A Disguise of the Worst Sort: A Pride and Prejudice Fantasy by Sarah Courtney

Author:Sarah Courtney [Courtney, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

Elizabeth was torn. She was horrified that Miss Bingley, looking like her, had announced proudly that she was going to see Mrs. Reynolds to discuss the menu for dinner. At the same time, it was a relief to have Miss Bingley out of the room.

Poor Miss Darcy. She had been hiding behind Lady Matlock as Miss Bingley fawned all over the countess. Now Lady Matlock had gone to speak with her husband, and Miss Darcy looked to be in shock.

Well, Miss Bingley had been introduced to Miss Darcy in the past, she knew. So even if Elizabeth herself did not know Miss Darcy, there would be nothing odd about her greeting her.

“Miss Darcy,” she said, approaching the girl curtsying.

Miss Darcy’s face leeched of colour. “Miss Bingley,” she said, giving a very correct curtsy.

“I am sure your brother is pleased to have you home.” Elizabeth thought quickly. What did she know of Georgiana Darcy? Was there not something about her playing the pianoforte well? “He has missed your music.”

“Oh, but you play so well!” Miss Darcy’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Have you not played? And Miss Elizabeth, too.” Her eyes darted in the direction Miss Bingley had gone. “My brother has said that he has rarely heard anything so delightful.”

Elizabeth stared at her. Mr. Darcy had said such a thing—of her? She knew perfectly well that she did not play nearly as well as Miss Bingley, and probably not as well as his sister, either. Yet he thought her playing “delightful”?

She turned slightly so that she could see him. He stood speaking with his cousin and Mr. Bingley, but there was a wrinkle in his brow. No doubt Miss Bingley’s fawning display over Lord and Lady Matlock had disturbed him. It was particularly humiliating for her, as everyone thought it was her, Elizabeth, acting in such a foolish manner. Why, she was worse than Mr. Collins!

Elizabeth did not wish to say anything disparaging about her own musical talent when she would be perceived as Miss Bingley, nor did she think it fair to praise her abilities, so she changed the subject.

“And which composer has been your favourite these days?” she asked. “I enjoy Mozart as much as most young women, I suppose, but I have lately been very fond of Pleyel. And of course Dibdin and Shiled.”

Miss Darcy’s smile was shy. “I do enjoy Dibdin and Pleyel myself. I have been playing a lot of Arne lately. My brother took me to see a performance, and I found the music very entertaining.”

“Perhaps you will play for us tonight?”

Miss Darcy’s eyes widened. “Oh, but I could never! There are so many people!”

“People who love you will not mind if you miss a note or two.”

Elizabeth turned to see Lady Matlock just behind her. She moved to the right to make way for the older lady.

“It is inescapable, my dear,” Lady Matlock went on. “You will have to play. But if you practise playing now, in front of amiable people who

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