Music Monday: How to Impress a Woman (MozART group)

PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY MOZART GROUP ON MARCH 1, 2018.

My older sister shared this humorous video with me a couple of weeks ago, and I thought it would be a fun one to share on the Monday after Valentine’s Day. 🙂 I also thought it would be fun to pair it with a story with a very different Darcy who, having had his proposal refused and been granted a second chance, is working very diligently to unravel his pride and impress a woman. And today, I am giving you a full chapter just so you can properly meet Darcy’s grandmother and be just as delighted with his change in demeanor as she is. : )

Chapter 6 of Unravelling Mr. Darcy:

Perhaps you might. Remembering Elizabeth’s words from yesterday made Darcy smile as he accepted a cup of tea from his aunt, Lady Matlock. He shrugged in response to the questioning look Richard shot him and turned his attention to his tea.

“I hear Mrs. Anderson’s daughter has refused another suitor,” said Lady Matlock, peering over the teapot and looking at Darcy with a raised brow. “She is a pretty thing. Her taste in gowns is exquisite, and she dances very well.”

Richard guffawed. “That is the fatal shot, Mother dear. Darcy does not care if a lady can dance well, for he intends not to dance more than absolutely required. “

His mother turned to him with a smile. “But you adore dancing, and she is generously dowered.”

Darcy chuckled at the widening of Richard’s eyes and slackening of his mouth.

“I do not adore dancing,” he said stiffly. “I just tolerate it better than Darcy, and so it appears I adore it.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Genevieve,” said Lady Margaret, “it is rare to find a gentleman, who is not a rake, who adores dancing! Typically, a gentleman finds it a chore until he finds his hand in the hand of a particular someone and his eyes looking into the eyes of the lady across from him, a lady who for some reason holds his attention and stirs his desire as no other lady ever has.” She shrugged. “It is the way it works, and you know it as well as I do.”

“I know nothing of the sort,” Lady Matlock protested. “Henry adores dancing.”

“He does not,” protested Richard. “Father would much rather sit in the card room.”

“But when we were courting, and even before, he was always dancing and so gracefully.” Lady Matlock sat on the edge of her chair and held her cup and saucer just below mouth-level in front of her.

“Henry was not well-behaved,” Lady Margaret countered. “Dancing was an allowable way for him to get his hands on the ladies and charm them into meeting him in less public locations.”

Lady Matlock did not refute the statement. After all, it was a meeting in a not so public location that had led to her claiming the title of Lady Matlock.

“Darcy’s father was all that was proper, and he enjoyed dancing,” Lady Matlock said after taking a few quiet sips of her tea.

“Only with my mother,” said Darcy.

Lady Matlock’s brows drew together and her lips pursed in displeasure. “Sir Lewis. –“

“Couldn’t keep time with a clock,” Lady Margaret interrupted. “He may have loved dancing, but the toes of any lady he danced with disliked it immensely. You cannot count him. He also loved Catherine.” The right corner of her lips turned up in a half-smile as she took a sip of her tea. As everyone in the family knew, Lady Catherine and Lady Margaret disagreed with each other far more often than they ever agreed. It was likely due to each lady possessing a will of iron, but if asked, neither would ever admit to such. Each was far more likely to cite the interminable stubbornness of the other without so much as hinting that she was just as obstinate.

Possessing obstinacy rather than dancing, Darcy thought, would serve any lady better who dared to join the Fitzwilliam family. A wilting wallflower would likely spend too many days in tears and fits as she attempted to please a rather difficult to please lot of relations such as he possessed. Elizabeth would do well. The thought brought another smile to his lips.

“You are looking rather pleased this afternoon,” Lady Matlock said rather tersely to Darcy. She was never one to feel her displeasure at being proven wrong graciously.

“I do apologize. I shall attempt to be sullen.” Darcy tried to keep his expression blank, but he could not help a small smirk.

Lady Matlock gasped while both Lady Margaret and Richard dissolved into laughter. Georgiana lowered her head and attended most carefully to her stitching, though her shoulders shook, giving away the fact that she too had been shocked into silent giggles.

“Of all the insolent things to say! And from you! I should not expect it from you!”

No one could miss the irritation in Lady Matlock’s tone or features.

“I do apologize,” Darcy said once again, feeling just the tiniest twinge of guilt. However, he could not feel so remorseful as he likely should. He had felt rather light and not entirely himself since yesterday afternoon in that sitting room when Elizabeth had uttered those three words — perhaps you might.

Lady Matlock huffed. “It is all well and good that you do not wish to dance since you are unfit to be seen in company. How did you get that black eye?”

“Likely the same way he got the split lip,” muttered Richard, earning him a glare from his mother. “Fisticuffs.”

“It was just a bit of a joust with a friend,” Darcy explained. Bingley was, thankfully, still Darcy’s friend. He had vented his displeasure with Darcy’s part in separating him from Miss Bennet, and then the two had retired to Darcy House to enjoy a couple of pints of fine ale while discussing their Bennet ladies.

“Why would a friend…” Lady Matlock’s words died on her lips, and her eyes grew wide. “It was that tradesman’s son.”

“Indeed it was.” Darcy rose and placed his empty cup on the tea table.

“That sweet boy?” asked Lady Margaret. It was how she often referred to Bingley. Her terms of endearment for Bingley’s sisters were not so pleasant. She did not like Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst, but Bingley she adored. “Did you steal his angel?”

Darcy chuckled. “Not exactly but something along those lines.”

Lady Margaret’s eyes lit with curiosity. “Do tell,” she said, patting on the seat of the blue tufted chair next to her. “And do not leave out any details.”

Darcy took the seat indicated and, leaning close to his great aunt, whispered, “I thought the lady was indifferent to him and recommended he not return to his estate and call on her. However, it appears I was wrong, and he was not pleased to forgive me without sufficient repayment.” He shrugged. “I do not blame him. I would likely do far worse to myself if I were in his position.”

Lady Margaret’s eyes twinkled. “Genevieve was not wrong in thinking you greatly altered today. I say, you seem as little concerned about your appearance as Richard is wont to be.” She chuckled. “There must be a reason,” she prodded. “What is her name?” she whispered, casting a wary glance at her daughter-in-law. “I promise I will not say a thing.”

Darcy cocked a brow in disbelief. Lady Margaret was incapable of keeping such a promise.

Lady Margaret scowled. “But there is a lady?”

Darcy shrugged.

His great-aunt’s eyes narrowed, and she turned to Georgiana. “There is a lady who is the cause of your brother’s change in demeanor, is there not?” she asked, not bothering in her annoyed state to keep her voice lowered.

Georgiana bit her lip and cast an apologetic look in Darcy’s direction, causing him to groan silently. “He has not told me,” she replied, “but I believe there is.”

Lady Matlock gasped. It was a delighted sound that made Darcy cringe.

“And does she like to dance?” Lady Matlock asked.

“Oh, he has never danced with her.” Georgiana snapped her mouth closed.

“I thought we were not supposed to speak of her to Georgie,” Richard said with a grin.

Darcy groaned aloud this time. There was little he would likely be able to conceal now that his aunt and grandmother were aware that both Georgiana and Richard knew about some lady who had caught Darcy’s eye. However, he would do his best to keep as much of his intentions secret as he could for as long as he could.

“I did not speak to Georgiana about her,” Darcy held Richard’s gaze until he got a nod of understanding that Richard was still not to say a thing. Then turning to Georgiana, he said with a smile, “I did not dance with her at the assembly, but I did at Bingley’s ball.”

“Indeed?” Richard asked in surprise.

Darcy nodded.

“Might I ask one question?”

Again Darcy nodded in response to Richard’s question. “You may if you feel you cannot wait until we are alone.” From the flick of Richard’s brows, there would be no deferring his curiosity until they were in private.

“If you did not speak to Georgiana about her,” Richard asked, “then how does Georgiana know about her?”

“Oh, I met her,” said Georgiana. “She is lovely.” She turned with some excitement toward Lady Margaret. “We stopped at her uncle’s shop. It is where we got this lovely lace.” She picked up the piece of lace that lay on top of her grandmother’s work basket.

“A tradesman’s daughter?” Lady Matlock cried. “Oh, no, no, no. This cannot be.”

“Her father is a gentleman,” replied Georgiana. “Her uncle is a tradesman.”

“A tie to trade is a tie to trade.” Lady Matlock’s brows rose as did her chin.

“It is not as if this family has not endured such denigration before,” Lady Margaret’s tone was sardonic. “Shall we start casting out everyone from the family who has such a connection?” She gave her daughter-in-law a pointed glare. “I do not think you are in a position to be so over particular, my dear.”

Lady Matlock’s father had been a distant cousin involved in manufacturing before he ascended to a title he had never expected to have, but illness, war, lack of issue of the right gender, and the like had designed that he should indeed be the person to keep the title from falling into extinction. His daughter had benefited greatly both from this change in status and the substantial dowry his years in trade had helped him amass. She had done her best to distance herself from anything that hinted at her former standing as a tradesman’s daughter. However, Lady Margaret detested such arrogance, especially from one she considered an upstart who had trapped her son into marriage.

“She is very lovely,” Georgiana repeated, looking from her grandmother to her aunt and finally to her brother with a look of concern.

Lady Margaret patted her hand reassuringly. “I would not expect your brother to become enamoured with anyone who was not delightful.” She winked at Darcy. “Now, tell me, my dear, what is her name?”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Darcy supplied. “I would thank you to not place my sister in the awkward position of speaking on my behalf.”

Lady Margaret settled back in her chair and held her cup out to Richard, indicating she would like more tea. “I am listening.”

Darcy drew a breath and released it slowly before beginning to share the news he knew his grandmother wished to hear. “Her father’s estate is Longbourn in Hertfordshire. It is a modest estate, nothing grand.”

“Hertfordshire?” Lady Margaret interrupted. “Is that not where Mr. Bingley was leasing an estate?”

Darcy nodded. “Yes, Netherfield is not but three miles from Longbourn.”

Lady Margaret accepted her cup of tea from Richard. “Is that all you know of her?” she asked. Her tone was grave, but he could tell she was hiding a smile behind her cup by the way her eyes sparkled.

“No,” Darcy said with a shake of his head. Lady Margaret could be as teasingly bothersome as Richard, and he loved her for it. She had always been the one he went to for advice regarding Georgiana after he had been left her guardian. He knew he would get sage advice that was logical. The other women in his family were, in his opinion, too flighty and given to airs and self-aggrandizement.

“Her eyes sparkle just as yours are now,” he said softly. “I am certain you would like her.”

“I shall like whomever you select as long as it is not that grasping harpy.”

Darcy chuckled. “There is little danger of my ever choosing Miss Bingley.”

“You are a man of sense,” his grandmother commended him. “What is this Miss Elizabeth’s fortune?”

“Minimal,” Darcy replied, “but mine is substantial.”

“And her family?”

Darcy grimaced. He did not wish to speak critically, nor did he wish to speak anything less than the truth. “She has four sisters. No brothers. The estate is entailed to a cousin.”

“Are they a sensible sort of people?”

“Not all,” he answered quietly. “But then what family does not contain some folly and foolishness?”

Lady Margaret’s eyes grew wide. “You will not delineate their shortcomings? That is rather unlike you.”

Darcy felt his cheeks grow warm. Normally, he would not hesitate to plainly state the deficiencies he saw in people. He shook his head. “I will not.” He glanced at Richard. “It has been brought to my attention that doing so is not very gentlemanly and demonstrates a degree of arrogance.”

His grandmother’s lips twitched. “Yes, I do believe I have mentioned that on occasion. It is good you have finally found it to your liking to listen. You have always been one to be far too assured in your own opinion.” There was a tenderness to her tone. “It is likely your only real flaw, but it is also your strength.”

Darcy rubbed his swollen eye. “Bingley would agree,” he said with a sheepish grin.

“So it was Bingley who taught you this?”

Darcy could tell by her tone of voice that she knew very well it was not Bingley, so he merely just shook his head in response.

“I think I should very much like to meet her.” Lady Margaret placed her empty cup on the table next to her, spread the dress she was working on across her lap, and began pinning the lace from Mr. Gardiner’s store onto it.

“I hope to present her to you eventually,” Darcy admitted. “However, I have not properly called on her at home, so your introduction may have to wait for some time.”

Lady Margaret looked up from her pinning. “I shall welcome her whenever you are ready.”

Darcy muttered his thanks.

“Now, tell me of Bingley’s angel.”

“That would be Miss Elizabeth’s sister,” Richard supplied.

“Oh! The one I met at the shop?” Georgiana asked excitedly.

“Two ties to trade?” Lady Matlock muttered.

“Yes,” Darcy answered to them both.

“Miss Bennet is so very nice,” cooed Georgiana. “I am certain there is not a more pleasant lady in all of England — and so pretty! I described to her your dress, Grandmama, and she knew exactly what lace would be best. I had thought it would be one, but she insisted it would be another. And she was correct.”

“Lace, Georgiana?” Darcy asked with a laugh. “Did I not suffer enough yesterday on our shopping trip? Must we speak of lace?”

“Make yourself scarce,” retorted Lady Margaret. “We ladies enjoy a bit of banter about pretty things.”

“As do we gentlemen.” Richard laughed as he rose from his chair. “Come, Darcy, I will relieve your torment and find something with which we can amuse ourselves, and it shall not be lace.”

Darcy rose to follow his cousin from the room. But on hearing Georgiana whisper that he had not looked all that tormented yesterday, he paused, turned toward her, and raised a brow. “Georgiana, I shall thank you to not make me the object of gossip.”

“Oh, I would not dream of allowing something so horrid as that to happen,” his grandmother assured him. “However, I do not believe it is gossip if she tells me of the shop where she purchased this fine bit of lace. That is simply relating an event.”

Darcy’s eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. “You are incorrigible,” he muttered, earning him a broad grin in response.

“Yes, I am,” Lady Margaret agreed. “Now make yourself scarce.”

With a sigh, Darcy did just that, knowing full well, that every detail about Elizabeth which might be wrung from his sister would be.

~*~*~

Unravelling Mr. Darcy is the first story included in Dash of Darcy and Companions Cottage Collection 2 which is currently enrolled in Kindle Unlimited for a 90-day term. If you are a KU subscriber, make sure you download this collection while you can. Each book is also available individually, but if you download the collection, you’ll only use one of your allotted downloads and will have six books to read. 🙂

If you are not a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, Unravelling Mr. Darcy, as well as Cottage Collection 2, can be purchased in your Kindle store. However, they are not available at any other retailer until the 90-day Kindle Unlimited term, which demands exclusivity, is over.

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