Page 44 of Darcy's Guarded Heart
“I’m surprised at you, Elizabeth,” Lydia continued. “Why are you defending him? You were the one most vocal about what a dreadful man he is.”
“I am not defending him. I am merely giving a reason for his behaviour. Though, I do not think it proper that he spoke to his sister in the manner in which you described.”
“It must be terribly lonely for her to be in that big house with no one her own age to keep her company,” Jane said. “Mr Bingley told me there are no girls her age near them, and all her cousins but one, are men. And the one who is a woman is older than her and very sickly.”
“It sounds as though she is in want of female company,” Elizabeth said.
“That is why I have invited her for tea,” Lydia said.
“Well, you should let your mother, the hostess, know you are to have a grand tea with a fancy young lady,” Mrs Bennet interjected.
“I would hardly call her fancy, Mother,” Elizabeth said, but her mother waved her hand dismissively.
“I am too tired to trifle with semantics now, Elizabeth. Well, what time is she supposed to come?”
“I am uncertain,” Lydia replied. “She said she had to ask her brother, so she may not come today, but perhaps tomorrow.”
“A grand tea with a fancy young lady on day yet to be decided, and yet I am expected to be ready for company at a drop of the hat?” Mrs Bennet tutted.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow in Lydia’s direction, and her sister chuckled.
“Mother, you are ever so…”
“Lydia,” Mrs Bennet said with a warning tone.
“Dramatic,” Lydia finished.
Elizabeth chuckled as Jane shook her head and looked out of the window.
Soon they arrived at Longbourn, and Elizabeth followed her family inside. It took several minutes before the gentlemen joined them and when they did, Mrs Bennet rounded on her husband.
“There you are at last. You left before us but arrived later. What kept you?” she demanded. “We might have been greeted by intruders and then be left to our own devices with no man to defend us.”
“I should say you would have managed,” he relied dryly. “I will remind you that I left several minutes before you because Sir William’s cousin required transportation as he had rather overindulged. I am happy to report that the entire Lucas party is settled at Lucas Lodge, with the young gentleman now resting upon the chaise longue downstairs with a bucket conveniently located.”
“I do not need to know so much detail, Mr Bennet. Let us go upstairs now. I am dreadfully tired, and I know that that unfortunate rooster is going to be crowing at any moment.”
“I dare remind you to suspend your criticisms; it was not my idea to stay at the Netherfield ball until sunrise,” Mr Bennet said, putting his hand on his wife’s. She took it and then let out a deep sigh before resting her head against her husband’s shoulder.
As the family dispersed to their various chambers, Mr Collins grumbled and groaned about an upset stomach of his own and how nobody had enquired about his need for a bucket. He went into Thomas’s chamber and shut the door.
“Poor Mr Collins,” Thomas said. “He had a rather mortifying evening.”
“How so?” Elizabeth asked. “I have scarcely seen him.”
“That is because you are very good at hiding from him. He attempted to make conversation with Mr Darcy and ran afoul of him. Indeed, the man was in a dreadful mood.”
“Not when I first spoke to him,” Elizabeth said. “He was civil enough, we had a rather enjoyable conversation.”
“Did you?” Thomas said, dipping his head to one side.
“Yes, but I hear that he and his sister had a rather unpleasant encounter.”
“Indeed. The poor girl was crying. She did not deserve that. She worships the ground her brother walks on. For him to talk to her in such a manner in public is unconscionable. She truly does not deserve it. She is so lovely a girl.”
Elizabeth paused and dropped her voice. “You are fond of her, are you not, Thomas? Tell me the truth. I can see the way you look at her.”
“And so what if I am fond of her? What is there not to be fond of? She is kind and sweet and well-spoken. And she has a great interest in many things—things one would not think a young lady interested in such as fishing, riding, and hunting. Yet she likes to read, she enjoys studying the newspaper and foreign lands and their customs…” Thomas shook his head. “I am silly, I know it. I have had too much to drink and too little rest. Forgive me.”
