Page 62 of May I Have the Pleasure
Yes, madam. You see, the lady’s vanity was wounded by the remark, probably because her mother slights her appearance regularly, which made the gentleman’s reference to her handsomeness more hurtful than it might otherwise be. She is no great beauty but is generally considered more than tolerable.
In retaliation, she repeated the words verbatim to a few prolific gossips and laughed about it for weeks. She hid her pain with impertinence and used her anger to sink the reputation of the man in the neighbourhood.
Since he appeared haughty and proud; and refused to dance with anyone not of his own party, it was not that difficult.
CATHERINE
That sounds like a good start, actually.
ELIZABETH
When in company, the gentleman stared at her a great deal, so she retaliated with biting wit, and I can assure you that her biting wit is fearsome.
Her beauty he had earlier withstood, and as for her manners—her behaviour to him was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and she never spoke to him without rather wishing to give him pain than not. I imagine the original slight was repaid a few times over.
(Fitzwilliam sports an evil grin)
FITZWILLIAM
I think I like this lady quite a lot, Miss Bennet! It sounds like the lunkhead got his comeuppance. What say you, Darcy? Aunt?
DARCY
A start perhaps.
CATHERINE
Yes, Miss Bennet, I agree with my nephew. Two wrongs do not make a right, but there is something to be said for just retribution. It sounds like the scales are about even, though I suspect there is more. Is there?
ELIZABETH
Considerably more.
CATHERINE
Pray continue. I am fascinated.
DARCY
I agree. Pray continue, Miss Bennet.
ELIZABETH
Well, my lady, gentlemen; the two antagonists met several times over the next six weeks. The gentleman seemed to spend a lot of time staring at the lady, apparently searching diligently to catalogue faults and keeping himself close enough to hear her conversations, but not generally a willing participant unless she dragged him in.
They happened to share a house for four days when the lady’s sister became ill at the gentleman’s friend’s estate and spent most of the time arguing.
FITZWILLIAM
Interesting. It seems to me the lady is getting her payback adequately; would you not agree?
CATHERINE
I agree, Nephew, although it would have been quite a bit less trouble to just have her father have a word with the man and get an apology.
It is a difficult conundrum though. The lady obviously cannot call the gentleman to task; that would show poor breeding. And yet, with the offence weeks in the past and retaliation already begun, it would be awkward to finally bring her father into the mix as he is just as likely to chastise his daughter as the so-called gentleman.
(Catherine looks down at her lap in concentration and then back at Elizabeth)
