Disclaimer: I don't own Pride and Prejudice, all rights to Jane Austen
Summary: See Previous Chapters
Chapter Four
After a brief visit to the powder room, Jane and Elizabeth returned to the ballroom and walked straight into the humiliation of Mr Collins introducing himself to Mr Darcy, despite Mary's fervent attempts to stop him. Mary might be impatient with society at times, and slow to exert herself, but she had educated herself well on matters of propriety, and knew what an impertinence it was for Mr Collins to bring himself to Mr Darcy's notice, rather than allowing the man undeniably superior in consequence to request it.
Even Elizabeth, who had every reason to desire Mr Darcy's discomfort, looked horrified. Mr Darcy looked briefly astonished at being addressed - being his aunt's rector should have made Mr Collins more inclined to wait upon an introduction, not less! - but replied with distant civility. Mary, drifting to their side with the morbid fascination of one staring at a wrecked carriage, moaned softly. "Just as we thought our cousin could not be more ridiculous…"
Jane patted her hand in wordless empathy, wishing to vanish into the floor with mortification. Mr Darcy was eyeing Mr Collins with unrestrained wonder at his audacity, though he edged closer to contempt the longer their cousin spoke. It seemed to be a universal reaction; Mr Collins was one of those people best experienced in small doses.
Fortunately, Mr Collins quickly spotted Jane and Elizabeth, and returned to their side, before he could embarrass himself, and everyone even tenuously connected with him, further. "I have no reason, I assure you, of being dissatisfied with my reception. Mr Darcy seemed much pleased with the attention."
That…was certainly a perspective. Try as she might, Jane could think of no kinder way to view the debacle. Lizzy coughed, and Mary murmured something that sounded very much like "Did he, indeed?"
Fortunately, Mr Bingley arrived to rescue Jane by escorting her into supper, and it was to be hoped that Lizzy's disappointment of being seated near both Mama and Mr Darcy was lessened by the fact of being as far as possible from Mr Collins.
Mama had become Lizzy's unlikely ally in disliking Mr Darcy ever since she heard of his slighting of her Lizzy at the Meryton Assembly. Elizabeth might not be a favourite, but Mrs Bennet would think nothing good of the man who despised any of her daughters. Perhaps it was a danger to put both of them so near to the unfortunate man, especially when their family had caused Mr Darcy enough embarrassment for one night, but it could not be helped now.
Perhaps Mama would be distracted by talking of the Ball. Elizabeth could be heard, once or twice, entreating their mother to lower her voice, to little avail. "What is Mr Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am sure we owe one who thinks so little of us no particular civility as to say nothing he may not like to hear, when he has never scrupled to such discretion!"
That was punctuated with a severe stare at the man in question, who looked briefly startled and confused, before composing himself into a steady gravity.
After supper, singing was talked of, and Mary never needed much encouragement to delight in performing. Jane smiled to see her sister choose one of Handal's works, no doubt remembering Mr Bingley having declared the composer a favourite last week. For having only a week to practice, Mary acquitted herself well, though the translation of Ombra Mai Fu to English left something to be desired, and she had little experience with Arias. Still, Mr Bingley smiled. "I am flattered by your sister's regard for my preferences. Caroline prefers Mozart, and is rarely persuaded to anything else, even when we were children in Scarborogh."
Jane was certain that if she had not loved Mr Bingley before, she would have fallen for him then, for his kindness to her sister. When Mary felt encouraged to perform a second set, Jane rose to her feet. "Mary, will you oblige me in an old favourite, while I sing?"
They had learned to play on the works of Robert Burns, and Tam Lin was an old favourite that all the Bennet sisters knew by heart, if by varying degrees of skill. Folktales of the North were another mutual enjoyment between Jane and Mr Bingley, and Mary excelled at such music.
The applause when they finished was far more genuine, and Jane used the opportunity to urge Mary to share the instrument, before Elizabeth could entreat their father's intervention. Miss Bingley gladly took her turn, followed by Charlotte, who played a lively song from Kent, and succeeded in briefly distracting Mr Collins from attempting to pay attention to Elizabeth.
The rest of the night passed in good spirits, until the hour when everyone was eager to seek their beds.
While waiting for the carriage to convey them home after the other guests had departed - Jane suspected her Mama's hand in the brief delay - Mr Bingley drew Jane to the side. "I must go to London for a short bit of business tomorrow, but I hope to call on you once I return."
Jane happily agreed, but could not prevent her mother's eager assurances. "I am sure we could not compare with the Ball you have just hosted, Mr Bingley, but I hope you know you are welcome at Longbourn at any time, and need not wait on a formal invitation to join us for a family dinner!"
Mama was hinting a little heavily there, but she meant it earnestly, and Jane heartily agreed. "Well, perhaps a few minute's notice so we can tell Hill to set an extra place, but I know that I shall always welcome you."
It was bold, to speak so, and Jane immediately blushed at her forwardness, but Mr Bingley was not offended, and handed her up into the carriage, setting a lap blanket over herself and Lydia, who had promptly fallen asleep on Jane's other side.
Could there exist a more considerate man? Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst had vanished inside Netherfield to seek their beds, as had Mr Hurst, and Mr Darcy was covering his own yawn after handing Lizzy into the carriage. Jane waved farewell, and felt as though she were floating on clouds all the way back to Longbourn.
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A/N: As ever, questions and comments are appreciated.
Thanks,
Nat