Page 9 of A Most Favourable Match

For the first time that evening, Elizabeth saw a slight awkwardness in Lord Grantchester. She felt a renewed pang of frustration at her mother and suppressed a grimace. It seemed all too likely that while Lord Grantchester had informed his family, he had not yet told his friends of his engagement, and was now being strong-armed into it in a most uncomfortable fashion.

“You have anticipated me, Mrs Bennet,” the earl said, fixing his smile again on his face before looking to his friends. “There is some news my friends have yet to learn. Darcy, Bingley, I am to be married to Jane Bennet. I hope you will wish us joy.”

As he spoke, Lord Grantchester took Jane’s arm again, and she clung to him slightly, more as if for stability than affection. Elizabeth gathered that her sisterwas no more comfortable than her husband-to-be with Mrs Bennet’s social machinations.

Several long seconds of silence followed. Elizabeth saw surprise on the faces of all Lord Grantchester’s friends, and more than a touch of disappointment on Mr Bingley’s face. But in the manner of a true gentleman, this latter was quickly wiped away, and Mr Bingley recovered himself enough to smile broadly at the couple. “I certainly do wish you both joy, Lord Grantchester, Miss Bennet,” he told them both, shaking Lord Grantchester’s hand with feeling. “You are a very lucky man, Grantchester.”

Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst also fell swiftly into congratulations after their first astonishment, and a look of shared intelligence that passed between them. Something in this brief glance unnerved Elizabeth, although she could not say why. She guessed it to be a silent comment on Jane’s supposed skill in catching an earl with only a pretty face and no fortune. Still, they seemed sincere in their well-wishes.

“Lord Grantchester, Miss Bennet, I trust you will be very happy together,” Miss Bingley told the pair with a smile. “What joy it must bring to both families.”

“Felicitations, my dear Miss Bennet, Lord Grantchester. A wife is exactly what this man needs,” added Mrs Hurst gladly. “What wonderful news. Where will the wedding take place?”

As Mrs Bennet launched into an outline of present thinking on the time and place of the actual wedding, Mr Bingley approached Elizabeth.

“May I have the pleasure of the next dance, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked very civilly, although Elizabeth could hear that some of the eagerness was gone from his voice compared to his earlier invitation to Jane.

“Certainly, sir,” she answered readily.

Charles Bingley seemed pleasant and gentlemanly, and Elizabeth did feel some sympathy for him. If Jane had not already met Lord Grantchester, Mr Bingley might have been exactly the kind of amiable and good-natured young man Elizabeth could have imagined for her sister. If he was as struck by Jane as he seemed, it would be as well to remove him from Jane’s vicinity for the comfort of both.

“Does your friend care for dancing too, Mr Bingley?” Elizabeth thought to add, aware of the sulky expression deepening on Kitty’s face, and the presence of the equally unhappy-seeming Mr Darcy.

Mr Darcy himself was within earshot and might easily have answered Elizabeth himself, or taken her prompt to ask Kitty to dance. He did not, however. Staring at Lord Grantchester in apparent consternation, he gave every sign of not having heard a word anyone had spoken since his friend announced his betrothal to Jane.

“Are you quite serious, Grantchester?” Mr Darcy demanded of his friend, this question sounding rather rudely to Elizabeth’s ear. “You are engaged to be married to Miss Jane Bennet?”

His dark-blue eyes glowering, Mr Darcy barely even glanced at Jane. He took no account of anyone else at all. Mr Darcy spoke as though he and Lord Grantchesterwere the only people involved in the conversation. Had the way he referred to Jane held something of contempt? Elizabeth couldn’t quite be sure, but he certainly did not seem happy about the engagement.

“I am entirely serious,” Lord Grantchester replied levelly, meeting Mr Darcy’s severe gaze with his own better-tempered resolution. “I consider myself fortunate that a young lady as lovely, sweet-natured, and intelligent as Miss Jane Bennet will be my wife.”

“I should think so too,” put in Mrs Bennet crossly, not entirely sure what was happening but perceiving some slight to her blameless eldest daughter. “Well said, Lord Grantchester.”

“Grantchester,” Mr Darcy said, a warning tone in his voice, and again ignoring Mrs Bennet and everyone else around them.

Lord Grantchester had turned away, however, determined not to be drawn, and was smiling at Jane. “Let us go and dance, Miss Bennet. We have stood about here too long.”

With Jane’s nod of assent, they departed towards the dance floor, Jane’s blank face giving no clue as to what she might feel about this strange semi-confrontation. Elizabeth took exception on her behalf, unable to prevent herself from glaring at Mr Darcy. After his rudeness, he should expect nothing more.

“Who does he think he is?” Mrs Bennet said resentfully, seeming minded to vent her spleen about Mr Darcy almost to his face.

Any ire was wasted on Mr Darcy, however. Havingwatched Lord Grantchester and his partner all the way to the dance floor, he shook his head angrily and stalked away in the opposite direction without taking his leave of either the Bennet ladies or his own party.

Again, Mr Bingley’s sisters shared a private look whose meaning Elizabeth could not readily discern. They then curtsied and stepped back to gossip together in hushed tones in a corner.

“Shall we, Miss Elizabeth?” said Mr Bingley. Elizabeth suddenly realised had been beside her all the time, although he had not spoken.

“Why, yes, Mr Bingley,” she answered, laying a hand on his arm. “I am sorry that your friend Mr Darcy is out of sorts tonight.”

“I cannot understand it,” Mr Bingley confessed, shaking his head. As they took their places for the dance, his cheerful face was bemused. “Darcy never enjoys these sorts of events, but he ought to have at least congratulated Grantchester. I’m sure he will later, and I do hope your sister will forgive him. Darcy is a good sort, really.”

“Well, Mr Darcy has excellent friends whose loyalty must count in his favour,” Elizabeth returned, reflecting to herself that if both Lord Grantchester and Mr Bingley thought well of Mr Darcy, there must be more to him than this initial bad impression.

Then again, Lord Grantchester was a rich and titled man. Mr Bingley could hardly be poor if he had rented Netherfield Park. It was not impossible that Mr Darcy should show one face to his wealthy and well-connected friends and another to the Bennet family, who lacked riches or aristocratic links.

Indignant again on Jane’s behalf, Elizabeth tried to put the matter from her mind for now and smiled at her dance partner instead. She was sure of one thing, at least. After such an introduction, Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley would have to make a considerable effort to gain her good opinion.

Chapter 4