Page 12 of May I Have the Pleasure
The Sounds of Silence
[Free Indirect Discourse]
What happens when the intervention of a mysterious benefactor helps Mr Darcy learn the folly of slighting a lady very soon after the event, and he subsequently tries his best to make amends? Will he be able to overcome the bad start, or will his overtures be met with the sounds of silence?
The Intervention
"You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room," said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.
"Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you."
"Which do you mean?" and turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."
P&P Chapter 3
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“Pray, do not turn around, sir! Just listen!”
Fitzwilliam Darcy startled at the sound of someone speaking from a few feet behind. He did not like people sneaking up on him, and he was doubly distressed that she had apparently done so with little effort. He had seen men compromised through the simple failure to watch their backs, and he had not the slightest desire to join their exalted ranks.
It was a simple request, so he responded in kind. "As you wish.”
The woman replied softly, apparently for his ears only.
"When I stop speaking, back up four paces until you find a potted plant on your right. Go to the small alcove just opposite. It has a window for fresh air where nobody can sneak up on you, a glass of water, and a packet of headache powder. Mix and drink them, then breathe the fresh air for a quarter-hour. That should take care of your rather obvious megrim.
“If that does not provide relief, get five drops of Laudanum from the barman—five, no more, no less. Mix it in a glass of brandy and return to the alcove for another quarter hour.
“If that does not do the trick, I suggest you give it up as a lost cause, return to Netherfield, and go to bed."
Darcy shook his head for a moment, torn between annoyance that his private business was being invaded and gratitude for the unexpected kindness. Since he did in fact have a blistering megrim, he wondered how she had detected it. Nobody ever had, or at least, none presumed to instruct him.
He decided that being polite never hurt. “I thank you, madam.”
Hearing no reply, he turned to see there was nobody there, but the potted plant was as reported.
With a grunt, he did exactly as she suggested with the headache powders. That and the fresh air acted as predicted, leaving him thinking about her methods. She had not left laudanum, which meant that either she did not want to pay for it, she did not think it would be necessary, or the more likely and charitable explanation—she did not want him to worry about whether it was adulterated or not. Laudanum was a dangerous brew and only a fool took it when he was uncertain of its provenance. As well, only an idiot would take opium when a commonly available headache powder was sufficient. He even suspected that just the open window and lack of noise might have done the job. In an even less charitable light, perhaps just not having to worry about being ambushed by Miss Bingley or anybody else might have sufficed.
It all made perfect sense, and he gained an appreciation for his unknown angel’s methods. He thought that Bingley’s angel had nothing but a pretty face to recommend her, whilethis one was both clever and kind.
After a half-hour, he was much better, and thought he owed his mysterious angel his heartfelt thanks. She had not only diagnosed his illness and given him a cure, but she had done so when most of the crowd probably had a vastly different opinion of his behaviour. It seemed logical that most had discovered him to beproud; to be above his company, and above being pleased.Based on his behaviour, no other opinion made sense. To be honest, he thought they were not precisely wrong, as he did think himself above the company. However, the lady (he assumed it was a lady, but there were no guarantees) had taken pity on him, while asking nothing in return and seeking no advantage—not even thanks. That thought made him ashamed of his attitude.
Who exactly was showing true superiority? Certainly not me!
That was where it all became interesting! She had given him not the slightest clue as to her identity, going so far as to prevent his turning around to acknowledge her, then disappearing like a ghost after her intervention.
Well, I have news for you, my lady. Two can play at that game!
While he had not seen her, he hadheard her, and he had excellent hearing (almost too good), nearly perfect pitch, and while he rarely sang outside church, he had been trained in the art and trained well. He was certain he would recognize her voice if he could simply hear a dozen words, and how hard could that be at such a small assembly?
All he had to do was reverse course and make himself available for introductions. He need not even be introduced to the lady herself. In fact, if she kept to her previous path, she might even make herself scarce. He could, however, easily be introduced to other ladies and work his way through the crowd. He had complete faith that he would either be introduced to her or hear her speaking with someone else.
She called him ‘sir,’ which most likely meant they had not been introduced, as she would have used his name if they had. He was also certain he had not heard the voice before, giving further credence to the idea that she was a lady he hadnot been introduced to. Since he had not been introduced to even a quarter of the attendees, that did not require any feats of great cognition.
His course decided, he put his mind to solving the problem and felt the faint stirrings of excitement for playing the hound rather than the fox for once.How hard could it be?
Without delay, he got to work.
