Page 25 of The Fee Entail

After a few minutes, things settled down, and they by mutual agreement seemed willing to simply discuss the particulars of their visit. The sisters had left their trunks at the coach stop. Why their father made them travel post was yet another mystery, but at least that was something I could take care of, if I could discreetly get Elizabeth’s attention. She did not know I was about just yet, since I was very careful to stay quiet and out of sight.

It was therefore a bit of a surprise to me when Elizabeth raised her voice just the tiniest bit.

“Come along, Mr Darcy. I believe we are soon to be in want of such a great tall fellow!”

I smiled at that one. Apparently, I was not the only one that could quote fragments of our discussions from Netherfield word for word. I still had no idea how she always knew I was about, but I could canvass that subject another time. For the moment, I thought to try my best to at least be agreeable to the sisters, because they gave me the same look you would give a fox sitting in the middle of your poultry with one half-eaten bird in its mouth and five dead ones scattered about.

Apparently, schooling your countenance was a talent that came naturally to the Bennets, because I only saw the look for a moment before they almost instantly and simultaneously became thoroughly indistinguishable from any collection of genteel, well-educated, proper ladies of the ton. By the time I got to them, their backs were straight, their hands were in front of them, and I imagined they were essentially daring me to either find something to criticise or step even an inch out of line. Nobody who did not know them very well would read their countenances now, but I saw their thoughts before they managed to school their expressions.

For her part, I thought I saw a small look of amusement on Elizabeth’s face, which was the first bit of the old Elizabeth I had witnessed since arriving in Kent, and I was unspeakably happy to see it. She may not have been enjoying my discomfort per se, but she was deriving something from it. Actually, forget that; I do believe she was enjoying it, but I did not know if it was malicious or just impertinent. I chose to think it was the latter.

I suspected I had better be on my best behaviour, so I gave four proper bows. “Miss Bennet! Miss Mary! Miss Catherine! Miss Lydia!”

All the ladies curtseyed very properly, motions that would not be amiss if they were being presented to the queen. The youngest, Lydia, in particular also gave me a bit of a challenging stare, and I suspect she was surprised I could both remember all the names and attach each name to the right lady. Of course, I was not going to tell them I was not certain I could when I started. They had conveniently arranged themselves in proper order of precedence, and I just remembered Lydia was the youngest and Mary the third eldest, so it was just process of elimination.

The second youngest, Catherine, said, “I go by Kitty.”

I was surprised when the youngest, Lydia, said, “Kitty,” with a tone and look that any governess would envy, and the rest of the sisters looked to Miss Lydia in what appeared to be a quest for guidance. Was it possible that the sister who fell the most rose back to lead? Miss Bennet seemed inclined to leave the office to Miss Lydia. I assumed Miss Lydia was thinking that Miss Catherine was being too forward in her address, and I thought I should help the poor girl out of her distress, if indeed either of them was feeling such.

“Miss Lydia, may I presume you are correcting Miss Catherine for being too forward?”

The youngest looked at me carefully and a bit uncertainly, then finally nodded.

“May I address the issue,” I asked carefully, “not with any authority, mind you, but merely as a man who has been in society more?”

The ladies were all now looking at me as they might some new and previously unknown species of animal that they were trying to decide whether to kill, skin, and eat or take home for a pet.

I took their silence as consent.

“Miss Catherine, your sister is correct that it was just a bit forward to suggest a nickname, but it was not a particularly egregious manoeuvre, and nobody but the greatest stickler, such as my aunt, would ever criticise you for it, and frankly, anyone who would is probably not worth knowing. To your sister’s point though, I have not earned the right to use such a familiar name. For the moment, I prefer to give you the respect you are due by calling you ‘Miss Catherine’ until such a time as I may become well enough acquainted to use the shorter name. Of course, at seventeen, I suspect you may well outgrow the name for all but your family and most intimate acquaintances soon anyway, but regardless, I shall address you as you prefer.”

The young lady nodded, apparently both confused that I was even present, let alone talking with her and aware of her age, and perhaps happy with my explanation. I looked forward to getting to know her a little bit better.

“Miss Lydia, I see you are trying your best to ensure the family acts with decorum, particularly when you think yourself in hostile territory. That is what you think my presence is, correct? You need not answer, as it was a rather rude and forward question; but I assure you, I completely understand your position. I must admit, as your sister has rightly pointed out more than once, my actions have not been those of a gentleman. I do however, hope to improve, and perhaps over time to earn your approbation through my improvement in character.”

I thought I might as well continue with trying to establish a different idea in their minds, thinking the best strategy was to shock them with all the changes all at once, then let them recover.

I gave Elizabeth a glance, and there was not the slightest doubt that a touch of amusement was creeping into her countenance. Perhaps I could disarm the mantrap with a stick.

The rest of the sisters finally lost their countenances and stared in open confusion. I had to remember that my Elizabeth had several days, and several very uncomfortable conversations, to adjust to my change in deportment, but the sisters had not. They only remembered the stiff and ill-mannered brute I was in Hertfordshire.

“I can see that all of you have had some schooling over the last year. I will not presume to judge it successful or not, or even a good idea or not, but I must say that you carry yourselves very well—as well as any lady of my acquaintance. Presumptuous as it sounds, I would also like you to know that I am at your disposal, if I may render any assistance whatsoever.”

Now, the four sisters had lost most of their polished demeanour and were simply staring at me as they would a blue calf or two-headed monster, or worse yet, Bingley. Elizabeth was sporting the first genuine, albeit small, smile I had seen directed toward me since I arrived in Kent. Perhaps it was the first she had experienced in some time, and if so, I was insufferably proud of myself for raising it.

Miss Jane Bennet finally exerted herself and said with the closest thing to a frown or a grimace I could imagine on her face, “I find your presence here… surprising, Mr Darcy.”

So, not entirely forgiven by the Bennet sisters just yet! The eldest Miss Bennet knew all about my behaviour the previous year, and the only thing keeping me from believing she had worked out my interference in Bingley’s affairs was my unshakeable belief that she was much too kind to believe it of me.

I gave a little chuckle as well. “Elizabeth finds it surprising as well, but here I am, and here I intend to remain for a time. As a matter of fact, this is my best day in Kent so far!”

Miss Mary asked curiously, “How so?”

Elizabeth looked at me with the same curiosity… oh, she was definitely finding this whole thing diverting, so I answered with a bit of a grin.

Retrieving my pocket-watch, I glanced at the time. “I have been in company with Elizabeth today for a full ten minutes at least, and she has not asked me to get out of her sight and preferably out of the county forevermore, even once!”

All four sisters gasped at the impertinence of the statement, while Elizabeth even had an almost smile on her face.