“Their lack of connections and an uncle in Cheapside do not make the Bennet sisters one jot less agreeable,” Bingley said, interrupting his sister.

“But it lessens their chance of marrying any men of consideration in the world,” Darcy added.

“That would be true if I were a Darcy, but I am not. And although the Bingleys are rising, we do not have ancient ties to Norman kings, nor am I the grandson of an earl. In fact, I lack any pedigree whatsoever, and as such, I may marry where I choose without the pillars of society collapsing all around me.”

Darcy said nothing, but Bingley’s sisters made up for his lack of response with howls of protest. After a heated exchange, Bingley left, only adding that he would not be joining them for breakfast as it was his intention to go riding. He had deliberately not asked Darcy to join him as he had no wish to be lectured about choosing a suitable marriage partner by his friend.

Later, in the quiet of his room, Darcy thought about what Bingley had said. It was true the Bingleys were moving up in society, but if he did not marry into a prestigious family or one with excellent connections, he would find his progress checked. But Bingley did not seem to care about such things, and because of that, Darcy envied him. For all of his advantages over his friend, there was one thing he could not do. He could not marry where he wished. That was a luxury even a Darcy could not afford.

Chapter 4

In the morning, Jane was feeling so much better that she told Lizzy that she anticipated joining the others for supper. “I am not sure if I will eat, but I would enjoy being out of this room.”

“And seeing Mr. Bingley, perhaps?”

“He is all that a man should be, and we are of such like temperaments,” Jane freely admitted.

“It is as if the two of you were made for each, and I believe you were. I think you may safely depend upon an offer in the very near future.”

This was not idle conjecture. After leaving the drawing room, Lizzy had stopped in the library to retrieve the second volume of a book she had been reading and had heard the heated debate between Bingley and his sisters regarding Jane. However, Charles had prevailed, and Lizzy did not think it necessary to mention it to her sister.

Looking out the window, Jane said, “When you walk this morning, you may have company as Mr. Darcy is in the lane.”

Lizzy joined her sister at the window. “Well, I shall not disturb him as it is easy enough to go out through the breakfast room onto the terrace.” But when she went downstairs, she found that the maids were in the room cleaning. Well, he does not bite, Lizzy thought and went out the front door. She walked quietly and as closely as possible to the house to avoid his notice.

“Miss Elizabeth, are you trying to escape?” Darcy asked as she emerged from behind a bush.

“I was trying to avoid intruding upon your privacy, Mr. Darcy,” an embarrassed Lizzy answered.

“If that is your goal, I would suggest you stay off the gravel,” and then he smiled. It was an infrequent event, but when it did happen, it was a reminder of how truly handsome he was. It seemed rather unfair. If you were rich, you should not be handsome, and if you were poor, you should be blessed with good looks. One person should not have it all.

“I am not in need of solitude this morning. Quite the contrary, I would enjoy your company.”

Lizzy was used to walking at a brisk pace, but Mr. Darcy preferred to amble along. But the pace did lend itself to conversation, and he shared with her his visit with Miss Darcy.

“When Bingley and I first planned to come to Netherfield, I had hoped my sister would join me, but instead she chose to be with friends in Hampshire. It is very strange. I have spent five years moving her toward adulthood, and now that she has reached it, I find I want to pull her back.”

“As her guardian, I think that is a natural inclination as you wish to protect her. Up to this point, you have been more father than brother, but you may now look forward to a mature relationship. It may take some time for you to get used to it as she will probably wish to make her opinions known.”

“Oh, it is too late for that. Her powers of observation are amazing, and there is nothing that does not merit some comment.”

“Since you are of a taciturn nature, Mr. Darcy, surely the pleasure she derives from talking takes some of the burden of conversing off of you. And since you do not like the preliminaries necessary for friendship, she may catch you up, and you can jump right in without enduring the tedious parts you so dislike.”

“I would most definitely have benefited from such assistance before being formally introduced to you. I would have been warned of your penetrating wit and ability to strip a person of all pretenses.”

“Would you have avoided me, sir, if you had known?”

“No, but I would have asked you to dance at the assembly, thereby avoiding your censure.”

“But you had an opportunity to dance with me at Lucas Lodge, but chose not to. Did you not risk the same result?”

“I think not. You now know me better and understand that my comments at the assembly were not malicious, merely thoughtless and inaccurate.”

“And the dance?”

“A lost opportunity, not to be repeated.”

“Does Mr. Bingley plan to have a ball at Netherfield? He spoke of it when he first arrived. If so, you may yet claim your dance.”

“Yes, there will be a ball, and the date has been set for the first night of the full moon. Bingley will soon be sending his cards around, and after the ball, his sisters will return to London.” Looking at her to make sure she understood the importance of what he was about to say, he added, “but Bingley will remain at Netherfield. Unlike his sisters, who have tired of the country, Bingley has found much to admire here.”

Lizzy’s assessment had been correct. Mr. Bingley would not yield to his sisters on the matter of whom he should marry, and because of that, she smiled, letting Mr. Darcy know that she had understood his meaning.

“Who will keep house for Mr. Bingley if both of his sisters leave?” Lizzy asked.

“Most likely it will be his eldest sister, Diana Crenshaw. If she comes to Netherfield, you will know of it. She has a large family, actually more like a tribe, on the order of the Red Indians of America. Her two eldest are twin boys, impossible to tell apart and equally inclined to mischief. Mrs. Crenshaw was greatly influenced by Rousseau’s concept of the noble savage in rearing her children. The savage part of the equation has been achieved. However, I have seen no evidence of anything noble in their behavior.”

“Do you mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy?”

“No, but I do mean to warn you as one of their favorite entertainments is to dig up repulsive creatures from stream beds and share them with the ladies. And they are fearless. Do not be surprised if you find them in the top branches of your apple trees throwing fruit at your servants and laborers.”

“When I hear of the Crenshaws’ arrival, I shall send up a hue and cry to alert the population. And your plans, Mr. Darcy? Will you stay at Netherfield and provide the neighborhood with some protection?”

“No,” he answered looking away from her. “After the ball, I shall return to London as I have important business to attend to, and it is likely that I will not come back to Netherfield at all.”

“Lizzy, Mr. Darcy likes you,” Jane said to her sister upon her return from her walk.

“And I like him.”

Although she was sorry that he would be leaving the country for good, she had enjoyed their short time together. But someone of Mr. Darcy’s elevated rank would have no interest in the daughter of a gentleman farmer, so that was that.

“What I mean is that he admires you.”

“Jane, if you are inferring that Mr. Darcy has a romantic interest in me, let me disabuse you of such a notion. Mr. Bingley will have his ball, and immediately afterward, Mr. Darcy will permanently return to town. However, I confess that I will miss him as Mr. Darcy possesses a fine wit, although he definitely uses it in moderation. But I do not wish to speak of Mr. Darcy, but of Mr. Bingley, and I have news to share.”

Jane was elated when she heard that Mr. Bingley would definitely remain in the country, especially since, by his own admission, he frequently succumbed to his need for movement and would abandon the city for the country, and vice versa, at the spur of the moment. So this was very good news indeed.