Posted on Sunday, 12 December 2004
Darcy laid down his book as he heard Bingley call down the hall, "Where are you Darcy, we are ready to leave. Caroline has at last made up her mind which jewels to wear so we shan't be too late. Come, Darcy, make haste before she changes her mind again."
Stretching his long legs out before rising from the chair, Darcy sighed. He had stayed in his room with the door closed for just that reason.
After Miss Bingley had come rushing into the reading room the third time to ask his opinion on her ensemble he hurried up the stairs to his own room and firmly closed the door. He had about had his fill of Caroline Bingley.
He had thought he might not go to the dinner at Sir William Lucas' after the fiasco at The Phillips'. Never had he met a woman as vulgar as Mrs. Phillips who, in spite of her husband's harsh words to her, had continued to ask questions about the amount of money he spent on his town house, How large was Pemberley and what was it's income.
Miss Bennet had done her best to sidetrack her aunt but the woman persisted. The call to dinner saved him, though by that time he had little appetite.
The sparking conversation between Miss Bennet and Sir James Wall, newly returned from his first session in the House Of Lords, had delighted Darcy no end.
He had spent part of the evening trying decide how to describe the color of her lovely eyes. He had told Bingley that he was going to stay at Netherfield to write some letters and read.
He had quickly changed his mind when Miss Bingley announced at the breakfast table that she and Darcy would be staying at home while the rest of them would be spending a boring evening at Lucas Lodge.
Darcy had choked on his coffee, but after a short time to catch his breath and clean the front of his shirt he told her that he was sorry that she would be left home alone but he had changed his mind and was going with the rest of the party.
Caroline had looked disgruntled at his words but she smiled at him saying, "Dear Mr. Darcy, I could not stay here at Netherfield if you are not here to protect me. No I must go to this dull, boring party too. We must stick together and not let the natives ruin our evening."
Charles laughed, "Protect you from what, Caroline, we are not in the jungles of Africa, sister."
"Why from the Herdfordshire natives, Charles, one cannot be too careful here in the country."
Darcy could thing of nothing which would be more boring than an evening alone with Caroline Bingley and left the room before she started abusing the neighbors one by one. He succeeded in avoiding both Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Bennet by making sure he stayed as far from them as possible but he seemed to be moving a lot.
He finally caught Miss Elizabeth's eye as the dinner call went out. He could have sworn she was laughing at him even though her lips were still. He had noted often the laughter in her eyes and he found it enchanting.
He congratulated himself on being just one chair down to her right and across from her, where he could watch and listen to her throughout dinner. As before her knowledge of what was going on in the world astounded him. Her good sense made him sometimes wince as she again conversed with his lordship.
"What a bumbling idiot the man is," Darcy thought, "he cannot see for his arrogance that she making him look like a fool"
She turned to ask him his opinion on the subject they were discussing and he could naught but agree with her opinion.
As his lordship sputtered she smiled at Darcy, such a beautiful smile it was. She was so lovely tonight, dressed in white with purple flowers entwined in her hair.
While asking him if he liked the opera she lifted the chain with the amethyst cross she always wore around her neck so that the cross was at her chin.
Darcy smiled and breathed softly, "Amethyst, of course amethyst."
That was it, her eyes were the same color as the cross.
"I beg your pardon," Elizabeth said, startled at his words. She had asked him if he liked the opera and he had answered "Amethyst."
Darcy reddened, "Your cross, it is amethyst, is it not."
"Why, yes, yes it is," Elizabeth answered puzzled.
"My mother loved them, he said softly, they were her favorite jewel."
Before Elizabeth could answer they heard the strident voice of Caroline Bingley, "Yes, to be sure, Mrs. Darcy's amethysts were much admired, the Darcy jewels are some of the finest in the land I can assure you."
Darcy bit his tongue. How he wanted ask her how she knew about the Darcy jewels since she had never seen them, but he could not submit Bingley to such embarrassment.
He was glad to see that it was time to leave the dinner table, Miss Bingley had decided to assert herself as his close friend and confident but he was having nothing of it and asked to be excused.
Rushing to catch Bingley he whispered that he had a headache and was going to return to Netherfield and send the carriage back for them.
When Charles started to go to tell his sisters he caught his arm convincing him that he would rather go alone and would hate to deprive him and his family of an evening of enjoyment.
The last thing he needed was to be submitted to the ride back to Netherfield with Caroline Bingley's acid tongue at work.
He stood in the empty bedroom looking out the window at the moonlit grounds below him. He had sent his man to bed and put out the candles, he wanted to be alone in the moonlit room.
As he stood there looking out, the lovely face of Elizabeth floated before him.
"Amethyst," he smiled, :your eyes are the color of amethysts."