Page 31 of The Heroic Mr Darcy's Bad Manners
At that very moment, a red-faced Mr Collins stormed out of the door.
“I could invite Mr Collins to return to Lucas Lodge and prolong his stay by offering him a meal.”
“Dearest Charlotte! If it is not too much of an imposition.” Charlotte shook her head in denial. “You are the very best of friends.”
“Mr Collins!” Charlotte called after the aggravated man, who turned and bowed to her, scowling at Elizabeth.
Soon they were strolling arm in arm down the path to Lucas Lodge whilst Elizabeth hastened to return to the house.
After telling her mother that Mr Collins would be away for most of the day, she brought forward her wish to leave for town. Her mother offered a plausible excuse by stating she did not feel Elizabeth was safe whilst Mr Collins still resided under their roof.
“You cannot go unchaperoned,” her father said, impeding her plan. “There was an announcement in yesterday’s paper about my elevation to earl. I dare say that was what prompted Mr Collins’s abominable behaviour, which must mean that other gentlemen may become equally impudent.”
“You did not see the way that libertine leered at our daughter. I shall escort her myself since you cannot be persuaded to go to town. Heaven knows I have tried often enough,” Lady Glentworth offered.
“Have you forgotten that you have invited the Netherfield party for dinner on Saturday?” Lord Glentworth reminded his wife.
“Oh dear!” Lady Glentworth fretted. “I almost forgot. Mr Bingley and Jane’s engagement party. And I have invited our closest neighbours to celebrate. But I am certain Mrs Hill has the preparations well underway, and I shall return tomorrow. I could purchase hothouse flowers and wine.”
“Mr Bingley has yet to propose, Mama,” Elizabeth cautioned her mother.
“He danced three sets with her at his ball, which is a decided declaration of his intention. He cannot retract with honour. I have much to do. I must go at once to Mrs Long and beg her to escort Lizzy to town. Her taste is excellent, and she can purchase the flowers I need for the party. Perhaps I should hire musicians from town…”
“Cease, woman! I may be an earl, but I am not made of money.”
Lady Glentworth hastened out of the room calling for Mrs Hill to order the carriage.
“Uncle Henry might need you in town, Papa.” Elizabeth smiled at her father. “You could escort me, and we could make a merry party of it.”
“Absolutely not.” Her father frowned. “But your mother’s scheme might have merit. He might not pester me to come if I send you. Excuse me, I must make the arrangements. You should eat a hearty breakfast, Elizabeth. You may not have another opportunity for a decent meal before you arrive in town.”
Elizabeth ordered Betty to begin packing for an extended stay in London. Mrs Long was prevailed upon to escort Elizabeth and to purchase the necessary hothouse flowers for Mr Bingley and Jane’s engagement party.
It was all arranged to suit Elizabeth perfectly. She was free of Mr Collins’s odious company and Mr Darcy’s heart-breaking presence with so little inconvenience. She would be languishing in luxury in London. After expressing her well wishes to Jane and exacting a promise from her to send the expected news express, she bade her sister a heartfelt farewell and left.
Chapter 11 A Moonlight Flit.
Darcy
Meanwhile, at Netherfield.
Despite Darcy’s eagerness to leave for town before darkness made the journey treacherous, he could not allow his friends to behave so abominably towards a peer. He should have left at the break of dawn, as he would have preferred, but had foolishly assumed that Miss Bingley and the Hursts would rise before noon on the day of their departure and had therefore been waiting for his hosts for several hours.
“You cannot leave the area without a proper farewell to the most prominent members of the neighbourhood. It is simply not done in polite society. You should visit Sir William and the Earl of Glentworth, at the very least,” Darcy admonished. He was appalled at Miss Bingley’s disregard of proper manners, regardless of how little she enjoyed her neighbours’ company. He had leapt to agree with her scheme of following Bingley to town, leaving Meryton and its confounding residents behind. After his dance with Miss Elizabeth, he was as eager as ever to resume his search for Eilís.
“I have not been introduced to Lord Glentworth, and I am rather cross you have never mentioned such an illustrious neighbour, but I would not mind paying him a visit if you deem it necessary,” Miss Bingley agreed with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
“Neither have I,” Hurst admitted. “But it would not do to insult a member of the peerage.”
“Had I known there was an earl in the vicinity, I would have invited him to my ball!” Miss Bingley exclaimed, sounding rather miffed at being denied the pleasure of hosting him. “Where is Lord Glentworth’s estate?”
“Oh, I would say 3 or 4 miles from Netherfield.”
“That close!” Miss Bingley screeched and turned away from him, huffing in indignation.
Darcy enjoyed making sport of his friends and did not enlighten them for the pleasure of seeing their surprise when they realised that Lord Glentworth was none other than Mr Bennet.
“Then I suggest we begin with a short visit to Sir William.”
