“I was trying to avoid intruding upon your privacy, Mr. Darcy,” an embarrassed Lizzy answered.
“If that is your goal, I would suggest you stay off the gravel,” and then he smiled. It was an infrequent event, but when it did happen, it was a reminder of how truly handsome he was. It seemed rather unfair. If you were rich, you should not be handsome, and if you were poor, you should be blessed with good looks. One person should not have it all.
“I am not in need of solitude this morning. Quite the contrary, I would enjoy your company.”
Lizzy was used to walking at a brisk pace, but Mr. Darcy preferred to amble along. But the pace did lend itself to conversation, and he shared with her his visit with Miss Darcy.
“When Bingley and I first planned to come to Netherfield, I had hoped my sister would join me, but instead she chose to be with friends in Hampshire. It is very strange. I have spent five years moving her toward adulthood, and now that she has reached it, I find I want to pull her back.”
“As her guardian, I think that is a natural inclination as you wish to protect her. Up to this point, you have been more father than brother, but you may now look forward to a mature relationship. It may take some time for you to get used to it as she will probably wish to make her opinions known.”
“Oh, it is too late for that. Her powers of observation are amazing, and there is nothing that does not merit some comment.”
“Since you are of a taciturn nature, Mr. Darcy, surely the pleasure she derives from talking takes some of the burden of conversing off of you. And since you do not like the preliminaries necessary for friendship, she may catch you up, and you can jump right in without enduring the tedious parts you so dislike.”
“I would most definitely have benefited from such assistance before being formally introduced to you. I would have been warned of your penetrating wit and ability to strip a person of all pretenses.”
“Would you have avoided me, sir, if you had known?”
“No, but I would have asked you to dance at the assembly, thereby avoiding your censure.”
“But you had an opportunity to dance with me at Lucas Lodge, but chose not to. Did you not risk the same result?”
“I think not. You now know me better and understand that my comments at the assembly were not malicious, merely thoughtless and inaccurate.”
“And the dance?”
“A lost opportunity, not to be repeated.”
“Does Mr. Bingley plan to have a ball at Netherfield? He spoke of it when he first arrived. If so, you may yet claim your dance.”
“Yes, there will be a ball, and the date has been set for the first night of the full moon. Bingley will soon be sending his cards around, and after the ball, his sisters will return to London.” Looking at her to make sure she understood the importance of what he was about to say, he added, “but Bingley will remain at Netherfield. Unlike his sisters, who have tired of the country, Bingley has found much to admire here.”
Lizzy’s assessment had been correct. Mr. Bingley would not yield to his sisters on the matter of whom he should marry, and because of that, she smiled, letting Mr. Darcy know that she had understood his meaning.
“Who will keep house for Mr. Bingley if both of his sisters leave?” Lizzy asked.
“Most likely it will be his eldest sister, Diana Crenshaw. If she comes to Netherfield, you will know of it. She has a large family, actually more like a tribe, on the order of the Red Indians of America. Her two eldest are twin boys, impossible to tell apart and equally inclined to mischief. Mrs. Crenshaw was greatly influenced by Rousseau’s concept of the noble savage in rearing her children. The savage part of the equation has been achieved. However, I have seen no evidence of anything noble in their behavior.”
“Do you mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy?”
“No, but I do mean to warn you as one of their favorite entertainments is to dig up repulsive creatures from stream beds and share them with the ladies. And they are fearless. Do not be surprised if you find them in the top branches of your apple trees throwing fruit at your servants and laborers.”
“When I hear of the Crenshaws’ arrival, I shall send up a hue and cry to alert the population. And your plans, Mr. Darcy? Will you stay at Netherfield and provide the neighborhood with some protection?”
“No,” he answered looking away from her. “After the ball, I shall return to London as I have important business to attend to, and it is likely that I will not come back to Netherfield at all.”
“Lizzy, Mr. Darcy likes you,” Jane said to her sister upon her return from her walk.
“And I like him.”
Although she was sorry that he would be leaving the country for good, she had enjoyed their short time together. But someone of Mr. Darcy’s elevated rank would have no interest in the daughter of a gentleman farmer, so that was that.
“What I mean is that he admires you.”
“Jane, if you are inferring that Mr. Darcy has a romantic interest in me, let me disabuse you of such a notion. Mr. Bingley will have his ball, and immediately afterward, Mr. Darcy will permanently return to town. However, I confess that I will miss him as Mr. Darcy possesses a fine wit, although he definitely uses it in moderation. But I do not wish to speak of Mr. Darcy, but of Mr. Bingley, and I have news to share.”
Jane was elated when she heard that Mr. Bingley would definitely remain in the country, especially since, by his own admission, he frequently succumbed to his need for movement and would abandon the city for the country, and vice versa, at the spur of the moment. So this was very good news indeed.
With the exception of Jane and Bingley, who were clearly enjoying each other’s company, supper proved to be a somber event. The sisters were still upset at Charles’s announced intention of marrying whomever he pleased as they knew full well that it would please him to marry Miss Bennet. Mr. Hurst, as usual, had nothing to add as his only interests were in food, wine, and cards, and the engaging Mr. Darcy of the morning was missing. He was distracted and made no effort to converse with anyone. After removing to the drawing room, he once again chose to write letters, but even so, Lizzy found that he was often glancing in her direction, but in an abstracted manner, as if he were looking past her to things he must do when free of Netherfield.
Mr. Darcy was thinking of Elizabeth. During their walk in the grove, he had found himself so attracted to her that he had decided that it would be best if he left Netherfield immediately and not to wait for the ball. What purpose would be served by remaining? He was enchanted with a lady whose position in life was so beneath his own that any possible alliance was out of the question. Besides, he was not of a nature to toy with a woman’s affections, and he had already made overtures to Letitia Montford. It would indicate a deficiency in his character if he were to alter his course now. He just wished that Elizabeth had not chosen to wear her hair down for supper as he could think of no other sight that brought him more pleasure.
Chapter 5
Although Jane Bennet had been gone from Netherfield for only one day, Charles informed his sisters that he intended to ride over to Longbourn to see her. Unsurprisingly, Louisa and Caroline were unhappy with his plans and launched a two-pronged attack.
“You are being ridiculous,” Caroline began. “There cannot possibly be a change in her health in such a short time.”
“You do not want to give the appearance of being a love-struck adolescent, now do you, Charles?” Louisa added.
“I do not care if it was only an hour ago that Miss Bennet left. I am going to Longbourn, and since I am in love with the lady, if people wish to call me a love-struck adolescent, so be it.”
“And what of Mr. Darcy, who came here to shoot?” Caroline asked. “You have neglected your duties as host as he has done no shooting at all because you have been distracted with other matters.”