Fault or Virtue: An Imaginative Retelling of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'

by April Karber

  “That is to relieve headaches,” her eyes followed his finger moving down the list, “sore throat, easy sleep…” he stopped at her request of bouillon. Elizabeth delighted Darcy with yet another laugh and explained, “and that is her favorite soup, Mr. Bingley.”

  Bingley colored and smiled, “Ah, of course. Bouillon. If I may, I will see if my kitchen is stocked with any of these things. Bouillon, I am sure I can get you very shortly.”

  “I cannot thank you enough, Mr. Bingley.” “It is my pleasure, Miss Elizabeth. I only hope that you’re taking enough care of yourself. I would not wish you becoming ill looking so diligently after your sister.”

  Darcy began before he could catch himself, “My friend is right, Miss Elizabeth. It would not do to have two sick Bennets under our roof. We could not be so fortunate as to have bouillon be your favorite soup also, and so we would be quite ill-equipped to care for you if you found yourself too indisposed to make more lists.”

  Elizabeth arched her brow and fixed him with a serious gaze, “And so what do you suggest, Mr. Darcy?”

  “I know you are fond of walking. I suggest the side garden, Miss Elizabeth, and then perhaps a nice book.”

  “Wonderful, Darcy!” Bingley proclaimed.

  Elizabeth found herself caught in Darcy’s unreadable look, and so had neither protest, nor gratitude to voice. She could only silently wish that Miss Bingley would not accompany them nor find out.

  Chapter 10 In ten minutes time, Elizabeth found herself quite alone with Mr. Darcy. The pleasantness of the walk made up for the lack of conversation, and time passed quite nicely.

  Darcy wondered at Elizabeth’s failure to inquire as to his hasty return. He had imagined, or worried rather, that the course of their conversation would go just as they had in the past. When Elizabeth had been brought before them upon her arrival Darcy was reminded of when she had referred to Caroline as his Miss Bingley. He and Charles had seen enough of Caroline’s behavior to discount it, but to a stranger, a perceptive stranger, her behavior was embarrassing and ill mannered. He hoped the perceptive Miss Elizabeth would also gather that he had no intentions towards Miss Bingley. Either way, he realized, it didn’t matter. Miss Elizabeth may believe what she likes, and it can be of no consequence to me.

  “You are quiet this morning, Miss Bennet,” he threw her a sidelong glance that was met with a smile.

  “You are always quiet, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps I wanted to try it for myself.”

  ! #%! Darcy took a long breath in, savoring the feeling of again finding himself in Miss Elizabeth’s company.

  “And what have you surmised?”

  “It offers me minimal opportunity for laughter.” They lapsed into silence again,

  and Elizabeth grew worried she had offended him. “By the turn of our last conversation, I did not think you would be returning to Netherfield.” “You should be at no loss as to why I have returned, Miss Elizabeth.” He fixed her with a steady gaze that made her cheeks warm, but she could not help thinking of Miss Bingley.

  “You’re right, Mr. Darcy,” she could not afford to miss the opportunity this presented, “Miss Bingley has made your reasons for returning quite clear.”

  Damn, Darcy cursed himself for allowing Caroline’s behavior to continue, yet he had already done everything in his power to persuade her to give up hope. No other woman of the ton was this persistent. Nor could they be, as no one else had a brother to which Darcy was a close friend. I must reply with something clever so as to change the subject, he realized.

  “I must have improved my conversations skills since last we met, for you are finding ample reasons to laugh.”

  “Perhaps I only have Miss Bingley to thank for that,” she noted the touch of defensiveness in her voice and hoped that he would not catch it.

  Darcy was too busy silently cursing himself again to notice.

  “Then I must thank her also, for it is a pleasure indeed to hear you.” I will be safe with one compliment, will I not? Perhaps it will save me from some more japes about Caroline Bingley.

  She reflected over his meaning but concluded that if he meant anything serious by it, she’d rather not know. Serious discussions rarely had an opportunity for humor. Some, she found fortunate enough to be riddled with ridiculousness, but she was beginning to think that Darcy was less absurd than she originally thought. Or maybe, she reasoned, she had begun to look upon everyone differently in light of her acquaintance with Mr. Collins. For who could appear so in comparison with that man?

  She fixed him with a serious face and replied, “Besides the infrequent opportunity to catch the sound of my laughter, Mr. Darcy, what has brought you back to Netherfield?” He looked slightly frustrated at her maneuver of the conversation, and took a second to reply.

  “A very wise woman of my acquaintance said that one’s opinion of a place would strengthen and improve with the length of his stay. I have come to hope this is true,” he flashed her with a reserved smile, “And I hope also that the inhabitants of such a place will come to soften their opinion of such a blind, stubborn, and boorish visitor.”

  She waited for the shock of his words to ware off. She was flattered that he had remembered her words and that they could have had such an effect on him. His pleasant manner of speaking and his gentle stare began to have quite an effect on her as well. Who is this gentleman and where was he hiding when we first met?

  “Blind would have been perhaps the best way to view the people of Meryton at their best, Mr. Darcy. Deaf ears would certainly recommend us also.”

  ! #&! Darcy chuckled and looked at his feet before meeting her eyes and replying, “Ah, but I have already stated my preference for the sound of your laughter.” She is stunning when she blushes, I must remember that.

  Elizabeth felt as if she cheeks would remain red all day, and worried that her discomposure might be noticed. She therefore attempted to hide her face behind her book, but soon found Miss Bingley’s rather one-sided conversation with Mr. Darcy to be too diverting to continue the act.

  “Did you notice the abundance of violets in the garden this morning, Mr. Darcy?” Caroline asked after she had gleaned disappointing results from the other topics that had been raised.

  She knows! Elizabeth realized. Since her and Mr. Darcy had not been disturbed on their walk in the garden, Elizabeth had assumed Miss Bingley remained unaware of the outing. Had she been watching them? Though there had been nothing unusual about the walk, Elizabeth doubted this would improve Caroline’s opinion of her.

  “I do not know if I noticed that flower specifically, but I did note that the garden was looking particularly beautiful this morning.” It had been Darcy’s longest answer yet, and he had even put down his quill to answer her. His eyes briefly met with Elizabeth’s and she could not make out the meaning of his glance.

  “Violets are a favorite of your sisters, are they not, Mr. Darcy?” pride seeped through Caroline’s voice as she cut the eye contact between them.

  “I believe they were the last I heard the topic mentioned in her presence, Miss Bingley.” Elizabeth would swear that Mr. Darcy had emphasized her name.

  This is interesting! Thought Elizabeth. She was unsure about their relationship thus far. Caroline’s opinion was obvious, but Darcy’s was less discernable. At the assembly Elizabeth had thought that by the similar looks of dissatisfaction on their faces that they were destined for one another, but perhaps she was wrong. Mr. Darcy seemed a little different now, after the walk. Could the favoritism be one-sided? Poor Miss Bingley! She thought. No, Elizabeth realized, poor Mr. Darcy!

  “I had asked that they be especially planted in the garden in case she accompanied you, Darcy. Did I not, Charles? I am sad she could not join you. Charles and I quite adore spending time with her.”

  I would be safe forgetting anyone’s name in the room if I have Miss Bingley in my company. Elizabeth found that Miss Bingley often used her brother’s name in order to garner his acquiescence, and often repeated it.


  “My sister would be pleased to hear that,” Darcy said, “but I must admit that I never thought of bringing her here. She is not yet out and it will not do to have her mingling with society that I am unfamiliar with.” He resumed his letter. Elizabeth was touched by the obvious devotion to his sister. Caroline, however, found a different way to interpret his meaning.

  “You were quite right, Mr. Darcy. I could not see her amongst this society at all.” She shot a glance at Elizabeth and was struck by her complexion, “My, Miss Elizabeth! What can you be reading? You look decidedly out of sorts.” Elizabeth’s embarrassment grew as the object of her thoughts turned to study her. If she means to humiliate me, then I must avoid being so.

  ! #'! “I have merely caught up in the amusement a good book can bring, Miss Bingley.” Elizabeth saw Darcy’s eyes narrow and return to his letter.

  “Miss Eliza is a great walker and reader, rarely finding time for anything else, is

  that true?” Miss Bingley barked rather forcefully.

  “I deserve no such praise nor such censure.”

  Miss Bingley, dissatisfied, turned away and gave up the attack.

  “Miss Darcy is simply one of the most accomplished women of my acquaintance.

  Wouldn’t you agree, Charles?” She began to shuffle through the variety of music sheets

  lying on the pianoforte.

  “I would, absolutely,” he replied to his sister’s provocation, adding, “It is amazing

  to me that young women are all accomplished as they are.”

  “What do you mean, Charles?” Caroline said, spinning around in a fury that

  suggested she wanted to hear no more on the subject.

  Unaware, or too accustomed to his sister’s fury, Bingley replied innocently,

  “They all paint tables and net purses, paint, sing, and play. It is more than I can do, to be

  sure.”

  “The word is applied too liberally, Bingley. Accomplished must extend beyond

  the common tasks and talents of a young lady,” said Darcy, rising momentarily from his

  writing desk.

  “You must comprehend a great deal on the subject,” said Elizabeth, setting down

  her book.

  “I do.”

  “Indeed,” cried Caroline on his behalf, strutting about the room. “After all, his

  sister is a lady allowed the term. I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen

  women who are truly accomplished. Why, one must have a thorough knowledge of

  music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages to deserve the word; and she

  must possess a certain something in her air and manner of speech and the way in which

  she carries herself or the word would be but half deserved.”

  “And to all this she must add the improvement of her mind by extensive reading,”

  finished Darcy.

  “I no longer wonder at your knowing only six accomplished women,” Elizabeth

  said, exasperated. “I rather wonder at your knowing any.”

  “Are you so severe upon your own sex?”

  “I never saw such a women. She would be a rather fearsome thing to behold, I

  think.”

  Elizabeth could not hear the specifics of Caroline’s retaliation over the roar of

  Bingley’s laughter, but she did spy a slip of a smile flash across Darcy’s face. How can he voice such preposterous opinions one moment and nearly laugh when

  I counter it? When does he truly mean what he says?

  When Caroline saw that the battle was lost, she sat down at the small pianoforte

  and began to play. Elizabeth was unsurprised to find that she was a skillful player, but

  that she played without much feeling. It was a lively Scottish tune, one that Elizabeth

  knew she would not be able to concentrate on her book through.

  “Do you not wish to take such an opportunity to dance a reel, Miss Elizabeth?”

  Mr. Darcy startled her by asking.

  What could he mean?

  ! #(! “You want me, I’m sure, to say ‘yes,’ that you may have the pleasure of despising my taste; but I always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt.”

  “Oh?” he asked in obvious surprise at her response. “I will therefore tell you that I do not want to dance a reel at all; and now despise me if you dare.”

  There was too much sweetness in her teasing manner and so, no, he did not dare.

  “Indeed I do not. Nor is it possible for me to do so, Miss Elizabeth.” He bowed and returned to his writing desk like a dog with his tail between his legs. He comes looking for a fight, and bows out like a gentleman, she thought. Why can he not choose one motive or the other?

  Miss Bingley ended her song early, having seen the two conversing, and so requested that Elizabeth take a turn about the room with her.

  “You are fond of walking, I know,” she said, before offering her arm. “Tell me, Miss Elizabeth, have you ever been to London?”

  “Many times, Miss Bingley. My dear aunt and uncle live outside of London, and Jane and I visit as often as we can.”

  “It is a wonder we have not met before, at some ball or other.”

  “On the contrary, we venture out very little, preferring to spend time with our family when we are there. Occasionally we have gone to shows, but we usually stay in Cheapside.”

  “Cheapside? Yes, I’m familiar with the place.” Miss Bingley got what she wanted from this little conversation and so remained quiet for a time, preferring to let her brother and Mr. Darcy consider their conversation for a moment. Once they had gone around the room a few more times, however, Caroline saw it necessary to involve Mr. Darcy.

  “Won’t you walk with us, Mr. Darcy?”

  Elizabeth wished for his refusal, not wishing to be ignored while Caroline fussed over him.

  “I believe I would get in your way, Miss Bingley.”

  “What can he mean, Miss Eliza?” Caroline asked.

  “Either,” Mr. Darcy answered for himself, “you are in each other’s confidence or you are aware that your figures appear to the greatest advantage while walking. If the first, I shall be an interruption, if the second, I can admire you much better from here.”

  “Shocking, Mr. Darcy!” Caroline inhaled sharply while her brother laughed raucously.

  As usual, Elizabeth did not hide her wide smile, which, for the moment, matched Caroline Bingley’s.

  On their next and last turn about the room, Elizabeth’s eyes again locked with Mr. Darcy’s as he momentarily lifted his gaze from his letter and she found herself caught in an eager look that she did not quite understand.

  A while later, Elizabeth moved undisturbed through the house towards the library. It had been a few hours after supper, and so she felt assured that she would meet no one along the way. She had waited with Jane until she fell into a peaceful sleep, but found no such rest for herself. She slipped quietly into the library once she reached the door.

  ! #)! “Miss Elizabeth,” breathed Darcy in surprise, causing her to jump. “Mr. Darcy! I did not know you would be here!” He was alone, she realized. They

  were alone.

  “I did not mean to frighten you! Do come in, I should not have startled you.” “It was not your fault, Mr. Darcy.” She joined him in the library, still shaken from

  his unexpected appearance. For all his politeness, he still made her uncomfortable. She searched in vain for a book that would interest her so as to have an excuse to quit his presence.

  “How is your sister?” He asked after a moment.

  “She is very well, thank you.”

  “And are you comfortable here as well?”

  She almost felt guilty as she recalled her frenzied attempt to find a book so that

  she might get away from him. He had been all politeness since his return, just as Jane had wished. “I am, Miss Bingl
ey has been most kind in her attentions to our comfort.” Physical comfort, at least. Darcy smiled, as if he read her mind and she sought to change the subject. “I believe we will be on our way home and out of your way in no time.”

  “Your company is very welcome, Miss Elizabeth. It is a pity it is not due to less unfortunate circumstances. Time has passed very agreeably since you came.”

  This is unexpected! She studied him for a sign of jest. Upon the closer study that she was allowed at Netherfield, she found that Darcy did not possess the alacrity that Miss Bingley had for cutting remarks as she had once thought. And as much as she felt she should disagree with him about enjoying her time here, she found that she could not. She would miss Netherfield, she realized. She would miss the intelligent conversation. She would even miss Miss Bingley’s slights, or at least, those that afforded her some humor.

  “You are too kind, Mr. Darcy.” It occurred to her to show him equal civility by inquiring after his sister. “How is Miss Darcy?” She hoped she did not sound too much like Miss Bingley.

  “She is well and enjoying a well deserved reprieve from her studies.”

  “I am relieved to hear that even accomplished women are given leave from their learning,” she replied playfully, raising an eyebrow. She was always left to wonder at Mr. Darcy’s true opinions once Caroline Bingley had a share of the conversation. An exchange would not cease, it seemed, until Caroline was assured that everyone agreed with her. Darcy seemed to obscure his own opinions beneath sly humor and exaggerated opinion. So between Caroline and Darcy, Elizabeth was left to wonder what Mr. Darcy thought of truly accomplished women.

  “I know as few, or as many, accomplished women as Miss Bingley claims to know. Though I do not think we agree on whom these women are nor why they deserve the word. My sister is one of them, though I am aware such an opinion is biased.”

  “I do not hold it against you, Mr. Darcy. Though I do not know your sister and therefore cannot agree with you, I can say that I know she at least lucky to have such a doting brother.”

  “I believe you would get along quite nicely, Miss Elizabeth, if you should ever chance to meet.” Despair returned, having once again been reminded that Elizabeth would never meet his sister.