not mind, your ladyship. Particularly not here."
"Very well. Come with me elsewhere." Lady Shillingford rose, took Elizabeth by the arm and led her out of the ballroom, up a flight of stairs, and into a small library in the family wing of the house.
"We shall speak here. We will not be overheard." Lady Shillingford sat down on a chaise and looked expectantly at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth sighed and agreed, sinking into a very comfortable leather armchair. She told Lady Shillingford all that she had overheard and even all that had happened in Hertfordshire. Lady Shillingford did not interrupt, letting Elizabeth rant and cry about Mr. Darcy for nearly a half hour.
"Well, my dear," Lady Shillingford said when Elizabeth had finished speaking, "it appears that you have fallen in love with a very foolish and proud man."
This startled Elizabeth and she denied her ladyship's claim with fervour. Lady Shillingford would not hear her, however.
"I do not have a solution for you, but I do think you love him. I do not think otherwise you would be so unable to treat him with indifference. Everyone can see you are cross with Darcy."
"I thought I was hiding my displeasure well," said Elizabeth. "What can I do?"
"Indeed not!" said Lady Shillingford. "And as to what you should do now, I cannot tell you. I will assist you and him to make peace in any way I can. Yet, I do not know if his opinion of your family can be overcome. Tell me, how much of what he says is true?"
Elizabeth sighed and spoke of her family to Lady Shillingford, particularly the members of her family that caused Darcy such pause.
"Well, his aunt is much worse than that!" exclaimed her ladyship when Elizabeth told her of her mother and her matchmaking ways. "His aunt, Lady Catherine, has been telling people that Darcy is betrothed to her daughter for years — since his father died, I think. It isn't true, but she supposes that Darcy will believe himself honour-bound to his cousin. If his aunt did not have a title, she would be considered ten times more vulgar than your mother."
Having not met Lady Catherine, Elizabeth could not say whether or not this was true, but it made her feel slightly better. She told Lady Shillingford also of her younger sisters, who her ladyship proclaimed needed only a sensible governess to take them in hand.
"But even if his objections are overcome, what of my objections?" asked Elizabeth. "Regardless of how I feel towards him, I cannot marry a man who would say such things about my family."
To this, Lady Shillingford could not give an answer, for she did not yet know how to overcome Elizabeth's objections or to make Darcy see the error of his ways. The two ladies went back to the party and found they had hardly been missed. Only Mr. Darcy had noticed that they had left, for he was ever conscious of Elizabeth's movements. Elizabeth left the party soon after, using her exhaustion as an excuse to retire to her room.
The next several days Elizabeth thought rather peaceful. Mr. Darcy seemed to have come to the realisation, either on his own or through the assistance of Lady Shillingford, that he ought not to put himself in Elizabeth's way. Occasionally he was a part of the same party as she, but he always made sure to pair himself with another, usually his sister or aunt.
Lady Shillingford had indeed been very busy on Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's behalf. She first spoke with Lady Melbridge on the day after the party. Together they decided what ought to be done about the lovers, for they both understood that nothing but misery could come from the estrangement.
Lady Shillingford then had the duty of scolding Darcy, for it would mean much more coming from someone who was not a relation. Lady Shillingford told him that he had spent far too much time with his curmudgeon of an aunt, Lady Catherine, and not enough time with sensible people. Darcy thought this humourous, because he spent as little time as possible with his aunt. She then went on to tell him that his mother had also had the same arrogance that Lady Catherine displayed, although perhaps to a lesser degree.
"She gave you good principals, but left you to follow them in pride and conceit. As her only son and for many years, her only child, she doted on you to an unseemly degree. You were allowed, encouraged, almost taught to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none beyond your circles. No, do not interrupt me, young man. I know what I speak of, as I have known you since before you were born and your mother since she was nine years old. Your mother wished the very best for you and taught you to expect it. She told you often that you were destined for greatness and I imagine she pictured you marrying a titled lady like herself, at the very least. That is all very well, but remember that she married your father for love."
"Am I truly so bad as that?" said Darcy in shock.
"You do not intend to be, but you think meanly of all those you consider beneath you, comparing their sense to your own. You do not strive to see the good in others, finding faults much easier to discern. Miss Bennet overheard you communicating your unfavourable views of her family to your cousin. These are the people she loves most in the world! I spoke with her at some length, and she feels the insult quite keenly. Her mother, despite her faults, is generous to everyone and will spend her own money to pay for the apothecary to visit the ill in the town, even those who are not her husband's tenants. Miss Mary Bennet might be pedantic, but she takes her duties as a Christian seriously and is good and kind. She spends many days a year sewing outer garments for the poor in their parish. Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia, she says, are yet very young, so their boisterous ways — unchecked by a governess — are to be expected. She believes they act in such ways because only the most extreme behaviour causes them to receive attention from their father. A school or a governess would assure they learn to comport themselves properly. Her father, well, Miss Bennet did not say you said anything of him, but I cannot think but that for his indolence, he seems a good man. Yet, you notice none of the good."
"The ton cares little for the good. If her family were to cause a scandal, they would not care what else there was to know about the family, only what they did. If I am attached to them, it will affect my sister."
"Georgiana has thirty-thousand pounds. She will be accepted wherever she goes, even if Miss Bennet's sisters all ran away to become actresses."
"I am not certain that I agree," said Darcy. Then he admitted that he owed Miss Bennet an apology, and turned to go whither she was.
"You should not bother her now," said Lady Shillingford. "Give her several days, for she is likely still vexed. Mayhap I shall speak to her again soon and let you know when she is ready to speak with you."
Darcy accepted this idea as sound, for he had no wish to enrage Miss Bennet's fury. She had once before showed him her full temper and it had been only a slight to herself. How much angrier she would be now that he had insulted her family.