Page 22 of Pride, Prejudice and Prudence

He apologised for his intrusion by letting her know that he had understood that Mr Collins and Mr Bennet were also at home.

They then sat down, and Elizabeth observed that none of them had been aware yesterday evening that Lady Catherine was his aunt.

“Did you not?” he asked. “She is my mother’s older sister, and we are not so large a family that I would neglect such a close relative.”

“Family is very important to you, then?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes,” he replied, and gave no further answer, but instead remarked that he was surprised to see them visiting so soon with their cousin.

Elizabeth replied that it had not been overlong since they had last seen Mr Collins, but they were very pleased to see him.

“But the relationship cannot be so far progressed,” he said, his voice urgent, bending towards her with a look of such intensity that Elizabeth was quite taken aback.

Noting her reaction, he sat back in his chair and, in a more controlled tone, noted that they seemed to be very fond of their cousin and that he thought he had understood that the relationship was very new.

Elizabeth owned that they had not known their cousin long, but that long acquaintance was not always necessary.

“You would not, I think, be rushed to form attachments on a merely frivolous connection, I think,” he said.

Elizabeth was unsure as to what he was referring, and, trying to ascertain his meaning, she said, “I think it depends on the personalities involved; some people are very open and easy to get to know better, but some others are complex and require a lengthy acquaintance to really know them.”

“I have travelled into Kent with my cousin,” Mr Darcy replied, and Elizabeth was unsure if they were speaking of the same topic.

“Oh,” she said, one eyebrow raised.

“We have been close since childhood, and since we reached our majority, we always visit with our aunt together at this time of year.”

“That is admirable,” Elizabeth said, thinking that this statement required some form of response.

“How long does your family intend to stay in Kent?” he enquired.

Elizabeth confirmed that they were to remain with their cousin for three weeks.

“That being so, I am sure that you will meet my cousin during our stay with our aunt,” and with those words, he rose to his feet and bowed to both Elizabeth and Jane.

It was only as he left that Elizabeth realised that apart from the initial acknowledgement of Jane’s presence, Mr Darcy had spoken entirely to her. She looked at Jane. Her face held a look Elizabeth had never seen on her before; she might have called it arch.

“Well, I do not know what to make of that,” she said.

“Do you not?” Jane asked, to which Elizabeth assumed she did not expect a reply.

Chapter 36

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet would not play badly at all if she would only take the time to practice more,” Lady Catherine intoned halfway through Elizabeth’s rendition of a complex piece she had never played or indeed, heard played before. It was one of the limited pieces of music available in Rosings and one she claimed was a great favourite of hers.

“I have heard Miss Elizabeth play before and I must admit that nothing gave me greater pleasure than to hear her play and sing,” Mr Darcy admitted in what Elizabeth had to own was a most gallant rejoinder to Lady Catherine’s criticism.

He was standing right beside her having insisted on turning the pages for her, even though Jane had offered.

The Bennet family had been included in the dinner at Rosings the night after Mr Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam had arrived to visit their aunt. Colonel Fitzwilliam had charmed them all, not only the ladies but also their father and even their quiet cousin. He was an affable and gentle man of not more than thirty-two. Elizabeth, although she was loath to admit it, had to say that he was not as handsome as Mr Darcy, nor as tall, but he had a friendly, open face that was not without its charm. His hair was wavy and chestnut brown, and he had about him an openness that was at odds with the serious look evident about his eyes.

Colonel Fitzwilliam won over the Bennet party almost from the first; he flattered with a teasing look which meant the ladies never took him too seriously. He spoke to Mr Bennet about the war and the situation on the continent in a low tone, so that Elizabeth was unable to hear the details. He even had a spiritual discussion with their cousin, Mr Collins, which left the Colonel with a look of comfort that was evident to Elizabeth.

The only thing Elizabeth did not like about Colonel Fitzwilliam was his cousin. Mr Darcy frowned every time the Colonel spoke with her or Jane or showed attentions to them. When he had teased Elizabeth, when he complimented them on their playing and singing, when he had asked either of them their opinions on any matter, Mr Darcy frowned.

Elizabeth was not in any way unsure as to the reason for his looks; he did not wish their cousin to form any attachments with a family he believed so beneath him. It was therefore all the more surprising that he spent many hours talking to Elizabeth, above even her father. Elizabeth had to own that Mr Darcy had behaved well when they had met in town, as he had, since coming into Kent. He had also made some efforts to speak with her cousin, Mr Collins. The two had spoken quietly together for some time on first meeting at Rosings Park.

Once, Elizabeth was playing the piano with the Colonel turning pages for her, and Mr Darcy approached. Elizabeth decided she’d had enough and thought to make him pay for his ill-mannered behaviour in Meryton. She described his walking about the place at the first assembly after the Bingley party had arrived in the county, and refusing to dance with any lady outside of his own group. She did not go as far as to admit that she had overheard any of his conversation with his friend. She had intended her words as an insult delivered lightly, but Mr Darcy had taken it in good humour and said that he did not perform for strangers, leaving Elizabeth quite unable to tease him further.