Sudden Awakenings (The Other Paths Collection)

Chapter 3

It was necessary, after Mr. Bingley’s visit, for Elizabeth to call upon Charlotte to discuss it. By this time, Charlotte’s family had also received a return call from Mr. Bingley, and so the two ladies were able to compare their visits. They concurred that Mr. Bingley was, indeed, as handsome and agreeable as their fathers had reported, and his addition to their society would greatly benefit them. Of his sisters, they were less certain. Elizabeth remarked that they were fine, elegant ladies, but proud.

“They did not appear to approve of our low connections,” she said, shaking her head. “I could have sworn I heard Miss Bingley sniff when my mother mentioned that her sister’s husband is a solicitor, and Mrs. Hurst practically sneered when I told her of my uncle’s business in Cheapside.”

“After all their brother’s efforts to rise above his situation, I suppose they must be eager to distance themselves from anyone connected to trade,” Charlotte surmised.

“How ironic, considering their own dowries came from trade!” Elizabeth pointed out.

Still, they agreed the Netherfield party’s addition to the neighborhood would provide some interest.

“When one has dined with the same four-and-twenty families their entire life, even a haughty pair of sisters is enough to offer a diversion!” Elizabeth said with mirth .

S

It was raining when she departed from Lucas Lodge, yet Elizabeth declined the offer of the carriage from Lady Lucas. She clung to the lane on her return home, but even with an umbrella, the hem of her gown became embarrassingly heavy with water. A misstep plunged her boot into a muddy puddle, adding to her woes. The wind, a mischievous sprite, tormented her hair, threatening to free her bonnet from her head.

She paused for a moment to tuck a few stray whisps back underneath the bonnet, wrestling with the umbrella against the wind’s buffeting. A sudden clatter of hooves startled her. Looking up, she adjusted the umbrella to see a lone rider slowly approaching, map clutched in his hand, brow furrowed in concentration..

“You appear to be lost, sir,” Elizabeth called as he drew near.

“Indeed, I fear I have made a wrong turn,” he replied. “By my calculations, I ought to have reached the town of Meryton by now.”

“Then you hail from London? Did you travel by the Old North Road, and then veer northeastward, onto Meryton Road?” she inquired, stepping confidently beside his horse and peering up at him from beneath her umbrella. Even through the wind and rain, her view partially obscured by the edge of the umbrella, she discerned he was a tall, handsome man, his looks no worse for wear from the rain drenching his coat. She glimpsed dark hair beneath his beaver hat. He bore a noble countenance, and he rode with the posture of an experienced rider.

“Yes, that was precisely my route,” he answered.

“Ah, then a turn to the left instead of to the right at crossroads was your misstep, sir. The right fork becomes Market Street and leads directly into the heart of Meryton, but the other path, Longbourn Road, leads to the village of that name.”

“Then it is well I have encountered you, to guide me, miss. My gratitude for your assistance.”

“The pleasure is mine. You are bound for Meryton, then, sir?”

“Netherfield Park, in fact,” he answered.

Elizabeth’s face brightened. “Ah, then you must be Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley’s guest, whom we are told he is expecting.”

“The very same,” he confirmed. “Forgive me, miss, but you have me at a disadvantage. You know my name, but I remain ignorant of yours.”

“And so you shall remain for the present. While I am not averse to offering assistance to a traveler, propriety dictates introductions be made by a gentleman. Another day, perhaps.”

With a cheerful, “Good day to you, sir,” she skipped off, turning down a side lane which branched from the road on which they were on, and was soon out of sight.

Safe within her home, Elizabeth began the process of drying her mud-caked boots. A pang of regret pricked her conscience. Mr. Darcy might think me unfriendly. I could have at least given him my name.

The truth, a secret smile playing on her lips, was the unexpected encounter with such a handsome stranger had flustered her, making her yearn for the comfort of her own home rather than prolonging their conversation. Unlike her younger sisters with their flights of fancy, Elizabeth prided herself on her composure. Yet, even the most sensible young lady could be affected by a pleasing countenance.

Mr. Bingley mentioned his friend would be at the assembly. Then I shall have the opportunity to meet him properly.

S

Mr. Darcy found the encounter with the young lady decidedly perplexing. Her initial boldness in addressing him was overshadowed by her curious refusal to offer her name. An enigma, indeed, especially since she bore prior knowledge of him! Her disheveled appearance he allowed due to the mud and wind. Yet what business could a young lady have, venturing out alone in such disagreeable weather? Certainly, his sister Georgiana would never be permitted such liberties.

The young lady must live nearby, he concluded, for the path she turned down appeared to lead to an estate.

At least her directions proved trustworthy.

Following her guidance, he soon reached the town of Meryton. From there, had no difficulty in locating Netherfield Park.

Mr. Bingley’s warm greeting was only eclipsed by the effusive welcome he received from Miss Bingley.

“Mr. Darcy!” she exclaimed, descending the marble staircase to meet him in the hall. “We have missed your presence greatly. Our evening gatherings have been rather lackluster as of late. A pity you could not grace us with your presence sooner.”

Mr. Darcy acknowledged her sentiment with a curt bow. “As promised, I am here in time for the assembly.”

“I do not know how splendid an assembly it shall be. Likely no more than a few families gathered together at the town hall, with naught but a bit of watered down punch for refreshments,” she speculated. “It shall certainly be nothing next to the assemblies we have attended together in Mayfair. I hope, at least, I may have the consolation of being promised to you for a dance, Mr. Darcy.”

He tacitly gave his agreement to her suggestion, which pleased her. He would gladly have retired to his room, but Miss Bingley seemed disinclined to let the conversation lapse. As soon as Mrs. Hurst joined them, she proceeded to give a tour of the premises .

While they walked, Miss Bingley regaled Mr. Darcy with tales about the local gentry they had met, namely the Bennet family. “You would not believe the deficiencies one encounters in these rustic parts. A distinct lack of manners pervades all of the company we have encountered, but the Bennet family are the worst!” she exclaimed.

“Indeed,” Mrs. Hurst agreed, nodding. “One cannot help but be bewildered by their aspirations. Lacking in any connections of consequence, they appear to possess an inflated sense of their own worth. We had not been to call more than five minutes before Mrs. Bennet began pushing her eldest daughter towards Charles.”

Miss Bingley’s disdainful sniff spoke volumes about her opinion of the Bennet family. “These uneducated people are utterly devoid of any connections, and yet they think Miss Bennet to be worthy of our Charles! As I predicted, there is a scarcity of gentlemen in these parts, and the women will instantly pounce upon any wealthy man who comes into their neighborhood. You had best be on your guard, Mr. Darcy,” she warned him.

Mr. Darcy’s lips curled sardonically. “If pecuniary gain is their intention, my fortune shall be out of their reach.” He lifted his chin a fraction. “Besides,” he added with a hint of disdain, “their lack of physical beauty hardly strengthens their case, does it?”

“On the contrary,” Mr. Bingley exclaimed. He appeared discomfited by these uncouth remarks about their neighbors. “I found the Bennet sisters all to be uniformly charming, especially the eldest one, Jane. She possesses a beauty that is rare and captivating. One could argue that she deserves my money, if she would have me.”

“Such pronouncements are premature,” Mrs. Hurst dissented, believing herself to be the voice of reason. “The Bennets, from what I have observed, are nothing but greedy, scheming graspers. I am surprised you could not discern it as easily as I did.”

Caroline nodded her agreement. “Such pretentious people with no connections at all can hardly be worth your notice. They have not one member of the peerage in their whole entire family, or so I am told by Miss Elizabeth. One uncle is a solicitor in Meryton and the other uncle is a tradesman residing in Cheapside! The audacity! To think that we must stoop to associating with such people when we could be fostering connections to members of the peerage instead is beyond the pale.”

Mr. Bingley’s eyes danced with amusement. “But Caroline, we have no such connections ourselves, and lest you forget, our family’s fortune also originated in trade. If anyone are pretentious upstarts, it is us,” he reminded her.

Caroline’s withered expression communicated her disdain for her brother’s opinion. “Mr. Darcy, “ she drawled, directing her attention back to him, “you would do well to abstain from any connection with these Bennet people. Let your stay at Netherfield be brief, I pray. A hasty return to London, or better yet, Pemberley, is highly advisable.”

Bingley, ever the peacemaker, interjected with a lighthearted scolding. His sisters' pronouncements were dismissed with a wave of his hand and a jovial laugh. But their sentiments left an impression on Darcy. The prospect of meeting this Bennet family soon grew in his mind from an inconvenience to a decidedly disagreeable event.

S

Anticipation for the Meryton Assembly grew leading up to the day itself. The Bennet sisters donned their finest gowns and new dancing slippers, and styled their hair becomingly. Their mother’s excitement could not be contained as she bustled about, her anticipation brimming over until all her daughters, even Elizabeth, shared in her enthusiasm .

Mr. Bingley and his party were already at the assembly room when the Bennet family arrived. Mrs. Bennet hurried over to him, her family rushing to keep up with her.

Mr. Bingley greeted them all with a courteous bow. “I hope you are well this evening, Miss Bennet,” he addressed Jane. His face glowed with admiration as he surveyed her appearance.

She looked especially beautiful this evening. She followed her mother’s advice and wore her beige silk gown with the surplice neckline which showed off her figure to advantage.

“Thank you, Mr. Bingley,” Jane replied, curtsying low, her pearl teardrop necklace dangling midair near her décolletage . “I am quite well, thanks to your presence.”

Introductions were made. Mr. Darcy, with an air of reserved courtesy, bowed and kissed Mrs. Bennet's hand before acknowledging each of her daughters.

Elizabeth, unable to suppress a flicker of curiosity, stole a glance at Mr. Darcy. His fine features, dominated by a prominent brow, and his impressive stature were undeniable. Clad in formal wear, he appeared even more handsome than during their unexpected encounter on the muddy lane.

A fervent hope formed in her heart that he might ask her to dance. He spoke little, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, a flicker of recognition passing between them, before moving on. Had he, perhaps, taken offense at her refusal of a formal introduction the other day?

With a shrug, she determined this would mark the beginning of their proper acquaintance.

The music swelled, and the room erupted in a flurry of movement as the first set commenced. Mr. Bingley, with a flourish, claimed Jane's hand for their promised dance. Elizabeth, her pulse quickening with a mix of anticipation and nervousness, cast a hopeful glance towards Mr. Darcy .

He, however, remained rooted to the spot, a stoic observer amidst the whirling couples. A flicker of disappointment washed over Elizabeth, quickly masked by a determined composure. Her younger sisters, Kitty and Lydia, flitted off like butterflies, eager partners secured in the Lucas brothers, leaving her behind. Mr. Bingley’s sisters, too, were claimed by other gentlemen. Elizabeth hoped that, separated from the rest of his party, Mr. Darcy might decide to approach her. As the set progressed, she watched him from across the room, her heart fluttering at the thought of performing a country dance with him. He caught her eye, making her feel sure he would approach her with an invitation to join the set. Instead, he retreated further to the edge of the room, clearly intent on watching the dancing. A wave of disappointment crashed over her.

Charlotte spotted her and made her way through the throngs to greet her. “You are looking well this evening, Eliza,” she remarked. “Have you yet had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Darcy?”

“Yes, we were introduced earlier.” Elizabeth replied.

“All the ladies are talking of him. His popularity has surpassed even that of Mr. Bingley. He is quite a handsome fellow, is he not?”

“Undoubtedly, but he seemed so reserved by comparison to his friend.” The tint of color on her cheeks betrayed her admiration.

“Perhaps he only wants for encouragement,” Charlotte suggested. “A man who is naturally shy can only feel more so in the presence of so many beautiful ladies.”

“That is true enough.” Elizabeth’s laughter mingled with the noise of the crowds around them.

“I suspect, my dear Eliza, if you sit in closer proximity, he might pluck up enough courage to ask you to dance,” Charlotte encouraged.

“I suppose it could not hurt,” Elizabeth shrugged. Taking her friend’s advice, she crossed the room and took a seat near Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy kept his back to her .

Mrs. Long, who was seated beside Elizabeth, inquired whether she was enjoying herself.

“I confess I do not find much pleasure this evening,” Elizabeth answered. “For as you can see, I have no partner.” She was aware she was within Mr. Darcy’s earshot.

“Oh, I am sure there will be partners aplenty for you tonight, Miss Elizabeth,” Mrs. Long consoled her. “After all, you are so pretty. Why, that man over there might even be willing to dance with you,” she said, gesturing to Mr. Darcy. “He appears to be unengaged.”

“Perhaps,” said Elizabeth, a little louder, “And if he should ask me, I would be grateful for his notice.”

This hint alone did not seem enough. Jane, seeing her sister sitting down without a partner, left the dance for a moment to ask her why she had not found one. Elizabeth hinted in a low whisper that she wondered if perhaps Mr. Darcy might be inclined to ask her if his friend were to encourage him. Jane nodded and soon summoned Mr. Bingley, who came directly over.

“Darcy, my good fellow,” he exclaimed, slapping him on the back. “I hate to see you standing about in this stupid manner. Come, we must find you a partner.”

Mr. Darcy looked around the room with disdain. “There is not a woman in this room without whom it would be a punishment to stand up with,” he remarked contemptuously.

Mr. Bingley laughed. “Upon my word, I would not be so fastidious. There are several girls in this room who are remarkably beautiful. In fact, I have never seen so many beautiful women in one room in all my life!”

“You are dancing with the only woman worth looking at.” Mr. Darcy scoffed. “You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles. You are wasting your time with me. ”

“Come, come, Darcy,” he said. “Miss Bennet is indeed beautiful, but yet here is her sister's equal in beauty, sitting just behind you.”

Elizabeth’s hope rose once more. She pretended not to be listening to their every word.

Mr. Darcy cast a glance directly at Elizabeth, then looked back to his friend. “She is tolerable enough, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”

Elizabeth was stunned. To receive such an insult from one whom she had barely been introduced! She blinked back tears, determined not to let anyone in the room see her cry.

Mr. Darcy soon moved away from her, and Charlotte, seeing the distressed look upon her friend’s face, hurried over.

“Did Mr. Darcy not ask you to dance, Eliza?” she asked.

“No, he did not,” Elizabeth answered, sticking her chin out. “In fact, he went so far as to call me ‘tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him,’ and within my hearing, too!”

“Goodness, how shocking!” Charlotte exclaimed, sitting down to console her. “What a proud, disagreeable man Mr. Darcy turned out to be!”

“I quite agree with you, Charlotte,” said Elizabeth. “And I do not think I shall like Mr. Darcy after all.”

“Well, be thankful then that he did not like you, Eliza, for then you should have to dance with him,” Charlotte quipped.

“Indeed,” Elizabeth laughed, her mirth doing away with much of her disappointment. Though her pride was wounded, she would not allow Mr. Darcy’s insult to ruin her evening. After all, what was he to her?

She repeated the story with great spirit to her other friends, and before the evening was over, half the room was in agreement that Mr. Darcy was the proudest, most disagreeable man they had met .

When Mr. Bingley's engagement with Jane concluded, he sought out Elizabeth and with a polite bow, requested the next set.

This turn of events gave Elizabeth the satisfaction of seeing Mr. Darcy's face as he witnessed her dance with his friend. The subtle shift in his expression made her feel smug as she determined to show him what he had missed by not dancing with her. Later that evening, she observed him dancing with Miss Bingley. His movements, however, lacked their usual grace, and a frown occasionally furrowed his brow. Elizabeth could not help but wonder if Miss Bingley's conversation proved as tedious as she herself sometimes found it, or if Mr. Darcy simply hated dancing altogether.

Despite Mr. Darcy's earlier slight, Elizabeth found herself enjoying the assembly immensely. Following her set with Mr. Bingley, she danced with Mr. William Goulding and Mr. Robinson, and the lively music and company kept her spirits high.

S

As the evening drew to a close, Mr. Bingley singled Jane out for a second set, a distinction not bestowed upon any other lady. This favoritism sent a thrill through Mrs. Bennet, who reveled in her daughter's success.

“Jane, my dearest!” she exclaimed upon their return home. “It is clear Mr. Bingley is already captivated by you! You must continue to cultivate his interest when you next meet. In fact, I gleaned from Mrs. Hurst that the Bingleys plan to attend the Gouldings' soiree next week. I have already hinted to Mrs. Goulding about securing invitations for us, and subtly suggested you be seated next to Mr. Bingley.”

Jane readily agreed to her mother's plan. Together, they began strategizing about her attire and conversational topics for the upcoming event. By the time she retired for the night, every detail was meticulously planned.

When she entered the bedchamber, the light was still lit. Elizabeth sat at her writing desk, diligently chronicling the events of the assembly in a letter.

“Still awake, Lizzy?” Jane inquired, surprise tinging her voice. “I assumed you would be fast asleep by now.”

“Merely documenting the evening's entertainment, for Aunt Gardiner’s amusement,” Elizabeth replied with a smile.

“I cannot help but be shocked by what Mr. Darcy said about you,” Jane confessed. “The way he looked directly at you before speaking leaves no doubt he intended for you to hear it.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Perhaps I fell short of his standards in some way. He did not grace any other lady with his presence on the dance floor, except for Miss Bingley, of course.”

“Perhaps an understanding exists between them,” Jane mused. “Perhaps he deliberately avoided others to spare Miss Bingley's feelings.”

“If there is some understanding between them, then they are perfectly suited! My only concern lies for you, Jane. If Mr. Bingley becomes your husband, and Mr. Darcy weds Miss Bingley, frequent encounters with them as in-laws would be inevitable,” she said with mirth.

Jane smiled in response. “Miss Bingley is not without her merits. She and her sister possess undeniable elegance and grace.”

“You would say that, Jane. But then, you never think ill of anybody. And that is why you are so well-suited to Mr. Bingley. You and he are of exactly the same disposition. And if Mamma’s predictions are accurate, he will call on you to propose any day now,” Elizabeth said with delight .

Jane’s eyes carried a hopeful gleam. “Oh Lizzy, do you truly believe he harbors feelings for me? Is he the man fate has chosen for me?”

“Dearest Jane,” she said, taking her hands and patting them adoringly. “Whatever Mamma’s hopes for you, Mr. Bingley’s admiration for you is evident. And should he win your affections, he would be a most lucky man.”

Jane blushed. “I like him very much, and I hope the feeling is mutual.”