Uncommonly Intelligent Chapter 26: Music Night, a pride and prejudice fanfic

Author's Note:

I can't express how gratified I was for your warm reception to the last chapter after I made you wait so long for it, especially when it was so short, and not exactly action-packed. Your patience with me is incredible. This chapter has a little more meat, and I want you to know that I worked very hard to get it posted by Saturday night, so as not to ruin the ratings of the Super Bowl by posting it Sunday afternoon.

I want to thank everyone who reviewed or PM'd for their feedback, and especially sysa22 and Peperuda for their help with moving the Cummings cottage out of Nevada and back into England. And Duckie, you made a good point about porches (or verandas) with railings being unusual for a tenant cottage, but my thought is that Lady Rutherford, grateful for his sacrifice, had it added for Sgt. Cummings shortly before she left, so he could step outside without a crutch.

"Guest" mentioned that Lizzy would be riding side-saddle, so she could not exchange horses with Freddie. That is excellent feedback, and a good example of what I said in an author's note a few chapters ago, namely that the characters have been living in my head so long that I sometimes forget to make my assumptions about them explicit. In this case, the assumption is that since Lizzy and Loki enjoy galloping so much, she wears a special riding habit with culottes that allow her to ride astride (and you can expect Kitty and Lydia to do the same). I will add a line to Chapter 11 (where Loki is introduced) to that effect.

Chapter 26 - Music Night

Longbourn, Hertfordshire, October 21, 1811

Back at Longbourn, Mary and Georgiana were getting to know each other better as they played the pianoforte, together and separately. Georgiana was still fascinated by the instrument, for it was both the largest and finest she had ever seen, and she had brought a stack of music sheets with her for this visit. Mary was delighted to see the new material, and to have someone who shared her love of music. While all of her sisters played, with abilities ranging from acceptable (Lydia) to excellent (Lizzy), Mary was the only one of them who loved playing above all else. Since Georgiana felt the same way, and could see that Mary was very talented, the girls felt an affinity for one another that did much to mitigate their natural reserve.

Georgiana was currently attempting a score she had purchased just before leaving London, but she stopped playing midway through and said to Mary, who had been turning the pages for her, "I am not sure how this part should be played, and the direction on the score is not of much help."

Mary gave a commiserating smile and said, "Yes, I see what you mean." She brightened and added, "Lizzy should be home soon; we can ask her."

"Oh! Is she familiar with this piece? I thought it was just published last week."

"No, I doubt that she has seen it, but she is quite remarkable in her ability to read a score and know how it should sound. If you think that I play well, you can credit Lizzy, for it is she who taught me how to play with more expression."

"But I thought she said…" Georgiana trailed off, not wanting to contradict what either sister had told her.

Mary smiled. "You thought she said that she did not play as well as she wished? You have to get used to Lizzy. She did not lie, for like everyone, she wishes she could play perfectly, but she often minimizes her talents so as not to appear boastful. I assure you, she plays beautifully. Maestro Mondello said that he had never seen her like at interpreting a score, and he is not easy to please."

Georgiana's eyes widened. "Maestro Mondello? Maestro Lorenzo Mondello?"

"Yes, do you know him?"

"I certainly know of him, for he is quite famous as a music master in London, but I have met him only once, when I auditioned to be his pupil. I am now on his waiting list."

Mary suddenly realized she had a decision to make. For years, Mr. Bennet had made it clear that he did not want either Lizzy's extraordinary talents, or Longbourn's extraordinary relationship with Lady Rutherford, to be bandied about. But Lizzy's talents, though not the full variety and scope of them, were by now widely known around the area, and Lady Rutherford had been gone these two years. The fact that Netherfield was now being let was a strong indication that she would not return.

And Mary had never got on with someone so well and so quickly as she had with Georgiana. They were only a year apart in age; both were intelligent; both were introverted, though Mary was not nearly as shy as Georgiana; and both loved music in general, and playing the pianoforte in particular.

Deciding, Mary said, "Well, he instructed Lizzy for several years. He can be very demanding, but he is a brilliant teacher. I am sure you will like him. Unfortunately, I had only a few months with him before he stopped coming to Hertfordshire."

At Georgiana's puzzled look, Mary saw that she needed to explain further. "No, it was not my playing that drove him away," she said, and Georgiana giggled. "You see, until a little over two years ago, a wealthy lady lived at Netherfield, and she engaged masters, including Maestro Mondello, for her own lessons. Jane and Lizzy were friends of her son, and they spent a great deal of time at Netherfield. So when Lizzy showed unusual talent at an early age, Maestro Mondello started instructing her as well. That ended when the great lady's husband died and she moved away, but Lizzy is so good at everything, and was so willing to teach us, that we scarcely needed any masters by then, except for drawing."

Georgiana grinned and said, "Yes, I remember last week you said Miss Elizabeth's drawings of horses looked more like potatoes."

Mary grinned back. "As I said, you must get used to Lizzy. While drawing is not her forte, she is not at all bad. I am quite sure that she deliberately drew those potato-horses for our amusement, for she is very good at drawing things that interest her, especially maps and mechanical devices."

"And does she play as well as you?"

Mary took a moment to answer. "That depends what you mean. At this instant, I probably play better than she does, except for pieces she knows very well. But that is only because I practice three or four hours each day, while Lizzy scarcely does so much in a month. There is also the fact that she has very small hands - too small to span more than an octave, so there are some pieces that she cannot play with perfect fidelity, though she compensates beautifully. But when she was practicing more often, she was easily my superior, and I dare say that it would take her only a week of diligence to restore her to that position." She made a strange sort of smile. "I often wonder if she stopped practicing for my sake."

Georgiana, taken aback, asked, "What do you mean?"

Mary answered, "I mean, I think Lizzy stopped practicing the pianoforte so that I can be the best in my family at something. You see, all of my sisters are prettier than I, and all but Jane are more lively, but Jane is so beautiful that she has no choice but to be reserved, to keep the number of men buzzing around her manageable."

Georgiana started to protest, but Mary overrode her. "No, Miss Darcy, it is true, and I have reconciled myself to it. I cannot complain, for I dare say I am blessed in other areas. I have some talent in mathematics, I find great pleasure in my music, and I love the Lord. I feel that he has given me all the gifts I need. If I were more beautiful, I might go to more parties and get more attention from young men, but I do not enjoy parties as much as I enjoy visiting our tenants, making clothes for their children, and other ways of helping people.

"But my point is, Lizzy is very kind, and very discerning, and I think that after Lady Rutherford left - she is the lady who had engaged Maestro Mondello - Lizzy deliberately stopped practicing the pianoforte in favor of the harp, so that I could be the best at something important to me. While I am sure I am nothing to the accomplished ladies of London, I think I may claim to be among the best at the pianoforte in this part of Hertfordshire," and she paused and smiled, "at least, before you and Miss Bingley arrived."

Georgiana shook her head. "No indeed, I happily award you the laurel; I can see that you are more skilled than I. And I can tell you that you are better than Miss Bingley, too, for she has been trying to impress my brother with her playing. He tells me, and I agree, that he has heard much better." She smiled and said, "And do not be so sure that you are not the equal of the ladies in Town. While I rarely perform for anyone but my close family, when I hear dinner guests play at my brother's or my uncle's home, I feel that I could do as well." Then she looked thoughtful, and added, "Although I own that if I had to play for an audience, I would be too nervous to play well, so perhaps I am being unfair to them."

"I understand completely. But perhaps you might be surprised if you tried. I am nervous when I first sit down to play before an audience, but I find that once I begin, I get lost in the music and forget to be nervous. Lizzy says that she is the same. But as I say, she plays beautifully." Mary sighed. "It is also possible that Lizzy stopped practicing because my mother shows no appreciation for accomplishments such as playing. She is of the opinion that a lady only needs to be beautiful to marry well, and I suppose it was true in her case. She is certainly the reason that Jane, Kitty, and Lydia have not practiced more, for she tells them they have no need to."

Georgiana looked slightly shocked. "They do not play at all?"

"They can play - not half so well as you, but well enough to take their turn at the pianoforte when we are having dancing practice or the like. To be fair, it may not be my mother's fault; some people simply do not enjoy playing, and especially practicing dull exercises. And they do sing and dance very well, and they enjoy practicing those arts, so they are not without accomplishments. But my mother is certainly no help."

She looked at Georgiana speculatively. "You mentioned laurels a moment ago. Have you heard of memento mori?"

At Georgiana's puzzled look, Mary hastened to add, "Of course, there is no reason you should have, unless you have a father who would much rather talk about what happened in Rome 2000 years ago than what happened in Meryton yesterday. The legend is that in ancient Rome, when a general with sufficiently good connections won a sufficiently important victory, he would be honored with a triumph, in which he was crowned in laurel and rode in his chariot along streets lined with cheering crowds. But to keep the adulation from going to his head, a slave was appointed to ride in the chariot with him, and to repeat to the general at frequent intervals, 'Remember thou art mortal.'"

Georgiana still looked puzzled, but Mary continued, "The relevance is that my mother performs the same office for Lizzy and me, and sometimes even Kitty. When we are dressing up for a party or assembly, and start feeling good about our looks, my mother can be counted on to say, in one way or another, 'Remember, thou art not as beautiful as Jane and Lydia.'"

Mary sighed more deeply and said, "Well, I suppose she loves us all in her own way. And Lizzy is so good at so many other things that she could give up half of them and still be the most accomplished woman I ever heard of."

Georgiana ventured, "My brother said that he has never seen her equal for intelligence."

"Indeed?" asked Mary. "I have sometimes wondered whether there are other people like her. She is certainly the most intelligent person I have ever known, but I live in a very small village and rarely travel, so my opinion is suspect. But your brother must have been around many intelligent men during his schooling, and at his clubs in Town."

Georgiana nodded. "My brother was first in his class at Cambridge, and he belongs to clubs that are frequented by some of the most distinguished men in London. But he told me that your sister knew Greek better than anyone else he knew, and that she was the strongest chess player he had ever faced."

Mary smiled wryly. "Well, it is good to get confirmation. My father was on the faculty at Oxford, and he said the same thing, but a parent's boast must be discounted."

"I find her quite intimidating," said Georgiana. "My brother said that even he finds her intimidating, and I cannot think of anything he has ever said that shocked me more than that. If you knew my aunt Catherine … well, let me just say that she is the most intimidating person I have ever met, and yet I have seen my brother stare her down." She hesitated, then asked, "Are you ever envious of her?"

Mary thought a moment. "Of her beauty, occasionally, though that seems ridiculous with Jane in the family. But of her mind, no. She is too far out of reach to think of competing with her there. As soon be jealous of my horse for running faster than I can."

She decided that she could trust Georgiana, and went on, "But I do worry about her. I fear that she will not be with us much longer."

Georgiana gasped. "Is she ill?"

"Oh no, not at all. But I believe she must be bored here. My father does not like to travel, and so we rarely leave Longbourn. Lizzy dearly wishes to travel - you heard her say how much she would like to visit Egypt - but except for short visits to London, she has no opportunity for it other than occasional holidays with our aunt and uncle Gardiner. I think that Lizzy will be very tempted to move to Town and live with them when she reaches her majority. She will be able to get her fill of the libraries and museums and historic sites, and will have more options for her future."

Georgiana looked thoughtful. "I have never considered any other future than simply getting married and raising children. And I am very fortunate that my brother genuinely cares for me, and will not force me to marry for wealth or position, as some of my acquaintances have." She grimaced. "Marrying for wealth and status is the highest aspiration of Miss Bingley, and she is the last person I wish to emulate." Then she reddened and said, "Forgive me, that was unkind. But for some reason, I do not enjoy being in Miss Bingley's company. I shall be sorry to leave you today."

"I enjoy your company as well," said Mary. Gathering her courage, she asked, "Miss Darcy, would you allow me to ask my father whether you could stay for dinner and music night?"

"Music night?"

"Yes, unless something prevents it, we have a music night every Monday. We all play and sing, and we have a wonderful time. I think you would find it very enjoyable, and I would so love to have you join us."

Now it was Georgiana's turn to gather her courage, and she said, "I shall of course have to ask my brother, but I would be very pleased to join you, under one condition."

"Yes?" asked Mary anxiously.

"That you call me Georgiana," she said, blushing.

Mary beamed at her. "I would like that very much. And please call me Mary. And if you like, we can practice the Beethoven for four hands that you brought, and play it together tonight." Seeing Georgiana's sudden look of apprehension, Mary quickly added, "Only if you want to. And it will be a very small audience, with no one unknown to you except for Miss Charlotte Lucas, who is the kindest and least intimidating person you will ever meet. And do not forget, you have already played for the same audience just two days ago."

Georgiana looked at her in wonder. "Oh! You are right! I was so eager to play this pianoforte Saturday that I forgot that people were listening!"

Mary nodded. "People whom you had just met, and yet you showed no nervousness as you played. You see, you are just like Lizzy and me - once you start playing, you forget about the audience. That proves that you can do it; all you lack is confidence. If it helps, just pretend it is Saturday again, and you are only trying out the pianoforte, rather than performing."

Georgiana took a deep breath, and said, "I will try. Let us start practicing the Beethoven, and see how we get on. I make no promises, but I will try."

Mrs. Annesley, forgotten in the corner, smiled as she saw her young charge begin to come out of her shell, and form a bond with this sweet young woman.

On the way back to Longbourn from the Cummings cottage, Darcy rode close to Richard and said in low tones, "Perhaps it would be best not to mention what we heard to Mr. Bennet, for I suspect that it is Miss Elizabeth, rather than her father, who is behind those generous terms."

Darcy immediately regretted saying anything when he saw Richard's eyes light up, for he worried that all he had done was ensure that Richard would mention the deal. The colonel loved to put the cat among the pigeons.

The men were invited into Mr. Bennet's study as soon as they arrived at Longbourn, and as Darcy had feared, Colonel Fitzwilliam wasted no time in thanking Bennet profusely for his aid to his old comrade. But reconsidering, Darcy realized that by doing so, Richard was putting Bennet in a position where he could not renege, thus securing the deal for Cummings.

But Mr. Bennet smiled smugly, and affecting the pose of a great man with his nose in the air, he said, "Ah yes, it was one of my better ideas, if I say so myself." He then resumed his usual relaxed posture and added, "I thought of it shortly after Lizzy told me how it would be." All three gentlemen chuckled, and Darcy's tension evaporated.

Richard said, "I understand that Miss Elizabeth and Sgt. Cummings were great friends when they were children."

Mr. Bennet nodded. "True, but possibly misleading, for I cannot think of a person in the area to whom Lizzy was not a friend. But I do think that she was especially fond of Joe Cummings, for they were both natural leaders."

Darcy could scarcely believe that he felt a pang of jealousy toward the scarred, maimed, son of a tenant farmer.

Bennet continued, "By the way, gentlemen, your aunt's parson will be arriving here tomorrow."

Richard looked at Darcy in surprise, and Darcy briefly explained about Mr. Collins. Then Darcy turned to Bennet and asked, "But did you not say he was coming next month?"

"So he said in his first letter, but I received another from him today. It must have been written in haste, for it was a marvel of brevity compared to his previous missive, but I gather that your aunt's plans changed, which meant that my cousin's plans changed. She wants him for something or another during the time he was going to be here, and required him to advance his plans. It appears that he attempted to give me a week's notice, but in his hurry he wrote the direction very ill, and his letter apparently went to Herefordshire before finding its way here. So now we have one day's notice, and I will have to send Mr. Bailey to collect him from the London stage tomorrow."

Richard said, "I am farther behind on the news than I realized, for I had not heard that Lady Catherine had a new parson. I hope he will be as worthy as the last."

Mr. Bennet had already retrieved Collins' first letter in anticipation of Richard's interest, and said, "Judge for yourself," as he handed Richard the letter.

Darcy and Bennet both enjoyed watching Richard's face as he read. When he finished, he said, "Great God, Darcy, where did she find this man?"

"I know not. Perhaps she has spies on the staff at Bedlam, who let her know when an inmate is released." He turned to Bennet. "What time did you say he arrives tomorrow?"

"The London stage usually arrives in Meryton around two o'clock, and it should take Mr. Bailey no more than half an hour to transfer his luggage and cart him here."

"In that case, we may call a bit earlier than normal tomorrow, for I have pressing business at Netherfield around two o'clock," Darcy said, smiling but serious about avoiding Mr. Collins as long as he could.

Bennet replied, "Speaking of visits, Mr. Darcy, my daughter Mary has asked whether your sister could stay for dinner and the activities afterwards tonight."

"What sort of activities?"

"We try to have what we call 'Music Night' each Monday, where the young ladies practice singing and playing before an audience, though the audience is typically only friends and family. You have met miss Charlotte Lucas, I believe?"

Darcy nodded. "Yes, she seems a very pleasant lady."

"She is," Bennet affirmed. "Very pleasant, and very sensible. She is a dear friend of my daughters, and will also be attending, and very possibly performing this evening."

Darcy hesitated, trying to find the right words, then said, "Mr. Bennet, while I have no objection in principle, I must make you aware of some possible difficulties, most of which stem from the fact that my sister has a very large dowry, and has been the target of unscrupulous fortune-hunters in the past, which has obliged me to take some rather extraordinary measures for her protection. For example, did you notice the footmen who accompanied her today?"

"Indeed, I was impressed by their size."

"Not only are Dow and Osmond impressive physical specimens, but they are trained as bodyguards, and they or others like them are near Georgiana at all times. I also insist that her companion, Mrs. Annesley, remain even closer to her, and she takes her meals with us. I would not dream of telling you how to run your own home, but I am afraid that inviting Georgiana for dinner may entail more conditions than you are willing to meet. I will not be offended in the least if they cause you to withdraw your invitation, for I understand that they are burdensome."

To Darcy's relief, Bennet replied, "Be easy, Mr. Darcy, for we can easily accommodate you. We used to have a neighbor who was wealthy, and also had bodyguards wherever she went. In fact, let us make a night of it, and invite all of the Netherfield party. I dare say Lizzy can easily reorganize the program if Mr. Bingley's sisters wish to perform, although I expect that Mrs. Bennet will lament the fact that there are no fish to be had on Monday."

Darcy had not enjoyed the almost nightly exhibitions given by Caroline Bingley since her return to Netherfield, not least because she always importuned him to turn the pages for her, so he instantly decided that he would inform the Bingley sisters of the invitation to dinner without mentioning the musical activities planned. His hope was that Miss Bingley would not wish to perform without having prepared something.

Caroline Bingley accepted the dinner invitation with little pleasure, not wanting to honor the Bennets with her presence, but wanting even less to have Darcy and his sister dining with the Bennets while she remained at Netherfield. She grudgingly admitted to herself that the meal was excellent, especially given the fact that Mrs. Bennet had very little warning that anyone other than Charlotte would be joining the family that evening, but she could not wait to return to Netherfield.

She was taken by surprise when Mr. Bennet announced that the separation of sexes would be omitted in favor of performances in the music room, and politely asked whether she or her sister would like to display, but she decided to accept the offer. She did not need to prepare for a gathering such as this; indeed, her sophisticated repertoire would most likely be wasted on the Bennets, who were no doubt going to play a reel, or a simple country ditty. She could play one of the many songs she knew by heart, and still show Mr. Darcy how superior her skills were to these mushrooms.

After concluding her performance to polite applause, Caroline returned to her seat to see Charlotte Lucas take her place at the pianoforte, with Jane, Kitty, and Lydia moving to stand near her. She was shocked when they began singing selections from Mozart's Italian operas, with Jane's sweet soprano holding Bingley transfixed.

She was shocked again when Georgiana and Mary together replaced Charlotte at the pianoforte, and proceeded to play Beethoven's Sonata in D Major for Four Hands - but not as shocked as Darcy.

Georgiana had not played for anyone but her half-dozen closest relations since Ramsgate. And yet here she was, playing for a room full of people she had known no more than a week, most for only two days, and even a brand-new acquaintance in Miss Lucas. While it was true that Miss Mary, who evidently had practiced such music with her sisters, took the more difficult part, it was still beyond belief that she had somehow convinced Georgiana to accompany her. He caught Mrs. Annesley's eye, and she nodded knowingly to him as if to say, I will tell you all about it later.

Richard's broad smile showed that he was as full of pride for Georgiana as Darcy was. The performance went remarkably well for how little time they had practiced together, and was a testimony to the skill of both ladies.

But Caroline recovered quickly as she noted that there was now only one Bennet sister who had not displayed, and she exchanged a smirk with Louisa as Elizabeth moved to the harp for the next performance. She knew that the harp was often the refuge of young women with only mediocre talent, for simply strumming the strings of a harp at random produced a pretty sound. A lady could sing almost anything, and strum the harp strings more or less in time with the song, and it would not sound too ill - but neither would it impress. And that is exactly what the Bingley sisters expected to happen as Elizabeth nestled the harp into her shoulder.

Their jaws dropped almost as soon as she started playing. Elizabeth did not sing, nor did she strum. She played Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor*, a piece written for the organ and not often attempted on the harp, with an intricate theme and counterpoint. Now it was Darcy's turn to be transfixed, just as Bingley had been with Jane. He thought it was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. Elizabeth's eyes were half closed as she played, so she did not notice his intense gaze. But both Mr. Bennet and Colonel Fitzwilliam did.

As she concluded the piece to enthusiastic applause, Darcy again wondered whether Elizabeth was trying to impress his cousin, but then he noticed that Miss Lydia was directing a rather evil smile at Caroline, and he suddenly understood.

Elizabeth had not chosen this difficult piece to impress Richard. She had chosen it to show Caroline and Louisa, once and for all, who was truly accomplished and who was not. The snobbish sisters had lacked the wit to appreciate Elizabeth's intellect, dismissing and even disparaging her ability to read Greek as a defect rather than an accomplishment, for it was mannish, not a proper accomplishment for a lady.

Elizabeth had been forced to endure their scorn when she was their guest at Netherfield, with Jane's health depending on their goodwill. But that restriction no longer held, and this demonstration, without a word spoken, was Elizabeth's way of showing Caroline and Louisa that they had been fools.

They had just seen three of Elizabeth's sisters sing beautifully (and in perfect Italian), then her fourth and previously unnoticed sister play masterfully on the pianoforte, and finally they heard Elizabeth play the harp as they had never heard it before. Even women as dull as they could not escape the conclusion that for all their airs, and for all their time in seminary, the Bingley sisters fell short of the Bennet sisters in the accomplishments they most prized. And Miss Bingley's face, with her lips pressed into a thin line, showed that she had indeed drawn the correct inference.

Darcy did not envy Bingley his ride home tonight, and was very glad that he and his relations would be riding in his carriage, rather than with the Bingleys.

Her point made, Elizabeth invited the entire gathering to join her sisters and Charlotte in singing the Hallelujah Chorus, which everyone was sure to know. Everyone but Hurst sang along, even the Bingley sisters, and it was Elizabeth's turn to be surprised at the quality of Mr. Darcy's rich baritone. Georgiana's eyes were shining as she sang for all she was worth, reveling in the ability to share her love of music with her new friends, and surprising herself at how comfortable she was doing it, although she realized that singing as part of a group, rather than solo, made it much easier for her.

The rousing chorus made for a splendid finale, and then Mr. Bennet invited the gentlemen into his study for a quick drink before they left. Kitty and Lydia joined Georgiana and Mary to chat while the men were thus occupied, and the other women coalesced into a second group, although the Bingley sisters did not contribute to the conversation.

As he helped Georgiana into their carriage, Darcy could not recall having a more pleasant time, and he wondered why anyone would prefer an evening at Almack's over an evening at Longbourn.

*I'm taking a bit of historical liberty here. Although this piece is thought to have been composed in the early 1700s, it was somehow lost for a time, and was not published until 1833. You can find performances of it, on both the organ and the harp, by searching on YouTube, and it would be well worth your time to do so.

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