Page 6 of Darcy's Guarded Heart
“Ten thousand a year! That would be a splendid match. And Mr Bingley, worth half that, is still a wonderful match. Oh, girls, you must be sure to be on your best behaviour! Smile, pull back your shoulders, raise your bosoms.”
“Mother,” Lydia interjected with a giggle, “how can you say such things?”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and glanced at her sister. If even Lydia was calling attention to their mother’s indiscretion, it was undeniable that Mrs Bennet was deep in her raptures, likely already planning at least one of their weddings without the gentlemen having made any advance.
“There they are,” Thomas said, pointing his chin towards the door.
The entire Bennet family, along with most of the ballroom, turned their attention to the entrance as two tall gentlemen entered. One was tall and blond, his hair fashionably cut and styled. the other was slightly taller with dark hair, a lock falling onto his forehead. Both gentlemen were impeccably dressed, their heavily starched cravats and tails pressed. Accompanying them was a shorter, stout gentleman with beady eyes and a countenance that spoke of boredom.
Beside him stood a woman who mirrored his expression. Elizabeth assumed she was his wife, as their close proximity, albeit without touching, indicated an intimate connection.
Another woman stood beside them, her shoulders drawn back and her head held high, a posture that would have made Mrs Bennet proud, were she not distracted by her own family.
“The blond-haired gentleman is Mr Bingley,” Thomas said in a hushed tone, so that only the sisters and Mr Bennet could hear. “The other tall gentleman is Mr Darcy. The women must be their sisters. I know one of them is married; I assume the shorter gentleman is her husband.”
“Well, you girls,” Mrs Bennet exclaimed, “ignore the short fellow and focus on Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley! Smile and make certain they know you are available for a dance! Thomas, you shall make a formal introduction. We must approach them before those other women try to. Thomas, how clever of you to introduce yourself to them! I had spoken to Mr Bennet about visiting Netherfield to introduce himself, but you know how he can be.”
Elizabeth caught Thomas’s eye, and they shared a quick smile. She had witnessed her mother beseeching her father to pay a visit to Netherfield; she knew he would have obliged, but fortunately, Thomas had managed to do so before Mr Bennet had to. Mr Bennet preferred not to make social calls when it could be avoided, thus she knew he was grateful. But of course, her mother was making it sound as though Thomas had taken it upon himself to make the connection, rather than having come upon it by happenstance.
Her mother had insisted he repeat every detail of their conversation multiple times, praising him profusely for his offer to take them fishing and then chiding him for not presenting her daughters in a more favourable light.
However, all that was forgotten now as her sole focus lay on the two gentlemen who had just entered.
Ever-obliging, Thomas waved at Mr Bingley, whose face immediately lit up, and he escorted his party across.
What followed was a rather chaotic medley of introductions, accompanied by assorted bows and curtsies from the group. When at last every member of the family and every member of the visiting party had been introduced, Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst quickly excused themselves, accompanied by MrHurst who had been persuaded to dance the first dance with Miss Caroline.
“Well, my dear Mr Bingley, how very fortunate for you to have been able to snap up Netherfield Park. It is one of the finest establishments in the area.”
“That is what I was told,” Mr Bingley said cheerfully. He looked around the group, and Elizabeth noted that his eyes seemed to linger a moment longer on Jane than on anyone else.
Jane likewise coloured under his gaze, and Elizabeth wondered if perhaps her mother’s machinations would not be necessary—because a natural alliance was about to form.
“And you, Mr Darcy,” her mother said, turning to the other gentleman, “from where do you hail?”
“Up north,” Mr Darcy said.
Elizabeth felt his gaze linger on her—not in the same way that Mr Bingley had looked at her sister earlier. There was no admiration in his gaze, merely curiosity, and perhaps judgement.
“Ah, and where exactly, Northamptonshire?” Mrs Bennet pushed.
“Derbyshire. My estate is Pemberley, a small village near the town of Lambton,” he said and instantly her mother whooped as though she had won a prize.
“Indeed? How serendipitous! My sister-in-law hails from Lambton. You must know her. Mrs Margaret Gardiner, formerly Lester. Her father was the rector.”
Mr Darcy rubbed his chin and shook his head. “I am not familiar with the name,” he replied.
“Surely you must be. She is always speaking of the place. She is…”
“Mother, not everyone knows everyone,” Elizabeth chimed in.
“In London perhaps, but in a small town? I think it speaks of good manners to know the people one lives near. We dine with four-and-twenty families, I will have you know,” she said.
Mr Darcy blinked and Elizabeth felt the tension coming off him as he stood and nodded.
“Well, I am a rather busy man. Running a large estate does not leave much time for socialising. I am sure Mr Bennet here can attest to that,” he said and nodded at Thomas who puckered his lips and looked about the room as though for a way to escape.
“Thomas?” Mrs Bennet repeated. “He would not know anything about running an estate. My husband would but he is otherwise occupied.”
