Page 12 of The Heir and Spare
“Would you join me?” He smiled down at a once again distant-looking Miss Elizabeth but she nodded. “I would be honored.”
Chapter 7
Elizabeth
Every time Elizabeth thought she was getting to know the real Mr. Darcy, the memory of his own unkindness returned. And she perhaps should not have ruined their moment, but how could they openly discuss being kind to others when he had been unkind in his thoughts and conversation about her? Even if he didn’t know she heard him, his words, his thoughts about her had not been kind or kindly directed. And he had yet to even mention their time at the assembly in Meryton. Could he not remember her at all? How could she believe him to be truly interested in her if she was so completely forgettable by him?
It was too much to understand. But she could not forget. She would not let herself forget because of the very conversation they had just had. It was so easy to pretend to be any manner of person. And she had seen a side to Mr. Darcy that would certainly be an unpleasant surprise.
Though she entered with Mr. Darcy, they were not seated together. Instead she was near Lord Shackley at the head of the table to his right and across from a lovely man who had not been present until the very call to dinner: the vicar, a Mr. Miller. Toher right sat one of the lords so intent on discussing the hunt, Lord Smathering. Mr. Darcy sat way down at the other end of the table near Mary and Lord Perceval. He did not look overly pleased, while Mary and Lord Perceval seemed to be chattering away as though catching up like old friends.
What a lovely turn for her dear sister. Perhaps something wonderful could happen for her as well as Jane. Elizabeth might have to wait. Though there were some she had not conversed with yet at this party.
At the table, six pairs had begun their first course. Everyone there was interesting in their own right and quite handsome or lovely as the case allowed. The vicar and Lord Shackley were a pair she guessed; otherwise the numbers were even, and the party was well planned. She would give her compliments to the housekeeper who had likely done the brunt of all the work to create such an event.
She had not met many of the women. Miss Lilly, a lovely woman from outside of Brighton, seemed fresh from home with very little worldly experience. She sat at Mary’s other side. Elizabeth was pleased to see that as well. Every woman needed another who could be trusted. And something about Lilly was all about innocence. Elizabeth would be surprised to see even a drop of guile in her. But then there were a few women in the middle of the table with intelligent expressions and narrow eyes who seemed to be more of the calculating and managing types, the kind who had already matched everyone at the table in the most advantageous of ways for their own benefit. Of course Elizabeth did not know as much about them yet, but they had a certain air of condescension and omniscience that Elizabeth would as soon avoid if possible.
One of those three looked at Mr. Darcy more than any other person in the room, but he had as yet to notice or return hergazes. Elizabeth smiled. Good luck to her winning his attention, let alone his hand.
One more woman was left to know or figure out, and Elizabeth was inclined to like her. She seemed a tiny bit older than the rest, but she sat on the other side of Lord Smathering and so Elizabeth could not hold a real conversation with her, but their gazes met enough times in reaction to the many hunting references coming from Lord Smathering that Elizabeth felt she was a kindred friend already. She heard her being referred to as Miss Vincent. She reminded Lizzie of a really nice governess; though she was beautiful in every way, she seemed to be the governess type, or at least someone who had responsibility for others. She had an air of independence and intelligence about her. Elizabeth simply felt she could learn much from her. And so she resolved that when the women separated out, she would seek out Miss Vincent.
The vicar surprised her with many very direct questions. It lent itself to an enjoyable conversation, if not a slightly embarrassing one.
“Tell me, Miss Elizabeth, are the young men of your acquaintance men of God?”
She swallowed, trying to gather her thoughts. “Without speaking ill of anyone, I will have to say I’m not certain. Mary is actually the better person to ask such a question. Who is one to say if one is a man or woman of God?” She sipped her drink, attempting to wet her lips. “Such things can easily be hidden, can they not?”
He dipped his head in acknowledgement. “I quite agree. Let me rephrase my question. Are there any you feel would be a good vicar?”
At this she laughed. But at his perfectly serious expression, she smoothed her face and chose to take his question seriously. “I suppose so, yes, perhaps the Lucas’ oldest son. They are afamily in a neighboring town to ours. But he might be the only one. We do have a regiment stationed in Meryton at the moment.”
At the mention of Meryton, Mr. Darcy’s gaze flitted to her for a moment and then drifted away.
So he might remember her? What an odd thing to forget, a whole person in one’s life. She couldn’t fathom such a thing, not yet anyway. Perhaps as she grew older…
The vicar nodded, knowingly. “Those men in the military are at times good candidates for a position in the clergy. They need a living often. And they have seen hardship in some cases and would have some depth and compassion for others.”
“Do you feel then, that an important responsibility for a man of the cloth would be to feel that compassion? What about the need to teach your flock, to exhort them to better behavior?”
He considered her a moment and then shook his head. “I feel that the more a person is loved, the better they will behave. Teachings from the pulpit may abound, but to feel loved is a changing phenomenon indeed.”
Elizabeth nodded more than was socially acceptable, but she’d never heard such a concept before and it was sinking in in ways that were working a change in her. “I do believe that is one of the most remarkable things I’ve yet heard. And I will admit to many a long sermon being ignored, but the vicar who came by and prayed with my mother when she first took to her nerves, was a man I would follow and listen to.” She thought of his many actions with the tenants and the assistance he was to their whole village, and she resolved to pay better attention to him and to ways she might assist in their own congregation.
Mr. Miller ate his food carefully with small bites. “Are you and your sister of influence in your area?”
“My sister perhaps more than I when it comes to the flock. She finds herself studying Fordyce’s sermons and visiting tenants with mini sermons of her own, I’m afraid.”
The vicar’s lips twitched, and he studied Mary from down the table. “Extraordinary.”
Elizabeth did not share how unbearable it felt to be a recipient of one of her sister’s lectures. She nodded. “She is quite remarkable and unique among women.”
At length, Lord Shackley stood. “And now we invite the lovelier sex to please partake of some respite in the lavender drawing room while we take to our more uncouth pursuits here.” He laughed.
The women stood and Elizabeth found her sister’s arm. “Goodness, you have had quite the conversation.”
Mary blushed for a moment. “He is most diverting. I think you would enjoy his humor.”
“I’m certain I would if you do. Do we know anything about him?”
