His Uncle's Favorite (7 page)

“Colonel, may I inquire once more of what ball we are talking and who will host it?”

“My sister, Selina. It has been a family tradition for the past five years to have a ball at her house on the first evening of the New Year.”

“Oh, I see…” Elizabeth knew very well that neither she nor Jane had the proper gowns for such an event, and it was not possible to order new dresses in such a short time. Fond of dancing or not, they would certainly not attend the ball.

“We thank you for your kind invitation, Lady Selina, and we happily accept it,” said Mrs. Gardiner with perfect composure, and Elizabeth’s puzzlement increased.

Even her dear aunt seemed to behave strangely that night, and everything distressed Elizabeth’s state of mind. However, she quickly decided to put aside what she could not solve immediately and pay attention to the aspects that might have a favourable resolution that evening—like discovering more about Mr. Bingley and his plans from Mr. Darcy himself. After all, she could not ignore the opportunity of having the gentleman a few inches from her all evening.

***

As the second course was served, Elizabeth turned to her companion, keeping her voice as low as possible in order not to draw the attention of the others.

“Mr. Darcy, I hope Mr. Bingley is well.”

He hesitated a moment. “Yes, he was, the last time I saw him. Unfortunately, I have not met with him as much as I would wish to since we returned to London.”

“I am surprised to hear that; Miss Bingley told my sister and my aunt that Mr. Bingley was very busy and closely engaged with you and Miss Darcy.”

She did not dare meet his eyes as she spoke, but she could feel his gaze on her face.
I should not have said that!

“Miss Bingley’s estimations about certain things are not always…accurate.”

She lifted her eyes to meet his. “That must be true as I am sure you know her very well. She declared she has been an intimate friend of your family for many years.”

“As I said, Miss Bingley is not always accurate in her estimation of people…or situations.”

She thought she could detect a smile and a trace of sarcasm in his voice, and she was amused, but only for a moment.

“Miss Bingley said that Mr. Bingley does not plan on returning to Netherfield. Is this accurate, do you think?”

“Well, I am not certain. It is very likely he will spend little time there in the future.”

“I see…so in this, at least, Miss Bingley’s
estimation
seems to be accurate. Then perhaps it would be better for the neighbours that he left Netherfield.”

“Yes, that could be one of his plans. I would not be surprised if he were to do that.”

Elizabeth suddenly abandoned the subject and asked Lady Selina something about the theatre. The next moment, both the viscount and the colonel joined them, and the conversation became animated. She could feel Darcy’s stare and could not say whether her cheeks turned red because of him or because of the anger caused by this new revelation. So it was true that Mr. Bingley did not plan a return to Netherfield! She wondered whether Lady Selina knew the Bingleys well enough to invite them to a private ball.

Until the end of the dinner, she did not speak directly to Mr. Darcy again. She thought of nothing but the arrogance in his voice when he informed her that Bingley had left Netherfield forever. He must rejoice in his success!

She was angry with him and furious with herself as she was aware that she actually enjoyed speaking to him. What a mistake! Yes, he was fond of and careful with his sister. Yes, she admitted he was a clever man, well read, and well educated. Yes, he could be pleasant when he wished to be. Yes, he had been polite, even friendly, with all of them—no doubt, because the earl demanded it. But his pride and disdain for those beneath him, his selfishness in imposing his will regardless of the way his actions might affect others—these never would change!

***

After dinner, the gentlemen did not retire as expected. Instead, they enjoyed their drinks in the pleasant company of the ladies.

Elizabeth took a cup of tea and retired to a corner, trying to maintain a pleasing countenance. With no little surprise, she noticed the approach of Mr. Darcy; he asked permission to speak to her. She hesitated and looked around but could find no reason to refuse him.

“Miss Elizabeth, may I ask whether I offended you in any way? Forgive my boldness, but I cannot ignore that I had the pleasure of a conversation with you, and then suddenly you seemed to avoid my presence. Please allow me to apologise if—”

“You have not offended me, sir. I thank you for your concern, but it is unnecessary.”

“Then…are you unwell?”

“I am very well, thank you. I just do not feel inclined to speak.”

“I understand that but—”

“If you will excuse me, sir, I would like a few words with my sister. Again, thank you for your concern.” She left before he could reply. She felt his gaze on her and was content. Surely, his pride could not bear the notion that she would amuse him no longer with trivial conversation about nonsense. It was such a pity that Miss Bingley was not there to mend his pen and comfort his wounded ego.

“So, Miss Elizabeth, I hope you will not refuse to play for us! We are all eager to hear you,” said the viscount. The others pleaded with her, but she was still angry and tired. She could not play and sing for Mr. Darcy!

“Oh, I could not… I am in no disposition to… I am sure we would all be much happier to hear Miss Darcy play. I have heard so many wonderful things about her talent that I could not possibly miss the opportunity to hear her. I am certainly not as accomplished as she is, and I would not want to ruin your evening with my performance.”

While speaking, she took a seat near Miss Darcy and sketched a smile to her, but the girl had turned pale and was struggling to speak. As occurred earlier, the effect of her words upon Miss Darcy took Elizabeth by surprise, and she did not know what to do. She saw Miss Darcy searching the room for her brother, and once their eyes met, Mr. Darcy moved towards them.

The earl took his niece by her shoulder. “My dearest Georgiana, nobody will force you to play, but I would be delighted to hear you. We are all family and friends here, after all, so you have nothing to fear. Unless you do not want to play for your old uncle…”

He was coercing her with his warm words. Elizabeth could easily see that and was about to intervene, ashamed that her attempt to avoid a tiresome request had put the girl in an unpleasant situation. But her brother was there in a moment, assisting his sister as she expected.

“I would love to hear you play if you wish to, my dear,” Darcy said gently. “And I would also love to listen to Miss Elizabeth play if she cares to indulge us.”

His tone of his voice was different, and if a few moments earlier Elizabeth would have refused him without hesitation, she now remained silent, staring at him.

She finally averted her eyes and looked at Miss Darcy. Their eyes met, and almost the same moment, they smiled at each other.

“Miss Darcy, it seems useless to try to change their minds. I would suggest finding a way to sing and play together, perhaps holding hands tightly for courage.” Elizabeth laughed.

Miss Darcy turned her wide eyes to Elizabeth and then to her brother and suddenly replied, “It might be a good idea to sing together, Miss Elizabeth; however, holding hands would make our playing at the pianoforte a bit more difficult.”

The others stared at her in disbelief at such a playful answer, and both burst out laughing. The earl kissed her hair and then politely kissed Elizabeth’s hand.

The colonel offered each of them an arm and took them to the pianoforte, but he soon returned to the settee as his help turning pages was not needed.

From the corner to which he retreated after speaking with his sister, Mr. Darcy followed their performance. From time to time, Elizabeth could feel his eyes on them, and she acknowledged again his care and protection of Miss Darcy.

They played and sang together twice, and then each of them performed one song while the other turned the pages. More than half an hour later, with many thanks from their companions, they returned to the others. Darcy remained in the corner.

With a glass of brandy in his hand, the earl approached and took a seat near his nephew.

“Are you enjoying the evening so far, Nephew? I certainly hope so, and I hope you have some useful observations to share with me regarding the small assignment I gave you.”

Darcy gulped some brandy then cast a glance at the animated group.

“I would not have suspected you to trap me this way, Uncle. I have been completely honest with you, and you hold my honesty against me and force me into this awkward situation—”

“Of what situation are you speaking, Nephew?”

“Come, sir, let us play games no longer. It was not fair to throw me into an unexpected meeting with Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth without warning, nor was it fair for them. I feared Miss Bennet would faint when she saw us. She surely deserved no such treatment.”

“Again, of what treatment are you speaking? Are you suddenly preoccupied with Miss Bennet’s feelings? You thought little of them a month ago.”

“That statement is unfair, Uncle—”

“Is it? Come, Darcy, you know I value you as much as I care for you; however, you were in error in this case. Admit it! Have you seen Miss Bennet tonight? Does she not seem like a lady who suffers from love?”

“I was not in error. I see Miss Bennet is more shy than usual, but I also notice she is as polite and friendly as usual. Besides, all the other difficulties remain; you do not know Mrs. Bennet and her younger daughter, and—”

“I do not know Mrs. Bennet, but I do know your Aunt Catherine and Bingley’s sister; I am also aware of my own improper behaviour at times! So spare me your understanding of other people’s manners. As long as you have nothing against the lady’s character and Bingley is not displeased with her lack of dowry, this conversation is ridiculous.”

“You would not be happy were your sons to marry someone so far beneath them, despite all your jokes and insinuations.”

“Perhaps not; but then again, Bingley is not the son of an earl. Let us be honest; if we are to speak of family situations, Miss Bennet is the daughter of a gentleman while Bingley’s fortune is from trade. She is superior to him, is she not?”

“If you put it that way—”

“I do put it that way! And even more, I would not disapprove of my sons marrying either of the Miss Bennets if they developed an attachment. They could surely do worse than Jane and Elizabeth Bennet.”

“Surely, you are joking,” Darcy interrupted him abruptly.

“Surely, I am being serious, unless you have some strong arguments against the idea. From what I have seen, you have quite a history with Miss Elizabeth. What on earth did you do to that girl that she dislikes you so intensely?”

“Excuse me?” Darcy asked so loudly that the others turned to them. “What do you mean she dislikes me intensely? From where did that idea spring?”

“Where? For heaven’s sake, Nephew, are you blind? First you insist Jane Bennet has no feelings for Bingley when anyone can see she still suffers for him, and now you misread Miss Elizabeth’s feelings for you that are equally strong but of a completely different kind.”

“You think Miss Elizabeth dislikes me? I have always believed we were on friendly terms. We always had lively conversations and—”

The earl rolled his eyes and patted his shoulder, laughing.

“Darcy, may I inquire as to how many women you have known—
really known—
before now? Damn, you seem oblivious about whether a woman likes or dislikes anything. I hope you are not equally oblivious to other things a woman might like or dislike!”

Darcy choked and spilled wine on his coat then started to cough.

***

Darcy’s face was still red from coughing, and he desperately tried not to draw the attention of the group. His uncle’s words whirled in his head, but he could not accept that the earl was correct with regard to either lady.

Yes, Miss Bennet seemed out of spirits, but on the other hand, he had never seen her especially lively, even when Bingley was present. A simple indisposition of the lady did not prove he was in error.

Memories of his conversation with Elizabeth during dinner flooded back to him. Moment by moment, word by word, he managed to recollect the precise instant Elizabeth’s demeanour changed and she seemed disinclined to speak to him again. It occurred when he informed her that Bingley had no intention of returning to Netherfield.

He sat alone, the glass of brandy in his hand, staring at Elizabeth as she talked and laughed with the colonel, Selina, and his own sister. He looked at Georgiana, in a joyful mood after she played with Elizabeth, and then he looked at Miss Bennet, who smiled politely, although her eyes betrayed a distracted lack of interest in the conversation.

He had been honest in his beliefs when he decided that Miss Bennet did not share Bingley’s feelings; he could not have been so partial and unfair in his judgment! Or could he? No, that was not the proper question. Was it his right or his duty as a friend to judge Bingley’s feelings for a young lady or that lady’s feelings for him? That was the question he must answer.