Page 5 of Pride, Prejudice and Prudence

To Elizabeth’s, and indeed Jane’s delight, Mr Bingley chose Jane as the partner for his first dance, but Mr Darcy did not dance the first dance after their arrival. This meant that Miss Bingley was free, and Charlotte’s brother, asked for, and was accepted for her first set, and Elizabeth had to admit that the lady was an elegant dancer.

Chapter 8

“Come, Darcy,” Mr Bingley said to his friend, “you must dance. It is an assembly after all, not a walk in Hyde Park.”

“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment for me to stand up with. You know I despise conversing with people I am not properly acquainted with.”

Elizabeth overheard this proclamation with surprise. Who was he to be so proud and above his company? She did not care one wit if he had wealth to match that of his friend. Or even should he have connections with the highest in the land, it was extremely ill-bred to think such a thing, never mind to say so. She knew he did not mean his words to be overheard, but that was no fault of hers; she had been sitting here, resting her feet, before the gentlemen had come this way.

“You are missing out, dear chap,” Bingley replied. “Let me introduce you to one of the Bennet ladies. They are all most handsome and witty. I have never enjoyed conversing with young ladies so much as I have with the Bennet ladies,” he said. Elizabeth was most gratified by this fine compliment to their looks and their intelligence, but Mr Bingley was not finished.

“Here is one of the Bennet ladies sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say you will find her very agreeable.”

Mr Darcy turned round, and he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, and their eyes met. Elizabeth felt a frisson of awareness, which was quickly transformed to pique when he immediately looked away. Mr Darcy’s reply to Mr Bingley was momentarily lost in the noise of the room, but she did hear the end of it as he walked away, saying “You are wasting your time with me.”

She supposed she was not handsome enough to tempt him. She had been sure he had not intended or been aware that she had heard the conversation. But she remained with no very cordial feelings towards him. However, she told the story to her parents and sisters in the carriage on the way home with great spirit and playfulness, going so far as to do such a good impression of the man that even Jane was unable to suppress a laugh. The Bennet family, therefore, decided that Mr Darcy was proud, intolerable, and not worthy of the attention of any of them. Though they would not go so far as to cut him, as they did not wish to make their new neighbour feel unwelcome. After all, Mr Bingley had made quite a different impression, particularly on Jane.

“What do you make of our new neighbours?” Elizabeth asked her sister Jane as they readied themselves for bed.

“Mr Bingley is sensible, good-humoured, lively, and I never saw such happy manners,” she said, and added with a blush, “he is also good-looking.” “What did you think of his sisters?” Elizabeth asked her.

“Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep his house, and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbour in her. Mrs Hurst spoke but a little, but she seemed a genteel lady.”

Elizabeth listened in silence. In truth, she thought them proud and conceited, and she disagreed with her sister that they would be charming neighbours, unlike their brother.

The details of Mr Bingley’s taking the lease of Netherfield had circulated through the assembly. Mr Bingley inherited property from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to do so. Mr Bingley now intended to fulfil that family ambition, and he had taken the lease of Netherfield to test how such a life would suit him. His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own. Mr Darcy, his friend and the owner of an estate in Derbyshire, was to stay with him for some time to guide him as he learned to manage the land, as he had not been born to it.

Chapter 9

The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst spoke of their delight at making the call, but their looks all said otherwise. They made much of their connections in town, which delighted Lydia, who listened with rapt attention. They answered every query raised by their mother with apparent enjoyment of the conversation, but Elizabeth observed the looks they gave each other. It was evident to Elizabeth that they felt the company to be quite beneath them. Jane was given the benefit of some attention, and Elizabeth had to own that they at least had sufficient taste to single out her most beloved sister. But Elizabeth still saw the superciliousness in their treatment of every other member of her family and could not like them.

They met with the Netherfield party the next time at the home of Sir and Lady Lucas. The home of the Lucases was a large house on the outskirts of Meryton with a small home farm. Sir William was the only titled gentleman in the environs of Meryton. He was a gentlemanlike man, even though he had not been born to it. He had been elevated due to service to the crown, but Elizabeth did not know what that service was. A rumour had circulated on the family first arriving in Meryton, when she was a child, that he had procured some fine silks for the Prince Regent.

The invitation for this evening had instructed that the guests bring music. This meant that the ladies would be expected to perform. The invite had even included her younger sisters Kitty and Lydia, although they were not out. The Lucas family and the Bennets were particular friends, and the Bennet girls were all great performers. This being the case, it was felt that the younger girls would only add to the quality of the musical evening.

“Would you be so good as to open the entertainment for us, Miss Bingley?” Sir William asked. “I am sure we would not normally be entertained by such superior performers.”

Elizabeth could see that these words were exactly those which would most appeal to Miss Bingley’s vanity. She was proved correct in this when Miss Bingley gave a regal bow and allowed Sir William to lead her to the pianoforte.

Elizabeth gave Charlotte, her closest friend and eldest daughter of Sir William, a little smile. Charlotte, whom Mrs Bennet had sometimes described as plain, returned her smile with a wicked glint in her eye which made her face seem interesting, if not pretty. They both knew that Sir William often suggested that performers were superior, even those who could barely play their instruments. This was not the case with Miss Bingley; she played the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. It was complex, and she played it very well. Mary had been working on that piece but had not yet perfected it. Elizabeth clapped afterwards, along with everyone else, as Miss Bingley deserved credit for her playing.

“Capital, capital!” Sir William proclaimed before calling on the Bennet ladies.

Elizabeth had seen Mr Darcy look disapprovingly at seeing her younger sisters in attendance. But as Sir William called for the Bennets to perform and all five of them approached the piano at once, he looked merely confused.

Mary took her place at the piano, which was her usual spot as the most accomplished player of the family. Her sisters all took their places around her as she played the opening notes to Il Fanatico per la Musica. It was a piece usually sung only by the top operatic performers due to its complexity and range. But the five voices of the Bennet ladies, with an arrangement they had worked out themselves, made for a unique performance. When they finished, the crowd remained for some moments in complete silence before ruckus applause filled the room.

Elizabeth saw only two people who were not pleased with the piece, Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst. Elizabeth did not think Miss Bingley should be displeased; their unusual act did not, in any way, take from Miss Bingley’s own excellent playing.

“Your family are accomplished musicians,” Mr Darcy said, and at first Elizabeth knew not how to respond, it being the first time he had addressed her. Even allowing for Sir William’s introduction, which he merely acknowledged with a bow. She also recalled his refusal to dance with her at the assembly and thought she might not respond at all, but her good breeding won out, and she confirmed that they all took great enjoyment in music and practiced a great deal.

Mr Darcy responded by saying that his own sister Georgiana was an accomplished player, but she could never be prevailed on to sing, being of a shy disposition. Elizabeth suggested that maybe if she were to sing a duet with a friend, she would not be so timid.

“You are like songbirds,” Miss Bingley pronounced, joining them. “I wonder that you don’t take your act to the stage,” she said. “I am sure,” she added, “that the income would be a great boon to your family.”

“We only perform for friends,” Elizabeth replied, not rising to whatever insult Miss Bingley wished to bestow on her family.

Chapter 10