A/N: I just realized I wrote of Elizabeth practicing the piano at the parsonage and there's not one there… so I suppose they've focused on singing?
This is the first story I've gotten past 3 chapters so I tried to outline the remainder… and then immediately wrote something else entirely the last two chapters lol
More research has led me to the knowledge that hymns weren't used in the Church of England til 1830. They did sing but not hymns. It was tree chnically illegal.
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After dinner at Rosings the next day, Elizabeth went to the pianoforte with purpose as Hunsford did not have an instrument. Jane did not practice in mixed company nor was she cajoled by her family to do so, and easily resisted the entreaties of Lady Catherine and Mr Collins politely declining. Colonel Fitzwilliam soon came to share the piano bench and initiated a pleasant conversation which Elizabeth was amenable to provided it was brief, especially after she was invited to use the piano in Mrs Jenkinson's room which would have seemed ridiculous in another situation. As it was, she thanked Lady Catherine with the intention of beginning to practice daily. Jane was admonished to do the same, which she assured the lady that she had been and would continue to.
Mr Darcy approached the piano but said nothing. Elizabeth was more than happy to initiate a verbal spar and making sport of his behavior at the assembly they had met at. He attempted to explain his reservations, stating he had no talent for giving good first impressions. She countered him thus,
"I do not play this instrument as well as I should like, but I always thought that to be my own fault for I would not take the trouble of practicing"
He complimented her then, which was unexpected to her in the extreme and she found herself admitting that pleasing thought her performance may be, it would not do any good if she did not know more than a very few pieces.
"We are all beholden to the expectations of others yet it is impossible to hide one's flaws overlong, even to those we do not know intimately." She sighed.
"We may not be able to but many are practiced in such deceptions as you describe." Colonel Fitzwilliam added as the tone of the discussion shifted to completative. "It is unfortunate that one is required to be pleasant regardless of personal preference or circumstance."
"Disguise of any kind is my abhorrence."
"Indeed it is not anything as sinister as that! If one's preference is against dancing, good opinion could be garnered with intelligent discussion and the consideration of others' feelings. A person does not need to be disingenuous and hide the essence of their character to be pleasant in company."
Colornel Fitzwilliam turned away from her towards Mr Darcy such that she did not see his face but the standing gentleman removed himself from the conversation then without another word. Mr Bennet watched this all with intent but also amusement catching more than even his daughter had in the exchange.
The topic stayed in Elizabeth's mind until she was lying in bed. She had no success sleeping and remembered her mother's lullaby and recalled the simple and beautiful tune and lyrics translated from German (Mozart Weigeied K 350) which ran through her head:
Sleep dearest one be at rest
Birds are asleep in their nest
Forest and meadow are still
Folded the sheep on the hill
The moon appears in the sky
Holding her lantern on high
Clouds now are dream ships alight
Guarding your peace with starlight
Sleep little one be at rest
Lullaby, and be blessed
What made up one's essence? Was it accomplishments, behavior, or experiences? It must be all three. How to show that to best advantage? It must be without disguise.
Jane must not try to become someone new but show herself to best advantage. Focus on the quality of the singing, not the complexity and refinement of the pieces. Jane should perform something she knew and had grown up singing, their mother's lullaby.