A Companion For Miss Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 4

  ‘Oh, dear, no, this lady is not Mrs Darcy. This is Mr Bingley’s sister, Miss Bingley,’ said the agent, in a worried voice.

  ‘I do apologise,’ said Mrs Delaware, looking flustered.

  ‘Pray do not mention it,’ said Miss Bingley with a gracious nod of the head. ‘It is an easy mistake to make.’

  A mistake which you would like to become real, thought Elizabeth. But it is evident the gentleman does not share your enthusiasm! I wonder if he knows that you have set your heart on being Mrs Darcy!

  Elizabeth thought they made a good pair. They were both proud and arrogant people. Their clothes were certainly grand, but Elizabeth thought their manners were at fault, for they evidently felt above their company.

  She found a growing interest in them, however, as she wondered whether the lady or the gentleman would have their own way in regard to a marriage. The gentleman would have to offer, and his look of horror did not make that seem likely. On the other hand, the lady had a determined air about her, and Elizabeth thought she was used to getting her own way.

  ‘I am sorry my husband is not here to greet you but he will be here directly. May I offer you some tea?’ asked Mrs Delaware.

  ‘Thank you. Tea will be most welcome,’ said Miss Bingley, accepting a seat.

  ‘I will take the opportunity of seeing the house with the agent, if you will permit?’ said Mr Darcy.

  Elizabeth was amused at the expression which crossed Miss Bingley’s face, for it was obvious that Miss Bingley was trying to think of an excuse that would enable her to tour the house with Mr Darcy, when she had just accepted an offer of tea with Mrs Delaware! But this proved impossible for the lady and she had to watch Mr Darcy depart with a chagrined air.

  Tea was brought in. Mr Delaware soon joined them, only to leave them again when he learnt that Mr Darcy was already touring the house, and the ladies were left to occupy themselves with conversation.

  Chapter Four

  Mr Darcy asked a variety of pertinent questions as he was shown around Netherfield Park by the house agent and then, a few minutes later, by Mr Delaware as well. He took an interest in the state of the property as well as the size of the rooms, their aspect, and what he could see of the grounds. But he found, to his surprise, that his attention was mainly occupied by the young lady he had seen in the drawing-room for a few minutes before he had left. It was not her beauty which had drawn his gaze, for she had not been particularly handsome. It was the mischievous look in her eye when Mrs Delaware had mistaken Miss Bingley for his wife. That mischievous look had rendered the young lady’s eyes uncommonly attractive. It had also intrigued him, for he was not used to people looking at him in such a humorous manner – especially not young ladies. They usually looked at him with admiration and coquetry. But this young lady’s reaction had been unique.

  He remembered the playful curve of her mouth and the sparkle in her eyes, and the way her face was framed by dark hair, with ringlets across her forehead. To begin with, he had thought she must be one of the Miss Delawares, but he had heard a part of the conversation when he entered the drawing-room and it became obvious that she was not one of the Delawares. She was, however, about to leave the neighbourhood. He wondered if her departure was connected with theirs. But then he remembered a snippet of conversation, which made it sound as though her departure might be delayed indefinitely because of a wedding between Mr Collins and Jane – whoever Mr Collins and Jane might be.

  Despite himself, he was intrigued.

  Who was the mystery lady? Who was Mr Collins? Who was Jane? What was their relationship to each other? Why was the young lady about to leave the neighbourhood? And what was the young lady’s relationship to the Delawares?

  He had no chance of satisfying his curiosity as he looked round the house, but once he returned to the drawing-room he had more luck. The ladies stopped talking as the gentlemen entered the room and formal introductions were made. Mr Darcy was introduced to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He learnt that she was a neighbour, and she was visiting with her aunt and her three younger sisters. Once the bows had been made and the curtseys dropped, they all seated themselves. To begin with, they all talked about the house and its suitability for Mr Bingley. Mr Darcy declared himself satisfied with everything. At the back of his mind was the idea that if Mr Bingley took the house, he would have an opportunity to find out more about the young lady.

  Miss Bingley, following his lead, pronounced the house charming - though if she had known what was in Mr Darcy’s mind, she would not have been so eager to praise it. Indeed, she would have told her brother it was impossible.

  Once the necessary comments had been made, Mr Darcy said to Mrs Delaware, ‘But we have interrupted you. Pray continue with your conversation. You were telling Miss Bingley about the neighbourhood, I believe, when we joined you. I am sure her brother will want to know all about it, so please continue.’

  It was all the encouragement Mrs Delaware needed. She launched into details of all the neighbours and the surrounding properties, as well as information about the local town of Meryton. She spoke of Sir William Lucas and the family at Lucas Lodge. She mentioned the Gouldings at Haye-Park – ‘a charming family’ – and the Purvises at Purvis Lodge.

  As she talked, enumerating all the local families, Mr Darcy found his attention wandering again and again to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She joined in the conversation with perfect ease, but there was an air of distraction about her and he guessed her thoughts were elsewhere. It caused varying emotions to flit across her face like shadows crossing a field.

  As Mrs Delaware’s conversation progressed, he began to understand Miss Elizabeth’s situation. Her parents had recently died and her home was in jeopardy, but it could be saved if her sister Jane married Mr Collins. There was, as yet, no official engagement, but Mrs Philips spoke as though it were a foregone conclusion. Mrs Philips could not say enough in the praise of the young man.

  ‘Mr Collins is a very agreeable gentleman. He is sensible and well made, with a good education. If not for the accident of him inheriting Longbourn, he would have gone into the church. I am sure he would have soon risen to the position of bishop, or archbishop. But the church’s loss is our gain. He had not been in the house for two minutes when it became evident he was very admiring of Jane! But then, how could he not be? As my dear sister always used to say, Jane could not be so beautiful for nothing.’

  Mr Darcy winced at this speech, and he noticed with interest that Miss Elizabeth winced too.

  So, she had a fine sense of gentility and true breeding, he thought. She found her aunt’s comments hard to bear. He felt for her in her discomfort.

  Her aunt’s vulgarity explained some of her frowns, but not all of them. To judge by her expression every time Mr Collins was mentioned, she did not share her aunt’s opinion of him, and she did not think him a suitable husband for her sister.

  What a difficulty marriage was, he thought. He himself was facing a distasteful marriage. His aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, assumed he would do his duty and marry his cousin, Miss Anne de Bourgh. In the same way, Miss Jane Bennet’s aunt assumed she would do her duty and marry Mr Collins.

  A plague on all aunts, and all arranged marriages! thought Mr Darcy with distaste.

  His mind returned to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He thought he understood her frowns and her air of distraction, and he felt compassion for her. She was in a terrible position. She had to stand by and watch her sister sacrifice herself, for she was powerless to prevent it. No wonder she was distracted.

  Never had marriage seemed a less welcome institution than it did at that moment, when it was causing such misery.

  Meanwhile, Mrs Delaware was still talking, but once the neighbourhood had been discussed, Mrs Philips rose to leave. The Miss Bennets rose with her. They made their curtseys and said their farewells, then their visit came to an end.

  Mr Darcy’s gaze followed Miss Elizabeth Bennet a few minutes later, when she could be seen walking past the window.
The footman was holding a large umbrella over her and her aunt, as it was raining. Another footman held an umbrella over her sisters. He thought he detected a droop of her shoulders that could not be accounted for by the weather, and he found himself wanting to know what would happen to her, and what would happen to her sister Jane. She had awoken his interest, and that was not something that happened very often. In fact, it very rarely happened; so rarely that he could not remember the last time it had occurred.

  He saw the footman helping Miss Elizabeth Bennet into the carriage. It was a ramshackle affair and, from something Mrs Philips aunt had said, he knew it was rarely used. It had been used on this occasion as a mark of respect to the Delawares, as they were leaving the neighbourhood.

  The carriage door closed and Miss Elizabeth Bennet at last passed out of sight.

  Reluctantly, Mr Darcy gave his attention back to the Delawares.

  ‘I am so sorry you could not see the park as well as the house,’ said Mrs Delaware. ‘But I am persuaded you will not want to get wet.’

  She glanced out of the window at the rain. It had commenced shortly after Mr Darcy’s arrival, was beginning to fall more heavily.

  ‘No. We will not look round the park today. But no doubt my friend will want to see it when he visits,’ said Mr Darcy. ‘We must hope for better weather then.’

  ‘You found the house agreeable?’ asked Mrs Delaware.

  ‘Yes. I cannot answer for my friend, but it seems to be just the sort of thing he is looking for. I will recommend it to him when he is well again.’

  The ladies curtseyed and the gentlemen bowed. They took a formal leave of each other and Mr Darcy returned to his own splendid carriage, which was waiting for him by the door. Before long, he and Miss Bingley were on their way.

  ‘I shall add my recommendation to your own,’ said Miss Bingley. She arranged the folds of her cloak around her in order to display the elegance of her figure. Thus draped, it looked like a Grecian statue. She held her head at an angle which heightened the illusion and which, in her own mind at least, made her look the very essence of a future Mrs Darcy. ‘Your remarks were perspicacious and I am sure Charles will be as grateful to you as I am for making the time to inspect it. Once we are established, you must come and visit us, Mr Darcy. I am sure it is the least we can do, to thank you for your kind help in the matter.’

  ‘It was nothing. Whilst I am here, I am at Bingley’s disposal. I think the house will suit him very well. It is in good order and it is a gentleman’s residence of some size and splendour. The neighbours seem pleasant,’ added Mr Darcy.

  He was not generally fond of country society, and there had been very little by the way of fashion or grace in the Delaware drawing-room. But Miss Elizabeth Bennet had made an impression on him, and he recalled her fine eyes with pleasure as he drove back to the inn at Meryton.

  Mrs Philips was full of the visit when she and her nieces returned to Longbourn. They arrived to find that Mr Collins and Jane had just returned.

  ‘What an afternoon we have had!’ said Mrs Philips, as she bustled into the drawing-room. ‘Such company! We are to have some very elegant new neighbours, and although I am sorry to see the Delawares go, it is a relief to know that such refined people are likely to be arriving.’

  Elizabeth went over to the sofa and sat down beside Jane. She was grieved to see that Jane wore a stoical expression, for she guessed that her sister still meant to go through with her plan of marrying Mr Collins. Elizabeth put her hand on her sister’s in a gesture of sympathy as Mr Collins began to make bombastic comments on the town of Meryton and its inhabitants.

  ‘We, too, have had a most agreeable afternoon,’ he said. ‘We called on the Lucases. Never have I met with such affability and condescension as I received from Sir William Lucas. Though he has been presented at court I must tell you, Madam, that he conversed with me quite as if we were on equal terms, and he had the goodness to ask me if I had ever been to St James’s Palace.’

  Poor Jane blushed, and Elizabeth squeezed her hand in silent support.

  ‘It is only what I expected,’ said Mrs Philips. ‘The Lucases are very elegant people and I am not surprised they were so quick to spot your worth. One elegant personage will always recognise another. Did I not say you would be made welcome here?’

  ‘You did indeed, Madam. After witnessing Sir William’s gentility, I feel I must show him an equal level of civility. Would it be asking too much of the Longbourn cook, dear Madam, if I invited Sir William and his estimable family to dinner one evening?’

  ‘Indeed it would not,’ said Mrs Philips. ‘My sister always kept an excellent table, and the Longbourn cook is fully equal to providing a dinner to suit the Lucases.’

  ‘And if she needs a little help, I am sure my fair cousins will oblige by making some of the delicacies themselves,’ said Mr Collins, beaming at Jane.

  ‘Indeed they will not!’ said Mrs Philips, sounding affronted. ‘I beg you will not think my nieces are in the habit of helping in the kitchen, Mr Collins. My sister’s servants know their business and the young ladies know theirs. The Miss Bennets have never stooped to such menial tasks. Their mother would not have countenanced it and I am sure you would be the last person to wish it of them.’

  Mr Collins’s face fell and it looked so comical that Elizabeth had to stifle her laughter.

  ‘My dear Madam, I meant no offence. I am sure that Mrs Bennet knew best and I am pleased to know that she raised her daughters in the most genteel manner, as befitting the most revered young ladies in the neighbourhood.’

  Mrs Philips was mollified.

  Cordial relations having been restored she said, ‘I wonder you do not invite your prospective new neighbours to dinner, Mr Collins. I have not met Mr Bingley, who was sadly indisposed today, but his sister is a charming woman and his friend is one of the most superior men of my acquaintance. He owns a very large estate in Derbyshire and is a nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.’

  This information had come from the maid, whose sister worked at the inn. News travelled fast in the small town of Meryton and by now everyone knew a great deal about Mr Darcy. Mrs Philips had been much obliged to the maid for the information, and she was now glad to pass it on to Mr Collins. He was suitably impressed and said that he would send an invitation to the inn.

  ‘What day will be best?’ asked Mr Collins.

  ‘You must invite them for this evening. The London party will be returning to town tomorrow and so by then it will be too late. You must not miss this opportunity to become acquainted with your new neighbours.’

  ‘You are very wise. I will write at once. If I may borrow some writing paper – oh! but of course, the paper in the house is mine now, as well as everything else, so there is no need for me to borrow it. It all belongs to me.’

  ‘You will find everything you need in the library,’ said Mrs Philips.

  Mr Collins turned to Jane with a complacent smile. ‘If you would show me where the library is, my dear . . . Miss Bennet?’

  The gap between ‘my dear’ and ‘Miss Bennet’ made Elizabeth shiver on Jane’s behalf. It had been very indelicate of Mr Collins to refer to Jane as ‘my dear’, even if he did correct himself at the last moment and make the comment acceptable.

  Jane blushed again at Mr Collins’s terrible manners and his smug, complacent air as well as his clumsiness and stupidity. Elizabeth was more determined than ever that her sister should not marry him.

  ‘The maid will show you the way,’ she said to him.

  The party broke up. Mrs Philips went to speak to the cook whilst Mr Collins retired to the library to write the invitations to the dinner party. Elizabeth and Jane were left alone, for their three younger sisters had been encouraged to retire to the parlour on returning from Netherfield. Mary could be relied on to be silent in Mr Collins’s company, although her owl-like stare was disconcerting, but the two younger girls were likely to laugh at him and so Mrs Philips felt it was better to keep them out of
the way.

  ‘Jane, you cannot marry him,’ asked Elizabeth, when she was alone with her sister. ‘I dread to think how foolish he must have been on your walk, if his subsequent behaviour was anything to go by. Was it very bad?’

  ‘Not at all,’ said Jane bravely. ‘Mr Collins is a very good-natured man. He was solicitous of my welfare and I believe the Lucases think very well of him. Sir William Lucas said what a fine gentleman he was three times in my hearing.’

  ‘Oh dear, as bad as that!’ said Elizabeth with a rueful smile.

  Sir William Lucas meant well but he was not a sensible man, and if he approved of Mr Collins, then that confirmed Elizabeth’s view that Mr Collins was a dolt.

  ‘Lizzy!’ said Jane, turning to look at her sister with patient eyes. ‘You should not mock Sir William. I know his courtly manners seem out of place in Meryton, and I know it was a little odd when he gave up his employment and named his house “Lucas Lodge” after being presented at court, but he means well. Now let us talk of something else. Tell me about your afternoon. Were the Delawares very sorry to be leaving?’

  ‘I will answer your question if you will promise me one thing. Do not accept a proposal from Mr Collins until you have spoken to my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. You must get their advice on such an important matter.’

  ‘You are too precipitate,’ said Jane. ‘I do not know if Mr Collins will propose.’

  ‘He certainly will,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I have never seen a man more determined to fancy himself in love. In fact, I am surprised he has not proposed already.’

  ‘You see, that proves he has some delicacy, and is not as bad as you think him,’ said Jane with a courageous smile.

  ‘Oh, Jane! Do not do this thing. Promise me you will speak to Aunt Gardiner before accepting any proposal from him.’