Page 14 of Eavesdroppers Never Hear
Mr Bennet felt he had milked the situation for all the amusement he could get, particularly since Jane’s face wasturning red and she had lost enough control to be clenching her fists. Even he could see that his eldest and usually calmest daughter was close to saying something best left unsaid.
He finally stated emphatically, “This is not the time or place for this discussion!”
“No, it most certainly is not,” Mary agreed.
While Mrs Bennet was unlikely to let it go that easily, Mr Bennet was quicker to the mark.
“Iforbidthis discussion in the churchyard! Besides that, I believe Mr Darcy has barely escaped the Lucases. Perhaps you wish to discuss these extraordinary events or the local gossip with Lady Lucas before our imminent return to Longbourn. My old bones are not fit for a long visit out of doors, so it is now or never.”
Mr Bennet, in a skill honed through decades of practise, led his wife to Lady Lucas’ side, and remained with her. His daughters were unwilling to speculate whether he wanted to keep his wife under some regulation, or he thought the conversation between the matrons was likely to be more amusing, since he lived to make sport for their neighbours, and laugh at them in their turn?
Elizabeth saw them go with a sigh, wondering if the Bennets had any right to criticise others’ improprieties. Her mother and younger sisters seemed incapable of proper deportment. On the other hand, none of the Bennets (except perhaps Lydia) were especially vicious or mean-spirited, so she had to at least give them that.
~~~~~
As soon as Mrs Bennet was out of hearing, Mary spoke.
“We need not discuss our mother’s assertions. I doubt we have heard the last of it. What I want to know is what you think of the Derbyshire gentleman’s—”
She stopped abruptly when Jane signalled her desperately, realising he was probably right behind her.
She turned to face the lion and joined her sisters in a curtsey. “Mr Darcy.”
“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary. Good morning,” he said with the politest of bows.
8.Parley
Elizabeth stared at Mr Darcy, but truly had no idea what to say, now that the polite greetings were complete. Mary and Jane were no better, having come no closer to any idea of how they should react to the morning’s events.
Elizabeth finally blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I am all astonishment that you can be so courageous, Mr Darcy. That was an extraordinary apology.”
“It was barely what was due,” Darcy replied gravely. “We both know it was only partial recompense. I owe you a much more specific confession, but I judged doing so publicly would hinder my cause more than help.”
“Were you concerned with my comfort or yours?” she asked, though she had no idea where she was going with the question, since it was all quite confusing and disconcerting.
“Yours I would hope; but I cannot judge my own motives. That said, everyone is still present. If you feel a more public expression appropriate, I can be readily heard from the top of the steps.”
Elizabeth replied almost in panic. “No, no!That is hardly necessary! I am entirely satisfied. Your willingness to humiliate yourself must disarm reproof.”
Darcy frowned, while Mary squeaked out, “I do not believe that is quite right, Lizzy.”
Darcy spoke gravely. “I believe Miss Mary has the right of it. I humiliated myself the first night at the assembly, and on several subsequent occasions. Today is simply an attempt to see justice done. The worst I suffered is overdue mortification, which is hardly even proportional to the offense.”
“I apologise,” Elizabeth said with a sigh. “I suppose my words sounded like a backhanded compliment at best. I meant them as something akin to praise, or at least approval, of your courage.”
“I should earn no praise for finally acting in some vague approximation of a gentlemanlike manner.”
“Fear not. You have acquitted yourself admirably, and we need never discuss the assembly again. You have entirely escaped my brown books,” Elizabeth said with a shy smile.
Jane and Mary quickly agreed. They both felt the man had not especially offended them in the first place, save on their sister’s behalf.
Darcy bowed, “I thank you. It is a great relief.”
Elizabeth laughed, though it came out sounding nervous. “I can safely assert that it was a very good apology! In fact, it is sufficient to add it to my list of very-good-apologies from your sex.”
“May I ask how many very-good-apologies you have collected?”
“Including yours?”
