Page 29 of Knowing Mr. Darcy
Later, Miss Bingley cornered her to say that she had heard that Elizabeth was asking questions about Mr. Wickham. “I supposed it’s because everyone saw him with your sister. But then your sister seems quite capable at charming men, doesn’t she? Leading them astray.”
Elizabeth strove not to react. It was just like Miss Bingley to interpret Mr. Darcy’s behavior as having something to do with Jane. It was clearly Miss Bingley’s own fault, however. Elizabeth wanted to laugh. She didn’t, but she might have smirked a little bit.
“I don’t know the particulars of what occurred,” said Miss Bingley, continuing on, oblivious, “but I do know that Mr. Darcy winces whenever he hears the name Wickham and then straightaway changes the subject.”
“Oh, poor Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth, vaguely sarcastic, just to see how Miss Bingley would take that.
Miss Bingley’s mouth turned down. “It’s not that I’msuggesting that he deserves pity.”
“No,” agreed Elizabeth, even more sarcastic. “After all, we all know he never does anything wrong.”
Caroline pressed her lips together.
“Personally, of course,” said Elizabeth, pushing harder, “I may say that I have experienced his behavior as rude, and frightfully so.” This was an exaggeration, of course. Mr. Darcy hadn’t beenfrightfullyrude, just a bit tone deaf. But what would Miss Bingley say?
Miss Bingley’s face twisted. There was a long pause. Her voice, when it came out, was strangled. “I suppose I cannot find fault with that statement.”
There. Elizabeth felt as if she’d triumphed in some strange way. She could not stop herself from continuing to push. “You know I heard how horrid he was to you.”
“Did you.” Miss Bingley would not look at her.
“From Jane, you see,” said Elizabeth. “I heard what he said and how he said it, and I have to say, it did not ingratiate him to me, not at all.”
“He was horrid to me,” said Miss Bingley softly. “In mixed company, no less.”
“Oh, indeed,” said Elizabeth.
Miss Bingley drew herself up. “And depend upon it, Miss Bennet, I have never carried a torch for a man like that.”
“Who could?” said Elizabeth. “He is wealthy and he is handsome, but the minute he opens his mouth, it’s all over.”
“Yes,” hissed Miss Bingley.
How farcouldshe push? She smiled. “You know, I think we might get on better than we had first thought, Caroline.”
Caroline considered. “You may be right, Eliza.”
Eliza? Truly?Somehow, however, Elizabeth did not let her smile falter.
“I feel a sisterly bond forming, if I may say so?”
“So do I!” Elizabeth was triumphant. A sisterly bond? Already? Just from a little pushing? Why, she should have realized the way to reach Caroline was through mutual hatred.
“Just the beginning of such a thing, of course,” saidCaroline. “But I must say, since it all happened, no one has understood how I feel about Mr. Darcy. To hear you speaking thus, you can’t understand how it soothes me.”
Elizabeth’s smile widened. “Well, I see him the way I see him.”
“I don’t know if my brother should even keep associating with him,” said Caroline.
“Truly?” Elizabeth was astonished by this.
“Truly,” she confirmed. “I have begun to wonder what it is that Mr. Darcy isdoingwith us. We were so happy for the connections he could bring us, grandson of an earl, et cetera. But I wonder if he hides with us from the rest of society. Maybe hehasdone horrible things.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” said Elizabeth, and she had to admit that she had not formed a firm opinion of Mr. Darcy’s character. In this conversation, she had been so very harsh on him mostly for Caroline’s benefit, but she wondered what sort of man he really was.
And it was at this moment that Elizabeth noted that Mr. Collins was talking to Charlotte, of all people. Oh, dear. She had not rescued Charlotte from Mr. Thane at the Meryton assembly, and she should likely intervene now. Why was she pulled in so many directions?
Caroline was still talking. “Everyone likes him. Everyone. But you, Miss Bennet, you see him as he truly is, I think, and for this reason, I find myself warming towards you.”
