Page 77 of A Most Beloved Sister
His curt response, so at odds with the openness displayed only moments before, took Elizabeth aback. She huffed, once again confused by his manner. Just when she would begin to think that they were developing a friendship, he would do an about-face.
As they came around the last bend to Netherfield, a young girl of about eight years of age darted in front of them, causing Elizabeth to stumble. The girl, equally startled, tripped over her own feet and went sprawling into the dirt. The basket she carried flew out of her hands, and its contents were strewn across the path.
“Polly Padmore!” Elizabeth exclaimed, a hint of censure in her voice. “What on earth are you doing dashing about like that?”
The girl scrambled to her feet, grabbed her basket, and began picking up the various items that had fallen. Elizabeth stooped to help, as did Darcy. “Sowwy, Iss Lizzy,” the girl said. “Uther asked ee to get a vasket from Cook at the vig house and huwwy wight ack. Didn’t think no vone vould be avake on the path wight now.
“Is everything all right?” Elizabeth’s tone changed to one of concern.
“Yes, iss. Uther gave Cook a handvoven lanket last veek, and Cook pwomised to ake some soft vread and viscuits for ee to pay for it. I vas to collect em, ut I had to go quick cause it’s alvost time for bweakfast.”
The items all gathered, everyone rose to their feet. Darcy began to say something about needing to be more careful, but the words caught in his throat at his first sight of Polly’s face.
Similar to Georgiana, Polly had a large scar that ran from one of her nostrils down to her lip. There was only one, however, and it had faded to white. It was thick, however, and it pulled her lip up, preventing her mouth from closing entirely. This was evidently the cause of her lisp, and her appearance was so jarring Darcy could do nothing but stare.
Elizabeth, noticing Darcy’s shock but misunderstanding the reason, quickly said, “No harm done, Polly, Now get along home, but be careful as you go around turns in the path!”
“Yes, Iss Lizzy!”
The girl waved jauntily, a wide grin on her face, then skipped happily out of sight, singing a merry tune as she went. Darcy stared after her for several seconds before blinking and turning back to Elizabeth, only to find her looking at him with a fierce, disapproving glare.
He cleared his throat. “That girl—” he began, but Elizabeth immediately cut him off.
“Polly,” she emphasized, “is a lovely girl who cannot help her appearance. She was born with a harelip, which Mr. Jones did his best to correct. She is kind, intelligent, and happy, and anyone who meets her is the better for it!”
“Then she is… accepted in Meryton? She goes to church, plays with friends, enters the mercantile—that sort of thing? Is seen in public?”
Elizabeth gaped at him. “Mr. Darcy,” she said icily, “I know you consider people like Jane, Jamie, and Polly to beunnatural creatures, but they are human beings! Children of God! If our Lord and Savior Himself accepted the lame and blind into His presence, even going so far as to place His hands on them,bless them, and heal them, then certainly a wealthy man from Derbyshire can as well!”
Darcy’s jaw dropped open. “And this is your opinion of me?” he cried. “This is the estimation in which you hold me!”
“I have every reason in the world to think ill of you. No motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous manner in which you have treated my beloved sister, as well as others you feel deserving of your contempt. No, from almost the very moment I met you, your manners impressed me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others. But it is not merely that on which my dislike is founded. Not long after your first entrance into Meryton society, your character was unfolded to me by Mr. Wickham.”
“Mr. Wickham?” Darcy repeated in astonishment. “You take an eager interest in that gentleman’s concerns, do you?”
“Who that knows what his misfortunes have been can help but feel an interest in him?”
“His misfortunes?” Darcy replied blankly.
“Yes, his misfortunes, which have been of your infliction! You have reduced him to his present state of poverty. Your petty jealousies as a youth and your lies about his father deprived him of his childhood home, his father’s livelihood, his parents’ lives, and his benefactor’s potential support and future endowment of a living. You, who was born with everything, had so much pride and jealousy that you could not stand to be second place in your father’s eyes. You, sir, are no honorable gentleman.”
As Elizabeth raged, Darcy’s face changed from confusion to anger to apathy. By the time she finished her diatribe, his face looked as if it had been carved from marble. She stared up at him, chest heaving with exertion. His eyes flickered down for the briefest moment; then he gave a bow and said formally, “You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time.”
He strode towards the manor, leaving Elizabeth to stare after him, dumbfounded.
Chapter 21
Elizabeth remained outside for ten minutes, doing her best to calm her nerves. Once the adrenaline and anger had faded away, she was left with feelings of guilt. The words of her aunt’s letter came back to her—how Darcy had treated young Sally with such kindness and had been sponsoring the home financially.
Why would he do that in London, yet treat Polly and Jane so disdainfully here? I simply do not understand the man.
Resolved to apologize when she could, Elizabeth made her way to Netherfield. Upon her arrival, however, she was informed by a footman that Mrs. Hurst was in the breakfast room and wished to speak with her. Surprised, she went to join her friend.
“I didn’t know you were coming down this morning, Louisa! I would have thought you would wish to stay upstairs today, to be near your husband.”
Louisa looked up from the toast she was buttering. “He is still not fully conscious, and I needed to get out of my rooms. I have been in there for far too long.”
Elizabeth was amazed at the change in her friend. Gone were the pale face, dark shadows under the eyes, and tears; in their place were pink cheeks, bright eyes, and a smile.
