by Riana Everly
Mr. Darcy replied, “I see you are upset. No, I can see by the firm line of your mouth and the way you are holding your hands, and by the narrowness of your eyes, that you are more than upset. Your voice too, suggests to me what you are feeling. You are very angry, and rightfully so.”
“Darcy….” The name sounded like a threat to Elizabeth’s overhearing ears.
“Charles, please, hear me out. I cannot justify what I did, but I can explain myself to some degree. You will not believe me when I say it, but I really had your best interests at heart, no matter how very wrong I was in my conclusions. I have come to know myself somewhat better of late, and I am telling you this in part to right my wrong, and in part to further work towards bettering myself as a man. But my primary concern, and the reason I have risked your wrath and the loss of your friendship, is to reunite two people who should, by rights, make their own decisions regarding each other.
“Your angel—Miss Bennet—is in my house now. She is one of the company here tonight. I invited you with this knowledge, and only lately thought to alert you to her presence here. I am a poor friend, Charles, and a sorry excuse for a man at times, but if you will abide my company for this one night only, I would be pleased to introduce you to her family, who join her.”
Elizabeth heard a soft exhaling sound, most likely Mr. Bingley throwing himself into a chair. Then his voice came again, but without the cold knife-edge of fury. “Here? She is here? I must see her! Does she know…?”
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth has informed her that you were also invited. She would be pleased to see you.”
“She still wishes to see me? After I abandoned her… I mean, Netherfield? Well, take me up, man, take me up! I can vent my spleen on you later, but now I must see my angel!”
∞∞∞
The rest of the evening was surprisingly pleasant. Despite Elizabeth’s—and Jane’s—fears, there was very little discomfort felt when Mr. Bingley entered the salon where the family were sitting before the meal. Mr. Darcy had collected Elizabeth from the library, “where she was pursuing my collection of modern poetry,” he explained to his friend, and the three had then walked together to join the others.
Upon sighting Mr. Bingley, Jane turned red, then paled, and then offered him a tentative and shy smile, to which he responded with one of his beaming grins. Immediately after the necessary introductions and greetings, he walked right over to Jane, where he proceeded to pull her slightly away from the group and talk earnestly with her for the remaining time before dinner was announced. Mrs. Gardiner’s raised eyebrows were met with an arch smile on Elizabeth’s part, as Mr. Darcy observed this silent conversation with a slight and confused frown. “I shall explain later,” Elizabeth promised him, before taking his offered arm to be led to the dining room.
Conversation over the meal was light and convivial, with the group being small enough that all could participate should they wish it. Mr. Darcy sat at the head of the table, and Lady Philippa at the foot, with no deference to rank or status in between. Samuel was given the extreme honour of sitting at Mr. Darcy’s side, and the smile on the boy’s face was reward enough for any minor shortcomings in his contribution to the general discussion. Elizabeth was correct in her assessment that Samuel’s social abilities, with all the help he had received, were not even equal to where Mr. Darcy’s had been before she had begun the improvement exercises with him; Samuel would face a lifetime of struggle in this realm, no matter how far he had advanced. As much as the lad clearly wished to join in the discussion, it was evident that he was still unsure how to begin or what to say. This was, of course, his first foray into the bewildering world of adult dining outside of the comfort of his own home, and he was, in addition, the youngest at the table by some years. Maria, the next in age, was nearly five years older than he and for all her shyness, was accustomed to dining in company; this alone could explain his awkwardness. However, he was unable to find an appropriate entrée into the discussion, and would rather, in his attempt to join the conversation, utter whatever unrelated comments happened to be in his thoughts at the moment.
Despite these unsuccessful attempts, Mr. Darcy paid the lad great attention, entertaining his off-topic remarks with equanimity and giving all serious consideration to his comments, at no time seeming in the least condescending or dismissive. He did not seem at all perturbed to excuse himself from other conversations to hear what his young friend had to say and attempted most gently to draw the boy into the general conversation. Elizabeth was struck anew at how he genuinely seemed to enjoy the boy’s company. Indeed, at times he seemed so interested in what her young cousin was saying that he neglected the rest of the company for some minutes.
This kindness and unexpected sensitivity was not lost on either Mr. or Mrs. Gardiner, and it was clear that Mr. Darcy rose even higher in their estimations that evening than the exalted regard he had enjoyed before. Elizabeth was most pleased to see her student excelling so greatly at determining the unspoken needs of one of his guests, and at the obvious pleasure her favourite nephew was deriving from the experience. She was almost ready to forgive the man his thoughtlessness at inviting Mr. Bingley with so little warning to any of the concerned parties!
As for Mr. Bingley, he displayed every evidence of his good breeding and better nature, and allowed none of the barely contained fury from his interview with Mr. Darcy to impose upon his demeanour. He was cheerful and loquacious, asking after all the Bennet family and Meryton society in general with every indication of sincerity. He offered no excuses for his precipitous departure from the village the previous autumn, but did drop several hints that he might well be planning a return to Netherfield.
“My friend tells me you are to return to Hertfordshire soon, Miss Bennet,” he remarked to Jane as the soup dishes were being cleared from the table.
“Yes, yes I am. On Monday, Maria and I leave my aunt’s house to return to our homes. But I shall miss London,” she added quietly.
“Oh, I do hope you shall not miss it excessively!” cried Mr. Bingley warmly, “for I have heard Hertfordshire is most pleasant in the spring and summer. Most pleasant indeed! And should I wish to return, I would want pleasant company, and I know there is much of that to be found there!”
Jane did not speak, but her blush answered for her.
And thus the evening continued in as agreeable a manner as could be imagined.
There was little conversation in the carriage on the journey back to the Gardiners’ residence, for Samuel at last forgot his reticence and spoke at length and endlessly about the marvellous evening he had had. He was clearly so proud at being considered one of the adults in his new friend’s eyes, and recounted the most unexpected details from the visit, including the number of forks at the dinner table, the ratio of raisin tarts to lemon pies at tea after the meal, and the details of the great crystal chandelier that hung in the salon in which they had sat. From there, he diverted into a monologue on the intricacies of the crystals in said chandelier, although Elizabeth could not imagine when the lad had found the time to examine it so closely, and thence into a lecture on the uses of crystals and shaped glass in the science of optics.
“Mr. Darcy has a small study set aside exclusively for the study of lenses,” he announced, “and before I leave for Margate with Robert, he has offered to show me his collection. He said that Cousin Elizabeth and Mama are welcome to come as well, as is Robert. He then reminded me to ask Robert if lenses interested him as well, for I should have otherwise just brought him with me. There are several different types of lenses, including some fascinating parabolic lenses, which can gather light and focus it within the curve of the lens…” And on he spoke, until at last the carriage arrived at its destination and the Gardiners and their guests descended the stairs to return to the house, and thence to their beds.
As they sat talking quietly in Jane’s room later on, the Bennet sisters could not help but go over the events of the evening. “Oh, Jane!” Elizabeth paused while brus
hing out Jane’s long hair. “How pleased Mr. Bingley looked to see you once more. Shall I consider his future actions with respect to my favourite elder sister? For I believe I know all too well my sister’s thoughts towards him!”
“Lizzy, you must not do so.” Jane turned her head, causing Elizabeth to pause in her ministrations. “You must not suspect me. It mortifies me. I assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his conversation as an agreeable and sensible young man, without having a wish beyond it. I am perfectly satisfied, from what his manners now are, that he never had any design of engaging my affection. It is only that he is blessed with greater sweetness of address, and a stronger desire of generally pleasing, than any other man.”
“You are very cruel,” said her sister, “you will not let me smile, and are provoking me to it every moment.”
“How hard it is in some cases to be believed!”
“And how impossible in others! But Jane, tell me, is he what you remembered? Is he as pleasant, his manners as friendly? His attentions to you unchanged?”
The elder Miss Bennet sighed and took the brush from her sister’s hand as she turned her attention back to her long hair. “Oh, Lizzy, he truly is everything I might desire. But I cannot think of that, not now. He gave no indication of any special regard…”
Elizabeth laughed. “If I do not see him back at Longbourn within a week of your return, I shall be very surprised indeed!”
Chapter Sixteen
An Unfortunate Event
Jane and Maria departed the following Monday for home as they had planned, leaving Elizabeth as the sole guest in the Gardiner house. The children were particularly pleased that she remained, for as much as they loved Jane’s sweetness and loving nature, Cousin Lizzy was, to be blunt, much more fun! Jane was the perfect person to introduce her young cousins to the niceties of tea parties and how to look lovely in every setting, but Lizzy would sit on the floor over two opposing armies of tin soldiers, or would don a smock and make mud pies and sail paper boats in the birdbath that adorned the back garden. Her cousins adored her and she them, and she was sufficiently helpful to both her aunt and Miss Pierce, whom she counted as a friend, that everyone expressed hopes that she might stay indefinitely.
Samuel was now off school for the holidays, and was awaiting only the break that his friend’s father had arranged before he would join Robert’s family on their seaside trip. This was to be a week hence, and knowing the plan, Mr. Darcy made a point of coming every morning to visit his young friend. That Elizabeth was to be present seemed only to increase his enthusiasm for the visits. As per his previous habit, he would visit first with young Samuel, when the two would discuss such matters of interest to them and them alone, before attempting to become more socially adept in order to visit with the ladies of the house.
“You had, before, taken Tuesdays and Thursdays for your own affairs, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth teased as they walked in the park after tea. The sun was unusually bright this particular day, and Mr. Darcy was wearing an odd pair of spectacles with coloured lenses which she had never before seen. Miss Pierce and the children raced ahead to try the paper boats they had recently completed, with a promise to feed the birds and ducks afterwards, leaving Elizabeth to quiz her companion in some privacy. “And yet,” she continued her question, “today is Tuesday and you are here. Is it only to make my young cousin happy?” Mr. Darcy had brought Cabal at the request of Samuel, and the addition of a four-footed member to their party had brought high spirits to all the children and had brought to Lizzy’s awareness once again how much her companion’s behaviour changed according to his levels of comfort in his society. The dog was certainly an asset in helping Darcy maintain his relaxed and friendly disposition. How the birds would respond to Cabal’s presence was a question yet to be resolved.
The gentleman chuckled. “Master Samuel’s happiness has a direct influence upon your own, Miss Elizabeth, and your happiness is of great interest to me.”
“Very prettily said, sir!” she returned with a light voice. “But surely you have business that needs attending.”
“Indeed, I do. However, I find that for short periods, I am able to discharge the most necessary of my affairs in the later hours of the day. I have planned my schedule, and if I adhere to it strictly, I am in no danger of neglecting my obligations.” They walked for a few moments, enjoying the warm sunlight and the light breezes that stirred the verdant spring foliage around them, then Mr. Darcy continued, “But I admit I shall miss Samuel when he is away. You might think me strange for entertaining the friendship of a twelve-year-old boy, but the truth of the matter is, I enjoy his company. He is most intelligent and his youth reminds me that I need not carry the weight of the world upon my shoulders. I have never before known someone who thinks as I do, and who finds the same fascination in those areas that consume me. His facility with numbers is marvellous to behold, and his comprehension of statistical probability rivals my own.”
“You are a modest man, Mr. Darcy.”
“No, I do not believe I am… Oh, you are teasing me! There is no need for false modesty when one knows one’s abilities are superior. It is not boastful, merely factual. But once more, I beg we return to the topic. He has become interested in my collection of lenses, which delights me, for few other people will spend so many hours examining the properties of these gems.”
“Lenses such as the ones you wear now?” Elizabeth could not help but wonder if Mr. Darcy’s spectacles had inspired his interest in the subject, or if it had been the reverse.
“These are not lenses in the true sense of the word,” he replied in a voice that brought to mind a stern governess delivering a lecture on some obscure aspect of German grammar. “These do not bend light, for they are but plain tinted glass. I wear them for the benefit of the green colour, which helps to diminish the extreme brightness of the sunlight as it reflects off the water. When I heard of today’s plans and saw the sky, I chose to wear them in an attempt to lessen the brilliance of the light, which can trouble me. I had this pair made by my uncle’s spectacles-maker after the practice of the Venetians, who live surrounded by such reflections of light on the water, and after the style of the actor Carlo Goldoni. Signore Goldoni was…”
He seemed ready to engage upon another monologue, but Elizabeth stayed him with a touch to his arm. He turned to her, his mouth open to continue speaking, but then took a breath and paused. “Yes. I see by your eyes—how they flit away and then return in an unnatural manner, as if you are forcing yourself to maintain your regard—that you are losing interest. Your smile, too, is not the relaxed smile of true mirth, but is somehow stiff and forced. See, I am an adept student, am I not? Mild disinterest. I am learning this expression well. I have said enough to satisfy your curiosity, but any more would be excessive. May I continue in my explanation of what I have proposed to Samuel and his friend?”
Elizabeth nodded with a wide smile. He was an adept student! “Please, sir, my interest in that is genuine.”
And continue he did. “Samuel, Robert, and I have discussed adding mirrors to lenses as well, to make spyglasses that can see around corners, or to use the properties of parabolic lenses to enhance one’s vision at night or in dark spaces. I know full well that this is of limited fascination to many people. However, Samuel is as taken with such interests as lenses as I am. This is why I value his friendship. We understand one another.”
“And I am most truly pleased, sir. He is a fine young man and I am glad he has a friend in you.”
“Then,” Mr. Darcy turned fully to face Elizabeth, “I hope you will join us when Samuel comes on Thursday to my work room to see my collection and to start construction on the periscope we have discussed. I have presented the invitation to your uncle and aunt, and through them to Samuel’s friend Robert and his parents. It may not be of the greatest interest to you, but perhaps I can tempt you with a selection of books to read whilst we work.” His voice was so serious and intent that Elizabeth had no choice but
to laugh indulgently and reply that she would be most happy to accompany her cousin.
By now they had reached the pond, which was indeed brilliant with a thousand spangles of reflected light. As the children watched their boats sail across the sparkling water, Elizabeth began to wish that she, too, was in possession of a pair of tinted spectacles, for the glare off the water was distracting in its intensity! But the children seemed not to be bothered in the slightest, and even Samuel laughed and dashed about with a carefree smile upon his face that seemed quite unaffected by the brightness. His boat lost to his brother’s, but he contented himself by holding onto Cabal’s lead and scratching the hound’s head at intervals, to the apparent pleasure of both boy and dog.
When the experiment with the boats was complete, Miss Pierce lived up to her promise and handed small sacks of seed to the younger Gardiner children. Lizzy and Mr. Darcy chatted lightly with the governess as the children tossed the seeds to the waiting pigeons and waterfowl, at first one piece at a time, and then as their excitement grew, in greater quantities. Through this, Samuel stood aside under the shade of one of the large trees, lush with the bright green foliage of ripe springtime, one hand holding Cabal’s lead, the other resting on the dog’s furred head, as the beast sat calmly at his side.
“How well they get along together!” Lizzy directed Mr. Darcy’s attention to the pair—boy and dog—in the shade of the tree, just a step away from the noisy children and the hungry birds, and yet a world apart. “I must talk to my aunt again to see if a pet dog could fit into the household. Perhaps you will have some advice for her on the best breeds. I imagine he would do better with one that is large and calm rather than an active sort of a pet.”
