Page 18 of The Heroic Mr Darcy's Bad Manners
“My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza,” Charlotte continued.
Elizabeth had hoped they had exhausted the theme about her encounter with Mr Darcy, but that was obviously too much to ask.
“Mr Darcy is not so worth listening to as his friend, is he? Poor Eliza!—to be only just tolerable.”
“I beg you not to put it into Lizzy’s head to be vexed by Mr Darcy’s ill-treatment, Charlotte. He is such a disagreeable man. It would be a misfortune to be liked by him,” Mrs Bennet established firmly. “You must write a letter to Maeve. You know I do not have time to write, Lizzy. You must tell her to give him the cut direct when she returns to town. He is not worth speaking to because he sat by Mrs Long for half an hour without a word spoken between them.”
“I am certain you are mistaken, Mama,” Jane intervened on Mr Darcy’s behalf. “I saw him speaking to Mrs Long.”
“That was only because she asked him a question he could not refuse to answer.” Mrs Bennet would not allow herself to be mollified when her mind was set.
“Miss Bingley told me,” Jane said, “that he does not speak much unless he is intimately acquainted with his partner. With his friends, he is remarkably agreeable.”
“I do not believe a word of it.” Mrs Bennet raised her chin. “If he had been agreeable, he would have spoken to Mrs Long.”
“I would rather wish he had danced with Eliza,” Charlotte suggested.
Elizabeth leapt to her feet. “Please excuse me,” she said but did not give a reason for her abrupt departure from what had become a torment. She did not escape quickly enough to miss her mother’s protest, however.
“Lizzy mustneverdance with Mr Darcy, or I shall never speak to her again!”
Chapter 6 Cat and Mouse
The Longbourn ladies soon waited upon the ladies at Netherfield. Elizabeth was fortunate that the gentlemen were out shooting when they called. The visit was returned in due form, and it was obvious that Jane’s pleasing manners had earned the goodwill of Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley; however, it was equally clear that they found Mrs Bennet intolerable and the other sisters not worth speaking to. Jane received their attention with pleasure, but Elizabeth saw superciliousness in how they treated everybody and could not like them. She would have gladly avoided the acquaintance if it had not been so obvious that Mr Bingley admired Jane and that her sister was on her way to reciprocating his feelings.
The Bennets were invited to Lucas Lodge for a dinner party, and to Elizabeth’s consternation and Jane’s delight, the Netherfield party was present.
Elizabeth noticed she was becoming an object of interest to Mr Darcy and was conscious at all times of the whereabouts of the gentleman. Whenever he walked in her direction, she moved the opposite way, which happened quite frequently in the course of the evening.
Suspicion arose that he was intentionally following her as they engaged in a game of cat and mouse. She was winning until Charlotte requested she entertain the guests at the pianoforte, which would not allow her to escape should he move her way.
“You are a strange friend who always wants me to sing and perform before all and sundry. My vanity does not move in that direction, and I would rather not perform before those who are accustomed to the very best.”
“You cannot continue to avoid Mr Darcy. If you allowed him to become acquainted with you, you might change his misguided opinion.”
“Thank you, but no. I am as acquainted with that gentleman as I ever wish to be.”
“I see… Would you at least sing one song? Then I promise not to request anything more from you for the rest of the evening. You have a particularly lovely voice that never fails to captivate me, and it would not be amiss to display your best talent before the Netherfield party.”
Elizabeth humoured her friend, though her fingering was sorely lacking the practice necessary to be deemed proficient. What worried Elizabeth was whether a certain gentleman might offer to turn the pages if he was indeed following her. If that was the case, she had a ready solution.
“Mary? You read music so well, would you mind turning the pages for me?”
“Certainly.” Mary preened at the praise, and the sisters assumed their seats at the pianoforte.
Elizabeth looked at the sheets of music and barely avoided Mr Darcy’s piercing glare. He was nowhere near the instrument, but unfortunately that only gave him a better view. She quashed a shudder and wished that the ever-present Miss Bingley would occupy him for the duration of her song. It was however vital that she found a piece she could play reasonably well so as not to suffer any further mortification.
She espiedRose on the Heath,after the poemHeidenröslingby Goethe, and thought it quite fitting. Perhaps she should seek to revenge herself, as the rose did in the song.
“A good choice. It fits your voice,” Mary commented.
“Thank you,” Elizabeth replied and began singing.
“Once a boy a rosebud spied,
Heathrose fair and tender.
All array’d in youthful pride—
