Chapter Text
A Pair of Fine Eyes
Chapter 1
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy was in a quandary such as he had never been before. It was the night after the Netherfield Ball and he and Bingley were settling back for a glass of brandy in the library.
Bingley was being his usual chatty self, talking at length about Miss Bennet and her virtues and beauty. Darcy was hardly paying attention. His mind was on another Bennet sister.
He had been attracted to Miss Elizabeth almost from the beginning. He had truly begun to notice her the night at Lucas Lodge when she had played the pianoforte. Her fine eyes had drawn him in and her lively manner had bewitched him. Then, while she and her sister had stayed at Netherfield, they had had many spirited debates, and he flattered himself that she had been flirting with him. At the time he was still trying to resist her, and so he had attempted to ignore her on their final day there so that he would not be raising any expectations.
But then he had seen her at the Netherfield Ball and been bewitched all over again. He had had to ask her to dance. They had quarreled during the dance, but he did not blame Elizabeth. It had been Wickham’s fault. He did not know what Wickham had told her, but he was certain Elizabeth was too wise to pay heed to it.
Now he sat with Bingley, listening to him describe his lady love, and thinking of his own.
“-And so I shall be going to town tomorrow,” Bingley’s voice broke into Darcy’s thoughts.
“To town?” Darcy asked, surprised.
“Yes. I have some business to take care of.”
“What of Miss Bennet?”
Bingley grinned. “I plan to propose once I return. I want to get a ring and perhaps some other jewelry for her first.”
Darcy opened his mouth to speak.
“Before you try to tell me that she does not care for me, you might as well save your breath. Caroline and Louisa have been repeating the same thing to me over and over. She is not beneath me. In fact, I will be marrying up if she accepts me. She is after all a gentleman’s daughter and I only the son of a tradesman. And I am certain that she loves me. You will not convince me otherwise.”
Darcy had been so focused on Miss Elizabeth in the last days that he had hardly noticed Miss Bennet’s behaviour toward his friend. “Bingley, I was not going to say any such thing. You are the one who would know the state of her affections, if anyone does. If you think she returns your love, it is your decision. I will not stand in your way. It would be very hypocritical of me.”
Bingley sighed in relief. “Good.” Then he seemed to catch Darcy’s last sentence. “What do you mean, it would be hypocritical of you?”
Darcy had not even meant to let that sentence slip, but if he was bent on this course, he might as well tell Bingley now.
“I myself plan to propose to a Bennet sister.”
Bingley looked shocked. Stunned. “A Bennet sister?” He tilted his head, and looked pensive, as if he were running through all the sisters in his mind. “It cannot be the two youngest, and I have not seen you pay any attention to Miss Mary. Who…?”
“Miss Elizabeth, of course,” said Darcy.
“Miss Elizabeth!” exclaimed Bingley.
Darcy did not know why Bingley was so surprised. “Of course Miss Elizabeth. I thought I had been rather obvious in my attentions toward her.”
“Not to me,” said Bingley, taking another swallow of brandy. “It seems to me you have mostly argued.”
“Argued?” Darcy cried, wondering how Bingley had come to that conclusion. “We have had some spirited debates, it is true, but we have never argued.”
Bingley shrugged. “Whatever you say, my friend.” Then something dawned on his face. “But that means we shall be brothers! What great tidings this is! But, oh no! Caroline will be quite beside herself.”
Darcy made his face blank. “I have given her no reason to believe I would ever offer for her, Bingley. In fact, I had tried to discourage her as politely as I could.”
“Oh, I know that, Darcy. Do not worry. I had thought that Caroline had taken some bizarre dislike to Miss Elizabeth, and it is clear now that she saw what I did not! Maybe she will not be so surprised after all.” Bingley looked rather pleased by the prospect of his sister being thwarted.
“Are you going to take leave of the Bennets before you travel to London?” Darcy asked, putting aside thoughts of Miss Bingley.
“Yes, of course. I thought I would do so tomorrow.”
“Then I shall go with you. Perhaps I can speak with Mr. Bennet, and afterwards have a quiet word with Miss Elizabeth.”
Bingley slapped his back. “It sounds marvellous, my friend! But I think I am to bed now. I am quite done in.”
Darcy followed his friend upstairs and went into his bedroom, but he was far from sleep himself. His mind was full of thoughts of Miss Elizabeth.