Elizabeth Bennet's Impertinent Letter

by J P Christy

  “Of course, Miss Bennet is—” Bingley began to answer for Jane but stopped when he saw Elizabeth’s stern look. “Well, Miss Bennet is quite able to speak for herself,” he mumbled.

  Jane gave him a single nod. “I suspect we ladies feel the weight of our responsibilities differently than gentlemen do, for in some ways our lives are less our own. Still, we Bennets have some sense of the hearts of our sisters. Thus, one way in which we show our care for each other is to tell our true opinions when a gentleman expresses an interest in one or another of us.”

  Elizabeth nodded, her eyes twinkling. “A lady’s challenge is discovering the true heart of a suitor. She must also find the balance between showing her interest and adhering to the dictates of propriety. It is a delicate dance, and if she makes an error in judgment, she can only hope to have an opportunity to rectify her error.” Abruptly, she stood and shook out her skirt. “Well, I must tidy myself before Mama sees me. Enjoy your garden party.” She curtsied and walked to the house.

  Darcy could not take his eyes off her. Is she encouraging me? Is she saying that if I offered for her, she would accept me?

  Upon observing Darcy’s stare, a frown of concern wrinkled Jane’s brow. She turned to Mr. Bingley and touched his arm. “As we have finished with tea, would you be so kind as to carry the tray for Kitty? Mr. Darcy gallantly delivered our refreshment; I do not wish to burden him twice.”

  “Certainly, Miss Bennet.” Bingley was bewildered but willing.

  “Thank you, sir, and thank you, Kitty. Mr. Darcy and I will follow.” Kitty and Bingley suspected they were being sent away, but Jane’s manner did not invite questions. Thus, Kitty walked with Bingley as he carried the tea tray back to the house.

  Darcy assumed Jane wanted a private word with him, but he felt no trepidation, believing she had accepted his apology. Rising, he offered her his arm. She tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, and they followed the others at distance. “I appreciate your earlier apology, sir, and I hope you will forgive my forwardness; however, your willingness to speak frankly has inspired me. There is a difficult subject I must mention, as the happiness of a most beloved sister is at stake.”

  Oh, no—is she aware of my terrible proposal? Stop. Breathe. Do not assume! He assured her solemnly, “You have my full attention, Miss Bennet. Of which sister do you speak?”

  “Of Elizabeth, at whom you stared from the moment she appeared until the moment she left.”

  “Ah.”

  “When you were last in Hertfordshire, you tended to watch Lizzy in a disapproving manner. In fact, she believed you were examining her to find fault. Thus, I respectfully request that if Lizzy or others in my family disappoint you, do not feel obligated to accompany Mr. Bingley when he calls on us. Of course, you and your delightful sister are always welcome at Longbourn, but if you are not comfortable in our company, I would spare Lizzy, indeed, I would spare you both—”

  “I promise you I do not look upon Eliz—Miss Elizabeth with disapprobation. Indeed, my … my … my feelings are quite the opposite of what you think. I greatly esteem your charming sister. Good heavens, is my expression truly so severe, so—”

  “You esteem her?” Jane gave an embarrassed laugh. “I am astonished! Forgive me, but I saw nothing in your countenance that implied approval.”

  Darcy felt the irony of their situation. Jane Bennet cannot stop smiling and, apparently, I cannot stop scowling. She can no more read my feelings than I could read hers! “In the months I have known Miss Elizabeth, I have developed a sincere admiration for her. Each time we are in company, my admiration increases.”

  “Does Lizzy know of your feelings?”

  Hearing the doubt in her voice, Darcy said, “I broached the topic with her at Rosings.”

  “Oh, my goodness—I do apologize for speaking out of turn!” She blushed prettily. “You see, Lizzy has a more sensitive heart than many realize, and she has endured much from our own mother since refusing Mr. Collins. I do not want my sister to be slighted or disrespected.”

  Images of Elizabeth flashed through Darcy’s mind: her fierce defense of her family; her arch looks and teases; her distress at dancing with Mr. Collins at the ball last November. He assured Jane, “I have no thought of slighting Miss Elizabeth, and I commend you for your care of each other. She is as protective of your feelings as you are of hers. And as you can imagine, there is nothing I would not do to defend my own sister.”

  “Then you understand my heart in this matter.”

  “I do, madam. And I must learn to compose my expression so that others, most especially your sister, know I am happy to be in their company.”

  They had nearly reached the front door of the house when Jane, after a pause, said, “If I may make a suggestion, Mr. Darcy.”

  “Please do.”

  “Perhaps you could smile occasionally.”

  He chuckled. “I think that is excellent advice.”

  “I am glad you came to visit today,” Jane said, releasing his arm and giving him a smile.

  Why did I ever think this lady to be dull and passionless? When Darcy smiled in return, Jane’s expression became even brighter. He assured her, “I, too, am glad. You have been very kind and most informative. Would you please tell Bingley that I have returned to Netherfield?”

  “Of course.”

  He bowed. “Until we meet again, which I hope will be soon.” She responded with a graceful curtsy. As Darcy was mounting his horse, Kitty and Bingley emerged from the house; he tipped his hat to all and rode away.

  “Jane, I shall finish collecting petals,” Kitty said and returned to the rose bushes.

  Bingley offered Jane his arm. “When I saw Darcy here, I was jealous. Do I sound foolish?”

  What would Lizzy reply to that? Jane wondered, taking his arm. “Foolish? Oh no, sir. Indeed, can you be certain you have no cause for such feelings?”

  Alarmed, Bingley studied her face, and she gave him an arch look to rival any of Elizabeth’s. Grinning, he asked, “Have you been taking lessons from Miss Elizabeth, too?”

  “I do not take your meaning, sir.”

  “Rumor has it she has inspired impertinence in Darcy’s sister and his cousin Anne. As to your question,” his voice was suddenly serious, “I would not be surprised if all the men in Hertfordshire formed a line around Longbourn to woo you. And, yes, I would be jealous, and I would be angry with myself anew for having wandered away from you. Then I would join the line of would-be suitors and fight my way to the front. Actions, Miss Bennet. Actions, not words.”

  ≈≈≈

  May 31, 1811

  Early on Friday afternoon in Mr. Bennet’s study, Elizabeth and her father discussed the needed repairs for the Morgan’s barn. After decisions were made, however, she remained seated, a pensive look on her face. Her father asked, “Is there another matter on your mind?”

  “Papa, the Netherfield party will be arriving shortly, and Lydia —once again—is nowhere to be found. Is she truly so upset over the loss of George Wickham that she feels it is her duty to snub our guests? For my part, I cannot look at Mr. Wickham without thinking of his deceits and slanders.”

  “We have all endured Lydia’s recitations of the injustices that man suffered at the hands of the Darcys, but I suspect the girl is using him as an excuse to punish our family.”

  “Oh? I confess I do not feel punished by her absence. It is awkward when she ignores our guests, but it is worse when she greets them rudely. What is she about?”

  “As the baby of the family, Lydia received extra attention from you girls and Mrs. Bennet. Lately, however, the rest of you are occupied with more important matters than amusing a child who happens to inhabit the body of fifteen-year-old. Kitty no longer follows her around, and Mary never did. Recall that one of Lydia’s few ambitions is to be the first Bennet daughter to marry, but she fears you and Jane will find husbands before she does. There is an air of resentment in her manner, don’t you think?”

  “Yes,
but what part does her passionate defense of Wickham play in all this?”

  “If she tells herself and us that she stands alone in defending the poor, misunderstood fellow, then her petty behavior takes on a noble sheen. The truth is, her older sisters have grown up, but she is not ready to do the same.”

  “Foolish, foolish girl!”

  “In my experience, there is little one can do to convince another to be sensible and mature,” Mr. Bennet said, and Elizabeth suspected he was lamenting his inability to shape the direction of his wife’s behavior as well as that of his youngest daughter. He continued, “I doubt Lydia will be truly happy until she can make a spectacle of herself in some public setting.”

  “What are we to do?”

  “If you have a suggestion, Lizzy, I am all ears.”

  Sighing, she could only offer a helpless shrug.

  ≈≈≈

  In the parlor at Longbourn, Georgiana and Kitty were creating new bonnets from old ones and bantering cheerily, as Elizabeth and Darcy played chess. Although the chess partners bantered less, they were equally—if not more—aware of the growing amity between them. Speaking so only Elizabeth could hear, Darcy said, “You did not tell Miss Bennet of my proposal.”

  “I consider it a private matter. I also feared inadvertently revealing your influence over Mr. Bingley, and I did not want Jane to think ill of either of you.”

  A good sign! Darcy assured himself. “Apparently, Miss Bennet did not tell you of my apology to her yesterday.”

  “Indeed, she did not!” Elizabeth said in a surprised whisper.

  “I revealed my part in Bingley’s absence and admitted my regret. Perhaps your sister did not want you to think ill of me.”

  Without thinking, Elizabeth blurted, “Jane was not unaware of my complaints about you—oh dear, that was very rude of me!”

  “How did I reach my present age without realizing what a poor impression I make?” Darcy said with a chuckle.

  “You are not offended?”

  “I would have been once. Now I am merely thankful that you, your family, and Bingley are willing to give me another chance to be the man I thought I was.”

  “Well, in all fairness, sir, you showed me I did not know myself so well as I thought. Thus, I am grateful you have given me a second chance. That is, if Jane and Mr. Bingley do marry, I do not want awkwardness between us.” Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, “How did you know I did not tell Jane of your offer?”

  “Your sister believed I was searching for faults when I gazed at you, so in the most gracious manner possible, she said I should not feel obligated to join Bingley when he visits Longbourn.”

  Elizabeth gasped. “I am embarrassed she felt the need to confront you, yet I am proud of her boldness. Mr. Bingley’s return seems to have inspired a resoluteness of character that will serve her well, particularly in her dealings with Mr. Bingley’s sisters.”

  “While I did not tell Miss Bennet of my offer—revealing or concealing it is your choice—I did assure her that I admire you.”

  “After I abused you so abominably? You are a forgiving man!”

  Suddenly, Mary and Ainsworth burst in. “Cassandra and Martin Laidlaw have disappeared,” she said breathlessly. “Please come help us look for them!”

  Elizabeth and Darcy rose as one. “Of course,” said Elizabeth.

  “How long have they been gone?” Darcy asked.

  “Perhaps an hour,” Ainsworth replied. “Mary and I searched the Laidlaw’s farm, but can find no trace of them.”

  “I will look on horseback,” Darcy said.

  Georgiana asked, “Mr. Ainsworth, do you ride?”

  “Yes, Miss Darcy. My grandfather, Mr. Grantham, is a gentleman with an eye for a prime bit of blood. He made certain my brothers and I became competent riders.”

  “I have met your grandfather at several auctions. He does indeed know horses,” Darcy said.

  “Brother, I wish to lend Samson to Mr. Ainsworth for the search.”

  “Thank you, Miss Darcy,” Ainsworth said.

  Kitty asked, “Is Mrs. Laidlaw at home with little Becky?”

  “Yes. My uncle went to St. Albans this morning, so only my aunt and the young ones are at the farm today.”

  “Georgiana and I will wait with Mrs. Laidlaw until you bring home the children,” Kitty said.

  “Mary, we still have several hours of daylight; let us continue the search on foot.” After Mary nodded her agreement, Elizabeth turned to Kitty. “Please tell Papa of our plans. As Mama is resting, leave it to him to apprise her of the situation.”

  ≈≈≈

  From atop Pegasus, Darcy watched as Ainsworth replaced Georgiana’s sidesaddle with a men’s saddle from the Longbourn stable. He noted with approval Ainsworth’s sure hand in adjusting the stirrups and straps before lifting himself atop Samson.

  “Ready,” Ainsworth told him.

  “I shall follow you, sir, though we may be the least knowledgeable of the searchers. It might have made more sense for each of us to have paired with one of the Bennets.”

  “But such an arrangement would have been detrimental to their reputations. I would never do anything that might harm Miss Mary, and I believe you feel the same about Miss Elizabeth.”

  “Of course,” Darcy said, but he thought of Elizabeth’s lament that society required her to engage in fictions having no basis in common sense. He hoped such societal constrictions did not result in harm coming to the Laidlaw children.

  ≈≈≈

  “Cassandra, why can you not come down?” Elizabeth called from the foot of a very tall tree. A short distance away, Martin stood beside Mary, clutching her hand.

  “I am afraid!” the eight-year-old wailed.

  “You must come down,” Martin insisted tearfully. “You are making me afraid, too.”

  “No need to weep, Martin,” Elizabeth said firmly. “Mary, can you still do the whistle Uncle Gardiner taught you?”

  Mary grinned. “I believe it is the only thing in the whole world I can do that you cannot.” She gave Martin a gentle push towards Elizabeth, and he ran to grasp the hand she held out to him.

  “Well, shall we see if Mr. Ainsworth and Mr. Darcy are as responsive as the Lucas’s hounds? I suggest you give three short whistles, as that is more likely to be heard as a signal.” Mary placed her thumb and middle finger just so on her tongue and then gave her sister a nod. Elizabeth said, “Cover your ears, Martin,” and she covered own.

  After signaling with three piercing whistles, Mary called to Cassandra, “Do you see two men on horseback?”

  “My eyes are closed—I am afraid to look!”

  “Then hold tightly to the tree and know that we will rescue you,” Elizabeth said.

  Mary said, “I will wait for a minute or so and signal again.”

  “Good.” With Martin following, Elizabeth walked a slow circle around the tree trunk. “I have climbed this once. Using this knot hole for foothold, I can reach that branch and then—”

  “Lizzy, you cannot be serious!”

  “I will have to take my shoes off, of course.”

  “I see horses!” Cassandra called.

  “She has opened her eyes—a hopeful sign,” Mary said. She gave three more short whistles to guide the horsemen, who arrived within minutes.

  “An impressive signal,” Ainsworth said. “Which of you did it?”

  Mary’s tense expression showed she did not want to be known as having such an unladylike skill. Elizabeth winked at her and said, “It is a family secret.”

  “I see Martin here,” Ainsworth said, “But where is—”

  “I am taller than you today!” Cassandra said, happy that her beloved cousin had arrived.

  Darcy dismounted and looked to the top of the tree. “How in the world did she get up there?”

  “You use this knothole to start,” Elizabeth said, pointing.

  “You have climbed this before?” Darcy asked, amused.

  “Not recen
tly.”

  He came to look. “I will need to remove my boots.”

  Elizabeth was aghast and said in a quiet voice, “Mr. Darcy, I fear some of those old branches will not support your weight any better than the tree by the stream did.”

  “Well, you cannot climb in your present attire.”

  Ainsworth asked, “How might Samson react if Cassie jumped into my arms?”

  “I believe it would be safer if she were to jump into my arms while I am on Pegasus.”

  “All right,” Ainsworth said. “Cassie, can you to climb to the branch just below you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. From there, jump to Mr. Darcy, and he’ll catch you.”

  “No!”

  “No?” Ainsworth repeated.

  “I want you to catch me, Allen.”

  Ainsworth gave Darcy a pained look. “She means no disrespect. It’s just that she’s accustomed to me.”

  Grinning, Darcy shrugged. “I shall keep Samson calm while the girl jumps to you.” He gave the reins of his horse to Elizabeth and, with the ease of years of experience, he stood at Samson’s head and spoke calmly to him.

  Cassandra’s jump went as everyone hoped, and she looked quite pleased at being safe in her cousin’s arms. “Will you ride me home on your beautiful horse?”

  “This is Miss Darcy’s beautiful horse and, yes, we will ride home.”

  “I want to ride on a beautiful horse,” Martin yelled.

  “Let Miss Elizabeth help you up, and you may ride with me,” Darcy said, mounting Pegasus.

  Arms raised above his head, Martin ran to her. “Please, Miss Lizzy!” he said in a sing-song shout. She lifted the boy to Darcy, who settled the child in front of him. “Your horse is very tall.”

  “Yes,” Darcy said.

  “What is his name?”

  “Pegasus.”

  “That’s strange name.”

  “It’s Greek.”

  “If I had a horse like this, I would call him Midnight. Or maybe Rex. Or maybe I would call him Owen, after my papa.”

  “Three excellent names.”

  “Is Pegasus named for your papa?”

  “No.”

  “We wanted berries, but we could not find them. That’s why Cassie climbed the tree. She was looking for the berry bushes.”