“Oh dear, now I am nervous. I believe I am a competent singer, but I am not sure I am of the quality you may expect.”
“We shall soon see,” said Mark. “Of course, the first test is: can you read music?”
Elizabeth laughed. “Yes, I would hardly consider myself competent if I could not read music. In fact, I am quite versed in music theory, but it is the performance that is of concern, not how much I know about it. May I see what you would like me to sing?”
Mark led her over to the piano, where he picked up a sheet of music and handed it to her. It was a rather simple English love ballad she had sung as a solo, but which had been adapted as a duet where instead of just the woman singing about her love of her betrothed, the man and women were singing to each other about their love. “I have sung this as a solo, but never as a duet.”
She leaned down to the piano, struck the key that gave her beginning note, and quietly sang through the soprano part, which did not always have the melody. When she had finished, she said, “I believe I can sing this with no problem.
Margaret clapped her hands together. “Miss Elizabeth, I am hardly an expert critic of singing, but from what I heard, you are far more than an adequate soprano. You must have very high expectations of yourself. What do you think, Mark?”
He laughed. “When you said you were just competent, I had a moment of misgiving, but no more. That was excellent, Miss Elizabeth. This will sound far better than it would have, had I sung it with Cynthia, my sister. She is what I would call an adequate singer. You are an excellent singer. Let us give it a try. Peggy, why do you not sit and give us the introduction, and then, Miss Elizabeth, let us just go through it as if it is our performance. I have a feeling we will not need to sing it more than twice.”
He was correct. They sang it through once, at the end of which, he made some suggestions about dynamics and suggested some rewrite of their parts in a few measures. Elizabeth was impressed with his suggestions and readily concurred. When they had finished singing it through the second time, Margaret said, “That is incredibly beautiful. May I suggest that when you sing it, you relate to each other more? Instead of just standing side-by-side, facing the audience when you sing, could you hold hands and sing as if you were singing it to each other and emoting a little more. I think you would have the women in the audience in tears.”
Elizabeth grimaced. “Would that be proper? Would people not make assumptions about our relationship that were not true? I am not sure my aunt and uncle, who are my guardians, would approve of such a performance.”
Mark thought for a moment. “Would you be willing to try it that way once and see how it goes? This, of course, would require you allowing me to hold your hands.”
Elizabeth was torn. She had never done such a thing, but she could imagine that it would add something to the performance. Finally, she shrugged and said, “I am not sure it is proper, but let us try it. I have never done such a thing with a man, but I am known in Hertfordshire for being adventurous and occasionally breaking the rules.”
Even though she had no feeling for Mark, the intimacy of holding hands and looking in his eyes allowed her to imagine he was her lover, and it was surprisingly easy to create the emotion she thought the young woman singing the song would have. He was equally successful in acting his part, and when they were done, Margaret said, “That was absolutely beautiful. It even brought tears to my eyes. You two are natural actors. May I suggest we bring you aunt and uncle in here to hear this and see what they say?”
Once again Elizabeth was ambivalent. She had lost herself in the moment and truly enjoyed performing with Mark, but could she do it in public, or would she feel too awkward? She expressed her concerns to the other two and they discussed it and finally convinced her to let Mark go get her aunt and uncle.
While Mark was gone, Margaret said, “Miss Elizabeth, I am going to make a somewhat unusual request of you. You said you were known for being adventurous and occasionally breaking the rules. I have not. In fact, I am rather shy and rarely attend ton events and spend most of my time riding and practicing music. I have some good friends such as Cynthia and Mark and Penny, that is, Lady Penelope Sutherland, who lives next door, but they are much more gregarious than I am, and I rarely see Cynthia, who lives in Liverpool. You seem very different than most of the upper-class women I know or have met, and, for some reason, I have taken an immediate liking to you, which is quite unusual for me. Would you have any interest in pursuing a friendship?”
Elizabeth was somewhat surprised by Margaret’s request. She had never been asked to pursue a friendship. They had always naturally evolved as she got to know someone better through regular interactions. She had also taken a liking to Margaret and had sensed that she was not a particularly confident young lady. She tried to imagine what Margaret’s life must be like if she had to ask. “First of all, call me Lizzy, since that is what my friends call me, and I am always ready to have a new friend. I must admit, no one has ever asked me to be a friend, but I guess I can see that in a metropolitan environment like this, if you do not have neighbors of your age, gaining new friends might be difficult. I had not thought of that aspect of moving to London, but I can see it would be good to have a friend. However, you must remember that I am not a part of your social circle, and I will live in Cheapside when I am here, which is a part of town I suspect many of your class would not wish to visit. If you are willing to overlook those facts, I would love to be you friend.”
“Please call me Peggy, and I would have no problem going to Cheapside, because I have been there to your uncle’s warehouse several times. I have ridden down the residential area on Gracechurch Street, which my grandmother tells me is where your aunt and uncle live, and it seems like a very genteel area. I know it is unusual to ask, but I do not know how else to gain your friendship, because if we do not make an effort to get together occasionally, we would probably rarely see each other.”
“You know I will be leaving here in a couple of days and will not be back until spring, probably after my birthday on March 4th. But once I return, I will let you know and we can arrange to get together.”
“Is your return to Hertfordshire fixed or could it be delayed? In fact, I could probably arrange for your return. I would like to invite you to Denby House for a day or two, before my grandparents and I return to Devonshire, to Fallingwood, my grandparents’ estate.”
“I am here with my sister, Jane. I would have to talk with her about it. I believe she might like to spend a few more days with my aunt and uncle. If you could arrange to take us both back to Longbourn, I suppose it might be done.”
“I am sure I can. Let us talk about it with my grandparents. They are always concerned that I do not have more friends and am not more social. If you are sponsored by Lord and Lady Monttard, and we do become friends, I might be willing to attend more balls and parties if I could be there with someone such as you. Also, they are always asking me to perform, and I would much rather do it with someone I know.”
As she finished speaking, Mark reappeared with not only Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, but also Lord and Lady Denby, Margaret’s grandparents. “My grandparents, Lord and Lady Denby, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and Miss Bennet were all talking together and when I told them why I was there, everyone except my grandparents wanted to come. Actually, my grandparents wanted to come also, but it is almost five o’clock and the guests will be arriving soon. Matthew and I are supposed to be greeting guests with them, but they told me to join them as soon as we were finished. Lord and Lady Denby, may I introduce Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Miss Elizabeth, these are Lord and Lady Denby.”
After greeting were exchanged, Mark continued. “Let us get to it. I need to join my grandparents in the reception line. You can decide what you think once we have finished.”
After everyone had taken a seat, Mark and Elizabeth joined Margaret at the piano and after the short introduction by Margaret, they took each other’s hands, much to the surprise of those watching an
d sang the song as they had practiced, possibly with even more emotion than when they had sung it before. When they had finished, Mark excused himself and left, without saying anything.
There was silence in the room for a minute, after he left. Finally, Lady Denby said. “It was a rather unexpected performance, but I will admit, it was one of the most moving performances I have ever seen at an event such as this. I suppose we would think nothing of it if we were sitting at the opera house, observing an opera or at one of the other theaters, observing a musical show. The question is, since they are both young, unmarried persons of the ton, is it appropriate here? They certainly managed to make me feel, for the moment, that they were true lovers.”
“I believe,” said Mr. Gardiner, “that singing to each other, as they did, made it much more meaningful, but certainly does leave one with the impression they are a couple. It might dissuade some young men from asking you to dance, Lizzy.”
“I do not care about that, Uncle Edward. I worry more about the impact on Mr. Dumont. However, he does not seem to care; therefore, why should I? My first thought was that we should not perform it holding hands, but the more I think about it, the more I believe I would like to do it that way. If you have no objections, I believe that is the way we will do it.”
That being agreed, Margaret then said, “Grandmother, grandfather, I have asked Lizzy to visit me for two days next week. If Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet agree, would you mind if she visited Denby House and then we provided her and perhaps Miss Bennet transportation back to Hertfordshire?”
Lord and Lady Denby were delighted with the idea. They had been very impressed with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Jane and therefore assumed that Elizabeth would be a good companion for their granddaughter, whom they thought needed more friends. The Gardiners had no objections and said that they would be happy to send an express to Longbourn informing the Bennets of the delayed return of Elizabeth and Jane, who said she would not mind staying with the Gardiners for another two days. Therefore, it was decided Elizabeth would go to Denby House Sunday afternoon, when the girls had intended to return to Hertfordshire, and the Denbys would provide a carriage and an escort to take the girls back to Hertfordshire on Tuesday morning.
After that was settled, Margaret asked Elizabeth if there was a solo she might want to perform with harp accompaniment, to which Elizabeth answered she had not been invited to sing one. Lady Denby assured her that Lady Monttard would probably welcome the additional performance, because the usual trio by Mark, Matthew, and Cynthia Dumont would not occur. It was suggested that Elizabeth and Margaret work on one and if Lady Monttard wanted to use it, then she could, and it would give Margaret and Elizabeth a chance to know each other better. Somewhat reluctantly Elizabeth let herself be talked into it, primarily because she wanted an opportunity to know Margaret better. Therefore, they stayed until past 5:30 to work on an Irish song with words by Thomas Moore that required harp accompaniment. Not only did Elizabeth find she greatly enjoyed working and talking with Margaret, but Margaret convinced her that the song would be well received. Their time together caused Elizabeth to look forward with pleasure to the visit to Denby House.
Chapter 14: The Grand Tea Party – An Interesting Conversation
All the food was set out at six o’clock, at which time more people began arriving and by the time the performances were to be given a seven o’clock, there was a rather large crowd at the party. The dancing would follow the performances. By six o’clock, when Elizabeth, Margaret, Jane, Matthew, and Mark decided to eat together, Elizabeth wondered when Darcy would arrive. She need not have concerned herself, because as she was examining all the foods offered, she heard the familiar voice behind her say, “Miss Elizabeth, is there any chance a single man of good fortune might be allowed to eat with you.”
She turned and smiled at him, “I suppose I might be convinced, but only if you are willing to sit with Messrs. Mark and Matthew Dumont, Miss Farnsworth, and my sister.”
“I believe I can endure their company if they can endure mine. Are you meeting in the dining room?”
“No, we are sitting in the family dining room on the first floor.”
Ten minutes later, sitting around the table in the family dining room were Elizabeth, Jane, Margaret, Mark, Matthew, Darcy, Col. Fitzwilliam, Lord Vollenbrook, and Lady Penelope, the latter two who were the children of the Marquess and Marchioness of Willingham. “Darcy, I thank you for your suggestion that I sing with Miss Elizabeth,” said Mark. “I believe you will enjoy our duet. In fact, I have an idea you might wish you were singing the duet with her.”
“I hardly think that is the case, Mark. I am not a talented singer and am a bass. I am afraid I could not sing a tenor part such as you sing.”
“Ah, but I suspect when you hear and see us sing, you will wish you could.”
Seeing Elizabeth blush, Lady Penelope said, “What is it that you are suggesting Mark? Surely, the taciturn, imperturbable Darcy is not interested in a lady.”
“He is dancing the first and last dance with her, and he spoke highly of her when we spoke. And when I say highly, I mean highly.”
“Tell us, Fitzwilliam,” said Lord Vollenbrook. “What do you know about this?”
Colonel Fitzwilliam held his hands in front of him, palms out, as if holding off an attack. “Do not ask me. I just returned from France. I know nothing.”
“Perhaps we should ask the source. How about it, Darcy. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Why are you making so much out of two dances and a few kind words? I notice you all have asked her for a dance. I just asked her first. I have great admiration for Miss Elizabeth. Why should I not compliment her?”
“Because, except for us, whom you have known most of our lives, you have never expressed great admiration for a woman,” said Lady Penelope. “Can you add anything to this search for the truth, Miss Bennet?”
“Please. I am her sister. You can hardly expect me to tell you anything she does not want to tell you.”
Elizabeth, finally deciding she needed to say something, said, “You are all making too much of this. We met last fall when he was visiting his friend in Hertfordshire. Then again, when he happened to be at Pemberley when I went there with my aunt and uncle to visit Pemberley to admire the house and grounds. Thus, we have been together on occasion, so I suppose in that sense, we have a history.”
No one said anything for some time, just looking at the two of them, and Elizabeth could not help herself – she became self-conscious and to her consternation, could not stop a blush.
“Ha. You see that,” said Lord Vollenbrook. “She is blushing. I have a feeling there is more to this story that they are telling us.”
“Let her be,” said Margaret. “She obviously does not want to talk about it, and we know we will get nothing out of Darcy, so let us talk about something else.
“Very well,” said Mark. “Miss Elizabeth, I am told by my grandparents that they may sponsor you, so you can attend events of the ton, but they said nothing about you, Miss Bennet? Are you not interested in being sponsored?”
“No, I am not. Lizzy is much more educated and adventurous than I am and is always looking for new experiences and mountains to climb. I am content with my simple country life and society and do not particularly like London and all its hustle and bustle. I will admit, meeting and mingling with this group has been a pleasure, but I am still convinced that London high society is not for me.”
“That is interesting,” said Lord Vollenbrook. “because I suspect most of those in the British upper-class believe all country gentlewomen dream of coming to the big city, mingling with high society, and possibly finding their prince. We tend to believe ours is the only class where one can be truly satisfied with one’s life.”
“Lizzy and I, in our Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, have indisputable proof that such is not the case. There is not a happier couple in England, and they have no desire to be anything other than merchants.”
“Why are you seeking to be part of the ton, Miss Elizabeth?” asked Lady Penelope.
“I am not seeking to be a member, my Lady. As my sister implied, I have been highly educated and am interested in exploring new places and people. Attending ton events is an experience I would like to have, and it is a means to an end. I could find no suitable life partner in Hertfordshire or in London in the sphere my aunt and uncle usually move. My aunt suggested that perhaps there might a second or third son of some member of high society who will have a gentlemanly occupation such as lawyer, doctor, statesman, or gentleman farmer, whom I could love and respect and who would be willing to overlook my lack of wealth, connections, and impressive lineage.”
“Surely there must be some first sons you would consider?”
“I suppose there are, but I believe it is almost universally true in high English high society that first sons are expected to marry such that the family name is enhanced or, at least, not diminished. I do not believe a marriage between a woman such as me and a first son would work because my deficiencies in wealth, connections, family heritage, and probable resistance to or ignorance of some of the unwritten rules of high society would eventually put much stress on the marriage. I have seen what a marriage between two who are vastly unequal in status can do, and I do not want to emulate such a marriage.”
“But my family is an example of where that is not true,” said Mark. “My mother is the daughter of a ship’s captain ‒ not even the daughter of a gentleman. Theirs is a wonderful marriage. And never have our grandparents said anything to Matt or me about who we are expected to marry. As far as I know, their only requirement is that we be convinced that the person we are marrying is right for us. Is that not true, Matt?”
The Lady of the Mount and Patience Rewarded: Two Stories of Darcy and Elizabeth Page 31
