Page 30 of May I Have the Pleasure
As I mentioned before, Mr Darcy’s estate is but five miles away, but I had felt confident he would not be wandering around this village.
Jane, you will chastise me for saying this, but the encounter taught me something that will be of much use to you if you still have any small portion of your heart engaged.Mr Bingley is a simpleton!There you have it, and you can be happy you are not saddled with him.
How do I come to this conclusion, one might ask? Because he greeted me as if we were old friends, as if nothing happened and we had simply not seen each other for a while. He blathered on for a good minute or two about how delighted he was to see me. He even named the exact date of our last encounter and the number of elapsed months (26 November and eight months as it turns out). He even asserted that he could not remember a happier time than when we were all together at Netherfield, which seems at odds with the fact that he ran from the place as if it were infested.
The whole thing was perplexing, and I hardly knew how to react. Nothing in my life, even Mr Collins’s proposal, prepared me for dealing with such wilful obstinacy.
After a few minutes, he asked the most peculiar question of all! He asked ifallthe Bennet sisters were still at Longbourn, which seemed an odd question, and in all these eight months, he not made the slightest effort to know anything of us. I assumed Mr Darcy must have told him about our two encounters in town, so it seems clear at least one of the sisters has been from home.
I confess I had a bit of sport of him, going through the status for Lydia, Kitty and Mary in thorough and tedious detail, followed by a minute description of Lydia’s trip to Brighton, then my travels (omitting Matlock for obvious reasons). I quite deliberately blathered on for a good five minutes and was sure to make frequent and copious references to my residence in Cheapside.
Naturally, I completely neglected to mention Jane at all. Not a single word. He did not seem to have the nerve to ask directly, so I just left him wondering. Jane, if he truly wants to know your status, all he needs do is return to his own estate, or even just ride through Meryton and stop at the inn for a flagon.
I was then forced to accept an introduction to Miss Darcy and pretend to talk cordially with Mr Darcy and his sister for a moment or two. I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but Miss Darcy is tall and pretty, but so shy it would take a mule with half a dozen ropes to drag a conversation out of her. Is Miss de Bourgh like that? Miss Darcy appears to be the perfect foil to Mr Bingley, who cannot seem to shut up; and I am certain Miss Bingley will never wed so the three of them shall make a merry party.
After a few minutes of this agony, I begged off, citing Aunt and Uncle awaiting me. I felt a tiny bit guilty about the blatancy of the lie, but I am certain my conscience will recover.
Mr Darcy exerted himself to not stare at me with quite the level of malevolence I have become accustomed to, and even said a few words; so perhaps absence has moderated his disapprobation or softened his manners.
With that, I made my curtsies and walked around them. Before I left though, I was feeling quite generous, so I thought I should show the lot of them that the Bennet sisters are well mannered and benevolent.
As I started walking away, I observed that they were a very handsome couple, and I wished them much felicity together.
They looked perplexed by the statement, so they probably did not know I was aware of their relationship; but by then I had quite enough of their company so I simply hurried away before any of them could reply.
Your most sarcastic sister,
Elizabeth
Blacksmith
11 July 1812
Lambton, Derbyshire
Dearest Sisters,
What an unusual day I have had. We shall begin with the surprising but not alarming part. Uncle Gardiner acquainted himself with a local tradesman by the name of Mr Livingston. He is a very pleasant man of similar age who was known to Aunt Gardiner in their youth. He is softly spoken, well mannered, obviously fashionable, and educated. The two of them talked long into the night and even allowed my participation.
Even more exciting, they now propose a joint venture of sorts between the two of them and my employer, Mr Ellery. Uncle believes it may be quite profitable, and from what he could explain to me, it seems a very reasonable business.
Based on the desire for this mutual endeavour, Uncle has asked if we might stay on in Lambton for an additional fortnight. I am to resume employment with Mr Ellery, but I will be acting as clerk for discussions between the two men, and relaying messages hither and yon.
It is all very exciting, as I get to be involved in the very beginning of a new venture. I can hardly wait to begin. We are uncertain if Mr Ellery will join, but if not, Uncle says he will find another and will cover my wages himself—as if I would allow him to do so.
Now we come to the truly alarmingpart!
Before all this happened, I was out for my morning walk when I, quite by chance, ran into none other thanMr Darcyat the blacksmith shop. I imagine he must have had trouble with his horse on his morning ride as I can think of no other reason for him to not leave the care of the animal to his grooms. Why he was riding so close to Lambton when he has a nice estate five miles away remains a mystery.
Once again, I tried to avoid the acquaintance but was unable to do so with any degree of civility, but then the oddest thing happened. I am quite beside myself to explain it!
Mr Darcy greeted me most cordially and spent a quarter hour engaging in conversation!Conversation!Mr Darcy! I know that is repetitious, but I must write it several times just so I may believe it myself. I know we argued several times while Jane was sick at Netherfield, and of course we argued more in that atrocious dance at the Netherfield ball—but this was just plain, ordinary, unremarkable, surprisingly civil conversation, something like you might have with an indifferent acquaintance.I am all agog!
After the debacle at Matlock, I was nervous to even encounter him, but he was amiable and even on the chatty side. The transformation was astounding, and I despair to explain it. Pleasant conversation from a dog seems more likely than from that man. The effect was something like talking to a more erudite version of Mr Bingley.
By unspoken agreement, we did not discuss anything about Mr Bingley or the various sisters (mine, Mr Darcy’s, Mr Bingley’s), or anything else likely to cause consternation. We talked oddly enough of books and plays, and it was—dare I say—surprisingly pleasant. His manners were the best I ever observed, and I am reminded he is the only man of my acquaintance that does not seem to look down on my education (such as it is). I even engaged in a bit of impertinence by professing some opinions I do not actually possess, but he took it in stride and seemed to enjoy it.
I was initially eager to dismiss him, so I mentioned my aunt and unclein trade,and even disclosed my current residence and employment, unable to think of anything that would end the conversation faster.
