Chapter 10

10

D arcy was happy to finally have reached his chambers, and he sank into his chair and closed his eyes. He could wish the journey home in the coach had been conducted in silence.

Miss Bingley had been in full voice denigrating the local people. Sir William had come in for a fair amount of vitriol for taking Darcy away from her, but most of her anger had been aimed at the two elder Miss Bennets.

It had been difficult to see in the dimness inside the coach, with just the light from the swinging lamps, but Darcy could just see Bingley's clenched jaw as he ignored his sister.

But when she started on Miss Elizabeth's performance, Darcy had had enough.

"Oh, that Miss Elizabeth, who does she think she is, demanding the whole room listen in silence? And her voice! Why, it is far too low to be ladylike. She ought not to exhibit at all if she cannot sing in the right register." She drew an angry, spiteful breath and began again before Darcy could finish his thoughts. "And to even think she is capable of playing such complex music. Why, even Miss Darcy, who has had access to the best masters and is so very talented, would not attempt to play such in company."

Darcy cut into her tirade. "That is quite enough, madam!" He made a chopping movement with his hand, even though no one would be able to observe it.

"You are quite, quite wrong on all counts, Miss Bingley. Well, not on my sister's account, but everything you have said about Miss Elizabeth is completely wrong. Firstly, her voice is that of a contralto which, with the range she has, is a very rare thing. Secondly, it is beautifully trained. Miss Elizabeth told me herself that she has access to London masters when she stays with her relations in town. As well, her playing is truly skilled and very gifted. If she wished it, she could use her talent to gain access to the first circles without difficulty."

He had glared at her, rather glad she could not see his face. "And her playing is exquisite. Nothing wanted, and I doubt anyone would wish to listen to idle gossip over it."

He had wondered whether to mention Miss Elizabeth's private presentation, but wondered if it was generally known about. And now he was sitting in his chambers, he wondered that he had not asked her about that.

He frowned; had she asked about his sister to distract him from talking about herself, or from asking about her presentation?

If she had, he had to admit that it had worked. But then, he was always happy to talk about his sister's musical accomplishments, and the fact that Miss Elizabeth played so well made it doubly easy to tell her about Georgiana's passion. He shivered; he had almost been tempted to tell her of Georgiana's disappointment over the summer. What had even possessed him to consider that? In the end, he had merely said that Santorio's latest works had seemed rather melancholy, and it suited his sister's current mood.

She had laughed. "Perhaps his family are giving him some grief, Mr. Darcy, and that is infusing his compositions."

He had started. "Do you know of his family life, Miss Elizabeth?"

She'd shaken her head, smilingly. "It was just a light-hearted comment. I assume, if someone is miserable, then it would affect their work."

Darcy smiled wryly, remembering their conversation, and vaguely heard the sounds of his valet, moving around the room. He sat forward and rose to his feet. Once he was ready for bed, there was little he could do other than retire, or Maunder could not retire, either, as he was required to sleep in the chambers to protect him from being obliged.

On no account was Darcy willing to risk being compromised by Miss Bingley.

"Thank you, Mr. Maunder, I can manage. I am just sorry you have to sleep here and get so little time free."

"Think nothing of it, sir. It is a small imposition, but will save me, as well as you, from much possible grief in future."

"True." Darcy crossed to the basin, steaming gently on the washstand. "If Miss Bingley became Mrs. Darcy, neither Pemberley nor Darcy House would be such comfortable places."

He must be tired. He would not normally be so open to his servants, as he would not normally have considered telling Miss Elizabeth so much about Georgiana. But Maunder was utterly discreet and trustworthy, and though he did not know Miss Elizabeth so well, he was somehow sure she could keep secrets.

He lay in bed in some comfort, the sheets warm from the warming pans, and considered the evening. Miss Elizabeth hadn't seemed to welcome his request to dance, but had appeared happy enough during it. But he wondered now at her questions about his sister. Had she been trying to distract him for questioning her? Had she something to hide?

He listed in his mind what he needed to know. Who were her aunt and uncle? Where did they live in town? How had she obtained the Santorio when it had only just been published? For that matter, he was surprised Georgiana had not mentioned receiving it in yesterday's letter, and she would normally have waxed lyrical about it, especially given how complex it was.

And he had not had time to ask Miss Elizabeth about her presentation. Why had she not gone on to make her name in the first circles? While it was true that her connections were too low and her family deplorable, it was likely that her aunt and uncle were more genteel if she had access to masters while there. With her exceptional talent, she could have access to the first circles and the chance to make a good marriage — which her mother would push for.

Maunder's snores began from behind the screen surrounding his bed. Darcy rolled over and pressed the pillow over his ears. Tomorrow. He could persuade Bingley to call at Longbourn tomorrow and perhaps he could escort Miss Elizabeth in the gardens as she chaperoned her sister. He hoped it would not be too cold.

She wasn't there. Darcy tried to hide his irritation that he wouldn't be able to speak to her, neither would he enjoy the morning with his ears being assaulted by the noise of the mother and her youngest daughters. The middle daughter, Miss Mary, was sullenly plunking out scales on the pianoforte in the back parlour, so there was little to do apart from think about why his quarry had absented herself.

Then Bennet put his head round the door. "I wonder if you'd care to join me in my bookroom, Mr. Darcy. You mentioned your library in your first call here, and I would like to hear more about it."

Darcy rose with alacrity. Anything was better than being here, where Mrs. Bennet had not yet forgiven him for calling one of her daughters tolerable .

Bennet nodded him into a chair, and waved the decanter at him. It was rather too early to drink, but Darcy accepted. He had taken entirely too much tea this morning already.

They relaxed in the chairs and spoke desultorily about books before Bennet cast an eye at him. "Do you enjoy chess? We could perhaps have a game."

"I would like that, sir. Bingley is rather too distracted to have much strategy beyond that he has already learned."

Bennet laughed. "I am always glad of a new player. While I can usually win against most of our neighbours, I need to improve to beat Lizzy."

Darcy raised his eyebrows. "She plays chess well?"

"Indeed." Bennet's voice was wry. "I taught her too well, and she now outstrips me every time."

Darcy chuckled. "I imagine that must be very galling."

"You have no idea," the man sighed. "Then I read in some book or other that very musical people are often good at strategy games such as chess, and was mollified somewhat."

"Are you musical, Mr. Bennet?"

"Not at all. I am afraid I did not discover Elizabeth's talent until her tantrums at being refused time on the instrument brought it to my notice."

Darcy huffed a laugh. "I can see that she is a very determined character. How old was she when you discovered it?"

Bennet shook his head. "She was three years old, and I was very reluctant to allow her to begin any sort of formal learning, because I was determined for her to grow up as a child should." He huffed a resigned laugh. "But her determination to work out any tune she had heard was relentless. I figured the sooner she learned to read music, the easier it would be to listen to her practice."

Darcy moved a bishop out, ready to attack. "So, Miss Elizabeth learned to read music before ordinary text?"

"Well, she was already well on the way to figuring out words as she stood beside Jane when she was learning, so I suppose she learned them together." Bennet stared at the board and placed his knight in a defensive square.

Darcy knew he would have to concentrate on the game; Bennet wasn't going to make any distracted moves. "It must be difficult to raise such a talented child."

"Yes," Bennet was staring at the board, too. "Not the least of which is not to make the other girls feel inferior."

"I imagine that's important."

"Certainly."

The conversation stopped as both men concentrated on the game until Darcy finally had to admit defeat, and tipped his king over ruefully. "I will not challenge Miss Elizabeth, I think, until I have had more practice games."

"You're welcome here any time you wish to play, Mr. Darcy." Bennet looked up at him challengingly. "I am glad you stayed here after the assembly, and have decided that, while from lower in society, we are a community that has a reasonably good life."

Darcy bowed his head. "I have been grateful for the opportunity I have been given to alter my attitude as well as my manners."

"Just one thing, Mr. Darcy."

"Yes, Mr. Bennet?"

"How much effort is Mr. Bingley putting in to attempting to become a good master of Netherfield?"

Darcy chuckled. "He is rather distracted, I will admit. But I have already decided that we will spend each afternoon on estate matters."

As he rode back to Netherfield beside Bingley at lunchtime, he wondered if Mr. Bennet was giving him a coded warning to pass on to his friend.