First Impressions: A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice (Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice) (4 page)

“
Mama!” Elizabeth exclaimed, her complexion a deeper shade of red. Darcy had a hard time believing it himself, but he found he was forced to stifle a great snort of laughter. In the idea of Miss Elizabeth carrying on about a man in such a way, let alone allowing such a loquacious family to be privy to any feelings she might have in that quarter, he found much humor. All with eyes could see that Elizabeth Bennet, like Fitzwiliam Darcy, highly valued her privacy. Admonishing himself for such unaccustomed humor, he focused on feeling sorry for Elizabeth’s predicament as her mother rambled on. It wasn’t until later, when he retired for the evening, that Darcy realized he had entirely forgotten, so concerned was he for Elizabeth, to feel on his own behalf the embarrassment of being assaulted by the most blatantly matchmaking mother he had ever had the misfortune to encounter. How remarkable (and gratifying) that mother and daughter should be so dramatically different!

Despite her awkward family, every encounter between Elizabeth and Darcy strengthened the latter’s opinion of this Hertforshire lady. One might argue that in a limited society, the few people of intelligence will naturally seek each other’s company. Together they find a reprieve from the folly of lesser minds. This is, in fact, a line of reasoning both Darcy and Elizabeth frequently employed during this time as a rationalization for their mutual attraction. But while Darcy had the solace of his two incontestable facts to rely on, Elizabeth had only her fear of disappointment in love with which to guard her heart, a stalwart but still pregnable form of defense.

“
Not you too!” she was forced to admonish her friend, Charlotte Lucas, upon being questioned about her feelings for Mr. Darcy. “From so many others I expect such fanciful notions, not from my practical Charlotte!”

“
There is no use denying it Eliza. What other woman does he notice? Only Mr. Bingley could be more overt in his attentions.”

“
What a comparison to make! I assure you Mr. Darcy and I are friendly, nothing more, while Mr. Bingley, as you can see, is most decided in his portrayal of a lover.”

“
Bingley likes your sister, undoubtedly. But he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on. The same is true for you and Mr. Darcy.” It was the evening of Sir William Lucas’ party and the eldest daughter of the house was determined to not allow her best friend to waste such an opportunity for advantageous marriage as that packaged in the form of Mr. Darcy. “My mother is full of your mother’s tales of the notice he has paid you. If you make sure he knows how agreeable you find his companionship – and come now Eliza, how could you not? – it will assist his inclination towards you to grow.”

“
Charlotte, I am not in pursuit of Mr. Darcy! Indeed, I am convinced that our current friendliness depends upon that fact. Nothing would put an end to our civilities faster than my displaying romantic attachment. Mr. Darcy has too much honor to toy with a lady’s affections.”

Charlotte needed no more information – had Elizabeth felt nothing but the friendship she professed for Mr. Darcy, she never would have even considered the consequences of sharing that sentiment with him. The situation was difficult and Charlotte sympathized with Elizabeth’s desire to protect herself. After all, a bridge between the second daughter of Longbourn and the master of Pemberley need span lineage, society, and ten thousand pounds! No small feat indeed. But if marriage was not a probable outcome, it was still a possibility. It may cause Elizabeth some heartache but Charlotte would do whatever she could to improve the odds. She began by asking Elizabeth to entertain the company on the pianoforte, knowing her friend played with a charming and unaffected air, if not always with the utmost proficiency. Charlotte was rightfully gratified when her efforts produced a small but sincere smile of admiration on Mr. Darcy’s face. If only it hadn’t faded so quickly when Mary succeeded to her sister’s seat! The middle Bennet sister was far more diligent in her practice than Elizabeth but had failed to achieve the same natural grace at the instrument. Her performance was pedantic: the lengthy concerto causing her audience more strain than pleasure. Mr. Darcy listened politely despite his distaste for the display.

Mary sat not comfortably but leaning forward at an awkward angle, straining to read her music as her hands moved stiffly across the keys. Though she strove to focus all her attention on the complicated piece, she could not but be aware that her audience was not fully attentive. For perhaps the thousandth time she wished she had the easy manner of her elder sister. If only the world would appreciate her mastery of music more than her appearance when playing! She determined to allot an additional half hour to her daily practice and redoubled her efforts to block out the increasingly noisy room, hunching yet further over the key board in the process.

The polite applause at the end of the piece soothed Mary, who chose to interpret it as a demonstration of some members of the party’s good taste. Lydia put herself forward with a call for dancing. Mary felt that Scotch and Irish airs were frivolous but was flattered by the request to retain her station as performer and so obliged. “A lady must always be accommodating,” she thought to herself with a slight smile before commencing.

Along with some of the Lucases and two or three of the officers from the _______ Shire Militia, recently quartered in Meryton for the winter, Lydia and Kitty excitedly rushed to form a set. The latter, however, felt her glee somewhat checked when she noticed Mr. Darcy frowning severely in her direction. That gentleman had been lauded by her mother as the most distinguished man in the kingdom and while she remained happy to indulge her high spirits in an impromptu dance with a dashing officer in his red coat, she could not help feeling subdued by Mr. Darcy’s display of censure. Lydia, oblivious to most things, continued to carry on as raucously as ever.

Chapter 5

“
Surely these girls are not ready for public display,” thought Darcy. “They should be in the school room learning proper decorum, not unleashed to wreck havoc on polite society!” The flirtatiousness of one of the young Bennets was particularly unnerving. He could not recall which girl was Kitty and which Lydia but he had the uncomfortable feeling that the one laughing shrilly while tripping into the arms of her partner was the youngest. Younger even than his sister Georgiana! Such were Darcy’s reflections when Sir William Lucas decided to share with him his approbation for the dancers.

“
What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies.”

“
But surely, sir, you cannot believe that such spontaneous antics should be instigated by the very youngest of a party?” He hoped someone, anyone, would assert some restraint on their activities. Nothing good could possibly derive from such neglected manners, especially in young women! This he knew all too well.

“
I see where you are Mr. Darcy, I do indeed sir, and let me assure you there is no fear of impropriety here! Not amongst such good friends! In London nothing of the kind would suit. Oh no sir, it would not suit at all. But here in the country we may be more casual. Do you often dance at St. James, Mr. Darcy?”

“
Almost never.” As Sir Lucas would clearly be of no assistance, he’d rather not continue the conversation.

“
Well your friend performs delightfully,” noting Bingley, with a nod in his direction, taking a place across from Jane Bennet in the impromptu set.

“
Just like him,” Darcy thought in irritation.

“
I am sure you are adept at the science yourself, Mr. Darcy,” the older man went on. Darcy only nodded in reply, hoping to put an end to his interminable chatter. But just as he began to plot his escape from Sir Lucas, unexpectedly the man himself offered a very pleasant one. Elizabeth was at that moment walking by and he called out to her, fueled by the gossip to which he, too, was of course privy, to perform what he considered an inspired feat of gallantry, becoming his role as host and title of Knight. “My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady as a very desirable partner.”

Sir Lucas smiled knowingly at the two as Elizabeth blushed deeply, causing Darcy to move to alleviate her discomfort, “Perhaps Miss Elizabeth would prefer to join me for some refreshment?” She smiled her consent and they moved off towards the tea things, leaving Sir Lucas content that he had done his share to further the budding romance that was the talk of the neighborhood.

Darcy and Elizabeth surveyed the typical topics of polite conversation as they sat in a quiet corner over their tea. The weather, their health, and that of their relatives was discussed in form. Upon inquiry, Darcy went into some detail regarding his sister’s pursuits before they fell into silence, not an uncomfortable one, mind you, but a companionable silence which Elizabeth, increasingly alarmed by the notable attentions they were receiving from her neighbors, chose to interrupt with this odd little pronouncement: “Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to apologize for the behavior of my many well-intended well wishers. While they will misconstrue our interactions, I wish to assure you that I understand the nature of our friendship, appreciate it, and seek no further claim on your affections.” Perhaps she was driven by a perverse impulse to thwart Charlotte’s earlier suggestions or by a desire to bolster her weakening defenses against possible future disappointment. Either way, Elizabeth smiled at Mr. Darcy sheepishly as she concluded, feeling quite nervous at her own boldness in initiating such a frank topic of conversation.

Darcy managed to return the smile despite his dismay. How shocking that he should feel so hurt by her words when he himself had been desperately searching for a way to address the same awkward subject! Gathering himself he replied, “There is no need for you to apologize for the actions of those you cannot control. I am well aware of the, ah,” hesitating for a moment, ”excitement should I say? that people often exhibit towards me. Whether I like it or not, I’m always being subjected to some kind of matchmaking scheme or another.” He flushed at the acknowledgment, once again surprised by how unconstrained he felt with Elizabeth. Never with any woman other than Georgiana, and once his mother, had he discussed his highly desirable (or, in the latter case, incipient) bachelorhood.

Elizabeth was overcome by regret for her words and the discomfort, which she so easily perceived behind Mr. Darcy’s calm mien, that they had caused. She felt an enormous desire to sooth and protect him from the worries of his status. “So much for emergency defenses!” she thought, ridiculing her own foolishness and scolding herself into better behavior. This was Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, after all. She was the rural lady, the vulnerable one, the one in need of comfort. In his words she heard confirmation of her earlier assertions to Charlotte regarding his sentiments – he obviously wanted nothing more from her company than a reprieve from the machinations of others. She must stay firm and not entertain such destructive impulses. Never had she felt her heart to be in greater danger.

Mary finally retired from the pianoforte and the dancers applauded, more for their own efforts than for hers, and Elizabeth and Darcy lost the little bit of privacy they had found amongst a general clamoring for refreshment. Excusing herself, Elizabeth moved to attend to her younger sisters. Darcy watched with great admiration as she attempted to redirect the most exuberant into a more dignified pursuit than her current one – teasing an officer by not handing over the cup of coffee she had just poured for him. Elizabeth looked up for a moment and caught his gaze. He smiled and bowed in deference to her efforts: a lonely struggle against her sister’s impropriety. She smiled back with a slight twinkle of the eye before ushering the girl out of the room.

“
I can guess the subject of your reverie.” Darcy turned to see Miss Bingley, smiling knowingly. It was a familiarity he attempted to discourage. “I should imagine not,” was his reply, but she would not be thwarted.

“
You are either considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner or the charms of your future mother-in-law.”

Darcy’s entire face betrayed the anger he felt at this implication. How did the woman summon the gall? “Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps to the most ridiculous conclusions!” With that he turned directly around and walked away with fierce strides, furious with Miss Bingley and indignant on both his own and Miss Elizabeth’s behalf, especially in light of the conversation they had only just concluded. Quite apparently, in spite of both of their good intentions, any interest he showed in her would be totally misconstrued. After the party he recollected the various comments, both subtle and explicit, that he had heard during the course of the evening implying a romance between them. The knowledge that they were innocent (for he, at least, still believed they were) only added to his indignation. It was imperative he consider the possible consequences to her reputation and regulate his attentions accordingly. Many other women in such a predicament would feel her consequence raised by such insinuations, but Miss Elizabeth would be mortified. “Must be mortified,” he corrected himself, for surely she was as aware as he of the gossip. “Indeed it was what prompted her speech this evening, a wish to alleviate any concerns I might have regarding her assumptions in the face of such speculation. It is imperative that I repay her consideration by taking better care to guard her reputation.”