Chapter 4

Four

Mrs Bennet studied the two couples when they returned from their walk. She had spent the period of their absence day-dreaming of her daughters' weddings and indulging in sorrow at how much she would miss them once they were wives. Jane and Mr Bingley gave her nothing but pleasure. One glance was enough to know their connexion was progressing as it should.

Elizabeth and Mr Darcy were another matter altogether. Elizabeth's cheeks were red, but Mrs Bennet could not tell why. Was she angry? Disappointed? Frustrated? Whatever emotion Elizabeth was experiencing, between it and the way she and Mr Darcy were acting, Mrs Bennet was convinced something interesting was brewing between the couple. They sat apart and tried to give the impression they did not even know the other was there, yet frequently glimpsed in the other's direction. It was plain even to Mrs Bennet that, while Elizabeth might not understand her sentiments towards the gentleman, he knew what it was to love. And to think he had been so dismissive of Elizabeth's beauty when they had first met, only to fall madly in love with her! Why then was he not sitting with her, talking to her, and trying to earn her favour? Mr Bingley was giving him an excellent illustration of how a man should act towards the lady he wished to have for his own.

I shall just give him a little nudge in Lizzy's direction. Encourage him. What could it hurt?

It required some contrivance, but she managed to have a short, private conversation with him. She imagined him admitting to liking Elizabeth and requesting Mrs Bennet intercede on his behalf. He was sure to present her with a very fine gift when her efforts were successful.

Goodness, he is tall! Mrs Bennet had never stood quite so close to him before, and she found him rather imposing. She wondered if Elizabeth did too, and if that might be part of the problem. It would be just like Elizabeth to tease him out of his attraction as a way to mask how he intimidated her!

"It is so charming to meet again in such a manner, is it not?" She smiled broadly.

"Ah…yes. Yes, it is, madam. I thank you for being so welco?—"

Spying Mr Bingley preparing to step towards them, Mrs Bennet hastily spoke.

"My dear Lizzy is particularly glad. She is so lively, so quick-witted, and she relishes having a greater diversity of people with whom to talk, especially those with such wise conversation to offer. She is a good girl, as I am sure you have noticed. She is quite different from Jane in both looks and manner. I understand Jane more than I do her, I admit, but I am very fortunate to have such a daughter. Very fortunate indeed."

Her brow gently furrowed, and her eyes drifted to Elizabeth, who stood apart from them. What Mrs Bennet had said to Mr Darcy was true, although it had never struck her before. Elizabeth was a good person, and she used her intelligence and sense to help those around her, including Mrs Bennet, who always struggled with the household accounts. And had Mrs Bennet not just been considering how much she would suffer when Jane and Elizabeth were married? Why had Mrs Bennet not recognised her value before? It would be terrible to admit it was only because Elizabeth was Mr Bennet's favourite.

Just because I am dissatisfied with him does not mean I should let it influence how I see my daughter! Worse would be to acknowledge she had only seen her error because Elizabeth had attracted a gentleman of Mr Darcy's quality.

As though fighting against a great weight of water, Mrs Bennet tore her eyes away from Elizabeth and searched the room until she saw Mary, her other least favourite—but still very much loved—daughter. Was there more to Mary than she had realised? Very likely there was, but how was she to discover it?

The sound of the front door closing shook Mrs Bennet out of her reverie. The moment of distraction had robbed her of hearing Mr Darcy's reply. No matter, she decided. Vowing to remember her questions about Mary, Mrs Bennet followed Elizabeth as she picked up a book and left the drawing room.

Mrs Bennet followed Elizabeth into the small sitting room at the back of the house. She was staring out of the window, the book still clutched in her hand.

"There you are, Lizzy, my dear."

Elizabeth turned towards her and appeared to sigh.

Thinking about Mr Darcy, I hope!

"Did you require my assistance?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, no. Come sit with me." Mrs Bennet went to the old settee and patted the place next to her. Once Elizabeth was sitting, she continued. "What a good thing it is that Mr Bingley has returned for Jane."

"Yes. I am happy for her." Elizabeth's hands were folded about the book, and she looked at it rather than her mother. Her voice betrayed nothing of her mood.

"You agree with me that he shows every indication of being in love with her? Do you think he will offer for her soon? I think he will, but that is also what I believed last year, and, well, we know how that ended. I spoke to your father about it last night—or rather, I tried to, but he made one of his jokes instead of treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves!" The man vexed her more and more each year.

Elizabeth glanced her way, and Mrs Bennet might have heard another soft sigh, but she was not certain.

"I do agree, but I could not say when he will propose. Likely, he is waiting to be sure of her feelings." She made the oddest sound, almost like a bitter bark of laughter, which made no sense to Mrs Bennet; thus she chose to ignore it.

"Oh, I do hope so! What a relief it will be once— But that is not why I wanted to talk to you. Were you surprised that Mr Darcy accompanied his friend?" Mrs Bennet offered her daughter a fond smile that was meant to encourage the sharing of confidences, but Elizabeth did not see it because she continued to look downward. However, Mrs Bennet noticed the way her daughter started at the gentleman's name.

"Why would I have an opinion on the matter? I could hardly know how Mr Darcy is likely to act."

"I was thinking, my sweet, Mr Darcy is a very fine gentleman."

When Elizabeth regarded her with narrowed eyes, Mrs Bennet tittered nervously, but she had come too far not to carry on.

"He is so…educated, and-and I believe he likes books a great deal, just as you do. Have you ever considered that you and he might be well-suited?"

"Really, Mama, I believe the excitement of Jane and Mr Bingley renewing their friendship makes you see romantic intrigues everywhere. Mr Darcy would never look at me the way Mr Bingley does Jane. If you will excuse me."

Elizabeth sprang to her feet and, without waiting for a response, strode out of the room.