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Elizabeth was sorely tempted to put forth a defense of the country society of Meryton that the gentleman had practically ridiculed, but boasting of dining regularly with four and twenty families was woefully insufficient for this particular challenge. Instead, she said, “You, sir, posit that the breadth of one’s circle is an adequate measure of one’s understanding of human nature. I do not share your views on the matter. You will find the same composition of sensibilities among societies both large and small. People will be people wherever they are.” She looked directly into his eyes. “Now hate me if you dare.”

Before Darcy could fashion a response, Lady Catherine, having drawn closer to the instrument, said, “Miss Bennet gives her opinions rather fondly for someone her age.” All heads turned towards the elderly woman. Her ladyship continued, “When I was your age, young lady, I was married and mistress of my own home.” She waved her walking stick about with a flourish. “Mistress of all of this. Mind you, I am not suggesting that your prospects are so superior as mine were, what with my excellent father being the former Earl of Matlock, but you would do well to hold your tongue until you can boast in the same way as other married women of your sphere—someone much like Mrs. Collins over there.”

Neither Darcy nor Elizabeth replied to Lady Catherine’s admonishment. Darcy knew enough about Elizabeth to discern that she did not appreciate the advice, however well-meaning. In this case, his aunt had been outright officious. For his part, he was not at all apt to agree with his noble relation. He found such stimulating intercourse with Elizabeth refreshing. If only she were not so far beneath me in consequence, he pondered. If only.

That next afternoon, Elizabeth and Charlotte sat in the parlor. The former read her book, and the latter attended her sewing. Seeing that her friend’s whole heart was not in the pages before her, judging by the manner in which Elizabeth’s eyes continued to drift towards the window, Charlotte said, “Mr. Darcy seems quite taken with you.”

“It is true that he feels a certain obligation towards seeing to my safe arrival to the parsonage after I practice at Rosings, but I cannot excuse his uncharitable remarks at my expense to his cousin.”

Hardly any time at all had passed after Elizabeth had overheard Mr. Darcy’s insult before she told her friend. Charlotte had sought some explanation for Elizabeth’s dampened enthusiasm upon her return to the parlor, and Elizabeth had been in desperate want of someone in whom she could at once confide her wounded feelings and, likewise, assuage her mortified pride with a show of laughter, even if a bit repressed. Her wont to laugh at the ridiculousness of others was a favorite pastime of Elizabeth’s, which was a very good thing indeed and especially that first evening at Rosings, else she would never have suffered Mr. Darcy’s company so easily as she had when he and his cousin rejoined the ladies in the parlor.

“Now surely you cannot hold that against him still. His actions have completely belied his words, have they not? That is to say nothing of the manner in which he looks at you when he believes he is unobserved.”

Elizabeth nodded. “It is true; the gentleman does stare at me. But I am given to suspect his purpose in doing so is merely to find fault.”

“Let us not pretend that you do not do a fair amount of staring at him as well,” Charlotte teased.

Elizabeth laughed a little at this picture of herself. “Surely you cannot fault me for doing so,” she responded in kind. “You’ve seen the gentleman!” If only his character was as pleasing as his looks, she silently considered.

“Indeed. I hope you do not mind my saying this, but your Mr. Wickham is nothing at all to your Mr. Darcy.”

“Oh, Charlotte! I have no claims to either of the two gentlemen; I assure you.” Certainly not Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth thought, for no doubt he had found another young woman in Brighton upon whom he now bestowed his charms. Good for him. I can think of no one who is more deserving of happiness.

As for Mr. Darcy, Miss de Bourgh is more than welcome to him. Elizabeth knew just enough about that young woman to suspect that she was cut from the same cloth as Lady Catherine, despite the former’s quiet reserve as well as the complete absence of any physical resemblance between the two. Such being the case, Elizabeth felt that the cousins actually deserved each other.

Charlotte’s enthusiasm on her friend’s behalf would not be so easily curbed. “Oh, but you might,” she continued. “If I know anything at all about men, I am certain Mr. Darcy is half in love with you already.”

“And I say that such a notion is too absurd to warrant further discussion. You told me yourself that the gentleman is engaged to his cousin, did you not?”

“And so he is, were one to rely solely upon Lady Catherine’s testimony. But having had the chance to observe the gentleman in company of late, I would say he and his aunt cannot possibly be of the same mind.” She shook her head. “No, indeed. There is but one woman, as best I can tell, who has Mr. Darcy in her power, and her name is most certainly not Miss Anne de Bourgh.”

CHAPTER 5

CHANCES FOR FELICITY

A little over a week later, Charlotte wandered into the parlor in search of her houseguest. A cheerful smile spread across her face when she espied her friend. “Here you are, my dearest Eliza!”

Elizabeth set her latest missive from her eldest sister aside and greeted her friend with equal affection. “Yes, I am the happy recipient of a letter from Jane.”

“What news from Longbourn?”

“Jane said Papa has yielded to Mama’s unrelenting requests and has given his permission for Lydia to travel to Brighton with Colonel Forster’s wife. She has already taken her leave.”

Charlotte took a seat next to her guest. “And what of Kitty? I always like to think of your two youngest sisters as nearly inseparable.”

Charlotte’s supposition was quite true. Although Lydia was the younger of the two, she wielded an inordinate amount of influence on Kitty. Rarely could the former be seen or heard without the latter. Where the two young ladies were concerned, Elizabeth could not help agreeing with her father that they were the silliest girls in all of England. Lydia was by far the silliest and the wildest, for that matter.

“According to Jane, Kitty is best described as prostrate with grief that she is not allowed to join the Forsters. However, she was not so intimate with Mrs. Forster as Lydia, and, as a consequence, no invitation was extended to her.”

“I did not know that Lydia and Colonel Forster’s wife got along so well.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Indeed, it appears the two of them formed quite an attachment over the past few months since the Forsters’ wedding. I am often given to think that young woman is as silly as my two youngest sisters. I would be worried for Lydia’s safety were it not for the fact that she will be under the colonel’s protection.”

“Indeed. Colonel Forster is an intelligent man. He will see that Lydia meets with no harm,” Charlotte said reassuringly.

“And let us not forget that she will be in Mr. Wickham’s company as well.”

“Oh, dear,” Charlotte said placing her hand on her chest.