The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Hadley. Upon their arrival, they were warmly received by Mr. Bingley, who entertained them while his sisters were summoned. Afterwards, Mr. Hadley and Mr. Bingley went off together to the billiards room, glad to have someone besides their usual opponents to play. Thus, the ladies were required to stay a little longer than the typical visit, as Mr. Bingley did not give up the good company of the vicar so easily.
While they waited for the gentlemen to return, Mrs. Hurst, under the guise of friendship, asked impertinent questions of Mrs. Bennet, while her sister did the same to the Miss Bennets and Mrs. Hadley.
"I hear tell that you are the stepmother of all your dear girls," said Mrs. Hurst. "How long have you been wed to Mr. Bennet?"
"Eight very happy years," replied Mrs. Bennet. "And you and Mr. Hurst?"
"We have been wed only a little over one year."
"How wonderful!" said Mrs. Bennet. "You must still be very much in the honeymoon period."
Mrs. Hurst, who had not married for any sort of affection, looked at Mrs. Bennet very strangely. "And you were married before?"
"I was."
"To a Mr. Blackwall, I understand."
"Indeed."
"Is he any relation to Mr. Blackwall in Hatfield?"
"Oh? Do you know Henry Blackwall?" asked Mrs. Bennet, who was very fond of her brother-in-law.
"I do not. Yet, I have been told that the journey to Hatfield is well worth it if I wish to have any garments made from wool."
Although Mrs. Bennet knew what Mrs. Hurst was about, she did not mind the connexion to her brother-in-law, and proclaimed that if Mrs. Hurst wished for any wool garments, she could invite Henry for a visit to save the Netherfield party the trip. Henry visited their family in Meryton quite regularly, so it would be no trouble for him to bring some supplies with him.
Meanwhile, Miss Bingley asked Mrs. Hadley, Miss Bennet, and Miss Kitty about their eldest sister. "She lives in London now, does she not?"
"Yes, she does," said Elizabeth.
"Did she meet her husband during The Season?"
"No, she met him through our Uncle Gardiner. They are business associates," said Kitty.
"He is in trade with your uncle? What sort of business do they have?"
"They are in imports and exports of all manner of goods, but mostly fabrics." Elizabeth took a sip of tea after answering, wondering if she should tell Miss Bingley of Jane's title or not.
"Where in London do your relations live? Perhaps we are neighbours."
"They all live on Gracechurch Street," answered Mary.
"Oh," Miss Bingley said with feigned disappointment. "I am quite certain I know no one in that part of town."
The conversations continued in this manner, being rather more like interrogations than discussions. By the time the gentlemen returned, the Bennets and Hadleys were quite ready to leave.
The Netherfield party returned the call several days later, but Kitty and Elizabeth were astute enough to avoid another interrogation. Mrs. Bennet was also on her guard, after learning that her dear girls had been also subjected to similar unpleasantness.
Yet, the Netherfield party did not discern this coolness. Mr. Bingley was becoming ever more charmed by Miss Bennet and his sisters thought both of the Bennet daughters charming girls who were far enough beneath them to pose no threat to either their brother or his friend.
Elizabeth noticed, over the next fortnight, as the two households attended events, that Mr. Bingley had begun to pay her some attention. They had dined in company four times together. Twice they had been seated beside each other, and he ignored the person seated on his other side almost entirely, devoting his attention to her. After dinner, he would ensure that he was at her table for cards and he would engage her in conversation.
She became truly concerned when, at a gathering at Lucas Lodge, Mr. Bingley asked her to dance twice. The dances were pleasant, and he was an able conversation partner, but she worried about her reputation. If he continued to show her attention, she would have to decide if she wished to give him encouragement or not. She did not know what to do. He was amiable, but she felt no tenderness for him. She mentioned as much to her friend, Miss Lucas.
"You must show more than you feel, Eliza," said Charlotte. "Nine times out of ten, that is the way it must be. It would be a very good match for you. If you give him no encouragement, he may never do more than like you."
"A good match he may be," said Elizabeth, "but what if I want for more than that? Both of my married sisters have found love matches."
"Once you are secure of him, there will be plenty of time for falling in love."
"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married, and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. I have known him only a fortnight. I have danced with him three times, seen him one morning at his house and one at mine, and dined with him four times. This is not enough to be able to understand his character."
"Perhaps, but have you also not spent four evenings with him?"
"All the evenings have taught me are his favourite card games and how he likes his tea."
"Well, I wish you success regardless. I must say that I believe you would have as much a chance of happiness with him if you married him tomorrow as you might if you study his character for a twelve-month. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."
"You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act this way yourself."
Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to herself, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. He had been aloof when they were first introduced, which had suited Elizabeth quite well. She had no ambition to be admired by the person who had disparaged her sister. From there on, she largely ignored him, hoping that he might go away and cease to bother her.
He, however, was struck by Miss Bennet's beauty upon their introduction. Her eyes lit up with uncommon intelligence when she spoke, rendering her lovely. He tried to find fault with her, but though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing. Despite asserting that her manners did not match the standards of the fashionable world, he was entranced by her lighthearted playfulness. She was not shy, but made a point to stay away from him. It was a game that was unusual, but not one entirely unfamiliar to Darcy. Every once in a while, a lady would attempt to increase his interest through acting distant towards him. This was the first time it had worked, however. He began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards conversing with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so drew her notice.
"What does Mr. Darcy mean," said she to Charlotte, "by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?"
"That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer."
"But if he does it any more, I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him."
On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to him. This immediately provoked Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said, "Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"
"With great energy; but it is always a subject which makes a lady energetic."
"You are severe on us."
"It will be her turn soon to be teased," said Miss Lucas. "I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows."
"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!—always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody! If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, "Very well, if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, "There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar with, 'Keep your breath to cool your porridge', and I shall keep mine to swell my song."
Elizabeth moved her fingers gracefully over the keys of the pianoforte, filling the room with a soothing harmony. Her playing was very close to the highest level Darcy had ever heard, apart from those who performed professionally. Her music contained emotion and power, something that was often absent from the performances among the ton. Her voice was pleasing, although by no means capital. Darcy considered that he would happily spend many evenings listening to her.
After three songs, her younger sister took up the instrument. Miss Kitty, while more technically proficient, had not the same emotion in her music. Still, it was pleasant to listen to. When she had completed her song, she gave the seat over to another young lady, who, upon being entreated by several young ladies, began to play more lively music so they might have a little more dancing.
Mr. Darcy stood nearby, watching as Miss Bennet, Miss Lucas, and Miss Kitty spoke animatedly together. He was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he did not notice when Sir William Lucas approached him and said, "What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."
"Certainly, sir, and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance."
Sir William only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully," he continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group, "and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy."
"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir."
"Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James's?"
"Never, sir."
"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?"
"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it."
"You have a house in town, I conclude?"
Mr. Darcy bowed in agreement.
"I had once had some thought of fixing in town myself — for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas."
He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed to make any. Elizabeth, at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the action of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her, "My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure when so much beauty is before you." And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William, "I thank you, Sir William, but I do not wish to dance."
Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain.
"Sir, I said I do not wish to dance," she replied with a cold look towards him.
Darcy was astounded. He bowed in acceptance and wished Miss Bennet a pleasant evening. She thanked him and Sir William, then turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley, "I can guess the subject of your reverie."
"I should imagine not."
"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner — in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise — the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"
"You conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."
Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections.
Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity, "Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? Pray, when am I to wish you joy?"
"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."
"Nay, if you are serious about it, I shall consider the matter is absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law, indeed. Of course, she will always be at Pemberley with you."
He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed long.