Mr Bingley and his company did not call the next day. Jane showed no surprise that he did not, and when questioned, merely pointed out that Mr Bingley would need to visit all his neighbours. A task that could not be expected to be completed all in one afternoon when they had spent so long at Longbourn.
Elizabeth accepted that Jane at least was satisfied with her paramour before escaping to her father's book room, where Mrs Bennet's dissatisfaction was less audible.
"So he has returned with his sister. And what think you of the illustrious Miss Darcy, Lizzy?"
"She is a sweet girl," Elizabeth replied ignoring her father's teasing tone. "She seems to be shier than even Jane was at thirteen."
"Mr Darcy did mention she had few female companions of her own age."
"I suppose, it is pitiable indeed that her shyness seems to have held her back from making friends at school. By the by Papa, Mama mentioned something yesterday that surprised me."
"Oh? That must have been novel for you Lizzy, I find your mother surprises me constantly. Especially so just lately."
Elizabeth sent her father a confused glance at the last part of his statement which had been added in a quiet musing tone. "Mama mentioned that Lydia had enquired about attending a seminary. She has renewed her acquaintance with Evangeline Goulding and is now found solely in her company. Evangeline has praised the establishment she attends, and it seems to have made an impression on Lydia."
"Lydia wishes to attend a seminary eh? I find my dear Lizzy that you are not alone in your surprise. I should not think Lydia would wish to curtail any of her freedoms."
"Mama indicated that Evangeline has roomed with a Countess and is a particular friend of other ladies of station."
"Now Lizzy I can see what you are not saying. You believe Lydia wishes to advance herself over her sisters."
Elizabeth lifted a shoulder. "I hardly know Papa. I cannot think that Lydia would enjoy the reality of schooling as much as she thinks, but I cannot help but think perhaps it would do her some good."
"And you wish for me to encourage her in this sentiment? What of Mary and Kitty, indeed yourself. Should you not wish to attend such a bastion of education?"
"Kitty declared she should hate to attend. Mary might like to although you would need to ask her yourself."
"And what of you Lizzy?"
"I think Papa, that I should not."
"Well if you think it warranted, I may choose to mention it to Lydia, but I cannot believe that this desire will last any longer than any of her other schemes."
Elizabeth admitted to herself that her father was likely right. Lydia was capricious and enjoyed the freedoms granted to her. It did not seem probable she would give them up quickly.
The eve of the dinner Mr Bingley was to attend slowly drew upon the inhabitants of Longbourn. Mrs Bennet paid every attention to the preparations, determined that Mr Bingley would want for nothing.
If Jane was serene, then Elizabeth was not. Jane, secure in the affections of Mr Bingley had nothing to worry about. Jane only had to make certain of her regard for the ever-amiable Mr Bingley. Jane had only to smile at her mother and temper the worst of Mrs Bennet's fawning behaviour. Mr Bingley was too amiable and kind to think ill of Mrs Bennet.
Elizabeth scolded herself for her display of ill temper. It was not Jane's fault, nor was it Mr Bingley's, that she was out of sorts. It was Mr Darcy's. Mr Darcy who was rude and dismissive, intelligent and courteous, proud and yet gentle. Elizabeth sat in front of her dressing mirror knowing she must make an appearance downstairs. Jane had already been in to see if she was ready and Elizabeth had to admit that she was not.
How she disliked that Mr Darcy of all people had caused this disquiet in her.
There was a quiet knock on her door, and Mary's head appeared around the edge. "Lizzy? Are you not joining us?"
"Yes," Elizabeth said getting to her feet abruptly. "Yes, I am coming, thank you, Mary."
Mary gave her a quizzical look.
"Oh it is too complicated," Elizabeth protested. "Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy. I hardly know."
Mary fell in to step with Elizabeth, and they joined the rest of the family. It was not long after that their guests were announced.
Elizabeth took a breath of relief when her father gained Mr Darcy's attention and began a conversation. She turned back to Miss Darcy and joined in the overtures of friendship being offered by Mary.
Dinner was a display of Mrs Bennet's skills. The food was sumptuous without ostentation demonstrating the capability of Longbourn's cook.
Elizabeth was drawn into conversation by her father and found herself conversing easily with him and Mr Darcy. Jane and Mr Bingley made more efforts to join in the general discourse, and the meal passed pleasantly.
When Mrs Bennet stood to leave the men to their brandy and cigars, Elizabeth pinched herself subtly as she followed her mother and sisters from the room. It had gone better than she had hoped even though Elizabeth found herself conflicted about her true reasoning as to why she wanted it to go well. Was she really thinking of encouraging Mr Darcy?
Elizabeth's wandering thoughts were broken by Mrs Bennet, who had turned upon entry of the drawing room to entreat Jane.
"You must display," Mrs Bennet told her eldest daughter.
Mary and Miss Darcy immediately moved to the pianoforte to continue their discussion about music. Lydia gave the room a dissatisfied look as she gracelessly dropped on to the settee. She quickly turned to Kitty to demand that the card table be brought out lest they are forced into conversation with the gentlemen. Kitty chose to sit with more care and ignore her sister. Elizabeth took the seat the other side of Kitty while Mrs Bennet followed Jane insisting that she must display for Mr Bingley.
"Jane, should you wish to sing I will play for you," Elizabeth offered. "Mary and I could play a duet and sing the harmonies. That way you can still display, but you would not be stood alone."
Jane was clearly unhappy to be pressed but conceded to Elizabeth's offer.
"Do you often sing together?" Miss Darcy asked.
"Often Jane and I sing together, we sing all of us together rarely, however, at Christmastide, we sing carols."
"But you do?" Miss Darcy asked excitedly. "I should be very glad to see that. I have never performed with another."
Jane smiled warmly. "Perhaps then we should do so. If you would like to join us?"
"Oh, I cannot sing. That is, I can, but I should wish to hear you sing."
"Then before the gentlemen join us, we could practice, and you might play for us. When the gentlemen join us, Mary could play with you if you do not wish to play alone."
Elizabeth stood up walking over to the pianoforte. Kitty got to her feet smiling as she joined her sisters. "I have not sung for such a long time."
"Come, Lydia," Elizabeth turned to her youngest sister.
"I do not want to sing," Lydia pouted.
"But we cannot sing without you dear," said Jane sweetly.
Lydia protested and turned to her mother but found no succour there.
"Lydia need not sing," Kitty said slyly. "I am sure that Evangeline has taught Lydia all sorts of things that an accomplished lady should know. What use is singing to Lydia when she is so talented at needlework, drawing and languages? Singing is nothing to such a well-strung bow.
Lydia instantly got to her feet. "I will have you know Kitty, that Evangeline likes my voice and has complimented me upon it. And my needlework is just as good as Lizzy's."
Kitty smiled triumphantly as Lydia joined them, accepting the sharp knock from her sister's shoulder as payment for her taunting.
Elizabeth and Mary settled upon the bench, and the sisters arranged themselves around them. Mary played the opening bars, and Elizabeth joined her in harmony. Kitty's mezzo-soprano joined them, and after a few more bars Lydia and Jane's soprano wove into the mix. They were rusty, and it took the entirety of the piece for them to come together. By the second rendition they were exchanging smiles as they sang together and as the last notes died away, Miss Darcy clapped enthusiastically before joining them at the pianoforte.
"Oh, that was quite special,"
"You are very kind," Jane replied demurely.
"Please, shall you sing another?"
"Do you not wish to play?" Jane offered, desiring to take a seat before the gentlemen joined them.
"Oh no, I should much rather hear you sing."
Mary started playing again, but Elizabeth stood from her seat by her sister. "Come, Miss Darcy, take my place. You play much better than me. Mary deserves to have someone with skill partner her and I surely do not hold the office as well as I should."
Miss Darcy glanced nervously around the room once before hesitantly taking her place by Mary. Her fingers fell to the keys as naturally as breathing, and soon she was drawn in. As they sang and played, the door opened to admit the gentleman.
Mr Bennet led Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy into the room, Mr Bennet took up a seat by the fire out of the way of the best views of the tableau. Those were swiftly taken by the gentlemen.
When the piece was played through Jane made a hasty exit from the group to take up the seat by Mr Bingley. Mr Bingley was lavish in his praise of her singing and eventually remembered to praise the singing of the other ladies.
Miss Darcy remained at the pianoforte with Mary as they began a duet. Kitty Lydia and Elizabeth returned to their seats.
"Your sister plays extremely well," Elizabeth said to Mr Darcy when it seemed that they would be cursed to sit in silence.
"Indeed, she is diligent in her practice. Might I, that is you sang very well just then. All of you."
"Thank you."
"I… I thought that you were charmingly grouped. To have your sisters to sing with must be a source of joy."
"Yes, Miss Darcy fit in quite well, did she not?"
Mr Bennet muffled a laugh. "I should like to think Lizzy, that I would notice an additional daughter, even one so quiet as Miss Darcy. Indeed sir, should you find upon your return to Netherfield that you are missing a sister. Have no fear, she shall be cared for well at Longbourn until you retrieve her. If indeed you can."
"I thank you for your consideration, but I hope that Georgian does not wish to abandon me just yet."
"Do you feel that one brother is equal to five sisters?" Elizabeth asked with a teasing smile.
"Perhaps not," Mr Darcy answered. "I shall have to appeal to my sister's better nature."
"And what do you think shall be your arguments?"
"I wonder that you think I might share that information with you, Miss Elizabeth. Would you expect me to think that you would not use my arguments against me."
"Ha, he has you there Lizzy."
"Not at all sir, it merely demonstrates that Mr Darcy is not confident in the persuasiveness of his argument. His sister has known him all her life and known us for less than a week."
"The draw of the novel is not so easily overcome."
"Shall your sister tire of us, sir, when we are not so new?"
"Not at all, I fear my sister shall grow only more attached. Indeed, you are correct, Mr Bennet I shall have to beg your indulgence for when the lure of your charming family becomes too much, and my sister abandons me for it."
Mr Bennet harrumphed. "I dare say we shall manage admirably, with Lydia rarely home and Mr Bingley attempting to steal Jane away. I do not relish the day when Longbourn no longer rings with the sound of my daughters."
Elizabeth made a small sound of distress. Mr Bennet patted her hand and rose from his chair. "Have no fear my dear, that day is not yet upon us. I shall retire to my bookroom and leave you young people to enjoy the rest of your evening."
Elizabeth allowed her eyes to follow her father out of the room concern showing in her expression.
"It is a prospect I draw no more pleasure from than your father. Georgiana will one day marry and leave Pemberley. It is the burden of a father of daughters, I do not envy him the loss five times over."
Elizabeth nodded. "Daughters must leave. To leave everything and everyone we have known, and make our homes with the men we take as husbands." Elizabeth shook herself. "Forgive me, I did not mean to turn our conversation to maudlin. You have told me of the grounds of your home now you must tell me of the house itself. Mr Collins regaled us with tales of your Aunt's home, Rosings. He was most taken by the number of windows and the size of the chimneys. Is Pemberley similarly blessed? Do you have enough windows?"
Mr Darcy allowed her teasing. "I confess that I have not considered if Pemberley has enough windows before. There are windows on the exterior walls to be sure and an orangery that is made entirely of windows. I suppose Pemberley lacks in windows only within the interior."
Elizabeth laughed delighted with his tease. "A terrible prospect indeed."
Mr Darcy smiled slightly in acknowledgement of his success. "As for chimneys, there is nothing in Pemberley to challenge the size of the chimney in Rosings. My aunt was quite particular about the chimney Mr Collins has described."
"That does not surprise me. I cannot commend your aunt enough for finding a Parson who can complement her as well as Mr Collins. It would be tiresome to be continually encountering differing opinions, necessitating reflection and perhaps revision of those views you have that might be erroneous. Your aunt is fortunate indeed Mr Collins is so like-minded and has saved her the trouble."
"I cannot follow my Aunt's example, and from what I know of you, I do not think it is an attitude that you subscribe to."
"No, you are right, I should have made Mr Collins a poor wife indeed."
Mr Darcy did a double take. "Mr Collins… offered for you?"
"No. No… well, no he did not," Elizabeth trailed off lowering her voice so they would not be overheard.
Mr Darcy made an encouraging sound.
"He might have thought to, but he eventually offered for Mary."
"Forgive me, if I was to offer her congratulations I shall certainly do so."
"You can only congratulate her for her sense then. She refused him," Elizabeth informed him quietly. "He made it clear that Mary was not his first choice and well, he did not behave as he should."
Mr Darcy sat quietly considering her words. Elizabeth was embarrassed she had revealed so much of her family's affairs and so lowered her eyes to her lap. They did not find another topic on which they could converse, and so sat in silence until the chiming of the clock drew attention to the lateness of the hour, prompting the Netherfield party to call for their carriage.