Page 8 of Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
The conversation ebbed and flowed around Elizabeth and she nodded and smiled in all the right places but her traitorous thoughts kept flowing in the direction of Netherfield Park and she wondered what the dour man of Derbyshire was up to and whether he’d dreamed of her.
~~oo0oo~~
Meanwhile, at Netherfield Park, a similar conversation was taking place, although the ladies were not as generous in their praise as the Longbourn party.
“I have no idea what you are nattering on about, Caroline. I’ve never met pleasanter people or prettier girls in my life.”
“You say that about every place you go and every party you attend.”
“I agree that I find most people amiable but Meryton feels different. I found no formality, no stiffness of manner and I felt as though I’d come home. And Miss Bennet” – he ignored the narrowing of his youngest sister’s eyes – “I cannot conceive an angel more beautiful.”
“What say you, Mr. Darcy?” Caroline re-directed her attention to her brother’s friend. “Do you agree with Charles’ assessment?”
“While I found little beauty and no fashion, I concede the elder Miss Bennet is pretty, even though she smiles too much.” What he dared not add was that she also smiled in her sleep.
He almost regretted having to wipe Elizabeth’s mind of their encounter. His momentary lapse of control would not happen again. He intended to know her character and family background. Until then, he needed to tread carefully. With Wickham on his way to Meryton with the ______shire militia, his pursuit of Miss Elizabeth needed to proceed with a casual air. If Wickham caught even a scent of his overwhelming desire, she would be in grave danger. For nothing would please his former friend turned enemy more than to take and destroy something he held precious, and having failed with Georgiana, his tactics would be more subtle and eminently more dangerous.
Richard intruded on his thoughts.
I have found a solution to your problem of Wickham. How to throw him of the scent, if you catch my drift.
There are times you are quite obnoxious.
Aye.
Well, what is your grand plan?
You could make him think you desire Caroline Bingley.
Leave me alone, Richard. Find someone else to haunt.
I’ll grant you reprieve for today as I must return to London and arrange for my trunk to be delivered to Netherfield.
I’m at the end of my rope with Miss Bingley and her snide comments. I also worry about Wickham.
You know I’m not far off in my suggestion. Let him think you lust after the Bingley chit and all your problems would be solved with one fell swoop.
A much as I despise Wickham, even I couldn’t be that cruel.
He heard Richard’s laughter until it faded from his mind.
“...do you agree, Mr. Darcy?”
The object of his and Richard’s silent communication watched him with a superior look upon her face.
“I’m sorry, Miss Bingley, I was not attending the conversation. To what do you refer?”
Her face fell at his assertion he didn’t hang on her every word.
“Louisa and I were saying that although her family is atrocious, Jane is a sweet girl and we give leave for Charles to think of her as he chooses. But Miss Eliza... I don’t know how anyone could think her a beauty.”
“And what were you asking me to agree with?” His temper began to rise at their sniping.
“That Eliza Bennet is no beauty.”
Darcy considered Charles’ sister. She had an uncanny knack of finding the underbelly of her perceived enemies. No doubt she’d heard Mrs. Bennet proclaim to all and sundry how beautiful her eldest daughter was and when chastised by neighbors had sulkily agreed that all her daughters were pretty. If Mrs. Bennet was that voluble in public, who knew what was said in the privacy of their own home and how often Elizabeth was found lacking.
“I do not agree with your assumption and find this conversation distasteful. Although they lack proper connections by society standards, they are gentleman’s daughters and should be treated with respect.” He stood and gave them a polite half bow. “I have business to attend and will see you at dinner.”
