Page 5 of Symptoms of Peculiar Regard

“He does not think me mercenary, Lizzy,” Jane replied, knowing where her sister’s thoughts tended.

“How can you be so certain? He looks down upon the whole of Meryton, I am sure of it.”

“He knows we have proof of our regard—Mr Bingley told him,” Jane replied simply. The rose still gleamed before her, and she reached out as if to lightly touch a petal.

“Told him?” Elizabeth echoed. “Jane!”

Jane, amused at her sister’s astonishment, told her of her conversation in the garden, as far as it pertained to herself and to Mr Darcy knowing others with similar powers. Elizabeth gaped and gasped, and at the end of the tale, burst out in exclamation.

“How extraordinary that he should have encountered others with your insight!”

“And do you acquit him of distrusting me?”

“I suppose I must,” Elizabeth agreed reluctantly, “although I still think him immensely disagreeable.”

“If you insist,” Jane soothed her, “although I think you are curious about him. It is only natural that you would be. Perhaps I have told you more than I ought.”

“I am glad you did! It allowed me to prepare to defend myself. He is such a curious man—why, we spent a full half an hour in the library together after breakfast, and he was as talkative as I have ever seen him. He kept asking me questions! I am sure he sought to prove to himself that I was beneath his notice.”

Jane thought back to their conversation in the garden. “Perhaps, rather than this being evidence of his disdain, he sought to know and understand you better.”

“Perhaps,” Elizabeth said emphatically, “he sought only to prove his own superiority. Many of his questions were about our connexions.”

“I have had similar conversations with Mr Bingley,” Jane replied serenely.

“I wish I had your ability to think so well of everyone,” Elizabeth replied pettishly, but laughed immediately. “Look, there is the church spire. We shall be home soon. I am sure Mama is waiting on the step with a list of warehouses ready to accost you.”

Mrs Bennetwaswaiting for them, and although she did not present a list of warehouses as soon as they alighted, greetings had barely been exchanged before she was congratulating Jane on her success and planning a dinner party for the following Monday. Jane submitted to it with good humour and did not mind that Elizabeth smiled slyly at her and slipped quietly away. Her sister did not like having her ideas disturbed; she would leave Elizabeth to think for herself on whether Mr Darcy was quite so disdainful as she supposed.

CHAPTER THREE

Mrs Bennet had much to say on the subject of Jane’s engagement and she found herself in constant demand with her mother. She thus had little leisure time to spend considering Elizabeth’s feelings towards Mr Darcy until the gentleman himself arrived with the rest of the Netherfield party for dinner the following Monday. That his feelings had not receded was immediately apparent not just by the tell-tale signs of his affection, but since as soon as he could politely do so, Mr Darcy went to her sister’s side. As Bingley submitted to her mother’s raptures, Jane was able to listen to what Mr Darcy spoke of with Elizabeth.

“I have been thinking of our conversation two days ago when you spoke of your visits to your uncle’s house in London,” he began. “Have you travelled extensively?”

“No, not at all,” Elizabeth replied, before adding with evident delight, “although my uncle and aunt have promised that I can accompany them on a tour of the Lakes next summer.”

“Indeed?” Mr Darcy replied. “It is a beautiful part of the country, I am sure you are eager to see it.”

“Yes, very much,” Elizabeth agreed. “I do not know that there is any part of England I long to see more.”

“Allow me to put in a good word for my own county of Derbyshire. Dovedale and the Peaks have a beauty all of their own. Although there are other less celebrated sights that are equally beautiful. I am sure you would take great delight in them.” He smiled warmly, and Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed, the brambles around her beginning to scramble towards him.

“I am sure there are, sir; every county has its attractions known only to the local populace. Even Hertfordshire has one or two.”

Mr Darcy smiled again, and responded in a low voice that Jane could not quite hear. Its effect, however, was plain; Elizabeth coloured and looked somewhat astonished…but not displeased.

Throughout the evening, Mr Darcy devoted his attention to Elizabeth. Jane was delighted, although Miss Bingley less so. Jane could not trouble herself with Miss Bingley’s disappointed hopes, however, not when Elizabeth’s prospects looked so promising. Occupied with Mr Bingley, Jane endeavoured not to watch them too closely, but it soon became clear that no gift was required to discern their increasing regard for one another. When the gentlemen re-joined the ladies after dinner, Mr Darcy was once again at Elizabeth’s side, and they were soon deep in conversation. Elizabeth spoke with animation, her companion listening closely, occasionally interjecting a comment. When she laughed, his eyes swept with admiration across her face and a blush rose on her cheeks, making his smile grow still broader.

By her side, Mr Bingley also observed his friend’s behaviour. “I would never have thought to see Darcy so enchanted, but your sister has done it! There will be a match there for certain.”

“They are only at the very beginning,” Jane replied, “but having secured such happiness ourselves, there is nothing that could make me happier than to see Lizzy well married too.”

“If Darcy hurries himself a little, we might marry all together.”

“I would not hurry them along,” Jane returned, smiling affectionately at Mr Bingley’s enthusiasm. “Love must grow for itself, if it is to grow at all. It cannot be forced.” Despite her caution, however, she harboured similar hopes for the couple so engrossed in one another’s conversation.

The following day, a party was formed to walk into Meryton. Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy arrived shortly before their departure and naturally offered to accompany them. They quickly took their places by the sides of their preferred sisters.

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