Her Indomitable Resolve by Jann Rowland

Author:Jann Rowland [Rowland, Jann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781989212295
Publisher: One Good Sonnet Publishing
Published: 2020-06-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter XVIII

Elizabeth had always observed that consequences often redounded back on a person in proportion to the way they lived their own life. Mr. Bingley, for example, was a cheerful, honorable gentleman, and in Elizabeth’s opinion, he had been rewarded for those traits by attracting the measure of good a man could achieve by living an upright, moral life. One of those benefits was, in Elizabeth’s opinion, Jane’s love, of whom Elizabeth had always had the highest opinion, regardless of what some others might think of her.

Among those others were, of course, Miss Bingley and those of her ilk. Miss Bingley, in Elizabeth’s opinion, was a nasty woman, one self-centered, thinking only of herself. That evening at Lady Susan’s ball, Elizabeth witnessed as the woman received a full dose of the contempt she had meted out to others, most especially to Elizabeth and her family.

“I see you have not learned to leave those of Mr. Darcy’s level of society to those for whom he is more suited,” said the first woman as Elizabeth looked on.

“She will never learn, Rebecka,” said the second. “Those of her ilk care for nothing but themselves and for that which they cannot have by the simple reason that they are unsuited for it.”

“By her very birth,” said Rebecka. “I suppose there is no reason to bother with such as her.”

“If she wishes to waste her time, that is her business.”

“If only she would not pollute our companies with her presence.”

The first laughed, and the two harpies sauntered away, leaving Miss Bingley fuming at their backs. Elizabeth thought to do the same herself when she saw Miss Bingley hang her head, her hands clenched in fists of impotent rage. And Elizabeth felt sorry for the woman, though she believed that Miss Bingley was deserving of every bit of contempt she received. Thinking on the subject for a moment, Elizabeth stepped forward on impulse, though knowing she would need to take care in how she approached Miss Bingley so she would not provoke her to anger.

“I suppose those were two of London’s so-called elite?”

Startled by the sound of a voice nearby, Miss Bingley’s head rose in a sudden movement and she directed a pair of narrowed eyes at Elizabeth. “I do not know to what you refer, Eliza, for they are high-born ladies.”

“Perhaps they are,” replied Elizabeth. “But they do not act like they are.” Elizabeth paused and reconsidered, adding: “Or perhaps they do, though their behavior is all that is objectionable.”

“You overheard.”

It was little more than an accusation.

“I did,” replied Elizabeth. “I suppose ladies of their imagined quality feel they have leave to look down on others as much as they like. But we need have no care for their opinions. We know the measure of our own worth.”

“Yes, well, I would have you know that many in high society have accepted me. You need not suppose that I have no friends because a pair of vicious women cannot take the trouble to know me.”

Elizabeth smiled

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