Everyone at the parsonage liked Colonel Fitzwilliam very much.
His easy manners and pleasant conversation made the ladies look forward to their visits to Rosings even more.
Still, several days passed before Lady Catherine invited them again.
As long as other guests were staying at Rosings, their company was apparently not necessary.
It was not until Easter Sunday, nearly a week after Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had arrived, that the Collinses and their guests were invited.
Even then, they were only asked to come to Rosings that evening after church.
During the previous week, Elizabeth had seen very little of Lady Catherine or Miss de Bourgh.
Colonel Fitzwilliam had visited the parsonage several times.
Darcy, however, had only been seen at church.
Naturally, they accepted the invitation.
At the proper time, they arrived at Lady Catherine’s drawing room.
Lady Catherine received them politely, but Elizabeth could immediately tell that she was not particularly pleased to see them.
With her nephews staying at Rosings, she had much more interesting company.
She spent most of her attention on Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam and spoke to them far more than she spoke to anyone else.
Colonel Fitzwilliam, on the other hand, seemed genuinely pleased to see Elizabeth.
There was hardly anyone else at Rosings who could provide him with such pleasant company.
He also seemed to find Elizabeth especially attractive.
He sat beside her and soon started an easy conversation.
They talked about Kent and Hertfordshire, traveling and staying at home, books and music.
Elizabeth had never enjoyed herself so much at Rosings.
Their conversation was lively and natural.
Before long, both Lady Catherine and Darcy began paying attention to them.
Darcy repeatedly glanced in their direction.
Lady Catherine eventually decided she wanted to know what they were discussing.
“What are you talking about, Fitzwilliam?”
“What are you telling Miss Bennet?”
“Let me hear.”
“We were discussing music, Aunt,” Colonel Fitzwilliam replied.
“Music?”
“Then you must speak louder.”
“Music is one of my favorite subjects.”
“If you are discussing music, I certainly expect to be part of the conversation.”
“I doubt there are many people in England who enjoy music more than I do.”
“I also have a very good natural ear for it.”
“If I had actually learned to play, I am sure I would have become an excellent musician.”
“And Anne would have been wonderful too if her health had allowed her to practice.”
She then turned to Darcy.
“How is Georgiana doing?”
Darcy spoke warmly about his sister and praised her musical ability.
“I am very pleased to hear that,” Lady Catherine said.
“But make sure you remind her that she cannot become truly excellent unless she practices constantly.”
“I assure you, Aunt, she does not need that reminder.”
“She practices very regularly.”
“Good.”
“She cannot practice too much.”
“When I write to her, I shall remind her again not to neglect it.”
“I always tell young women that nobody can become excellent at music without constant practice.”
“I have told Miss Bennet the same thing several times.”
“She will never play particularly well unless she practices more.”
“And although Mrs. Collins does not own a piano, she is welcome to come to Rosings every day and play the instrument in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room.”
“She would not disturb anyone there.”
Darcy looked slightly embarrassed by his aunt’s lack of manners.
He said nothing.
After coffee was served, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth that she had promised to play for him.
Elizabeth immediately sat down at the piano.
The colonel pulled a chair close to her.
Lady Catherine listened to about half a song before turning back to her other nephew.
Eventually, Darcy moved away from his aunt.
He slowly walked toward the piano and positioned himself where he could clearly see Elizabeth’s face.
Elizabeth noticed exactly what he was doing.
When there was a convenient pause in the music, she looked at him with a playful smile.
“You are trying to make me nervous, Mr. Darcy.”
“You have come over here looking so serious that I suppose you expect me to be frightened.”
“But it won’t work.”
“I am not easily intimidated.”
“In fact, the more someone tries to frighten me, the more determined I become.”
“I won’t say that you are wrong,” Darcy replied.
“You could hardly believe that I actually intend to frighten you.”
“I have known you long enough to realize that you enjoy pretending to hold opinions that you do not really have.”
Elizabeth laughed.
Then she turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam.
“You see what your cousin is doing?”
“He is going to give you a very accurate picture of me and teach you never to believe anything I say.”
“I have been terribly unlucky.”
“I came to this part of the country hoping to maintain a respectable reputation.”
“Instead, I have met someone who knows exactly how to expose all my faults.”
“And now, Mr. Darcy, you are being very unfair.”
“You are telling your cousin everything you remember about me from Hertfordshire.”
“That is not wise.”
“You are only encouraging me to fight back.”
“And if I start telling stories about you, some of your relatives may not enjoy hearing them.”
“I am not afraid of you,” Darcy said with a smile.
“Then please tell me what he has done,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said.
“I would love to know how my cousin behaves around people he doesn’t know.”
“You really want to hear?”
“Very well.”
“But prepare yourself.”
“What I am about to tell you is terrible.”
“The first time I ever saw Mr. Darcy in Hertfordshire was at a ball.”
“Do you know what he did?”
“He danced only four dances!”
“I am sorry to shock you, but it is true.”
“There were very few men available as partners.”
“And more than one young woman was sitting without anyone to dance with.”
“Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny that.”
“I didn’t know any of the women there outside my own group.”
“Exactly.”
“And apparently you believe there is no way to meet anyone new at a ball.”
Elizabeth looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam.
“Well, what do you think?”
“What should we ask him next?”
“Why would a well-educated, intelligent man who has spent years in society be so bad at introducing himself to strangers?”
“I can answer that,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said.
“He simply doesn’t make the effort.”
Darcy smiled slightly.
“I certainly don’t have the ability some people have to start conversations easily with complete strangers.”
“I don’t always know how to match their way of speaking.”
“And I cannot pretend to be interested in people’s personal affairs when I have only just met them.”
Elizabeth continued playing as she answered.
“My fingers aren’t nearly as skilled as those of some women I know.”
“I don’t have their speed or strength.”
“And I cannot produce the same beautiful sound.”
“But I have always assumed that was my own fault.”
“I simply haven’t practiced enough.”
“It isn’t because my fingers are incapable of playing well.”
Darcy smiled.
“You are absolutely right.”
“You have simply chosen to spend your time on other things.”
“And anyone who has the privilege of hearing you play could hardly complain.”
“Neither of us performs for strangers.”
Before Elizabeth could answer, Lady Catherine called out from across the room.
“What are you two talking about?”
Elizabeth immediately began playing again.
Lady Catherine came over and listened for a few moments.
Then she turned to Darcy.
“Miss Bennet could play quite well if she practiced more.”
“She would also benefit from taking lessons from a good teacher in London.”
“Her fingering is quite good.”
“Her musical taste, however, is not as refined as Anne’s.”
“Anne would have been an excellent musician if her health had allowed her to study properly.”
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy.
She wanted to see whether he would eagerly agree with Lady Catherine’s praise of his cousin.
But she saw nothing in his expression or behavior that suggested he was in love with Miss de Bourgh.
In fact, after watching the way he treated his cousin, Elizabeth found one small comfort for Miss Bingley.
Darcy seemed no more likely to marry Miss de Bourgh simply because Lady Catherine wanted it than he would be to marry a relative of his own.
Lady Catherine continued criticizing Elizabeth’s playing.
She offered advice about technique, fingering, and musical taste.
Elizabeth listened patiently and politely.
At the gentlemen’s request, she remained at the piano until Lady Catherine’s carriage was ready to take everyone home.