Page 19 of Master of Himself

Darcy couldn’t imagine why the woman had a poor opinion of him, especially during an acquaintance of such short duration. But then recalling his conversation with Elizabeth last night, he thought better of it. She might have taken offence to his hasty remark about one of her daughters.

Charles, who must have been struck by Mrs Bennet’s harsh tone, paused before responding. “When I am in town, I never wish to leave, and the same is true for the country. They each have their amusements, and I can be equally happy in either.”

Mrs Bennet must have been satisfied with this response, or at least she took no offence and made no reply.

“That is an excellent way to describe it, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said. “While there are many delights to be found in town, there is nothing like the country for relaxing with one’s friends.”

“Friendships can be made anywhere, Miss Elizabeth, don’t you agree?” Charles added.

Mrs Bennet took immediate umbrage to this comment. “Of course, Lizzy never said they couldn’t. We’ve made several friends in London through my brother and sister-in-law. Even Sir William and Lady Lucas visit their eldest son in town from time to time,” she said in an irritable tone.

Blushing brightly, Miss Elizabeth averted her eyes to the carpet. Darcy imagined that her embarrassment must be as deep as Charles’s.

The ensuing silence was broken by one of the younger Bennet sisters. “Do you still plan to hold a ball here, Mr Bingley?” she inquired with a hopeful smile. “You did promise.”

“I don’t recall making any such promise,” Darcy said, perturbed by the girl’s insolence.

“Oh, but you did, and it would be the greatest shame in the world if you didn’t have a ball here, because Netherfield is so perfectly perfect.”

What in the world is she blathering about? He thanked the gods that Georgiana would never utter such inanities.

“Please don’t badger Mr Bingley, Lydia,” Miss Elizabeth said, directing a stern glance at her younger sibling.

“I’ll take it under consideration, but certainly not while your sister is unwell,” Darcy said, hoping this was how Bingley would respond to the girl’s impertinence. “At the moment, her complete recovery is of the highest priority.”

“Just so,” Mrs Bennet said, then rose and curtsied. “I am indebted to you for your hospitality, Mr Bingley. Once Jane has recovered, you are welcome to dine at Longbourn whenever you are free. Come along, girls, and don’t dawdle.”

Upon seeing the Bennet coach set off down the driveway, Darcy released a sigh of relief at having successfully carried himself off as Charles Bingley to the unsuspecting neighbours. He fervently hoped he wouldn’t be required to receive any other callers in his present state.

Chapter 9

Once Mrs Bennet and her daughters had left the house, Miss Elizabeth excused herself and hurried from the room. Darcy hated to see her rush off, but Caroline and Louisa smirked at her swift retreat.

“Poor Miss Eliza must be mortified,” Caroline said, feigning sympathy. “She probably wishes she and her sister had never come to Netherfield.”

“Perhaps she wishes for a more sympathetic hostess,” Darcy said, despite his suspicions that Mrs Bennet had orchestrated her daughter’s ill-fated ride in the rain.

“I find Miss Elizabeth’s unfailing devotion to her sister’s care quite admirable,” Charles said.

Caroline smiled blandly. “Perhaps, Mr Darcy, but I fear this adventure might have effected your opinion of her fine eyes.”

Charles regarded her with some confusion, which was no wonder since he hadn’t been present when Darcy had confessed his admiration of Elizabeth’s beauty to Caroline at a neighbour’s supper party.

Darcy now cursed himself for allowing that unguarded comment to slip. If he’d known that Caroline would use it against him, he never would have uttered it. He had unwittingly exposed himself to ridicule and Elizabeth to retaliation. “How unbecoming. One might suspect that you’re jealous of Miss Elizabeth.”

Caroline scoffed. “I? Jealous of Eliza Bennet? I daresay you are jesting, Charles. Did you know that besides her uncle in Meryton, she has another in Cheapside,” she said with a muted snicker.

“Perfectly named for their vulgar relations,” Louisa said, clearly enjoying the joke.

“And what of our uncle, Caroline?” Darcy inquired, appalled by their incivility and high-handedness. “Do you suppose that Blackburn Mills is a more prestigious location than Cheapside? It brings to mind something about glass houses and stones.”

Caroline glared at Darcy, supposedly her brother.

“If they had uncles enough to fill Cheapside, I wouldn’t like them one jot less,” Charles said, then stalked off.

“You forget yourself, Caroline,” Fitzwilliam said, entirely out of patience with her conduct. “If you hope to recommend yourself to Darcy with such vile comments about our guests, you’ve widely mistaken his character. I shall hear no more of it.”

“What’s come over you, Charles?”