A Wife for Mr. Darcy

this was. Caroline’s purpose was to show that the Bingleys and Darcys moved in a society inaccessible to the Bennets, but her monologue was wasted on Lizzy as she had no pretensions to be anything other than what she was—a gentleman’s daughter.
    “It is amazing to me how young ladies have the patience to be so very accomplished as they all are,” Charles said.
    This statement brought an immediate challenge from Caroline, who listed the requirements for such praise. She must play an instrument, sing, draw, dance, know the modern languages, and improve one’s mind through extensive reading for the word to be half-deserved.
    Mr. Darcy nodded in agreement. “I do not know more than half a dozen ladies who are truly accomplished.”
    Unable to remain silent any longer, Lizzy said, “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women, Mr. Darcy. I rather wonder at you knowing any.”
    “You are severe upon your sex, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy said with that quizzical expression that Lizzy found to be adorable.
    “Not at all, sir. My idea of an accomplished woman is someone who has mastered some discipline to a level that is beyond the ability of most of us. For everyone else, we do the best we can. In my family, my grandmother saw to our education. We all learned to net purses, cover screens, paint tables, sketch, and play the piano. You can imagine in a family with five daughters that there are boxes in the attic filled with aging purses, painted canvases, and samplers. My forte is needlework, and I will compare my letter E to anyone’s.”
    Lizzy had meant this last comment as a means of lightening the mood, but there was hardly a moment’s pause before Caroline added, “And you are also an excellent walker, Miss Elizabeth.”
    “I do enjoy walking as there is so much to observe in Nature, and I make no apology for it. In fact, it is my intention to take the air tomorrow morning as soon as my sister has had her breakfast.” Rising, she bid them all a good night.
    As soon as she left the room, Miss Bingley started to complain about Miss Elizabeth. “I am fond of Jane Bennet, but with such a father and mother, no connections, and an uncle who lives in Cheapside…”
    “Their lack of connections and an uncle in Cheapside do not make the Bennet sisters one jot less agreeable,” Bingley said, interrupting his sister.
    “But it lessens their chance of marrying any men of consideration in the world,” Darcy added.
    “That would be true if I were a Darcy, but I am not. And although the Bingleys are rising, we do not have ancient ties to Norman kings, nor am I the grandson of an earl. In fact, I lack any pedigree whatsoever, and as such, I may marry where I choose without the pillars of society collapsing all around me.”
    Darcy said nothing, but Bingley’s sisters made up for his lack of response with howls of protest. After a heated exchange, Bingley left, only adding that he would not be joining them for breakfast as it was his intention to go riding. He had deliberately not asked Darcy to join him as he had no wish to be lectured about choosing a suitable marriage partner by his friend.
    Later, in the quiet of his room, Darcy thought about what Bingley had said. It was true the Bingleys were moving up in society, but if he did not marry into a prestigious family or one with excellent connections, he would find his progress checked. But Bingley did not seem to care about such things, and because of that, Darcy envied him. For all of his advantages over his friend, there was one thing he could not do. He could not marry where he wished. That was a luxury even a Darcy could not afford.

In the morning, Jane was feeling so much better that she told Lizzy that she anticipated joining the others for supper. “I am not sure if I will eat, but I would enjoy being out of this room.”
    “And seeing Mr. Bingley, perhaps?”
    “He is all that a man should be, and we are of such like temperaments,” Jane freely admitted.
    “It is as if the two of you were made for each, and I believe you were. I think you may safely depend upon an offer in the very near future.”
    This was not idle conjecture. After leaving the drawing room, Lizzy had stopped in the library to retrieve the second volume of a book she had been reading and had heard the heated debate between Bingley and his sisters regarding Jane. However, Charles had prevailed, and Lizzy did not think it necessary to mention it to her