Page 33 of The Heroic Mr Darcy's Bad Manners
“What a lark, Papa!” Lady Lydia exclaimed whilst smiling mischievously. “First Lizzy rejects Mr Collins…”
Darcy could not remember whether he had gasped, stumbled, or sworn because the feeling that sentence engendered in him robbed him of his senses. He had just seen Mr Collins strolling into Meryton with Miss Lucas on his arm. He had thought the redness on the parson’s face was due to the exertion, but could it have resulted from a more nefarious reason? Had her rejection not been received with respect? That might explain the odd atmosphere in the Longbourn household. Elizabeth may have been ruined and sent away to a distant relation. He was so occupied with his own thoughts that he nearly missed Lady Lydia’s next outrageous observation.
“…and now Mr Bingley has left to pursue Miss Darcy without her brother’s consent. I may still be the first Bennet sister to marry if you would only approve of Mr Wickham’s suit, Papa.”
“You may suppose he would do as well as the next fellow. A lady likes to be wooed and courted as it gives her a certain distinction amongst her friends,” the earl drawled. “But Mr Wickham will not do. He is a mere lieutenant, and his wages cannot support a wife—least of all you, dear Lydia. He needs a partner in life who can make a little go a long way, and that would not suit your expensive habits of frippery and lace.”
Lady Lydia rolled her eyes but did not gainsay her father.
“May I have a word with you in private, Lord Glentworth?” Darcy asked, quite unamused by the youngest Bennet daughter’s unbridled tongue.
The earl let him suffer under his scrutiny for an insupportably long moment before he agreed and escorted him to his book room.
It was obvious that he had affronted the patriarch of Longbourn during his stay in Meryton, and he feared that only the utmost earnestness would persuade him to listen.
Therefore, he lay before him his dealings with Mr Wickham in no uncertain terms. If he could save another man’s daughter, or a sister, from the havoc that scoundrel left behind, he would do so. He held an inherent belief that despite his capricious nature, the earl could be trusted in important matters. It also served to disabuse Lord Glentworth of the notion that Bingley was pursuing his sister.
The earl immediately sobered and thanked him sincerely for his warnings about the libertine. He assured him that measures would be taken to curb the reprobate’s machinations.
“Underneath your austere nature you are a good man, Mr Darcy.”
The earl shook his hand, but that only left him with the realisation that the praise was unsupported by his behaviour. Lord Glentworth’s benevolence stood in stark contrast to his own conduct at the assembly, where he had injured the man’s daughter with his callous remarks upon her appearance. And as if that was not enough, he had harmed her further by pointing out her failure in attracting the opposite sex. It was cruel beyond belief, and his foul mood was no excuse. He was exhausted after rescuing his sister from the worst of scoundrels and disheartened that he had not found Eilís, which by no means justified his abominable behaviour.
“I do not deserve your praise. I did not act as I ought at the assembly and insulted your daughter most grievously. I owe her an apology and would like your permission to beg her forgiveness.”
“You just confirmed my statement. Only a decent man would admit to his faults, but you are too late. Lizzy left for an extended family visit about an hour ago.”
“That is unfortunate indeed. Please convey my regrets upon your earliest convenience.”
“I shall forward your apologies in my next letter, but do not concern yourself too much. It may ease your regrets that we have often made sport of your ill-formed comments, and a lady likes to be affronted now and again. She is hardly Lady Glentworth’s favourite daughter, but the circumstance has left her with a most devoted mother.”
Lord Glentworth was such a strange mixture of quick parts, sarcastic remarks, and caprice that Darcy could not understand his character. He chose to bid the patriarch farewell and joined his friends in the parlour. Miss Bingley had regained her speech and was currently holding Lady Jane’s dainty hands in an iron grip. Her behaviour towards her friend had undergone such a material change that Darcy had to quash the impulse to laugh at the sudden reversal.
“My dearest friend. I regret nothing more than leaving your company, and I hope to soon enjoy many delightful new conversations in town. In the meanwhile, we may lessen the pain of separation by a most frequent and unreserved correspondence. I quite depend upon you for that.”
Lady Jane listened to Miss Bingley’s high-flown overtures with a mistrust Darcy could not fault. There was more to the lady than first met the eye.
“I do not know when that might be,” Lady Jane replied coolly. “I have no such future plans.”
“I beg to differ,” Lady Glentworth imposed upon the conversation. “My brother has begged you to join them in town when they leave after Christmas. He was hoping that you would keep Madeleine company during the tedious winter.”
Lady Jane did not confirm.
“Please do, Miss Bennet!” Miss Bingley cried.
“That would be Lady Jane to you,” the former Miss Bennet gently reminded her.
Darcy thought that Miss Bingley had made the request to further the acquaintance a bit late, and judging by her expression, so did Lady Jane.
“As to your request, I shall consider it,” Lady Jane finally allowed.
Darcy thought she looked pensive, but Lady Glentworth did not notice and rejoiced in the easy manner in which everything had been concluded. It was strange that she was so keen to connect her family to Bingley’s whilst making no effort to ensnare Darcy himself, whose consequence was ten times that of his friend. It was apparent that she had not forgiven his snub of her daughter, and no amount of money, country estates, or houses in town could persuade her to like him. That perspective urged him to respect her character even though she was too effusive and loquacious for his personal taste.
Chapter 12 A Sneck Posset
Elizabeth
Elizabeth bade goodbye to Mrs Long in the carriage, who was in a hurry to acquire the flowers Mrs Bennet had requested whilst there was still some daylight left.
