Jump to new as of August 22, 2001
Posted on Sunday, 12 August 2001, at 12:21 p.m.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, Lizzy muttered. Why am I doing this? Thinking constantly of that man ! I mean what good will it do? Am I really that unpleasant of sight? Lizzy rolled her eyes when she suddenly looked behind her. Good, she thought, no one heard me muttering to myself. HE IS HORRIBLE! she said aloud as she glanced at the torn up flowerbed. Can't I do anything right?!"
Suddenly Lizzy heard a commotion from the doorway and her shoulders straightened and tensed. Mrs. Bennett stopped short with a horrific look on her face. "LIZZY what have you done?!" Jane, Lizzy's older sister, gave her a sympathetic look which Lizzy returned with a merry grin. "Just dug up everything but the weeds Mama," Lizzy said with a smirk. "Do you always have to turn everything into a joke?" shouted her mother while Lizzy just smiled back. But after Mrs. Bennett saw the full extent of Lizzy's musings she went into hysterics. "OH LIZZY, OH LIZZY, my petunias, my beautiful geraniums, she turned angrily to Lizzy, What were you thinking?" Elizabeth blushed at this statement and this puzzled Jane. "Something must be troubling her, she thought." "This is all that Mr.Darcy's fault, fumed Lizzy. Oh! Why did he ever come?" Realizing that both her mother and sister were staring at her strangely she just shrugged her shoulders and looked down.
The tension was broken by the sounds of giggling and Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. Lydia and Kitty were walking arm and arm towards them when Lydia the youngest came running up shouting, "Mama! Mama! Guess what all the talk is in Meryton today? Mrs. Bennett still red from anger remarked she hadn't heard. Oh! it was all about the dance at the Assembly Rooms last night, Lydia quickly said before Kitty could even open her mouth. It was Mr. Darcy this and Mr. Darcy that." I felt so out of it Mama, Kitty interjected, not having anything new to talk about."
Now by this time Lizzy wanted to crawl in a hole and bury herself by the mere mention of Mr. Darcy's name. "Really, she said to herself, she must teach these girls some manners. To talk of him in such a familiar fashion. But what can I say when my mother acts the same way they do, and she fully grown?"
"Well Lizzy, Jane said in her quiet manner, shall we go in?" Lizzy nodded and they moved towards the house while Mrs. Bennett and her younger sisters were still gossiping. Lizzy went straight to her room to cool down her face with a washcloth. Concerned Jane followed her closely.
Chapter
So who is this Mr. Darcy that all of Meryton was talking of? He was mostly known by matchmaking mamas as a proud and arrogant man but with plump pockets so a very eligible match for one of their daughters! Mr. Darcy wasn't the only single man with a large fortune with whom Meryton tongues were talking about. Mr. Darcy was a close friend to a Mr. Charles Bingley. Now Mr. Bingley was a cheerful and pleasant man, totally opposite to Mr. Darcy's cold and aloof manner. Though Mr. Bingley wasn't as rich as Mr. Darcy, he still was well provided for plus he was a very amiable gentleman which was more than you can say of Mr. Darcy. These were the first opinions of most who attended the Meryton Assembly Rooms the previous evening.
Meanwhile at Netherfield, Mr.Bingleys two sisters were discussing the previous nights events. "OH Jane Bennett is a sweet girl, Mrs. Hurst said, and at least she has good manners."
"Which is surprising really, Miss Bingley quickly added, considering her mother's lack of them." Bored, Darcy stifled a yawn by taking another drink of his port. "Will this evening ever end?" he grimaced to himself.
Miss Bingley as if sensing his lack of attention to her said, "Oh Mr. Darcy, Louisa and I were just saying how well known the Bennett family is in this part of the country. Did you find any beauty in any of their daughters? When Mr. Darcy didn't respond, Caroline continued, "I've heard that Eliza Bennett a so-called local beauty. What do you say to that Mr. Darcy?"
Sarcastically, Mr Darcy said, "She a beauty? I'd as soon call her mother a wit!" Trusting this would distract the two sisters of his friend, he turned, bowed and left the room. "Is talk in the country always this tedious?" he thought.